2:21pm: Elliott will be designated as a post-June 1 cut, per Ian Rapoport and Tom Pelissero of NFL.com (on Twitter). This will create summer savings for the Cowboys, who used this distinction on La’el Collins last year. The Cowboys have since informed Elliott he will be released.
8:52am: The Cowboys are planning to move on from their two-time rushing champion. After a seven-season run, the team is expected to release Ezekiel Elliott, Clarence Hill of the Fort Worth Star-Telegram reports.
While designating Elliott as a post-June 1 cut would save the team $10.1MM, a standard release would free up $4.9MM in funds immediately. The move could take place Wednesday, Hill adds. A post-June 1 distinction will allow the Cowboys to avoid an $11.8MM dead-money charge as a result of this release.
With Tony Pollard receiving the franchise tag, Elliott has loomed as a release candidate. Although Jerry Jones has continually praised the former No. 4 overall pick, Elliott’s play has declined in recent years. Pollard’s Pro Bowl nod last year displayed what has taken place during that time; the former fourth-round pick has overtaken Elliott in Dallas’ backfield.
Jones said at the Combine he wanted to find a way for the team to retain Elliott, but after placing the $10.1MM tag on Pollard, it looks like the Cowboys are not planning to devote much more money to their running back room.
Elliott said he would be amenable to a pay cut that would allow him to remain with the team. It is unclear how far along the sides progressed on this front. The Ohio State product is tied to a $10.9MM base salary and an untenable $16.72MM cap number in 2023. The Cowboys already adjusted the contracts of Dak Prescott and Zack Martin, freeing up money to make multiple big moves Tuesday, but they have not touched Elliott’s. It appears that $15MM-per-year deal will come off Dallas’ books nearly four years after the parties agreed to terms.
Elliott is still just 27 and only one year removed from his most recent 1,000-yard rushing season. Following that 1,002-yard showing in 2021, a season in which the veteran back played through a PCL tear, Zeke matched Pollard with 12 touchdowns in ’22. He has 80 for his career. But Elliott averaged a career-low 3.8 yards per carry in 2022, showing signs of the high-mileage workloads the Cowboys saddled him with in the past. Elliott’s 2,186 touches lead all active running backs. He missed two games last year, hyperextending the same knee he hurt in 2021. Elliott dubbed that injury an MCL tear, though Hill adds surgery is not expected.
The Cowboys’ Elliott pick led to a stretch in which the team saw multiple backs — DeMarco Murray and Elliott — combine for three rushing titles from 2014-18. Running behind Dallas’ three-Pro Bowler O-line, Elliott flourished on his rookie contract and joined Prescott in leading the Cowboys to a 13-3 record in 2016 and a divisional-round run two years later. The Cowboys rewarded Elliott with a six-year, $90MM extension, locking him down for eight seasons. That contract remains tied for second among running backs, with only Christian McCaffrey‘s $16MM-per-year pact topping it. The Giants are not prepared to match Zeke’s AAV for Saquon Barkley, despite nearly four years passing since the Cowboys accord came to pass.
Elliott’s 8,262 rushing yards rank third in Cowboys history, trailing only Emmitt Smith and Tony Dorsett. It will be interesting to see if another team brings him aboard as part of a committee. There are still several starter-caliber backs available, however, and Elliott has not been especially productive in the passing game for a while. Last season, he totaled 92 receiving yards.
Despite Pollard’s increased production and involvement, Jones said last season Elliott would remain Dallas’ starter and cited his myriad contributions. But the Cowboys are preparing to make Pollard their starter in 2023. The team rosters former UDFAs Malik Davis and Rico Dowdle but now should be considered in the market for a running back addition — presumably via the draft.
He will land on his feet, now more of backup rb
Lol
Dump Dak.
HAHA. Mr. cowboy kicked to the curb!
Maybe Jerry tosses a little more kerosene on the rivalry by grabbing Sanders lol
You’re going to see quite a few of these cuts today. I’m thinking. Poles kept his money and is in a good position.
The guy who gave $50 million in guarantees to an off-ball linebacker? He didn’t keep his money. He was just starting from as close to scratch as you can.
Oh no, are we not going to see this creature spitting water in slow motion before every game now
“Creature” is really the word you chose to use? Smh
As soon as McCarthy became coach Elliotts production went straight into the crapper. He just needs to go to a team where the Coach values running the ball
Isn’t that why the OC took the pipe?
Dallas was 6th in rushing attempts last year. Pollard has averaged over 5 yards per attempt for his career. McCarthy was correct to give him more of a role after Garrett ran Elliot into the ground with 1300 touches in his first four years.
I’m sure it had nothing to do with getting older and all the wear and tear on his body
Achane in the 3rd!
According to the “experts” on Sunday NFL shows, looking at YOU Fox Sports, the greatest RB in NFL history is being cut?
One of the most overrated RB’s over the past half-decade.
I could see the Jets making a run at Elliott as an insurance policy against another Hall injury. The season would have ended in a much different way if they had a sniff of a run game.
They would need Rodgers approval first
Wasn’t it just a couple of years ago ole “ smarter than everyone Jerra” was getting played by Zeke during contract negotiations? Nahhhh not Jerra.
Smoking pot day and night, too many touches, limited fitness training – Elliott’s lifestyle and the Cowboys’ workload burnt him out early. Now Elliott is just a decent short yardage back. Those guys go for $2-3 million/year. High water mark is Perine’s $7.5m deal with the Broncos.
7yrs…isn’t 5yrs the average shelf life of RBs? He had a good run, and was a high-volume, high-contact runner.
His body just seems in the decline. If you want to say that a conditioning issue I’m not in a position of knowledge to tell you you’re wrong, but those wheels have a lot of mileage on them and he’s had some injuries along the way…
I don’t know why smoking weed is more detrimental to your health than say repeated head blows, but I agree with you, age gets all the players, he had a good run.
My point is that Elliott spent more time smoking weed than staying in shape. Adrian Peterson was able to run into his mid-thirties, but Peterson spent most of his free time in the gym.
I find this sort of surprising – as Pollard is no lock to come back in the same form from his severe injury. There was talk about offering Elliott a reworked (reduced) deal, but he must have either rejected that offer or they found they needed the money for a better roster move.
Seattle should pick him up as a RB2.
Elliott is done. He’s a solid journeyman at this point, better to get those younger, hungrier and cheaper.