The Cowboys are not planning for this to be a “prove it” year for Tony Pollard. They are aiming to sign their franchise-tagged player to an extension. And the team is not planning to make that contract as long as Ezekiel Elliott‘s.
Although the Cowboys traditionally prefer extensions of at least five years, executive VP Stephen Jones said (via ESPN.com’s Ed Werder) the team is eyeing a three- to four-year deal for Pollard. This would essentially cover the remainder of the fifth-year veteran’s prime.
Last year, the Cowboys and Dalton Schultz could not work out an agreement. The Cowboys made offers to the tight end, but the veteran pass catcher wanted a shorter-term deal compared to what Dallas was offering. In recent offseasons, the Cowboys also gave lengthy contracts to Elliott (six years), Zack Martin (six years), Jaylon Smith (six years), DeMarcus Lawrence (five years), La’el Collins (five years), Amari Cooper (five years) and Michael Gallup (five years). Tyron Smith remains attached to the eight-year extension he signed back in 2014; that is the longest-running active NFL deal. The team bent for Dak Prescott (four years, $160MM), but that player-friendly re-up came as the quarterback held the leverage of a second franchise tag going on Dallas’ books.
Pollard upstaged Elliott last season and became the team’s backfield priority this year, leading to the $10.1MM franchise tag — which the former fourth-round pick has signed — and ensuing Elliott release. Pollard has surpassed 1,000 scrimmage yards in each of the past two seasons; he earned Pro Bowl acclaim for his 1,378-yard, 12-touchdown slate. A three-year deal would match Nick Chubb‘s; the other backs signed to eight-figure-per-year contracts are attached to four- or five-year deals.
Pollard’s season ended with a fractured fibula and high ankle sprain. This is not expected to impact Pollard’s Week 1 availability, and the Cowboys’ second-half struggles without their top back in San Francisco helped illustrate the value the Memphis product brings. That said, the team has been linked to Texas product Bijan Robinson at No. 26 overall. It would be borderline shocking if Robinson fell that far, but the Cowboys did take CeeDee Lamb with their 2020 first-round pick despite having Cooper and Gallup rostered.
Joining Saquon Barkley and Josh Jacobs as backs tagged this year, Pollard differs in being under contract. His $10.1MM salary is guaranteed. The Cowboys gave Elliott a market-topping contract just before the 2019 season; Pollard, 25, should not be expected to land such a pact. But his signing the franchise tender may signal his negotiations will not be as difficult as the Barkley and Jacobs talks look set to become.
Tony Pollard suffered a major injury – thus the Cowboys may be downplaying the idea of a “prove it” year, but it would be stupid to put any real money on the table before Pollard has played up to his previous standard.
Not really stupid. He’s already proven what he can do. Not like he’s coming off an ACL injury. He’ll definitely get his money this offseason