The free agent market for running back this offseason is sure to be active with such names as Derrick Henry, Josh Jacobs, Saquon Barkley, D’Andre Swift, and Austin Ekeler all seeking new contracts. Among those names is Cowboys running back Tony Pollard, who is seeking his second multi-year contract after playing under the franchise tag in 2023. According to Calvin Watkins of The Dallas Morning News, Pollard is reportedly willing to take less money to remain with the Cowboys next year. 
Pollard delivered a strong 2023 season under the franchise tag, though not nearly as strong as his 2022 season. He rushed for two fewer yards than he had in 2022 despite receiving 59 more carries. Similarly, he racked up 60 fewer receiving yards despite catching 16 more passes on 12 more targets. He also reached the end zone six times last year, only half as many times as he had scored in his Pro Bowl 2022 season.
Still, Pollard finished 12th in the league in rushing yards, outperforming Barkley (who missed three contests), Jacobs (who missed four contests), and Ekeler (who also missed three contests). Henry and Swift were the only backs listed above to outperform Pollard, and Henry’s advanced age (30) could limit his value in comparison to Pollard and Swift.
The common thought in Dallas is that Pollard expects a raise after earning $10.09MM on the franchise tag last year. That’s hard to envision, especially with this year’s free agent crop struggling to perform in contract years. Projected market values at Spotrac.com show only Henry making more than $10MM in 2024. Swift, the second-best performer of the above group this season is only projected to be worth $6.7MM per year. Spotrac has Pollard projected for a two-year, $13.05MM deal, which lands right inside the two-year, $12-14MM deal proposed by Watkins.
Pollard may be willing to take a bit of a discount to stay in Dallas, but it sounds like it would only be a slight discount. Pollard is reportedly preparing to get as many offers as possible before talking to the Cowboys. It sounds like he may give the league an opportunity to set his value and then give Dallas a chance to come in and slightly undercut that value if they want to keep him around. This could pose a risk if he waits long enough that the draft and other free agent moves influence how valuable he is to the Cowboys. We’ll see just how risky of a strategy he will employ in the weeks to come.
Wow. How will the man feed his family?
I’m so worried. Hold me tight @tiredolddude_
I’m sure Pollard will find a way, tiredolddude_ sorry this isn’t the 1950s anymore.
Sarcasm, sir. Just sarcasm
Back up the brings truck…oops I meant Mazda miata.
Henry or Swift are better choices. Both still have game-changing long runs in them, whereas Pollard does not.
Pollard had one of those seasons where the end result numbers look pretty solid, but the actual season definitely didn’t play like those numbers suggest. Wasn’t 4-5 of his 6 TDs in the 1st 2 games of the season?
He wasn’t much of a threat at all.
Two TD’s in week one and didn’t score another TD until week 10.
I’m a Cowboys fan but if I Pollard I’d sign elsewhere. Dallas isn’t going to win anything. They should trade Dak and half of the team. The team folds whenever there is a big game on the line. Hell, let the Cowboys relocate to a different city and give Dallas an expansion franchise. They’d win the Superbowl before the Cowboys do. I’m so sick and tired of seeing them lose in the playoffs. Daks a garbage time QB.
I agree. (Eagles Fan)
Dude may have to play for free to stay. He’s clearly a complimentary back in a league that doesn’t value running backs.