Needing some help in the backfield, the Dallas Cowboys turned to a familiar face this offseason. They signed running back Ezekiel Elliott, who the team selected fourth overall in the 2016 NFL Draft.
Ezekiel Elliott spent the first seven seasons of his career with the Dallas Cowboys before the team opted not to bring him back in 2023. He signed a one-year deal with the New England Patriots.
After one season with them, Ezekiel Elliott is now back for a second tenure with the Dallas Cowboys. He will be part of a group that looks to replace Tony Pollard, who departed in free agency, signing a multi-year deal with the Tennessee Titans.
However, one Dallas Cowboys writer believes the former star running back is in danger of being cut. K.D. Drummond of Cowboys Wire recently listed Ezekiel Elliott as one of 11 veterans who may not make the 53-man roster.
“Ezekiel Elliott not making the roster would, by far, be the most surprising outcome of this year’s training camp, but it can’t be wholly dismissed. While there isn’t another proven back on the roster, $1.6 million in guarantees isn’t enough to guarantee a player a roster spot,” Drummond wrote.
Drummond makes a good point about the money committed to him. If a need arises elsewhere on the roster, that isn’t a large enough sum to make the team hesitate to move on from him.
However, Ezekiel Elliott does have one thing working in his favor; his experience. It would be shocking to see the Dallas Cowboys enter the 2024 regular season with a combination of Duece Vaughn, Rico Dowdle, Royce Freeman and Malik Davis.
“There would just have to be so much to happen for this to come to fruition. A lackluster running back room would have to have at least three players jump up and grab the coaching staff’s attention and even then, Elliott would have to have zero juice left in the tank because his intelligence alone makes him a worthwhile stash even if he wasn’t a regular part of the rotation,” Drummond added.
Ezekiel Elliott has a huge edge when it comes to knowledge of the playbook and what the Dallas Cowboys are expecting from their running backs. He isn’t close to the player he was when he last made the Pro Bowl in 2019, but the team knows what they will get from him.
A solid pass catcher out of the backfield, Ezekiel Elliott is still adequate in pass protection. He may not have much juice left, but he still has some value as a power back.
It was only two seasons ago he finished in the top five of the NFL with 12 rushing touchdowns. If he fails to make the team’s 53-man roster, it is fair to assume he just has nothing left.
