Final night time could have been Ezekiel Elliott’s final sport in a Dallas Cowboys uniform and it’s reasonably unlucky that the final play of that sport featured Elliott getting plowed over by a defensive lineman whereas taking part in middle within the dumbest trick play we have ever seen. Alas, it’s true, and it is due to Elliott’s monster contract he signed a couple of years in the past.
This offseason is principally the final likelihood the Cowboys must get out of the $90 million extension they gave Elliott in 2019. The previous All-Professional working again’s cap hit fluctuates between $14 million and $17 million for the subsequent 4 years, which is untenable for a man who’s clearly not even the very best working again in his personal backfield. If Dallas cuts him this offseason they must eat an $11 million useless cap hit however save $5 million this offseason and much more down the highway.
Now, this is not going to be the Cowboys’ first intuition. It’s clear that Jerry Jones loves Elliott and can need to maintain him round if doable. Tony Pollard breaking his fibula final night time solely will increase the chance that Dallas will simply determine one thing out with Elliott to make sure they’ve a minimum of one RB they’ll depend on heading into the 2023 season. However it does take two to tango and Elliott might not be prepared to surrender the cash he earned to mirror his present play.
No matter which path the Cowboys go down there is no such thing as a likelihood Elliott is taking part in on this contract subsequent yr. In the event that they determine to chop him, who might Elliott find yourself with?
The Bucs had the league’s worst speeding assault by a large margin in 2022. Elliott alone wouldn’t repair that however clearly no matter they did final yr wasn’t working and getting a brand new face within the RB room might assist fairly a bit– particularly if Tom Brady comes again. Ought to Leonard Fournette’s foot concern be extra severe than we all know, Tampa may be in search of one other veteran again to spell Rachaad White. Elliott is an effective match for that position and simply looks like a great match general as a vet in search of a hoop on a Brady-led workforce. If Brady doesn’t come again, properly, who is aware of what the Bucs are going to do, however as issues stand Elliott is smart in the event that they need to change issues up.
The Giants could also be in want of a brand new working again if they can’t attain an settlement with Saquon Barkley. What higher approach to piss off your workforce’s greatest rival whereas changing a few of his manufacturing than by signing Elliott? An efficient floor assault is essential for Brian Daboll’s offense that includes Daniel Jones and Elliott might undoubtedly make it work behind a budding offensive line. It will be painful for the Cowboys to see Elliott in Giants blue however it’s a pure match if Barkley is gone.
An entire lack of an efficient working assault helped sink the Payments within the postseason this yr. Devin Singletary, the de facto No. 1 again, is a free agent. Buffalo drafted James Cook dinner final spring in hopes he might step up shortly however he did not put it collectively fairly often as a rookie and it is dangerous to roll into camp with him as the highest possibility. Elliott suits the vein of the kind of veteran impression participant they’d like to make use of briefly spurts to push the workforce excessive. The Payments want plenty of assist elsewhere and will not need to use cap area so as to add at working again but when they do Elliott shall be close to the highest of their listing.
