Ezekiel Elliott will be a Dallas Cowboy in 2022, but should he still be the lead RB?
For the record, there was never any question about the status of running back Ezekiel Elliott on the Dallas Cowboys roster in 2022.
His $12.4 million salary for 2022 was guaranteed by his presence on the roster on March 21 of 2021.
And while Elliott has an exorbitant $18.2 million cap hit for 2022, it would actually cost the Cowboys $30 million against the cap to not have him on the team.
Still, due to the trend of declining production, his age and the emergence of backup Tony Pollard, the 26-year-old has been the subject of trade rumors and alleged cap casualties.
Again, none of it was legitimate due to the contract restraints but team vice president Stephen Jones made it clear that Elliott not only has to be on the Cowboys in 2022, but the team wants him there.
“I want Zeke on my team,” Jones said “Obviously, his contract, his money is guaranteed. He’s going to be here, no question. We’re fortunate to have him.”
It’s a good attitude and approach to have because the Cowboys have no other choice but to have him.
The real decision for the Cowboys and Elliott will come in 2023, when there are no more guarantees in his contract and the team will have to make a decision on an extension for Pollard.
Credit Elliott’s agent Rocky Arceneaux for outfoxing Jones and the Cowboys before the 2019 when they held out of training camp before securing a six-year, $90 million contract extension, including $50 million guaranteed in the first four years.
Elliott got paid as the value of running backs has steadily declined in terms of priority and usage.
And that is not even considering that dating back to 2009, the leading rusher on the Super Bowl-winning team has had an average annual base salary of around $1.1 million.
Another genius part of the deal was that triggers were put in place so the Cowboys had to make a decision on Elliott’s future a year early, which is why his place in 2022 was guaranteed six months before the start of the 2021 season.
And while most of Elliott’s numbers have declined since he signed the deal, last season may have been the turning point for the former two-time NFL rushing champion.
In 2021, Elliott had 237 carries for 1,002 yards, caught 47 balls for 287 yards, and scored 12 total touchdowns. He played in all 17 games, including the final 13 with a torn posterior cruciate ligament in his left knee, an injury he sustained in Week 4 against the Carolina Panthers.
“You talk about playing through some injuries, some things that are hard,” Jones said. ”I mean, he is a competitor. I think he’s a damn good running back, and I think he’s going to help us win this year.”
The Cowboys expect Elliott to make a full recovery this offseason and believe he will regain some of the bounce he had to start 2021 when he averaged 86.8 rushing yards per game and 5.11 yards per attempt through the first six weeks of the season.
From there, his numbers steadily declined over the second half of the season due to the knee injury as well as poor play from the offensive line.
Pollard also proved to be more efficient and effective, rushing for 719 yards on 139 carries, an average of 5.5 yards per attempt.
Heading into his seventh season, with 1,650 carries on his legs, it’s unrealistic to think that Elliott will be a lead back who’ll contend for a rushing title again.
He will be on the team, but the big question is whether he should be the Cowboys lead back at all?
