Cowboys RB Plan: What Ezekiel Elliott ‘Knows,’ 'Likely' Tag Tony Pollard?

Dallas Cowboys COO Stephen Jones spoke to the press at the NFL Combine and told them that they are likely to use the franchise tag this offseason.

The Dallas Cowboys are at a crossroads in the running back room, with the contract of Tony Pollard expiring and Ezekiel Elliott still set to cost $16.7 million due to his 2019 contract extension; moves have to be made. 

Cowboys COO Stephen Jones met with reporters at the NFL Combine in Indianapolis and provided an update on the negotiations with Pollard. 

"More than likely, we'll use our (franchise) tag," Jones said. "Not necessarily on Tony, but we'll use it."

Pollard seems like the most realistic option to play on the tag next season, while tight end Dalton Schultz is another contender to be tagged by Dallas. Schultz played on the franchise tag in 2022, making his potential earnings to be a little over $13 million in 2023 if he is tagged. 

As for what it would cost to keep Pollard using the tag, the Cowboys' running back would make $10 million. As things currently stand in Dallas cap room-wise, they are still $7 million over the new cap. 

Work is still to be done in Dallas before they can even decide on Pollard, like the future of Elliott, who Jones says "knows" he is "making a lot of money." 

Following a strong finish to his rookie deal where Pollard rushed for over 1,000 yards, his fractured fibula injury in the Divisional Round loss to the San Francisco 49ers certainly doesn't make the decision any easier.

But this decision has a wildcard, which is the potential to draft Bijan Robinson at No. 26 in the NFL Draft.

Said Jones of that general concept: “I think certainly if the right guy were there and you loved him and you needed him, then you’d take him.”

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