Cowboys RB Plan: Draft Longhorns Bijan Robinson, Don't Re-Sign Tony Pollard?

With the Dallas Cowboys releasing running back Ezekiel Elliott, and head coach Mike McCarthy taking over play-calling duties this season, could they target a new running back in round one of the NFL Draft?

On the field, Dallas Cowboys head coach Mike McCarthy wants to make sure he can run the ball. As he said after the departure of offensive coordinator Kellen Moore, "Kellen wants to light the scoreboard up, but I want him to run the damn ball so I can rest my defense!''

That wasn't meant as a dig at Moore, now with the Chargers. But it is about McCarthy having more overall control.

And off the field, up on the front office? The sort of "control'' they desire is contractual.

Long-time back Ezekiel Elliott has been cut. Tony Pollard has signed his one-year contract. And this is a deep NFL draft for running backs, starting with Texas star Bijan Robinson, with B/R joining in the chorus in its latest NFL Mock Draft by projecting Bijan to the 'Boys.

They write: "Head coach Mike McCarthy made it clear this offseason that he wants to make the Cowboys a run-first offense, even more so than they have been already ... Robinson ... perfectly fits into the team's ideology."

Actually, though - and CowboysSI.com is sitting right there with McCarthy as he is detailing his supervision of a change to his West Coast Offense, it's not about "run first.'' It's about "run more.''

What it might not be about is "pay more,'' however.

With Pro Bowl back Pollard set to make $10.9 million under the franchise tag this season, the Cowboys could just sit on that, without bothering to negotiate an extension. And why not?

Because if Dallas drafts a star runner - Robinson or someone else - the new kid can take over under the terms of a rookie contract that costs a fraction of what Pollard might command.

A four-year deal for pick No. 26 will cost about $14 million, or $3.75 million APY.

Pollard might cost three times that.

Last year, Dallas did rank sixth in league in rushing attempts (531) and second in rushing touchdowns (24). That's evidence that the essentials of the use of the running back are already in place on the field.

Draft a running back - by moving up for Bijan or by waiting to see if he falls or by nabbing a different back later - with a premium pick? That will be evidence of a short-term plan involving Pollard.

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You can find Riley Sheppard on Twitter @RileyDSheppard

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