Cowboys Tony Pollard Ranks High in 'Loaded' 2023 Free Agent Class; Will Dallas Sign Him?

Tony Pollard is set to be one of the best running backs available this offseason among a stacked free agent class at his position.

Dallas Cowboys running back Tony Pollard looks to have a big pay raise in his future. Will Dallas be doing the paying?

The fourth-year back out of Memphis will have his rookie deal come up at the end of the season and will hit the free-agent market ... unless, that is, he and the Cowboys can agree on an extension. 

Dallas has not traditionally been proactive in that regard ... which would in theory suggest we could be watching Pollard's final games in Dallas.

This offseason's free agent market will be a big one at running back, as according to Pro Football Focus (PFF), Pollard is ranked as the third-best back with an expiring deal, behind Josh Jacobs and Saquon Barkley. 

PFF's rankings are based on their season grades; Pollard is currently graded at 87.9, the sixth-highest among all running backs in 2022. 

They point out that while Pollard is not technically the "No. 1" back in Dallas, as Ezekiel Elliott still holds that title, when healthy, Pollard has put together two strong seasons. 

They write: "Over the last two seasons, Pollard has bettered his teammate in explosive runs of 10 or more yards (37 to 32) and yards after contact (1000 to 962). Pollard started in Week 8 against Chicago and ran for 131 yards and three touchdowns."

Does that make him a $15 million running back, as the Cowboys once decided Zeke was? How about $12.6 million, which is the 2023 franchise-tag projection?

Zeke is already commanding one of the highest salaries of all backs in the NFL, though that contract is escapable next spring. So Dallas will have three decisions to make on how much they are willing to spend at running back.

Re-do Zeke? Pay Pollard? Start over again? Employing both of them now can help the Cowboys make the playoffs - a good problem to have. Not being able to keep either one in 2023? That could be just a "problem,'' period.

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