Cowboys Re-Sign Ezekiel Elliott? 'Why Not!' Predicts ESPN's Bill Barnwell
Stop us if you've heard this one before - the Dallas Cowboys should re-sign veteran running back Ezekiel Elliott after releasing him earlier this offseason. This time the suggestion comes from ESPN's Bill Barnwell, who predicts that Zeke will stay in Dallas rather than taking his talents elsewhere in free agency.
"While the Dallas Cowboys couldn't justify paying Elliott just under $11 million in 2023 and cut the 2016 first-round pick in March, there's still a logical fit for Zeke on the Dallas roster," Barnwell wrote.
Of course, Barnwell isn't entirely off-base in this analysis. Yes, the Cowboys franchise tagged Pollard this offseason, but there is no telling how he will look when he returns from his broken fibula.
Elsewhere in the running back room, Dallas brought in Ronald Jones via free agency and drafted Deuce Vaughn out of Kansas State to join Malik Davis and Rico Dowdle behind Pollard.
Barnwell then goes on to discuss Elliott's interest, or lack thereof, in free agency around the league - as his market is not as robust as he'd hoped it would be when he was released.
"Elliott's market, meanwhile, hasn't developed," Barnwell wrote. "It's clear that Elliott isn't seen as a priority signing around the league at the moment."
Put all this together and it sure looks like a perfect storm that could lead to a reunion in Dallas.
The question, though, is why the Cowboys would see it fit to bring him back. Well, Barnwell touched on the Pollard injury - citing a potential reunion as a means for Dallas to ease him back into action while not breaking the bank for a capable backup.
"If Elliott -- who ran for 876 yards and 12 TDs last season -- is not going to land a deal for more than $5 million somewhere else, why not stay home in Dallas?" Barnwell wrote.
Elliott returning to Dallas may very well be in the cards for the Cowboys, especially if they see fit to mitigate any potential risk with Pollard. For now, though, they are happy with their running back room and ready to get rolling for next season.
You can find Connor Zimmerlee on Twitter @Connorjz98
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