Cowboys ‘Most Important' Contract: Should Tony Pollard Get Paid?

After giving Tony Pollard the franchise tag, extending the running back was named a priority for the Cowboys prior to the season.

Boasting one of the NFL's deepest rosters can be a double-edged sword. On one hand it makes competing for a Super Bowl much easier, while on the other it forces tough decisions when it comes time to hand out contract extensions. 

This is the situation the Dallas Cowboys find themselves in, with several key players due for big extensions in the near future. With guys like Micah Parsons and CeeDee Lamb set to earn big paydays, Bleacher Report listed Tony Pollard as the most important contract extension Dallas must handle ahead of the season.

"If Pollard plays on the franchise-tag tender, which he has already signed, he'll be guaranteed $10.1 million for the 2023 season," Bleacher Report writes. 

"While Dallas would likely have to guarantee more on a multi-year deal in order to entice Pollard, it could spread the money out and potentially even lower his 2023 cap hit."

CowboysSI.com has covered all of they; there’s nothing new here. So what’s the big deal?

It’s about this question: Is Pollard worthy of a payday after a breakout season last year? 

In 2022 he paced the Cowboys on the ground with 1,007 rushing yards, while finding the end zone nine times. Nothing wrong there.

And not only would a Pollard extension potentially make life easier for extensions elsewhere on the roster, but it would also solidify the running back position in Dallas rather than risking a shaky situation next season.

"The Cowboys also have little proven depth behind Pollard, with former Tampa Bay Buccaneers castoff Ronald Jones II being the most experienced backup," Bleacher report writes. "Extending Pollard now would leave far fewer questions in Dallas' backfield next offseason."

Having said all of that, BR is flat-wrong about the priority list. Extending Pollard before the season could be a move that benefits both Dallas and Pollard himself. But that doesn’t make him more important than Dak Prescott, CeeDee Lamb and Trevon Diggs. 

Indeed - and with no disrespect to Pollard - it’s easier to find a running back than it is a player at a “Money 5” position. So even as the Cowboys are in talks with him (along with the aforementioned standouts), he cannot and will not be prioritized by Dallas over the others.

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You can find Connor Zimmerlee on Twitter @Connorjz98

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