Cowboys Trade Rumors: Replace Tony Pollard with Joe Mixon?

The Cowboys could lose running back Tony Pollard in free agency this offseason. Could Dallas replace him with Cincinnati Bengals back Joe Mixon?

FRISCO - The Dallas Cowboys have questions at running back as we enter the offseason and free agency.

Backs Tony Pollard and Rico Dowdle will both be free agents unless the team can strike a deal with one or both. That's not likely for Pollard, de de who just played on the franchise tag for $10.091 million and could be expecting a big payday. 

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SB Nation thinks the Cowboys might be able to find the solution via trade, by bringing in former Pro Bowler Joe Mixon from Cincinnati.

“Mixon is a few years removed from a Pro Bowl season in 2021 when he rushed for a career-high 1,205 yards … but he has some tread left on the tire,” writes the site.

“Given that the Bengals were ready to part ways with Mixon last season, the Cowboys could be able to get Mixon for a Day 3 pick. Imagine the Cowboys adding Mixon and then drafting a Day 2 runner like Michigan’s Blake Corum.”

Pollard's calculated market value per Spotrac is $6.5 million for next season, and the Cowboys could get Mixon slightly cheaper through trade. Mixon will be entering the final season of a two-year, $11.5 million deal. 

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If the Bengals decide to outright cut Mixon rather than trade him, Cincinnati can save his $3 million roster bonus by doing so by March 18.

And maybe that’s the smoothest move here, Forget Mixon and a drafted rookie here; that’s just spitballing. But waiting it out on a vet, seeing if he gets cut?

The Cowboys could just then sign Mixon - inarguably a three-down, between-the-tackles, goal-line guy even as he enters his age-28 season, as a free agent … potentially even saving more.