Ezekiel Elliott Trade Idea: Cowboys Get Pick, Zeke to Bucs?

Could the Cowboys trade Ezekiel Elliott for a third-round pick in the NFL Draft?

FRISCO - We've established long ago that the Dallas Cowboys don't want to continue on with Ezekiel Elliott on the roster under the terms of his existing contract, and that a re-do of his deal is a primary option.

But there are those who argue that clinging to the past - even with the value that Elliott would continue to bring as a runner, a leader and a presence - is a mistake. ... and that cutting him outright is the best answer.

However, the Cowboys are going to say goodbye? They might as well attempt to do so via trade.

As it happens, the cap impact for a trade of Elliott is the same as it is for a release of the two-time rushing champ. As a pre-June 1 cut or trade, the Cowboys would save $4.86 million against the cap, while eating $11.86 million in dead money.

Problem: Which team wants to take on his $11 million base salary for 2023 ... while also sacrificing a pick in trade?

Bleacher Report suggests that "somebody'' is the Tampa Bay Buccaneers struggled with RB Leonard Fournette. Their reasoning?

“Leonard Fournette was incredibly inefficient by the season’s end,” B/R writes. “He averaged 2.2 yards on 11 carries in the team’s playoff loss to the Dallas Cowboys. With Tom Brady’s retirement, (coach Todd) Bowles could be looking for a back who can have success against stacked boxes like Elliott.”

B/R projects Dallas getting a third-round pick in trade, and this is where the idea goes completely haywire. Is there evidence that Elliott will "have success against stacked boxes'' after a season in which he produced the lowest rushing yards total (876) and the lowest yards-per-carry average (3.8) of his career? B/R argues that Elliott "did face the sixth-highest rate of stacked boxes, per Player Profiler, and still managed to be 24th in the league in runs of 15 yards or more.''

That stat paints a picture of a "dynamic'' Zeke that simply did not exist in 2022; his (relative) success was about hard-nosed running, not about splash plays.

The problems with this level of proposal: If Elliott is set to exit Dallas, his next team will a) wait on him being cut, b) therefore not give up assets to get him, and c) will want a completely fresh start on his contract.

There are answers to be sought on the future of Zeke in Dallas - but unfortunately for the Cowboys, there are probably not draft picks to be had.

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