I definitely wasn’t expecting this from Dallas this season. The Dallas Cowboys have cut former 4th overall pick Ezekiel Elliott after 6 seasons in a pretty shocking move, even though his production and playing time rapidly declined last year.
Truthfully, I really didn’t think Ezekiel Elliott was going to be cut by the Dallas Cowboys anytime soon.
Sure, his production (2022: 231 CAR, 876 yards, 12 TDs) had drastically gone down since his last 1,000+ yard season in 2019 (2019: 301 CAR, 1,357 yards, 12 TDs) as his role in the offense changed from an “all-down back” to a “short yardage back” due to the emergence of Tony Pollard, but this is the Dallas Cowboys franchise we’re talking about.
Elliott was not only a high 1st round pick that has contributed massively to the franchise over the last few seasons, but he also was one of Jerry Jones’ “favorites”. When Elliott was dealing with all of his legal issues back in 2017, Jerry didn’t ditch him as many GMs and owners would have (Elliott was only on a rookie deal at the time).
No, instead he kept Elliott in the Cowboys fold by giving him a 6-year, $90M deal in 2019, even though RBs were well known to burn out long before said deals expire.
And, sadly, that was the case with Elliott as after he put up a 1,357-yard season and 12 rushing TDs in 2019, he followed that contract up with a 909 rushing yard and 6 rushing TD season in 2020, a 1,002 rushing yard and 10 rushing TD season in 2021, and obviously an 876 rushing yard and 12 rushing TD season in 2022.
Still, even though he has regressed into a backup/1B running back ever since his big deal, the Cowboys rarely give up on homegrown players. And especially not ones that Jerry Jones is closely connected to.
The Cowboys kept Tony Romo for three years too long as he dealt with debilitating shoulder, back, and collarbone injuries, Dez Bryant was also kept on for three seasons too long as he dealt with ankle injuries and dropping issues that caused him to regress into a 3rd WR, Tyron Smith is still somehow on the Cowboys roster despite being 32 years old and getting a season-ending injury every year, and Jason Witten also was kept on for five years too long as his production significantly declined after the 2013 season.
But, as you all can see, these guys were all drafted/signed by Jerry Jones and the Cowboys as their, respective, first GM and franchise in the NFL, they all featured prominently in Dallas’ lineup for at least 8 or more seasons, and they were allowed to stay on the roster for years after their obvious decline set in.
I get that cutting players who have 8+ years of tenure with the organization is incredibly difficult and sad, but the NFL is a business at the end of the day. A business that sees its “commodities” (which is a terrible way of describing human beings, but it is the way the league works) experience incredibly short shelf lives.
And, seeing how Elliott has only been on the Cowboys for 7 years and his decline has just wrapped up its 3rd season, I thought Zeke would have been given at least another year of grace before the inevitable chopping axe came for his contract’s head.
Though, this was the first season the Cowboys could have gotten out of his deal as they will save $11M+ in salary cap room and lose only app. $4M in dead cap space with this deal, which probably explains why Jerry cut him a year ahead of his usual schedule.
Nevertheless, Ezekiell Elliott can now ply his trade on a Super Bowl contending team as he definitely is talented enough to serve as a 1B/short yardage back, while the Cowboys can use the $11M they just freed up on other free agents.
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