The Dallas Cowboys select a running back in the NFL draft. They could be considering reuniting with Ezekiel Elliott in the near future
The Dallas Cowboys chose not to pick a running back in the NFL draft, even though they’ve replaced their starting runner in the last two seasons.
During the draft weekend, discussions about Ezekiel Elliott, a former Cowboy and two-time rushing leader, were as common as those about the college prospects.
Now, attention turns to when Elliott might rejoin the team. He played seven seasons for the Cowboys, accumulating 8,262 yards, the third-highest in team history, before being released in a cost-saving move after the 2022 season.
Owner Jerry Jones spoke positively about Elliott’s potential return, emphasizing his positive impact and suggesting he could still be a starter.
The Cowboys addressed some key needs in the draft, including offensive linemen, but running back remained a gap.
Executive Vice President of Personnel Stephen Jones highlighted the importance of sticking to their draft plan, which didn’t include selecting a running back when opportunities arose.
On the first night of the draft, the Cowboys confirmed they had a meeting with Ezekiel Elliott, who played for New England last season, and his agent earlier that day.
Even after not picking a running back on the second day of the draft, Jerry Jones mentioned Elliott again.
He said on Friday night that they were also interested in what the future holds for Zeke, implying a possible return.
Tony Pollard, who took over for Elliott in 2023, didn’t quite meet expectations for his salary last season. He ended up signing with Tennessee.
Currently, the four running backs on the Cowboys’ roster who played last season have a combined total of 163 carries for 605 yards and four touchdowns in their careers. The team also added veteran Royce Freeman earlier this month.
Coach Mike McCarthy expressed confidence in the young group, mentioning their potential for growth.
Near the end of Saturday’s news conference, Jerry Jones had this back-and-forth with Stephen Jones.
Jerry: “Stephen, I’m not holding you to this, but we can probably trade with another club pretty much for the next six or seven months, can’t we?”
Stephen: “Oh, absolutely. All the way through the trade deadline.”
Jerry: “I’ve seen teams win the Super Bowl with running backs that they traded for midseason. The point is that this thing is a long way from being over as to how you’re going to line up (during the season).”
Dallas made two key trades last year, acquiring starting cornerback Stephon Gilmore and starting wide receiver Brandin Cooks, however, both moves were completed in March.
