NEWSLETTER
Not surprisingly, the Ezekiel Elliott era in Dallas is coming to a close. The Dallas Cowboys are expected to release Elliott as soon as this afternoon when the 2023 NFL league year officially opens, according to Clarence E. Hill Jr. of the Fort Worth Star-Telegram.
“Per a source close to the situation,” Hill wrote this morning. “the Cowboys are set to part ways with the two-time NFL rushing champ, and the running back is preparing to start fresh with a new team. The move could come as soon as Wednesday afternoon when the league’s 2023 calendar officially begins at 3 p.m., and teams are required to be under the salary cap.”
Once the Cowboys placed the franchise tag on Tony Pollard last week, this decision was all but made. There was no way Dallas would pay two running backs a combined $27.68 million this season.
With Pollard being the younger and cheaper option for Dallas this season, the decision was pretty easy at that point.
Elliott, drafted fourth overall by the Cowboys in 2016, was set to count $16.4 million against the Cowboys’ 2023 salary cap this season. Elliott rushed for a career-low 876 yards last season. In addition, he posted a career-low 3.9 yards per carry while splitting time with Tony Pollard.
The former Ohio State running back’s play has declined in recent years, and his contract has gotten very expensive relative to his performance and the running back market.
The Cowboys will use a post-June 1 designation on Elliott and clear roughly $11 million in cap space. Dallas entered the day with $4.32 million in cap space, one of the worst cap situations in the NFL.
