The Cowboys have converted $8.6MM of Ezekiel Elliott‘s $9.6M base salary into a signing bonus (Twitter link via Field Yates of ESPN.com). The move gives the Cowboys an extra $6.88M in cap space for the current year by spreading that obligation across future seasons. 
The restructuring leaves Dallas with an estimated $12MM in room for the current year. That’ll give them enough room to swing a substantial trade between now and the fall deadline. Or, if they don’t make a huge splash, they can roll some of those dollars to next year.
Elliott is signed through 2026 thanks to the six-year, $90MM re-up he signed a couple years back. The revision doesn’t change much on his end — Zeke remains tied for the second-highest average annual value in the league among running backs. Knotted with Alvin Kamara, Panthers star Christian McCaffrey is the only RB to rank higher.
The Cowboys are hoping that Elliott can get back to his old form in 2021. The three-time Pro Bowler finished 2020 with just 979 yards and a 4.0 yards per carry average.
Reports are that Elliot came to camp in great shape. Seems like that has convinced the FO to remain invested in him, hence the restructuring. He should have a nice bounce back year; hard to imagine the OL having more injuries than in 2020.
He was injured and played so poorly compared to expectations, so they stopped feeding him. That’s just a simple caloric calculation. Of course he’ll be in better shape now.
What are the Cowboys plan with the extra 6.8 Million? Anyone available to help on defense?
Go get Nick Foles with the Chicago Bears … word is that he’s the 3rd string at the moment
They also had Andy Dalton and two scrubs at QB and were losing all the time after Dak got hurt. His numbers ought to go up a little because of that.
Before Dak got hurt, Elliott had 73 yards per game on a 4.0 ypc, but it was against five of the top ten teams against the run (in total rushing yards given up): Rams (3rd), Seahawks (5th), Falcons (6th), Browns (9th), and Giants (10th). He should be fine. I expect 1,100-1,300 yards on something like 4.3-4.5 ypc.
Everyone in the NFL would regret giving him that deal , many wouldn’t of even considered it , not Ole Nose Picker Jerra he doesn’t regret it he knows he is smarter than all those others. Especially he knows he is smarter than the teams that have won a ring in the last 23 years.
You really are fascinated with the nose picking …
Obviously, you’re not even smart enough to even type an intelligent, understandable statement in English…. “Especially he knows “? idiot
Almost the entire line was hurt. Plus, the D was so bad that we were constantly playing from behind early. I expect Zeke to be in the top 3 in yards this year.
Elliott is no longer in good enough shape to be a difference maker.
This will allow us to give Dak 10 million more this year since gaining more leverage with the ailing shoulder.
Sincerely,
Jerry and Stephen Jones
Gotta love that NFL salary cap structure. What a joke. Terms at the time of the signing mean absolutely nothing except that the guaranteed money will be paid out SOMETIME over the next 20 years