Ezekiel Elliott had one of the least-productive seasons of his career in 2022, making his $10.9MM salary in 2023 potentially unpalatable. However, it sounds like the veteran running back is willing to take a pay cut if it means sticking with the Cowboys. A person familiar with the player’s thinking told Michael Gehlken of The Dallas Morning News that Elliott would consider reducing his salary if it meant he’d stick around Dallas.
[RELATED: Cowboys RB Tony Pollard Suffers Broken Leg]
As Gehlken notes, there’s no real rush to reduce Elliott’s salary, although it may be in the organization’s best interest to renegotiate a deal before the league year starts on March 15. Still, the fact that Elliott is even willing to hit the negotiating table should be a positive sign for everyone involved.
The Cowboys are equally interested in keeping their star running back. The reporter notes that Elliott is considered a “selfless teammate” who supported Tony Pollard‘s increased offensive role, and the veteran RB has also earned praise for his pass blocking ability and ball protection (Elliott has only one fumble over the past two years). The Cowboys also have a bit of leverage when it comes to negotiating, perhaps explaining why Elliott is so eager to discuss a reworked deal. As Gehlken notes, the Cowboys don’t have any guarantees tied to Elliott’s salary for the first time since they inked him to a six-year, $90MM extension in 2019. The team could theoretically cut Elliott and be left with ~$6MM dead cap hits in 2023 and 2024, although that route is naturally “believed to be counter to the club’s intentions.”
Further complicating negotiations will be the status of Pollard’s impending free agency. Following a productive fourth NFL season that saw him finish with 1,378 yards from scrimmage and 12 touchdowns, Pollard was eyeing a sizable pay raise as a free agent this offseason. While a broken leg during this past weekend’s playoff loss may have cost him a bit of money on his next contract, there’s no denying that the Cowboys would have to budget if they hoped to maintain their RB depth chart. Reducing Elliott’s salary could provide the front office a bit of extra wiggle room when it comes to working out a new contract for Pollard.
Following the Cowboys’ loss to the 49ers last night, Elliott made it clear to reporters that we wants to stay in Dallas.
“I’ve definitely thought about it,” said Elliott (via Gehlken). “I want to be here. I don’t have a crystal ball; I can’t tell you the future. But I definitely want to be here.”
Elliott had the fewest touches of his career in 2022, but it didn’t lead to better production. The veteran’s 3.8 yards per touch marked a career-low, and he failed to hit 1,000 yards from scrimmage for the first time in his career. The RB especially struggled as the season went on, as the 27-year-old averaged 2.6 yards per carry (82 carries, 213 yards) in the final six games of the regular season.
All this article talked about is his running skills, why does that matter for an incumbent center?
How about them cowboys
I would demand a raise to stay with that team. Never going to win a super bowl with Dak.
It’s not like Elliot is doing much to help, either, there. Paying him as a superstar when he’s another cooked veteran RB is a big part of their problem, too. No one’s winning a SB with him anymore unless he’s on a cheap salary as a backup.
He’s had 3 consecutive unproductive seasons.
Send him away. Re Sign Pollack. He’s the better back. Proven. Just goes to show that signing a RB to expensive deals won’t work out. Shelf life to small and there’s just a a good players in the draft on rookie deals.
“Just goes to show that signing a RB to expensive deals won’t work out.”
It kind of did work out, though. They got some years of good production and now they can cut him with a small cap hit.
Also, you just said to sign Pollack (Pollard) and immediately follow it up by saying RB deals don’t work out.
They paid him way too much to justify drafting him way too high. He was a good back at his best, but not now. Cut his pay by half and it’s still too much.
Yes, an overpay. His agent is definitely in his ear. Express gratitude with a good dose of humility to your current employer. Staying in Dallas is where he’ll get the most money.
Actually, Elliot is now on the back end of a front loaded deal. The Cowboys have already paid out the pro-rated bonuses. Zeke is now entering the four year no guaranteed money portion of the extension that he signed. That is why he is so eager to do a new deal and sign a new contract.
Elliotts production has gone down the crapper since McCarthy has been Coach. Give this dude 20-25 carries a game and they’ll probably get to the SB
It’s not McCarthy, it’s the career arc of a RB. They generally don’t last long at a high level. Elliot had his dominant years of heavy touches, now he’s fallen off and is on his way out of the league.
Le’Veon Bell fell off at about Elliot’s age, too. That’s how it goes, they are great until they aren’t.
Ezekiel Elliott serves as a warning to the Giants.
Doesn’t matter who the running back is for Dallas. They aren’t winning with Dak Prescott at QB.
What a big dummy. Just keep your mouth shut and let the club possibly approach you about a paycut.
Then explain why all social media was full of “Cut Zeke” and “Trade Zeke” as soon as the game ended Sunday night.
The Cowboys should have a number that they’re willing to pay both Elliot and Pollard, ask Pollard first see what he is willing to take vs what he wants coming off the injury, then make an offer to Elliott.
If you watch the games you can see Zeke still has value. Many of his runs are designed to be short yardage so that partly explains his low ypc. Even last night he had a great run for a first down that was just a 2 yarder.
I’m not saying he’s peak Zeke and his days of 300 carries at 4.5-5 ypc are probably over but at a lower cap number I def think Zeke can help this team as a vet presence and nice RB2.
Vet presence (which is way overplayed and commented on) and RB2 does not equal $11million/yr…..he knows that and so does Dallas….even Jerry Jones knows that although he’ll undoubtedly screw this up too…..
This is why the suck. They pay a backup 11m lol
There are established formulas to winning a championship; very few involve high priced RBs. Save the salary by cutting Zeke and spending it on Dak’s replacement or building an unstoppable defense.
The highest priced running back is still playing for a Super Bowl
He bout to get smacked
Finkle is Einhorn, aaand Einhorn is Finkle!
Jerry!!….Jerry!!!!
You could also say Cowboys considering performance cut, to stay with Elliott
What’s the franchise tag for centers?
For 10M, he will take a pay cut to stay in the NFL.