Although the Cowboys released Ezekiel Elliott in March, they did not commit to cutting costs at running back. Tony Pollard is attached to a $10.1MM franchise tag, but the 2022 Pro Bowler has not offered a strong contract-year sample just yet.
Pollard has gone from being an overqualified change-of-pace back to an every-down role. That has impacted the Dallas starter’s per-play numbers. Pollard’s 3.9 yards per carry and 6.8 yards per reception are considerably down from his 2022 production (5.2, 9.5), and the Cowboys have been mentioned as a team interested in adding to its backfield.
Jerry Jones minimized this prospect Monday morning, indicating (via the Fort Worth Star-Telegram’s Clarence Hill) a trade for a back is “not on the radar.” Considering Jones’ overarching stance on the Cowboys’ desire to make a deal at any position, it is unsurprising the longtime owner would point to the organization standing down in the backfield.
Citing roster confidence, Jones said last week the Cowboys would not initiate trade talks this year. The Eagles made a move to bolster their roster last week, in acquiring All-Pro safety Kevin Byard from the Titans. The Cowboys are tied for the NFC’s second-best record, at 5-2, though the blowout loss to the 49ers invited questions about the team’s big-game viability. More questions will be answered in Week 9, when the Cowboys face the Eagles. Signs continue to point to inactivity before this year’s deadline, which arrives at 3pm CT on Tuesday.
“For a player to come in and help this team right now, it’s more than likely, unfortunately, it’s gonna probably be somebody who is an established guy and he’s usually well paid and they probably want a lot for him,” executive VP Stephen Jones said (via The Athletic’s Jon Machota). “That makes it a challenge. It’s probably why you don’t see as many trades as you might think.”
Dallas is obviously not averse to making deals at the deadline, having dealt a first-round pick for Amari Cooper in 2018 and having made offers for Brandin Cooks and Jerry Jeudy last year. The team sits in the middle of the pack in terms of cap space, with just more than $7MM available, but it does not appear running back is a position it is interested in bolstering this season.
The Cowboys have been connected to Derrick Henry, but the Titans have informed the two-time rushing champion he will — barring a major offer — be staying in Tennessee for the season’s remainder. It would certainly be interesting if the Cowboys reacquired Elliott, who is on a 2-6 Patriots team, seeing as rumors emerged about the parties reuniting this summer. Elliott did not indicate a deal was close, though.
Dallas added Ronald Jones this offseason but cut him rather than reinstate him following a PED suspension. Rico Dowdle, who went two full seasons without a carry coming into this year, has resided as Pollard’s backup. The fourth-year back has 33 carries for 125 yards, joining Pollard with a sub-4.0-yard average. The Cowboys rank 11th on the ground, though Pollard’s minus-17 rushing yards over expected figure — per Next Gen Stats — resides outside the top 30 this season. Pollard finished third in this metric in 2022.
The Cowboys should sign Adrian Peterson and get him those 72 yards he needs to reach the 15,000 threshold. Jerry Jones is getting desperate to add something more to his legacy and this would be a classy way for him to ride off into the sunset.