Dallas Cowboys News & Rumors

Cowboys Remain Open To Ezekiel Elliott Reunion

The Cowboys were among many teams to add running backs during the draft, a signal seen by some that they are fully prepared to move on from Ezekiel Elliott. That still may not be the case, however.

The Cowboys used a sixth-round pick on Deuce Vaughn, a move which generated considerable interest in its own right around the league given the fact that his father Chris works in the team’s scouting department. The Kansas State product figures to serve in a rotational role behind Tony Pollard, who will play on the franchise tag in 2023 after establishing himself as the clear-cut No. 1 back for Dallas.

The five-foot-five Vaughn will likely never be tasked with handling short-yardage and goal line duties, however, something which was true of Elliott in 2022 in particular. The latter’s efficiency and totals hit a career low last season, but he could still carve out a specific role as a power back in the next offense he plays in. That could still end up bringing him back to Dallas.

When asked if the door is now closed to an Elliott reunion, Cowboys owner Jerry Jones said, “No, no, no, not at all. That ship hasn’t sailed yet. We haven’t made a decision. We obviously drafted a running back, but a little different style than Zeke. I’m not trying to be cute. But nothing we did today changes that” (h/t David Moore of the Dallas Morning News).

It was learned last month that the Cowboys declined to offer the two-time rushing champion a pay cut after making the expected move of releasing him. At that point, they acknowledged the possibility of a reunion, though it remains to be seen how motivated they will be to bring Elliott into what is now a more crowded backfield. The former No. 4 pick has yet receive much (if anything) in the way of interest from the three other teams he is reportedly looking to join.

That could change in the near future, as he and all other veteran free agents will evaluate which teams could represent suitable landing spots with the draft now complete. A number of experienced running backs are still on the market, but Elliott’s future – with the Cowboys or otherwise – could become clearer soon.

“That’s what we’ll be sitting here evaluating,” Jones added. “We’ll look and see what his situation is, what our situation is. But I have not ruled out Zeke.”

2023 NFL Draft Results: Team By Team

As the 2023 NFL Draft gets underway, we will keep track of each team’s haul here:

Arizona Cardinals

Round 1, No. 6 (from Rams through Lions): Paris Johnson, OT (Ohio State) (signed)
Round 2, No. 41 (from Titans): BJ Ojulari, DE (LSU) (signed)
Round 3, No. 72 (from Titans): Garrett Williams, CB (Syracuse) (signed)
Round 3, No. 94 (from Eagles): Michael Wilson, WR (Stanford) (signed)
Round 4, No. 122 (from Dolphins through Chiefs and Lions): Jon Gaines II, G (UCLA) (signed)
Round 5, No. 139 (from Broncos through Lions): Clayton Tune, QB (Houston) (signed)
Round 5, No. 168 (from Cardinals through Lions): Owen Pappoe, LB (Auburn) (signed)
Round 5, No. 180: Kei’Trel Clark, CB (Louisville) (signed)
Round 6, No. 213: Dante Stills, DT (West Virginia) (signed)

Atlanta Falcons

Round 1, No. 8: Bijan Robinson, RB (Texas) (signed)
Round 2, No. 38 (from Colts): Matthew Bergeron, T (Syracuse) (signed)
Round 3, No. 75: Zach Harrison, DE (Ohio State) (signed)
Round 4, No. 113: Clark Phillips III, CB (Utah) (signed)
Round 7, No. 224 (from Raiders): DeMarcco Hellams, S (Alabama) (signed)
Round 7, No. 225: Jovaughn Gwyn, G (South Carolina) (signed)

Baltimore Ravens

Round 1, No. 22: Zay Flowers, WR (Boston College) (signed)
Round 3, No. 86: Trenton Simpson, LB (Clemson) (signed)
Round 4, No. 124: Tavius Robinson, LB (Ole Miss) (signed)
Round 5, No. 157: Kyu Blu Kelly, CB (Stanford) (signed)
Round 6, No. 199: Malaesala Aumavae-Laulu, OT (Oregon) (signed)
Round 7, No. 229 (from Browns): Andrew Vorhees, G (USC) (signed)

Buffalo Bills

Round 1, No. 25 (from Giants through Jaguars): Dalton Kincaid, TE (Utah) (signed)
Round 2, No. 59: O’Cyrus Torrence, G (Florida) (signed)
Round 3, No, 91: Dorian Williams, LB (Tulane) (signed)
Round 5, No. 150 (from Commanders): Justin Shorter, WR (Florida) (signed)
Round 7, No. 230 (from Buccaneers through Jets, Texans, Eagles and Bills): Nick Broeker, G (Ole Miss) (signed)
Round 7, No. 252 (from Buccaneers through Rams): Alex Austin, CB (Oregon State) (signed)

Carolina Panthers

Round 1, No. 1 (from Bears): Bryce Young, QB (Alabama) (signed)
Round 2, No. 39: Jonathan Mingo, WR (Ole Miss) (signed)
Round 3, No. 80 (from Steelers): D.J. Johnson, DE (Oregon) (signed)
Round 4, No. 114: Chandler Zavala, G (North Carolina State) (signed)
Round 5, No. 145: Jammie Robinson, S (Florida State) (signed)

Chicago Bears

Round 1, No. 10 (from Saints through Eagles): Darnell Wright, OT (Tennessee) (signed)
Round 2, No. 53 (from Ravens): Gervon Dexter, DT (Florida) (signed)
Round 2, No. 56 (from Jaguars): Tyrique Stevenson, CB (Miami) (signed)
Round 3, No. 64: Zacch Pickens, DT (South Carolina) (signed)
Round 4, No. 115 (from Saints): Roschon Johnson, RB (Texas) (signed)
Round 4, No. 133 (from Eagles): Tyler Scott, WR (Cincinnati) (signed)
Round 5, No. 148 (from Patriots through Ravens): Noah Sewell, LB (Oregon) (signed)
Round 5, No. 165 (from Saints through Eagles): Terell Smith, CB (Minnesota) (signed)
Round 7, No. 218: Travis Bell, DT (Kennesaw State) (signed)
Round 7, No. 258: Kendall Williamson, S (Stanford) (signed)

Cincinnati Bengals

Round 1, No. 28: Myles Murphy, DE (Clemson) (signed)
Round 2, No. 60: DJ Turner, CB (Michigan) (signed)
Round 3, No. 95 (from Chiefs): Jordan Battle, S (Alabama) (signed)
Round 4, No. 131: Charlie Jones, WR (Purdue) (signed)
Round 5, No. 163: Chase Brown, RB (Illinois) (signed)
Round 6, No. 206: Andrei Iosivas, WR (Princeton) (signed)
Round 6, No. 217 (from Chiefs): Brad Robbins, P (Michigan) (signed)
Round 7, No. 246: DJ Ivey, CB (Miami) (signed)

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Cowboys Trade For No. 178, Pick CB CB Eric Scott Jr.

The Cowboys have made a move to get atop the sixth round. According to NFL Network’s Tom Pelissero (on Twitter), Dallas has acquired pick No. 178 from Kansas City. In exchange, the Chiefs got a 2024 fifth-round pick.

The pick proved to be one of the more well-traveled selections in the 2023 draft. The selection was initially a Bears pick that was sent to the Dolphins in the Jakeem Grant trade. Miami later traded the pick to Kansas City in the Tyreek Hill deal, and then the Chiefs finally sent off the pick to Dallas.

The Cowboys have used their acquired pick to select Southern Mississippi cornerback CB Eric Scott Jr..

The defensive back got into 31 games for Southern Miss over the past three seasons, collecting five interceptions. That included a 2022 campaign where he compiled 27 tackles and a pair of pick-sixes. His play-making ability should afford him a good look in the Cowboys secondary.

Cowboys Select DT Mazi Smith At No. 26

The Cowboys are using their first-round pick to shore up their defensive line. With the No. 26 pick, Dallas has selected Michigan defensive tackle Mazi Smith.

With the way the draft board was shaking out, many assumed the Cowboys may use their first-round selection on a tight end to replace Dalton Schultz. However, the Bills traded up ahead of Dallas to select Dalton Kincaid, and while Notre Dame TE Michael Mayer was still on the board, the Cowboys opted to take a defender instead.

They ultimately landed on Smith, who earned first-team All-Big Ten honors following a 2022 campaign that saw him compile 48 tackles, 2.5 tackles for loss, and a half-sack. Thanks to his performance, the prospect was certain to hear his name called during one of the first two rounds, with scouts loving his size and quickness but raising an eyebrow at his consistency.

Ultimately, this will be an upside pick for Dallas, and the team has plenty of defensive line depth to bring Smith along slowly. It’ll be interesting to see whether the rookie settles in as a defensive tackle or nose tackle, but for the time being, he’ll find himself in the mix with the recently re-signed Johnathan Hankins and rookie-contract presence Osa Odighizuwa on the Dallas D-tackle depth chart.

Cowboys Planning Medium-Term Tony Pollard Extension

The Cowboys are not planning for this to be a “prove it” year for Tony Pollard. They are aiming to sign their franchise-tagged player to an extension. And the team is not planning to make that contract as long as Ezekiel Elliott‘s.

Although the Cowboys traditionally prefer extensions of at least five years, executive VP Stephen Jones said (via ESPN.com’s Ed Werder) the team is eyeing a three- to four-year deal for Pollard. This would essentially cover the remainder of the fifth-year veteran’s prime.

Last year, the Cowboys and Dalton Schultz could not work out an agreement. The Cowboys made offers to the tight end, but the veteran pass catcher wanted a shorter-term deal compared to what Dallas was offering. In recent offseasons, the Cowboys also gave lengthy contracts to Elliott (six years), Zack Martin (six years), Jaylon Smith (six years), DeMarcus Lawrence (five years), La’el Collins (five years), Amari Cooper (five years) and Michael Gallup (five years). Tyron Smith remains attached to the eight-year extension he signed back in 2014; that is the longest-running active NFL deal. The team bent for Dak Prescott (four years, $160MM), but that player-friendly re-up came as the quarterback held the leverage of a second franchise tag going on Dallas’ books.

Pollard upstaged Elliott last season and became the team’s backfield priority this year, leading to the $10.1MM franchise tag — which the former fourth-round pick has signed — and ensuing Elliott release. Pollard has surpassed 1,000 scrimmage yards in each of the past two seasons; he earned Pro Bowl acclaim for his 1,378-yard, 12-touchdown slate. A three-year deal would match Nick Chubb‘s; the other backs signed to eight-figure-per-year contracts are attached to four- or five-year deals.

Pollard’s season ended with a fractured fibula and high ankle sprain. This is not expected to impact Pollard’s Week 1 availability, and the Cowboys’ second-half struggles without their top back in San Francisco helped illustrate the value the Memphis product brings. That said, the team has been linked to Texas product Bijan Robinson at No. 26 overall. It would be borderline shocking if Robinson fell that far, but the Cowboys did take CeeDee Lamb with their 2020 first-round pick despite having Cooper and Gallup rostered.

Joining Saquon Barkley and Josh Jacobs as backs tagged this year, Pollard differs in being under contract. His $10.1MM salary is guaranteed. The Cowboys gave Elliott a market-topping contract just before the 2019 season; Pollard, 25, should not be expected to land such a pact. But his signing the franchise tender may signal his negotiations will not be as difficult as the Barkley and Jacobs talks look set to become.

Packers, Cowboys Eyeing TE Michael Mayer?

The 2023 wide receiver class is relatively lacking compared to recent drafts, but this year will provide teams with a number of high-end options at the tight end position. One of the top prospects is being connected to a few different teams in the first round order.

Michael Mayer is widely seen as the most well-rounded tight end in this year’s celebrated class. The Notre Dame product had high-end production in each of the past two seasons in particular, totaling 138 catches, 1,649 yards and 16 touchdowns. Over that time, he also demonstrated a strong run blocking ability, setting him apart from other seam-stretchers who were primarily tasked with playing a role in the passing game. Mayer was named a consensus All-American in 2022.

That has earned him interest from several teams in the pre-draft process, and led to the expectation that he will be a first-round lock. The Packers have frequently been connected to a pass-catcher of some kind with their top pick – which now sits at No. 13. Selecting a tight end could put them in consideration for Utah alum Dalton Kincaid, but SI’s Albert Breer notes that Green Bay has most often been named as a team interested in adding Mayer. The latter is likely to have a more immediate impact in the NFL given his skillset, something which could be of particular benefit for an offense transitioning to Jordan Love under center.

Should Mayer slide into the 20s on Thursday, he can still be considered a lock to hear his name called that night. Veteran NFL reporter Mike Giardi tweets that the Cowboys are high on the former Fighting Irishman, and Dallas represents his floor. The Cowboys own the No. 26 pick, and have a need at the TE spot after losing Dalton Schultz in free agency. Kincaid may represent a more direct comparison for Schultz, but Dallas has ton “a ton of work” on Mayer, per Giardi.

A number of other tight ends beyond Mayer and Kincaid are projected to be drafted on Day 2 and make a considerable impact, meaning Green Bay and Dallas will both have secondary options to choose from. It would appear their preference, however, would be to acquire Mayer on Thursday as part of their offensive re-tooling.

Minor NFL Transactions: 4/24/23

Minor moves from around the league today:

Baltimore Ravens

Chicago Bears

Dallas Cowboys

Philadelphia Eagles

Pittsburgh Steelers

Growing Certainty Jaxon Smith-Njigba Will Be First WR Drafted

There are a number of wide receivers with first round grades, including TCU’s Quentin Johnston, USC’s Jordan Addison, Tennessee’s Jalin Hyatt, and Boston College’s Zay Flowers. All have their pluses and minuses and can bring different things to an NFL offense. But, for a number of reasons, Ohio State’s Jaxon Smith-Njigba is starting to run away with the title of WR1 in the 2023 NFL Draft class.

Smith-Njigba is a true slot receiver, spending almost 90% of his time at Ohio State on the inside. He makes up for a lack of size and top end speed with agility, body control, and strong hands. Despite being a Buckeye for the past three years, he only has one full season of production at the college level, after missing 10 games with a hamstring injury last year.

He benefitted in that full season from having first-round picks Garrett Wilson and Chris Olave surrounding him. Still, Smith-Njigba outperformed both players in 2021, with 95 receptions, to Wilson’s 70 and Olave’s 65, and 1,606 receiving yards, to Wilson’s 1,058 and Olave’s 936. He didn’t have as many receiving touchdowns as Wilson (12) or Olave (13), but he still managed to find the end zone nine times.

The Eagles, holding the 10th overall pick, have reportedly been doing some last-second research on wideouts, according to Tony Pauline of Pro Football Network, specifically doing homework on Smith-Njigba. The Jets are another team to watch here. New York would prefer to take a top offensive tackle prospect, but if none are available, it’s hard to see Smith-Njigba slipping past them at No. 13. The Cowboys have also shown some recent interest in the wide receivers of the draft, but at No. 26 overall, Smith-Njigba isn’t likely to be around.

Regardless of where he hears his name called, it’s becoming more and more apparent that Smith-Njigba is establishing himself as one of the best, if not the best, pass catching prospect in the draft. If Pauline is correct, Smith-Njigba could find himself catching passes from Jalen Hurts or Aaron Rodgers next September.

Draft Notes: Hooker, Texans, Avila

For much of the pre-draft process, it has been widely assumed that four quarterbacks will be taken in the first round. The next highest-rated passer, Hendon Hooker, could increase that number to five.

The Tennessee product had a promising 2022 season cut short by an ACL tear, which will keep him sidelined for at least part of his rookie campaign. That, along with his age (25), has hurt his stock to the point that many see him as a second-round prospect. Hooker has met with a number of teams across the Day 1 order, however, and the Raiders are one squad which came away impressed with him.

ESPN’s Matt Miller confirms that Hooker is gathering steam to be picked in the first round. He cites multiple scouts who believe he can safely be penciled into the Day 1 order, with one prediction even connecting him to the Commanders at No. 16. Washington is committed to Sam Howell as their starter, and they have signed Jacoby Brissett as an experienced backup. While teams set to pick later in the round could therefore be better fits, it may not come as much a surprise if one of them elects to add Hooker compared to earlier in the offseason.

Here are some other notes from the same ESPN piece:

  • Both Miller and colleague Jordan Reid are in line with the prevailing thought in league circles that the Texans will not use the second overall pick on a quarterback. Recent reports have increasingly pointed to Houston preferring a defensive prospect to any quarterback other than Bryce Young, who is widely expected to go first overall. Miller adds that Alabama’s Will Anderson Jr. is the name “most often connected” to the second pick – something which goes against previous reports listing fellow edge rusher Tyree Wilson as the favorite for GM Nick Caserio and Co. In any case, the Texans (who also hold the 12th pick) will certainly be a team to watch in the early going on Thursday, as their QB situation may not be addressed on Day 1.
  • Reid names Kansas State cornerback Julius Brents and TCU guard Steve Avila as players who could find their way into the back of the first round. The latter delivered strong performances both in the run game and in pass protection during the Horned Frogs’ run to the national title game and is among the top interior linemen in the 2023 class. Per Reid, both the Cowboys and Saints have their eye on Avila. Both Dallas and New Orleans used first-round picks (Tyler Smith and Trevor Penning, respectively) to bolster their offensive fronts last year, but Avila could be an immediate starter for whichever team adds him late on Day 1 or early on Day 2.

Cowboys Pick Up CeeDee Lamb’s Fifth-Year Option, Eyeing Extension

As the deadline for teams to pick up fifth-year options for 2020 first-round picks looms in less than two weeks (May 3), the Cowboys will extend CeeDee Lamb‘s contract through 2024. The team made the expected decision to exercise Lamb’s option.

We heard early last month the Cowboys were heading in this direction, and it will cost the Cowboys $17.99MM. Lamb is tied to a $2.5MM base salary this year and a $4.5MM cap number. Should Lamb play on the fifth-year option in 2024, the Cowboys will have a much higher cap hit on their payroll.

Although Lamb, 24, has two Pro Bowls on his resume, the first of those — in 2021 — came as an alternate. Regarding the four-tiered fifth-year option structure, Lamb being voted to the 2022 Pro Bowl Games as an original invitee places him on the second tier. Players voted to the Pro Bowl twice in their first three years comprise the top tier of the option structure, which came to be as part of the 2020 CBA.

The Cowboys have done well to identify first-round talent over the past several years. Lamb earning a Pro Bowl invite during his first three seasons follows the likes of Tyron Smith, Travis Frederick, Zack Martin, Ezekiel Elliott, Leighton Vander Esch and Micah Parsons. The Cowboys gave Smith, Frederick, Martin and Elliott extensions — which reduced their cap hits before their fifth-year option seasons — and the team wants to extend Lamb as well. The Cowboys will aim to extend their top wideout at some point in 2023, Todd Archer of ESPN.com adds.

Despite rostering Amari Cooper and Michael Gallup at the time they chose Lamb 17th overall, the Cowboys going with a best-player-available strategy paid off. Gallup surpassed 1,100 receiving yards in 2019, and Cooper had just signed a five-year deal worth $100MM. But the Cowboys viewed Lamb, who went off the board after Henry Ruggs and Jerry Jeudy, as too talented to pass up. The Oklahoma product has proved the team correct. His 260 receptions through three seasons are the most in team history.

The Cowboys carried the Cooper-Lamb-Gallup trio for two seasons but dismantled it by trading Cooper to the Browns last year. Lamb became the team’s aerial centerpiece in 2022, and his 1,359-yard year make it fairly easy to predict both the option will be exercised and extension talks will commence. Lamb, who led the 2021 Cowboys in receiving with 1,102 yards, has put himself in position for a lucrative extension.

Dallas has since traded for Brandin Cooks, whom the team pursued last year. But with the Texans eating some of Cooks’ salary, the oft-traded wideout will not check in as a No. 1-level wide receiver on the Cowboys’ payroll. Cooks will count $6MM against Dallas’ cap in 2023 and stands to count $10MM against the 2024 cap. Should the Cowboys finalize a Lamb extension, it will cost more — on a per-year basis, at least — than Cooper’s pact did.

If the Cowboys cannot come to an extension agreement with Lamb this year, they now will have the 2024 offseason to do so as well. This also keeps the door open for a potential Trevon Diggs franchise tag next year. The Cowboys want to extend the young cornerback, but with Diggs being a former second-round pick, no option exists in his contract. The Alabama alum is going into a walk year. The Cowboys having used their franchise tag in each of the past six years certainly points to a Diggs tag being a reasonable scenario.