3 reasons Cowboys would be insane to keep Ezekiel Elliott in 2023

2. Cap savings will allow for roster building

It’s really this simple: cutting Elliott would pave the way for two or three additional signings in free agency.

If releasing the former All-Pro running back meant keeping, say, Leighton Vander Esch or Donovan Wilson, what would you say? While Jerry Jones might have to think about it, it’s the clearest no brainer of all-time.

If the Cowboys cut Elliott before June 1, they’ll accrue $11.86 million in dead money, while saving just $4.86 million against the cap. As a post June 1 cut, which have grown in popularity over the years, Dallas would absorb a manageable $5.82 million dead cap charge, while saving a healthy $10.9 million in cap space.

You can do a lot with $10.9 million in the NFL with how easy it is to find loopholes and manipulate the salary cap. Again, you could be talking about keeping a key free agent (Tony Pollard, anybody?) or bringing in an outsider who’ll help the team win.

Bottom line? It’d be franchise malpractice to look at his production and the potential cap savings if he got cut and the Cowboys still kept him. This roster has needs at wide receiver, cornerback, and defensive tackle, to name a few.