Cowboys News: Timeline for Ezekiel Elliott contract dilemma, Dak Prescott on Mike McCarthy
By Jerry Trotta
The Dallas Cowboys offseason is hardly a month old, and fans want a resolution to Ezekiel Elliott’s contract dilemma.
With no more guaranteed money left on his deal, the Cowboys finally have an out of Elliott’s contract. Per Over The Cap, Dallas could save $10.9 million in cap room, while incurring an affordable $5.82 million dead cap charge.
Those numbers drop to $10 million, and $4.32 million, respectively, in 2024, so this offseason is the team’s best chance to maximize savings.
Of course, this wouldn’t be a debate if Elliott would return on his current salary. The former All-Pro running back is willing to take a pay cut to stay with the Cowboys, though it’s anyone’s guess what that truncated salary will look like.
It seems as though Zeke’s camp isn’t privy to that information, either.
ESPN’s Adam Schefter reported over the weekend that Elliott’s agents will try to gauge the player’s value by talking to other teams at the NFL Combine, which starts Monday, Feb. 27, and runs through Monday, March 6.
It will take some tampering at the Scouting Combine to resolve whether Ezekiel Elliott will take less to stay in Dallas or go elsewhere. https://t.co/EqUEHpjwkX
— ProFootballTalk (@ProFootballTalk) February 17, 2023
More Cowboys News:
- Yes, the Cowboys will partake in tampering at the combine. It happens all the time around the league, especially at the combine and before free agency. As long as they’re close-lipped, they won’t face any penalties.
- “What’s going to happen here is that at the combine, Zeke Elliott’s agents have to figure out his value to other teams in what looks like a deep free agent running back class at a time when other teams are not really willing to pay top dollar for running backs,” Schefter said on NFL Live. “And if he determines that there is not some big money out there with another thing, then the best and simplest thing would be to keep Zeke in Dallas on a restructured deal.”
- Dak Prescott revealed how much of the offense will change now that Mike McCarthy is calling the shots on offense. “Right now, Mike [McCarthy] told me a 20-30% change,” Prescott told Yahoo Sports’ Jori Espstein. “I think if anything, it’s things that need to be changed. It’s great to dial in, fix some things, get sharper and crisper. I’m excited.”
The agents of #Cowboys RB Zeke Elliott will "figure out his value at the combine" and then decide if they'll accept a restructured contract to stay with Dallas, according to Adam Schefter.
— Tipico Sportsbook (@tipico) February 18, 2023
If Zeke refuses to restructure contract his contract, he'll be released. pic.twitter.com/nFNbiBU4Bl
NFL News:
- With free agency on the horizon and contract negotiations ongoing with the Giants, Daniel Jones is switching agents. Represented by CAA since he was drafted in 2019, the former sixth overall pick will join Athlete’s First as he seeks a long-term deal, per ESPN’s Jordan Raanan.
- The Chargers will have two new coordinators in 2023. After hiring Kellen Moore to oversee the offense, Los Angeles will promote Derrick Ansley to DC, and Tommy Donatell to secondary coach. This shake-up comes after Bolts DC Renaldo Hill left the team to reunite with Vic Fangio in Miami and become the Dolphins’ defensive pass-game coordinator.
