The Dallas Cowboys have holes in their running back room following the release of Ezekiel Elliott, specifically with a need for a guy that can come in and help protect the quarterback as well as have a good enough handle on the scheme to make the unscheduled plays.
And among the guys out there to help their current batch of backs, few might raise as many eyebrows as the next guy in question. Why reinvent the wheel is the sentiment here and the question you might ask of the Cowboys.
And by that you mean by that decision-makers on multiple levels for Dallas in recent days have hinted at the possibility that they’re not closing the door on the return of the former fan favorite running back.
Here is a nicely compiled excerpt from a piece by Bleacher Report’s Scott Polacek that sums it all up wonderfully featuring quotes from Jerry Jones and Mike McCarthy.
Mike McCarthy says "no one felt good about" Ezekiel Elliott release, open to RB returning to Cowboys: "You always keep the door open"https://t.co/73C3MxI83E pic.twitter.com/CR9mr4vdZR
— Around The NFL (@AroundTheNFL) March 27, 2023
Will the Cowboys actually consider re-signing Ezekiel Elliott?
"The Dallas Cowboys moved on from running back Ezekiel Elliott as a post-June 1 release this offseason, but head coach Mike McCarthy isn’t fully closing the door on a return.“Yeah, definitely,” he told NFL Network’s Tom Pelissero when asked about a possible reunion now that Elliott is a free agent. “I think you always keep the door open. Absolutely.”McCarthy wasn’t the only one to echo those sentiments, as Cowboys owner Jerry Jones wouldn’t rule out a potential return either.“I don’t want to ever and I don’t want to leave him hanging or fans hanging or anybody,” Jones said, per Clarence E. Hill Jr. of the Fort Worth Star-Telegram. “But I wouldn’t take any possibility off the table.”"
And here’s the thing about it: it’s not just a sentimental move if it were to come to fruition. For starters, they were right to let Elliott go in the first place, as it’ll save them $10.9 million on the cap once June 1 rolls around.
However, what Elliott was able to do for Dak Prescott from a protection standpoint can’t be understated and isn’t a skill set that’s just out there among running backs in great abundance, never mind the chemistry they share.
Jerry Jones said the Cowboys never offered Ezekiel Elliott a contract adjustment to return before releasing him for cap reasons. But he has not closed the door on him returning if he doesn't sign with another team
— Clarence Hill Jr (@clarencehilljr) March 27, 2023
Now, you can’t afford to pay high double digits for what Zeke can offer you, but at the right price he certainly still can help. His volume won’t be as significant, as indicated by last season’s showing, but when you need him to be the guy to do the things that only he can do among a stable of other runners — it might just be an ideal situation for both parties.
If Zeke doesn’t find a much better deal out there — the early indicators aren’t encouraging — then he should consider returning home. As the above quotes suggest, the Cowboys are open to it and should be for the aforementioned reasons.
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