The Dallas Cowboys boast one of the NFL's most electric running backs in Tony Pollard. Unfortunately for Pollard, he played the first three years of his four-year rookie contract in Ezekiel Elliott's shadow, even though most fans would argue he's been the superior player for the last two seasons.
Unlike most RBs, Pollard was quick to the draw in terms of signing his franchise tag earlier this offseason.
That gave the Cowboys and Pollard plenty of time to negotiate an extension before Monday's 4 p.m. EST deadline for tagged players to sign a multi-year contract with their current teams, though it quickly became apparent that the odds were stacked against the 2022 Pro Bowler.
ESPN's Jeremy Fowler reported Sunday that -- barring a late change of heart -- Pollard and the Cowboys won't reach a deal by the cutoff.
That's ultimately what happened. While Pollard is a great player and imperative to the offense, the Cowboys were smart to hold off here.
3 reasons Cowboys were right to not extend Tony Pollard
3. Pollard will already make $10.1 million on franchise tag
At the end of the day, $10.1 million is good value for Pollard, who made $3.187 million total the previous four seasons combined. As a former fourth-round pick, he had an average salary of $796,000 and a $667,780 signing bonus.
The $10.1million franchise tag is fully guaranteed, which means Pollard is locked into that sum regardless of health and performance.
That's a great deal for Pollard given the current RB market. No free agent this offseason signed for more than $6.25 million annually.
Additionally, no running back got more than $13 million guaranteed and the second-best (David Montgomery) got $11 million guaranteed from the Bears on his three-year deal, which is slightly greater than Pollard's $10.1 million.
No sense investing more money into Pollard.
2. Pollard's playoff injury
Remember the backlash the Cowboys received after they signed Ezekiel Elliott? While Pollard wouldn't command anything close to what Zeke got, imagine the optics if Dallas invested more money into a running back who's coming off a major injury and entering his fifth season?
The NFL is trending in the opposite direction.
Everyone expects Pollard to bounce back, but a fractured fibula and high-ankle sprain is a devastating set of injuries to suffer on one play. While the fibula healed on its own, Pollard underwent tightrope surgery to repair his ankle.
It's by no means an apples-to-apples comparison, but Dallas extended Michael Gallup post-ACL surgery. How does that decision look right now? Not great, that's for sure, and Gallup is arguably entering a make-or-break year with the franchise after his worst season since his rookie year five years ago.
It's a dicy game paying players post-injury. Given the position's limited shelf life, Dallas is wise to exercise patience with Pollard.
1. More important players need new deals
This isn't a knock on Pollard. ESPN's panel of executives, coaches and scouts ranked him as the ninth-best back in the league and you could certainly argue he should be higher. Other outlets placed him inside the top five, but the RB position has sadly been marginalized over the years.
The position is wildly interchangeable, which is why so many late-round draft picks and undrafted free agents blossom every year. Last year, it was Dameon Pierce (Round 4), Tyler Allgeier (Round 5) and Isiah Pacheco (Round 7).
What hurts Pollard is that Dallas has multiple bills that are coming due. CeeDee Lamb is up for an extension, Trevon Diggs is entering the final year of his rookie deal, and the Cowboys would like to lower Dak Prescott's $59.455 million cap hit in 2024. An extension is the clearest path to lowering that number.
Terence Steele is another extension candidate and odds are the front office would prioritize right tackle over running back depending how he looks post-ACL surgery. At best, Pollard is fourth on the extension totem pole, and that doesn't even consider Micah Parsons' future mammoth contract two years from now.