Cowboys rival gives Tony Pollard ringing endorsement before NFL's Top 100 reveal

Unless the Dallas Cowboys get one or two extensions done, it could be a long wait until the squad meets up again for training camp. While Dak Prescott, CeeDee Lamb and Trevon Diggs will be prioritized, it'd probably be easier to extend Tony Pollard and Terence Steele given their projected contracts.

As far as Pollard is concerned, most fans would like Dallas to reward the Pro Bowl running back with a multi-year deal. Having already signed the franchise tag, Pollard and the Cowboys have until mid July to negotiate extension.

If they're unable to reach a middle ground, Pollard will play 2023 on the tag and become an unrestricted free agent next offseason.

After 2022, Tony Pollard is no longer underrated. Where he ranks among the league's best running backs is open for interpretation, but he made a notable climb last year and is (finally) starting to garner national recognition.

In a teaser clip before the NFL's anticipated Top 100 Player reveal, Cowboys rival Saquon Barkley gave Pollard a burly vote of confidence.

Will Cowboys RB Tony Pollard make the NFL's Top 100 Players list?

"Tony Pollard, he's probably one of my favorite backs right now," Barkley said in the clip. "He epitomizes an every down back. At any moment he touches the ball, he can score, from anywhere. 70, 60, 10, one. No matter what, he's gonna find a way to score."

Is Pollard about to make his debut on the NFL's Top 100? It sure looks like it, and Cowboys fans everywhere should give Barkley a proper tip of the cap for endorsing the Memphis product as one of the best backs in the league.

Barkley and Pollard have a lot in common right now.

Both players were given the $10.09 million franchise tag this offseason and seek new contracts, though Barkley didn't report to Giants mandatory minicamp and has threatened to sit out the upcoming season if he hasn't signed an extension.

Pollard is keeping a much lower profile as he gears up for training camp. Coming off the first 1,000-yard rushing season of is career, the Cowboys are counting on Pollard to pick up the slack following the release of Ezekiel Elliott.

The Cowboys don't have an established No. 2 runner, so Barkley's belief of Pollard being an "every down back" will be put to the test. It'll be interesting to see how Pollard performs post ankle surgery, but all indications are that he's fully recovered and Pollard himself believes he's faster than ever after the injury.

Last year, the Cowboys had six players make the NFL's Top 100, including Micah Parsons (No. 16), Trevon Diggs (No. 26), Dak Prescott (No. 44), Zack Martin (No. 68) Tyron Smith (No. 92), and CeeDee Lamb (No. 95), respectively.

Parsons, Diggs, Martin and Lamb are virtual locks to repeat, and this teaser video suggests Pollard will join them on the distinguished list.

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