Jerry Jones makes asinine Ezekiel Elliott comment after Cowboys don't draft RB

The Dallas Cowboys haven't been as easy to read in the NFL Draft since Jason Garrett left, but nobody expected them not to come away with a running back on day two.

Just a few hours after Jerry Jones basically told the league that Dallas would be drafting Brooks in the second round, the Panthers traded up to take Brooks. We still believe that the Cowboys would have taken Brooks if he fell to pick No. 56, but this unexpectedly set the stage for a RB-less night two.

With the rest of the running back class to choose from at 56, Dallas opted for defensive end Marshawn Kneeland. They chose OL Cooper Beebe with their first pick of round three and capped the night with linebacker Marist Liufau.

So, where does Jerry Jones go from here? Draft a RB on day three? Perhaps, but the owner's attention is fixated on Ezekiel Elliott. So much so that Jones heaped some absurd praise on Elliott's behalf after round three concluded.

Jerry Jones made absurd Ezekiel Elliott comment after Cowboys don't draft RB

"As recent as the end of the year (last season), I saw Zeke play (with the Patriots) and I’ll tell you, he’s good enough to be a starter," Jones said.

Jones did emphasize that there are multiple RBs the Cowboys like going into day three. That's something for Cowboys fans to hold onto, because Jones' Zeke remark is, well, not. While Elliott strung together some impressive games in New England last year, he's clearly not starting-caliber anymore.

For the season, Elliott's 3.5 yards per carry was tied for the worst in the NFL. He also ranked 32nd in missed tackles forced, 29th in yards after contact per attempt and 34th in explosive runs (carries of 10 or more yards), per PFF. Those are backup numbers every day of the week, including Sunday.

The good news? Only four running backs have been drafted thus far. There is still a vault of compelling options for Dallas, including Audric Estime, Jaylen Wright, Braelon Allen and Ray Davis, among others.

Regardless of if they take a running back on day three, Cowboys fans might as well warm up to the idea of Elliott returning to Dallas. Reports have trickled out during the draft that hint the two-time rushing champ will return to his old stomping grounds after the draft. The two sides met before the draft to touch base, but a reunion feels inevitable given how the first two days have unfolded.

When it happens, Jones might be crazy enough to trot Zeke out as the starter.

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