The Dallas Cowboys backfield situation looks set with Tony Pollard returning for at least one more season. The Cowboys placed the franchise tag on him earlier this offseason and no long-term deal was reached, so his future is up in the air.
But, he will be the lead back for the 2023 season as he showed this offseason he is healthy and recovered from the lower-body injury he suffered in the Divisional Round game against the San Francisco 49ers. He is in line for another big season, especially with Ezekiel Elliott being released.
Despite Pollard proving last season that he can handle a lead back role, the Cowboys have been mentioned as a possible landing spot for disgruntled Indianapolis Colts star running back, Jonathan Taylor. Jeff Kerr of CBS Sports believes Dallas is a potential landing spot for him as the Colts gave him permission to seek out a trade.
“Dallas has the second most salary cap space in the league with $21.5 million. After parting ways with Ezekiel Elliott, the Cowboys are left with a void at the position. Tony Pollard has been an efficient weapon for the NFC contender but Taylor would give them a dynamic weapon that owner Jerry Jones so often covets.
The Cowboys may be more inclined to conserve its salary cap space to re-sign wide receiver CeeDee Lamb and edge rusher Micah Parsons, but Jones may not be able to help himself.”
Keeping as much salary cap space open as possible is what the Cowboys should be doing. They are going to be shelling out some massive extensions in the coming years as their stars on rookie contracts will need to be paid sooner than later.
On top of the money that it would cost to pay Taylor, the Colts aren’t going to just give him away. They are looking for some serious value in return, as ESPN’s Stephen Holder is reporting that Indianapolis wants a first-round pick back in exchange.
That right there is a reason that running backs around the league are miffed. The Colts don’t believe Taylor is worth the price he is asking but isn’t going to trade him unless they get a premium package in return.
While acquiring Taylor is the kind of splashy, star-driven move the Cowboys always make, this one doesn’t make much sense. If they were going to pay a running back it may as well be Pollard. Even if he cost more contractually than Taylor, the Cowboys wouldn’t have to surrender a first-round pick to complete a deal with him.
