The Dallas Cowboys are in need of a running back, and an old friend may be willing to re-join his former club.
According to Michael Gehlken of The Dallas Morning News, Ezekiel Elliott is interested in a reunion with the Cowboys. Gehlken also mentioned Dalvin Cook as a possibility.
For now, let’s focus on Elliott.
Elliott spent the 2023 campaign with the New England Patriots, rushing for 642 yards and three touchdowns while averaging a meager 3.5 yards per carry. He also caught 51 passes for 313 yards and a couple of scores.
But before spending one season with the Patriots, Elliott spent the first seven years of his career in Dallas.
The 28-year-old, who played his collegiate football at Ohio State, was selected by the Cowboys with the fourth overall pick of the 2016 NFL Draft.
He got off to a brilliant start, leading the NFL with 1,631 rushing yards to go along with 15 touchdowns while logging a robust 5.1 yards per attempt during his rookie campaign en route to a Pro Bowl appearance and a First-Team All-Pro selection. In addition, he logged 32 catches for 363 yards and a score.
Elliott then led the league in rushing again in his third season, racking up 1,434 yards.
Overall, the St. Louis native made three trips to the Pro Bowl during his time in Dallas, posting four 1,000-yard campaigns. His last year with the Cowboys came in 2022, when he finished with 876 yards and 12 touchdowns while averaging 3.8 yards per tote.
It’s blatantly obvious that Elliott is no longer the same elite rusher he was in the earlier stages of his career, but with Dallas currently employing Deuce Vaughn and Rico Dowdle in its backfield, it could absolutely use Elliott’s veteran presence.
The Cowboys are expected to draft a halfback, but perhaps Elliott would be very effective and more efficient as part of a committee running back situation.
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