This weekend, it was announced that the Dallas Cowboys and free agent running back Ezekiel Elliott have a mutual interest in reuniting. This is not news, as there were rumors last offseason that the two teams would agree to a new contract before Elliott ultimately signed with the New England Patriots. Indeed, teams missed Elliott’s presence in the red zone last season when they struggled to finish drives.
For Elliott, the market was ice cold before the New England deal, so a reunion makes sense. A return to Dallas could help revitalize Elliott’s career and increase his value around the league. For many fans, Elliott’s return is a polarizing topic, and it’s worth discussing the pros and cons of a potential return to Dallas. I can see why the Cowboys should bring him back, but the two main reasons why the Cowboys should look elsewhere are:
Needing to sever emotional ties and move forward
In this article from a little more than a year ago, we explained why the Cowboys had to let Ezekiel Elliott go immediately instead of offering him a pay cut to keep him on the team. At the time, it was felt that keeping Elliott, even at a reduced paycheck, meant the team was overly reliant on Elliott, even if it wasn’t in the team’s best interest. If Elliott were still on the team, the team would insist on making him the top choice. Because of what he’s done for the franchise and his consistency over the years of not being out long enough for teams to seriously consider other options. List.
Remember Jason Witten and Jerry Jones’ boundless loyalty to the soon-to-be Hall of Fame tight end? Witten first left to pursue his broadcasting career at ESPN. As sudden as he was in retirement, he was able to return to a starting role, even if his TV appearances didn’t yield much better results. Jerry will remain loyal to the players he created regardless of the cost to the team, but it won’t benefit the Cowboys if Elliott returns. A rookie runner with no background would be the perfect choice to give the Cowboys a clean slate.
Elliott isn’t productive anymore
Elliott deserves respect for what he accomplished with the Cowboys. His immediate success ushered the Cowboys into a new era with him and Dak Prescott at their core. He was without a doubt one of the NFL’s best players in his first four years in the league, being named an All-Pro twice and a Pro Bowler three times during that time. It has received praise that confirms this. However, as with running backs, they taper off after the first few seasons. Elliott’s most productive season was 2018, when he had 2,001 yards of offense. After that year, his numbers dropped to the following totals over the next four seasons in Dallas:
2019: 1,777 people
2020: 1,317 people
2021: 1,289 people
2022: 968 people
Watching Elliott play, you can see that he lacks consistent explosiveness. Additionally, volatility was also a point of discussion. According to playerprofiler.com, this statistic does not paint a good picture for Elliott. In 2023, Elliott had a juke rate of 15.3% (42nd), had just one breakaway run, perhaps his most devastating run, and averaged -55.3 expected points (150th). And last year, Elliott had his best year with the New England Patriots. His run production per carry is abysmal, with just 3.5 yards per rush. Lacking explosiveness, volatility, and speed, Elliott isn’t an attractive option.
