The Dallas Cowboys were having a quiet and some would say terrible offseason, and it resulted in many people criticizing them for not upgrading after losing in the Wild Card round of the playoffs last season.
Perhaps their biggest need was a legitimate starting running back after Tony Pollard left in free agency, and a couple of days ago, they brought back Ezekiel Elliott, who had departed last year on a one-year contract.
Elliott is happy to be back, and he even called the Cowboys “home,” per Around The NFL.
Ezekiel Elliott happy to back with Cowboys: “It feels great to be home”https://t.co/n2EgrxsmRz pic.twitter.com/l9dd0GUTh0
— Around The NFL (@AroundTheNFL) May 1, 2024
Elliott played the 2023 season with the New England Patriots, who won just four games all year, and he posted 642 rushing yards and five total touchdowns, both of which were career-lows.
His efficiency has plunged over the last several years — he averaged only 3.5 yards per carry last year, which was down from 4.5 yards per carry in 2019, the last time he made the Pro Bowl.
As a result, there is no guarantee he will be Dallas’ starter in the backfield for Week 1 of the upcoming season.
At this point of his career, Elliott will likely be more of a supporting piece than a featured offensive weapon, which leaves Dallas without a solid running game to support their explosive passing attack.
They have reportedly been looking to save their salary cap space in order to eventually give lucrative contract extensions to star wide receiver CeeDee Lamb, stud pass rusher Micah Parsons, and quarterback Dak Prescott.
Prescott is entering the last year of his contract, and there has been lots of speculation about what the future could hold for him past 2024.
