Ezekiel Elliott: Why the Cowboys Should Re-sign Their Star Running Back

The Dallas Cowboys and former running back Ezekiel Elliott have expressed “mutual interest” in reuniting this offseason.

It just didn’t look right to see Elliott wearing a New England Patriots helmet in 2023 after seven seasons with the renowned Cowboys star. 

The Cowboys can right that wrong by allowing the 28-year-old to return home, where he should cap up his NFL career.

He has just been away for a year, thus the vast majority of the team, including players and personnel, has remained the same. 

Most importantly, Elliott already has a bond with quarterback Dak Prescott, who described him as a brother and “best friend” when the Cowboys released the former first-round pick last year.

Aside from making Elliott the No. 1 back, it’s difficult to find a flaw with a return to Arlington.

Dallas Likely to Draft RB Despite Elliott’s Return

The Cowboys have seven picks in this year’s NFL Draft, and even if Elliott returns, it’s highly probable that they’ll use one of those selections to bolster their running back position. 

Dallas may prioritize filling other positions of need initially, but they could still discover a potential starting-caliber back in the third round and beyond.

The Cowboys will likely need to make some changes at the position, considering the limited combined carries of only 56 between the four running backs currently on the roster. Why not consider Elliott, along with a rookie?

Dallas may consider selecting Trey Benson from Florida State, Braelon Allen from Wisconsin, Tyrone Tracy Jr. from Purdue, and Jaylen Wright from Tennessee in the draft.

Elliott’s Slow Start with Patriots Shows Late Progress

Other than a remarkable 80-yard play in Week 3 against the New York Jets, Elliott’s performance with the Patriots got off to a slow start. 

In his first nine games, his average was just 30 yards from eight carries and two receptions, with only eight yards per contest. 

However, although the increase wasn’t significant, he did show improvement towards the end.

Throughout the last eight games, Elliott demonstrated an increase in both carries (averaging 14) and yards per game (averaging 46 yards) when running from the backfield. Meanwhile, he had a significant impact in the passing game, scoring two receiving touchdowns and averaging five receptions for 30 yards.

If the Cowboys don’t rely on him heavily, Elliott has the potential to make a valuable contribution alongside a rookie running back.