The Ezekiel Elliott era in Dallas has officially come to an end. The former fourth-overall pick in the 2016 NFL Draft was released by the team Wednesday afternoon.
Reports had been that Zeke would try to take a significant pay cut to stay with the team. Instead, the release allows Elliott to seek different options with other teams this offseason.
An Elliott release would save the Cowboys $4.86M immediately.
They will designate him as a post-June 1st cut, and if they do, the overall savings this season would be $10.9M; however, the difference is not available until after June 1st.
He is now free to sign with any team he would like.
End of an era: The #Cowboys have informed former NFL rushing champ Ezekiel Elliott that they are releasing him, per me and @TomPelissero. He'll be designated as a post-June 1 release to create cap space. pic.twitter.com/QKZhkny76i
— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) March 15, 2023
Elliott leads the team with 8,262 rushing yards, 68 rushing touchdowns, and 80 total touchdowns. All three rank him third in franchise history, and only trailing Hall of Fame members Emmitt Smith and Tony Dorsett — pretty good company.
One of the best running backs to ever play for Dallas, but it was time.
The writing was on the wall.
From the time the season ended till Tony Pollard got hit with the franchise tag.
I would have been okay with keeping him as a backup taking fewer carries, but he probably didn't want that.
Although it was time for the team to move on from him, I want to make sure and say thank you, Zeke.
From the feed me celebration after a first down to how much money he raised by jumping into the red kettle.
He didn't get what we all wanted — a title. But man, he had some exciting, fun moments with the team.
He immediately emerged as one of the NFL's top running backs, leading the league in rushing with 1,631 yards and 15 touchdowns as a rookie.
He led the NFL in rushing again in 2018 with 1,434 yards.
Zeke was selected to three Pro Bowls in his first four NFL seasons.
In his seven years with Dallas, Ezekiel Elliott had 10,498 all-purpose yards and led the league in rushing twice (2016 and 2018).
He ranks third in franchise history in rushing yards and rushing TDs, behind Hall of Famers Emmitt Smith and Tony Dorsett.
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) March 15, 2023
In the last three years, though, we saw Elliott's production start declining.
He averaged a career-low 3.8 yards per carry in 2022. He ran for 876 yards and 12 touchdowns on 231 attempts.
For the amount of money he was set to make, that wouldn't do it without a massive pay cut.
With Elliott released, Pollard and Malik Davis are their two primary running backs for 2023.
This year's class is DEEP, but history has shown the Cowboys would not be afraid to try and grab a guy like Bijan Robinson if he falls to Dallas at pick 26.
Nonetheless, it was a good ride from Zeke.
I hope he finds a new home quick. He probably still has some left in the tank for a team that doesn't want to run it 25 times a game. He would be an ideal guy for a team like the Saints, or the Bills.
Heck, even the Texans, who ranked last in every category. Zeke would be an upgrade.
Ezekiel Elliott's first & last touchdowns with the Dallas Cowboys.
(🎥: @NFL) pic.twitter.com/SKXPrj9EXg
— Michael Bier (@MichaelJBier) March 15, 2023
End of an era indeed for this team and for Ezekiel Elliott.
I didn't want to see him go. I am sure one day he will return to the Cowboys to retire, but for now, he will get to carry the rock for another team.
