2024 Roster Review: Starting running backs – Part 3 of 17. Click here to view all articles in this series.
Last year the Dallas Cowboys bade farewell to Ezekiel Elliott, handing the starting job to Tony Pollard. Elliott had been the team's first round pick in 2016.
But Elliott had clearly lost a step and he came with a pricey contract.
Pollard – a fourth round pick in 2019 – had outperformed Elliott in 2022 after a 700-plus yard season in 2021.
In 2023, despite coming off a foot injury in the 2022 Divisional round loss at San Francisco, the Cowboys placed the franchise tag on Pollard.
Pollard responded with his second-consecutive 1,000-yard rushing season. But like Elliott the year before, Pollard looked to have lost a step.
His numbers last year wasn't the kind of numbers one needs from a starting running back.
Which puts Pollard's future in Dallas in jeopardy.
Down Market
Part of the problem for Pollard is a down market at running back in the NFL. Teams are not willing to spend a ton of money on running backs.
And there are cheaper options for the Cowboys at the position.
Which makes it unlikely that Dallas is going to pay him anything near the $10 million he made in 2023. Not when a Saquon Barkley, Derrick Henry, or another less-expensive free agent is available.
Right now Pollard's options are down to these two: Take a pay cut to stay with the Cowboys or try his luck in free agency.
The 2023 season was his first as a full-time starter, yet he ended the season with two fewer total yards rushing than he had in 2022.
He played one less game and only had four starts in 2022.
He did catch 16 more passes last year. But he also had 60 fewer receiving yards than he had in 2022.
Adding to his woes, there is a glut at running back that is going to depress Pollard's earning potential greatly.
Dallas' Has Options
The Cowboys need to clear cap space. Whatever space they manage to attain, they don't need to be throwing away cavalierly.
They could find a punishing running back in the draft – a clear need if Pollard walks – or sign one in free agency.
There are plenty of options – even if they choose not to pursue Barkley or Henry – in the free agent pool this year.
As far as the draft goes, there aren't any clear superstar backs in this year's class. So there should be plenty of options available in the second or third round.
If Dallas can't land a free agent to fill the starting role in their backfield, they would do so in the draft.
It seems unlikely that Pollard starts the season in Dallas. But his return is not an absolute impossibility.
Keeping Pollard
I doubt Pollard can command another eight-figure contract.
What he could get is something in the same area that Elliott did in New England last year — $3 million. At most he might land $5 million but even that might be a stretch.
If the Cowboys land a power back in the draft – Florida State's Trey Benson or USC's Marshawn Lloyd – they might bring Pollard back in the $3-4 million range.
Putting Pollard back into a position where he can be the speed option in relief of a more punishing back might bring him back to his 2021-22 form.
But Pollard has proven he can't be the bellwether back the Cowboys need going forward.
