Running back Tony Pollard is set to become a free agent within the next few days. I am sure folks are tired of the talk about what Dallas will do at the position next season, but things are starting to heat up around the league with good players.
With the start of free agency less than a week away, Pollard said he would consider taking less money to stay with Dallas.
According to a report from the Dallas Morning News, after Pollard meets with other teams starting next Monday, he would be more likely to accept a lower offer to stay with the team.
What Is Tony Pollard Really Worth?
Look, I liked Pollard just as much as the next Cowboys fan, but when he got his chance to be the true every-down back, he struggled for the first half and then some of the year.
He did find a bit of a groove near the end of the season and did manage to run for over 1,000 yards on the season.
Pollard played on the franchise tag in 2023, Playing on the franchise tag, but he did so while averaging 1.2 fewer yards per carry than he did in 2022.
When you become the guy, I understand you don’t have as fresh legs, but you should not be over a yard less per carry.
The deadline to use the tag for this season was on Tuesday, the team did not tag anymore and, therefore may look elsewhere for most pending free agents.
“I think Pollard played well,” Cowboys owner Jerry Jones told reporters.
But he also offered qualifiers to his assessment.
“He’s someone that I would have thought, looking back, that would have had more, let’s say more impact for us in the games we didn’t play well in,“ Jones said.
Best NFL Free Agent Class Maybe Ever?
After what the Cowboys did to Ezekiel Elliott, I am not a fan of paying running backs top-of-the-market money anymore, but this free agent pool is loaded.
Saquon Barkley, Derrick Henry, J.K. Dobbins, Austin Ekeler, and Josh Jacobs; sheesh.
According to Spotrac’s market value tool, a two-year deal for Pollard would probably be the only chance he has of getting decent money.
That type of deal would land him just above $13 million, with $6.5 per season. Still too high for me.
If he truly means what he says, I will gladly take Tony Pollard back for around $4 million a year, no higher.
Everyone on national television is telling the Cowboys to sign Henry and go for it all like Jerry Jones said a few months ago.
I just don’t see him or anyone else signing with Dallas.
Follow The Trend
Since 2009, only four starting running backs on the winning team were above 1% of the team’s cap space, look at the graphic below.
Leonard Fournette in 2020, Sony Michel in 2018, Marshawn Lynch in 2014, and Ray Rice in 2012.
If the 49ers won the Super Bowl this season, obviously Christian McCaffery would have been the highest in the last 15 years, but they didn’t.
The Chiefs won back-to-back with Isiah Pacheco as their lead back, with Patrick Mahomes, but the truth still stands.
Teams Can’t Pay Running Backs Big Money Anymore
The total amount of cash paid to these RBs during their Super Bowl-winning season was $10.5M.
If you can’t sign someone cheep, I would draft a replacement and see what he gives you.
Trey Benson out of Florida State is who would be my first choice.
He is a 6-foot-1, 225 back but moves like he is 190 pounds.
From some of the tapes I have watched on him, he has great quickness for a power back.
His receiving ability is above average, but they don’t need him to be CMC, Dallas can use what they have still under contract or find a cheaper guy like Marlon Mack or someone similar.
The Dallas Cowboys have some flexibility here, but please do the right thing.