Cowboys Claim they Refused Trade Offers for RBs

Is there any first-year player more suited to making a run for Rookie of the Year than Ezekiel Elliott? The newest Dallas Cowboys running back will be playing alongside a plethora of weapons on offense, a quarterback that demands attention, and arguably the most cohesive offensive line in the league. Elliott has all the makings of a bell-cow back, and it’s possible that that durability drew trade offers for the rest of the Cowboys’ rushers.

Cowboys Executive Vice President Stephen Jones told the Star-Telegram the team got calls regarding the availability of both Daren McFadden and Alfred Morris, but claims they “didn’t have interest” in splitting the crew up. But assertions like these are always taken with a grain of salt, especially after the draft, when a team’s roster really starts to fill out.

The McFadden deal seems particularly suspicious considering he was a free agent for some time during this offseason, but entertained little to no interest from other teams. Still, his 2016 cap hit will only be $2.15 million, a modest number for a 29-year-old back missing some tread on his tires, but who is also coming off a supra-1,000 yard season.

Morris, meanwhile, has yet to play a down wearing the Dallas Star. He was signed to a two-year, $3.5 million contract in March. At the time, the ‘Boys may still have been debating exactly who to take with the fourth overall pick, and Morris was a smart choice in free agency. Morris enjoyed a blistering start to his career with the Redskins, averaging almost 5 yards per carry in his first two seasons before those gaudy numbers started to dwindle.

The safe cap numbers on both players can’t be beat, but an unrefusable offer would have probably made things tempting for the Cowboys – if their claims are true. But for now, a couple of capable backups are optimal for a team keen to manage the workload of its future star.