Cowboys need to consider Ezekiel Elliott’s worth
The Dallas Cowboys have a lot of big contracts to hand out over the next few seasons. There’s quarterback Dak Prescott. There’s inside linebacker Leighton Vander Esch. There is wide receiver Amari Cooper. There’s the offensive line.
Then there is running back Ezekiel Elliott. Elliott, 23, has been the rushing champion in two of his three seasons with the Cowboys. He’s also been suspended for six games, seen to be in violation of the Personal Conduct Policy.
Elliott is clearly one of the best running backs in the league, and he only has a pair of years left on his rookie deal. After 2020, the Cowboys must decide whether Elliott is likely going to become the highest-paid running back in NFL history at 25 years old, or do they go another direction?
On Friday, owner Jerry Jones spoke to Pro Football Talk not only about Elliott’s potential deal but also on Cooper and Prescott.
“Well, I think those are all a work in progress,” Jones said. “Certainly we’ve got a couple years there with Zeke to get that done. We certainly want to get him done. He’s the straw, if you will, that stirs our drink. He’s a key part of what we’re about. Those things take time to get done. They don’t happen overnight. Certainly he’s a priority in terms of ultimately getting him signed. There hasn’t really been a timetable put on this.”
Prescott and Cooper are both different than Elliott for a variety of important reasons. For starters, Prescott plays the most important position in the game. Cooper is certainly in the mix at a premium position as well, serving as the team’s No. 1 receiver. Additionally, neither of them have ever been in trouble with the league or the law. Finally, in Cooper’s case, the Cowboys gave up a first-round pick to acquire him. When a team gives up that kind of capital, they aren’t going to let him walk out the door.
Elliott has been a phenomenal player to this point, but he’ll need to continue his almost under worldly pace. If he can’t, there is real reason for Dallas to go another direction when the time comes. The Cowboys would also have the option of placing the franchise tag on Elliott for the 2021 and 2022 seasons, and then letting him hit free agency after seven seasons.
While Elliott is one of the league’s best players, it’s probably the right move for the Cowboys to pass on signing him to a second contract.
