The Cowboys need to trade Ezekiel Elliott. It’s that simple. Article over.
Okay, I know I can’t just end it there. Yes, Elliott has put up great numbers since coming into the league. But that’s why he needs to be traded. He currently has value that outweighs what a cancer he is to the Cowboys and to the league as a whole.
Elliott’s Value
I get it, Zeke has been one of the most dominant Running Backs since entering the league in 2016. His rookie season he lead the league in rushing yards (1,631), carries (322), and yards per game (108.7). In addition, he accounted for 32 receptions for 363 yards. Elliott also managed to get into the end zone a total of 16 times his rookie season. All of these stats put him in line for the Pro Bowl, and an All Pro selection.
Elliott started his second season on a six game suspension, but we’ll get into that later. He still managed 983 rushing yards and 98.3 yards per game and 9 touchdowns. Not bad for a 10 game season.
In 2018, Zeke again lead the league in rushing yards (1,434) and yards per game (95.6). He also had the most touches he has had in his three year career at 381 and again, 9 touchdowns.
On the surface those seem like great numbers. But what you might not notice is the fact that his yards per game has dropped each season (108.7, 98.3, 95.6). He is also scoring far less (16 touchdowns, 9 touchdowns [10 games], and 9 touchdowns [15 games]). So his numbers are still towards the top of the league, but are steadily declining.
Off Field Issues
Like I said above, Zeke started 2017 on a six game suspension. He appealed it until it was eventually upheld and he served the full suspension from Week 9-Week 15. Elliott was suspended for violating the NFL’s personal conduct policy. He was accused of domestic violence against his ex-girlfriend on five occasions in 2016. While Elliott was never criminally charged, the NFL determined they had sufficient evidence to suspend him.
If that isn’t enough, Elliott was detained at a concert in Las Vegas, Nevada on May 19th. He was caught on video pushing his girlfriend to attempt to keep her from walking away during an argument. After security guards approached them, Elliott got into an altercation with them. Eventually, he pushed one of the guards, causing him to fall over a security barrier. Police responded to the incident and detained Zeke, but eventually released him as the guard decided not to press charges.
Why the Cowboys Need to Trade Ezekiel Elliott
Elliott is constantly the talk of the league, getting himself in trouble. There is always a controversy. While he wasn’t suspended for the latest incident, I highly doubt this will be the last. The Cowboys already have a bad enough reputation in regards to off field issues.
In association with these issues, you also can’t pay a Running Back in this league. Zeke’s production is already dropping and we’re all seeing what is happing in LA with Todd Gurley. The Cowboys have 35 players with contracts ending at the end of the 2019 season. That includes QB Dak Prescott, WR Amari Cooper, LB Jaylon Smith, and CB Byron Jones. Those are just a few of the big names, and they just signed DE Demarcus Lawrence to a 5 year $105 million extension. To say the Cowboys are tight on cap space is an understatement.
Pull a Jimmy Johnson. Trade Elliott like he traded Herschel Walker. Get a load of picks for him, then when Dak doesn’t play up to a $34 million a year contract, you don’t have to pay him out like that either. You’ll see Dak’s true, underwhelming, worth.
