On Tuesday, running back Ezekiel Elliott was officially off the market. After some time as a New England Patriot, he returned to where it all started. The Dallas Cowboys signed him to a one-year deal, reuniting the two parties. Once a first-round pick by Dallas in 2016, it’s a good story to see him come back to where it all began. But, considering the other options Dallas could have went, the Ezekiel Elliott reunion does not make sense.
The Decline of Ezekiel Elliott
Let’s not kid ourselves. There’s a reason why Dallas let the running back walk in the first place. After an outstanding rookie season in which he amassed 1,631 rushing yards and 15 touchdowns, 2017 was a down year. He went from averaging five yards a carry to four and statistically declined across the board.
Yes, you can argue he missed five games and that was the reason behind his declined production. But, even as he was relatively healthy the years after, the yards per carry continued to either hover or decline even more. After running for at least 1,300 yards in 2018 and 2019, the drop in production began in 2020. He was averaging just 4.4 YPC with 244 carries that year, scoring just six touchdowns.
Though he scored double-digit touchdowns in 2021 and 2022, it was clear his job as a three-down back was fading. That was clear in his last season in Dallas, where he only ran for just 876 yards on 231 carries. His backup Tony Pollard outgained him (1,007) and made more of an impact down the stretch compared to the former Buckeye.
With that in mind, Dallas let him go and the Patriots took a chance on him for the 2023 season.
It Didn’t Get Any Better
New England already had Rhamondre Stevenson as their lead back, Elliott was merely a backup for the team. Though he appeared in all 17 games, he had just 184 carries for 642 yards and three touchdowns.
Believe it or not, he actually led the team in rushing with those numbers. That’s how bad things were in New England. Stevenson did miss five games, but was close to Elliott’s numbers (619 yards on 156 carries).
The speed that Elliott used to possess just isn’t there anymore. He isn’t the back that used to make big plays anymore, and is merely to me, a power back.
There Were Other Options
Dallas could have drafted a running back in the draft. Jonathon Brooks from Texas was an intriguing option despite his injury history. He’s the most complete back in the draft and instead went to the Carolina Panthers in the second round.
Michigan’s Blake Corum had an outstanding year in 2023, yet Dallas decided not to pursue him and let him fall to the Los Angeles Rams in the third round. Florida State’s Trey Benson was also another option, yet Dallas declined to bring him in and instead, he went to the Buccaneers in the draft.
Those three guys are young and bring more explosiveness compared to what Elliott is right now. Running back was a clear need this offseason for Dallas. There was no way you were going to roll out Rico Dowdle, Deuce Vaughn, and Royce Freeman at running back. Though Elliott is a more notable name, he isn’t the solution.
Dallas’s running game will suffer this season. You can blame Jerry Jones and the front office for it.
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