Dallas Cowboys: Is it worth keeping Ezekiel Elliott around?

Ezekiel Elliott was a non-factor against the Buccaneers in Week 1, so where do the Dallas Cowboys go from here with their highly paid running back?

Football is back in a big way as Thursday night marked the first official matchup in Week 1 of the 2021 NFL season between the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and the Dallas Cowboys. This clash between two offenses who love to spread the ball did not disappoint as it was a back and forth tilt all the way through the end of the fourth quarter, but ultimately ended in a victory for the defending Super Bowl champs. Dallas now starts the season with an 0-1 record.

In this electrifying season debut, Cowboys’ quarterback Dak Prescott proved that the shoulder sprain he suffered in the preseason placed no limitations on his throwing abilities, as he finished the day with an astounding 42 passes completed on 58 attempts for 403 yards and three touchdowns.

Although he was registered with an interception, it was at the fault of second-year receiver CeeDee Lamb as Dak had threaded the needle remarkably, but the ball went right through Lamb’s hands into those of the Tampa defense.

While the air attack for the ‘Boys was mighty, the rush attack was abysmal and simply non-existent. Head coach Mike McCarthy and offensive coordinator Kellen Moore decided that it was best to take the ball out of renowned running back Ezekiel Elliott’s hands due to a lack of confidence in his ability to make a difference against the stout Tampa Bay defensive front.

He finished the night having just 11 rush attempts for 33 yards, with his longest dash of the night totaling 13 yards. Without that gain, he averaged just 2.0 yards per carry during the game and that is absolutely unacceptable.

With a steep decline in performance the last few seasons, it’s fair to question whether the Dallas Cowboys should consider moving on from running back Ezekiel Elliott.

In terms of the total value, Ezekiel Elliott’s $90 million contract is the highest-amongst running backs in the NFL by a substantial amount (Alvin Kamara ranks second at $75 million). Additionally, more than a total of $50 million of his contract is guaranteed (per OvertheCap).

It’s incredible to think that someone’s who rushing yard totals and receiving yard totals have been dropping at an alarming rate but they still give the front office enough confidence that they can make him one of the highest-paid backs in the NFL.

The Dallas Cowboys have always been a running back-friendly franchise, but it doesn’t take a rocket scientist to know that Zeke is taking up a lot of cap space and not doing too much to make it worth the investment. The solution is quite simple, and it’s a win-win either way for America’s Team: Either give Elliott (a lot) more touches or deal him.

Looking at both options, let’s look at the scenario in which he stays (most likely). In the 2019 NFL season, Zeke had 301 rush attempts for 1,357 yards (4.5 yards per carry) and 12 touchdowns on the ground, adding another 420 yards in the air and two receiving touchdowns.

When McCarthy was hired as the new head coach for the Dallas Cowboys in 2020, Ezekiel Elliott dropped to 244 rush attempts for 979 yards (4.0 yards per carry) and just six touchdowns on the ground. Additionally, his receiving numbers dropped, having 338 receiving yards and another two touchdowns in the air. Zeke also matched a career-high in fumbles last season with six on the year.

He’s looking to rebound in 2021 despite a rough start opening night and a reestablishment in his role in this offense could give him the opportunity to do so. 16.3 rush attempts per game (career-low) is simply not enough for a back that was an All-Pro in his rookie year. The last time he averaged 20+ rush attempts per game was back in 2018 (20.3) where he ran for 1,434 yards. If they can get this Elliott back, the Cowboys truly will contend for the best offense in the NFL.

On the other hand, a trade package including Ezekiel Elliott could bring some rather enticing offers for teams looking to add a running back, and no team comes to mind quite as the Baltimore Ravens do. They’re so desperate for a competent back that they’re looking to the streets for anyone with five-plus years of experience playing football.

There’s no doubt that Jerry Jones could easily chisel a first-round pick and a good player for Zeke. No matter the choice for the organization, the Cowboys can come out on top either by their bell-cow back regaining his former superstar presence or by receiving unbelievable compensation in a trade and continue with the air raid offense that they’re running.