The 2023 NFL offseason is in full swing, and it looks like star running back Ezekiel Elliott will be on the move soon.
According to a recent report, the Dallas Cowboys — the team Elliott has played for his entire NFL career — is now looking to move on from the star.
“Per a source close to the situation, the Cowboys are set to part ways with the two-time NFL rushing champ and the running back is preparing to start fresh with a new team,” wrote Clarence E. Hill Jr. of the Fort Worth Star-Telegram.
“The move could come as soon as Wednesday afternoon when the league’s 2023 calendar officially begins at 3 p.m. and teams are required to be under the salary cap.”
The move would mark the end of an era for the Cowboys. Elliott has been with the team since being selected with the No. 4 overall pick in the 2016 NFL Draft. Though he is still just 27 years old, there have been some pretty clear signs that he is wearing down.
In the 2022 NFL season, Elliott rushed the ball 231 times for just 3.8 yards per carry, the lowest mark of his career. He did, however, continue to prove that he has a nose for the end zone by recording 12 touchdowns on the ground.
Still, the Cowboys seem more than happy to rely on Tony Pollard to be their lead running back in 2023. The team recently placed the franchise tag on Pollard, which will see him get $10.1 million in the upcoming season.
If the Cowboys were to hold onto Elliott, they would have to cough up more than $27 million for their running back room. In 2023, that is simply far too much money to spend on a position group that has witnessed a nosedive in perceived value in recent years.
While the departure of Elliott will surely be a sad one for many Cowboys fans, his availability on the open market will likely come as great news to other fan bases around the league. The three-time Pro Bowler will likely have no trouble finding a new home.
The Ohio State University product should head into the 2023 season fresh and highly motivated to prove that he still has quite a lot of gas left in the tank after a down season in 2022.
