Ezekiel Elliott. Jasen Vinlove-USA TODAY Sports

Cowboys exec hints Ezekiel Elliot could have big role in 2024

By Michael Gallagher | Last updated 5/1/24

After losing Tony Pollard to the Tennessee Titans in free agency, many expected the Dallas Cowboys to draft a running back in the 2024 NFL Draft last week.

The Cowboys drafted four offensive players but none were RBs, and the team opted to reunite with former star Ezekiel Elliott, who signed a one-year, $3M contract on Monday to return to the team that drafted him fourth overall in 2016.

Though he’s 28 and has a decent amount of mileage on his tires after averaging 258 carries per year over his first eight seasons, the Cowboys seemingly view the three-time Pro Bowler as their current No. 1 RB.

“Zeke is a winning, starting running back in the league,” Cowboys VP of player personnel Will McClay said, via LoneStarLive.com. “So you turn on the tape, you saw him do things, running power gap schemes, running inside and outside zone, helping in pass protection — all those things to show that the ability was still there.”

In his second stint in Dallas, Cowboys RB Ezekiel Elliott now will go back to wearing No. 15, the same number he wore at Ohio State.

To help make this possible, Cowboys QB Trey Lance is switching from No. 15 to No. 19. pic.twitter.com/A6E4mmeBpn
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) May 1, 2024

After parting ways with Dallas last offseason, Elliott was a backup to Rhamondre Stevenson in New England in 2023 and saw his workload increase around mid-November when Stevenson started battling injuries.

Elliott played in all 17 games, rushing or 642 yards and three touchdowns on 184 carries. He also added 51 receptions on 65 targets for 313 yards and another two scores.

Elliott easily becomes the top RB on the Cowboys roster, which also features Malik Davis, Jarod Conner, Rico Dowdle, Deuce Vaughn and Royce Freeman. It wouldn’t be surprising if Dallas began the season with Elliott as the starter and Dowdle as his primary backup.

“Adding him to this roster, it adds a guy that, No. 1, loves football, that wants to win here, that wants to be here,” McClay added. “And [he] adds something to the roster from a leadership standpoint, as well as an ability to play.”

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