Although a lot of people felt it would happen, the Dallas Cowboys shocked the NFL when they released two-time rushing champion Ezekiel Elliott back in March. 

There's been some interest in Elliott but he's still looking for his next NFL home. Many feel Elliott will be back with the Cowboys at a reduced price, but regardless, he will be on a roster in 2023. 

On Tuesday, a little nugget from ESPN's Kimberly Martin on NFL Live made it seem Elliott’s next destination may take quite some time to figure out.

"I've made calls all morning. Two things are clear. Zeke wants to win and he wants to be patient, he knows this is a big decision," Martin said. "However, talking to GMs this morning as well, the market that Zeke wants just may not be there. They think he can be productive, but that he's lost a step."

The reality of Elliott’s situation is quite clear. Yes, he's put up 22 rushing touchdowns over the last two seasons. However, especially in 2022, a lot of them came from short yardage, and that’s where Elliott’s value has been the best lately.

Every team can use a back that can get tough yards between the tackles and move the chains or down in the red zone, but that doesn't warrant the type of salary that Elliott may desire. So, that's probably another reason why it's taken a bit for him to strike a deal.

Elliott has something else working against him as well, injuries. He had a calf issue in 2020 and he's dealt with knee issues the last two seasons that have cost him games. With Elliott entering his eighth season, that's something teams have to think about too, availability. 

All of this just puts into perspective where Elliott is in his career. He's a player that was once elite but lost a step or two and has had some injuries, so things will move slower for him business-wise.