Cowboys latest decision needs to lead to another big one
It’s time for the Cowboys to finally make this move.
Monday was a big day for the Dallas Cowboys.
They officially placed the franchise tag on running back Tony Pollard for $10.09 million which gives them until July 15 to reach a long-term deal. If not, Pollard will play on that price tag in 2023.
Now that the Cowboys have taken care of that bit of business, they need to do something else once and for all. Pollard needs to be the new RB1 in Dallas.
Ezekiel Elliott is in a situation where his salary doesn't match what he produces on the field, and he knows that, which is why he's willing to take a pay cut to stay. Elliott still has value, he scored 12 rushing touchdowns in 2022, tied for the second-most of his career.
There needs to be some context with those scores.
The majority of them came inside the five-yard line, and sometimes after Pollard did the dirty work to get the Cowboys near the end zone. While it's good to have a short-yardage back that can move the chains around and put points on the board, any team's top runner has to do more than that.
Pollard is a nightmare to defend for several reasons. He can kill defenses with his one-cut ability and explosiveness on the edge, and contrary to popular belief, he has power when he runs between the tackles thanks to how fast he runs and his 200-plus pound frame.
The fourth-round pick from 2019 has another element to his game.
Pollard is a threat in the passing game as well. He tied a career-high with 39 receptions last season and had a personal best of 371 receiving yards and three scores.
Pollard put this skill on display in a major way in one game last season. He caught a 30-yard touchdown pass just before halftime against the Minnesota Vikings in Week 11. Then, on the Cowboys' first possession of the second half, Pollard ran like Usain Bolt in the Olympics for a 68-yard score through the air.
If the Cowboys work out something with Elliott to bring him back at a reduced salary, so be it, he can still help Dallas. However, Pollard is clearly the better player, and he needs to be the starter going forward, and if Elliott isn't brought back, then it's a no-brainer that the Cowboys need to make that happen.
