The Dallas Cowboys could be facing an extremely difficult decision after the 2022 season.

And no, I'm not talking about head coach Mike McCarthy's future in Dallas (though that will definitely be something the Cowboys have to figure out next offseason — unless the team wins the Super Bowl in 2022).

Dallas could have a difficult decision when it comes to running back Ezekiel Elliott and his future with the franchise.

Elliott is under contract through the 2026 season. His cap hits over the next five seasons are $18.2 million, $16.7 million, $14.3 million, $17.1 million, and $16.6 million.

That's a lot to pay for a running back, the least valuable position in the NFL. It's also a lot to pay for a running back who has underperformed — relative to his contract — over the last two years.

Elliott rushed for only 1,002 yards and 10 touchdowns last season in 17 games. The former Ohio State star dealt with knee and ankle issues that hampered him throughout the season. And while some might view that as a reason that Elliott will have a bounceback year in 2022, I think it could be a sign that he's wearing down after excessive usage in the NFL and during his college days in Columbus.

If that's the case, then Elliott's numbers likely won't improve much. It's hard to justify paying a running back around $17 million to rush for 1,000 yards in 17 games.

Especially when Tony Pollard is on the roster.

Pollard, who will be a free agent after the 2022 season, showed in 2021 that he can be an elite NFL running back. The former Memphis star averaged 5.5 yards per carry last season, compared to Elliott's 4.2 yards per carry. Pollard also proved to be a threat in the passing game, catching 39 passes for 337 yards.

The Cowboys could extend Pollard for much cheaper than what Elliott is earning. Then after the 2022 season, Dallas could release Elliott while facing only an $11.8 million dead cap hit.

If Dallas looks at this strickly from a number perspective, it will be an easy decision. On paper, Pollard is the smarter economical choice. He's going to produce at around the same rate as the version of Elliott that we've seen the last two years. And Pollard would be much cheaper. I don't see any downside.

I know Elliott is a popular player. But popularity doesn't win games. If the Cowboys want to be better in the future, they'll strongly consider releasing Elliott after this season, paying Pollard, and then using the savings to upgrade the roster in other areas.

Featured image via Tim Heitman-USA TODAY Sports