5 teams who should trade for Ezekiel Elliott this offseason

If the Dallas Cowboys entertain trading Ezekiel Elliott, these 5 teams can make a case to trade for him this offseason.

At 4-9 this season entering Week 15 against the San Francisco 49ers, the Dallas Cowboys are playing out the remainder of a lost season. The poster boy for the team’s struggles is running back Ezekiel Elliott, who is averaging just 3.9 yards per carry so far this season.

In line with the drop-off from the Cowboys’ offensive line over time, due to injuries, retirement, etc. Elliott has struggled.

The Cowboys are learning a hard lesson, and they’re not the first team to learn it. Paying a running back is generally foolish, and Dallas gave Elliott a six-year, $90 million deal in 2019. On the fifth day of the 2021 league year, his $12.4 million salary for 2022 becomes fully guaranteed. As Spotrac lays out, the most practical out for the Cowboys comes in 2023.

Cutting Elliott before that 2022 salary becomes fully guaranteed in March would leave $24.5 million in dead money that could be spread out with a post-June 1 designation. A trade would lessen that dead money hit.

The questions, in the interest of cap space to fill holes on the roster, are two. Is Elliott a tradeable asset fort the Cowboys? Would any other teams have interest?

5 teams who could trade for Ezekiel Elliott during the offseason

Kyle Shanahan is following the tradition started by his father Mike, coaxing effective production out of multiple no-name running backs without premium investment at the position. So the 49ers don’t need a “stud” running back per se (by name reputation or production).

On the other hand, general manager John Lynch has shown a willingness to be aggressive. Rumored interest in Odell Beckham Jr., Antonio Brown and even Tom Brady means nothing is off his radar, or totally out of the realm of possibility. If they cut or trade Jimmy Garoppolo, the 49ers would open up another chunk of cap space for other moves.

Elliott will turn 26 in July, so he should have some effective peak years left. The combination of  better offensive line and Shanahan’s offensive design could revive his career.