3 Cowboys who won’t be back next year and best options to replace them

If the Cowboys are smart, they’ll choose Tony Pollard over Ezekiel Elliott

Some people were likely expecting to see Tony Pollard here as a player who’s gone. Maybe I’m overly optimistic about what Jerry Jones and the front office will do, but the much better solution at running back is cutting Elliott and using some of that capital to re-sign Pollard while finding another complimentary back in free agency or the draft.

To put it plainly, the Elliott contract is an albatross on the team’s books given his production. He’s lost his explosiveness, his pass-catching has been undesirable and he just looks a bit washed up. But Dallas can save $4.86 million if they cut him pre-June 1, even if it does mean taking on over $11 million in dead cap. However, that number goes north of $10 million in savings if he’s a post-June 1 cut.

That could be well worth it, though, in order for the team to retain the much more explosive and effective Pollard as their long-term running back. Elliott’s been a stud for the Cowboys, but that time has passed and it’s now time for a new era.

Cowboys best replacements for Ezekiel Elliott

• Sean Tucker (NFL Draft)
• Eric Gray (NFL Draft)
• Roschon Johnson (NFL Draft)

One caveat with Pollard is that he’s not proven to be an every-down back. That means a compliment is needed but the free agency options aren’t all that desirable in Dallas’ price range. Tucker and Gray were highly productive and versatile at Syracuse and Oklahoma, respectively, while Johnson is a power back who has plenty of tread on the tires after being the backup to Bijan Robinson.