NFL rumors: Cowboys play host to underwhelming Ezekiel Elliott replacement

The Dallas Cowboys could look to replace Ezekiel Elliott with Ronald Jones II in his free agency.

After parting ways with their former star tailback in Ezekiel Elliott, the Dallas Cowboys appear to have turned their attention to a two-time Super Bowl champion in Ronald Jones II.

Michael Gehlken of The Dallas Morning News reported the Cowboys are hosting three free agents on Monday: Jones, linebacker Travin Howard and offensive lineman Chuma Edoga. Howard won a Super Bowl with the Los Angeles Rams and has ties to the area from his TCU days. Edoga played for his hometown Atlanta Falcons last year, but this is all about his former USC teammate.

With Tony Pollard getting slapped with the franchise tag, it serves the Cowboys to find a suitable and cheaper running back to replace the aging veteran in Elliott. Jones could potentially be that.

NFL rumors: Dallas Cowboys hosting three free agents including Ronald Jones II

As with Howard, Jones has ties to DFW. He played his high school ball at McKinney North before committing to USC. In Los Angeles, he was an all-conference performer for the Trojans, but they were a far cry from what they are now. He did take handoffs from Sam Darnold on that 2017 USC team that played Penn State in a Rose Bowl for the ages. Jones has only been so-so in the NFL…

Drafted in the second round by the Tampa Bay Buccaneers to be their bell-cow back, it never really worked out as he or they truly envisioned. Once Tom Brady came over in NFL free agency and the Buccaneers added Leonard Fournette, Jones’ stock in Tampa took a big hit. Although he just won his second Super Bowl as a part of the 2022 Kansas City Chiefs, he is only a rotational back now.

While this is not a move that Cowboys fans would be overly excited about, it is all about getting better contributions out of the backfield for the money. As soon as Pollard was tagged, we all knew Elliott would be walking. He had a great run in Dallas, but he will need to look elsewhere for his NFL employment. Adding Jones may not move the needle, but he does know how to win big.

Maybe the Cowboys will put pen to paper with one of the three guys in their building on Monday?