2. Tony Pollard
Unlike Brandin Cooks, running back Tony Pollard is an unrestricted free agent this offseason. After Pollard and the Cowboys couldn’t agree on a long-term contract extension last offseason, the former played on the franchise tag in 2023. Now, the tailback could decide to hit the open market and secure a big payday.
While Pollard has proven to be a dynamic playmaker and critical part of Dallas’ backfield en route to eclipsing 1,000 scrimmage yards for a third straight season, it is tough to justify paying a running back the type of money he will be seeking in his next contract when the quarterback will make around $60 million per year.
Pollard averaged career-lows in yards on a per-carry (4.0) and per-touch (4.3) basis in 2023, another reason why the team could elect to move on from him in light of their franchise signal-callers massive deal.
The free agent running back class is unusually deep this offseason, with Pro Bowl-caliber players like Derrick Henry, Josh Jacobs, Saquon Barkley, Austin Ekeler, and potentially Pollard available.
Moreover, the Cowboys can address the position via the 2024 NFL Draft at a much cheaper cost, with options like Michigan’s Blake Corum, Oregon’s Bucky Irving, or Trey Benson of Florida to choose from.