Cross off one of the names that comes up a lot as a potential Detroit Lions free agent signing this offseason. Cowboys running back Tony Pollard isn’t hitting free agency after all.
Per Adam Schefter of ESPN, the Cowboys are placing the franchise tag on Pollard. He will earn just over $10 million, fully guaranteed, on the one-year franchise tag tender.
Pollard was a player who made sense as a free agency fit with the Lions for his ability to make big plays as both a runner and a receiver. He ran for 1,007 yards at 5.2 yards per carry and also caught 39 passes for almost 400 yards for Dallas while splitting time in the backfield with Ezekiel Elliott.
The move sets the salary bar higher than hoped for the free agent RB class. Pollard suffered a broken leg in January in Dallas’ playoff loss, yet the Cowboys had no qualms about forking over premium money for their No. 2 back.
