Former Cowboys running back Ezekiel Elliott is down to three options in free agency according to a report by ESPN’s Adam Schefter: the Bengals, Eagles and Jets.
The two-time All-Pro has spent his entire seven-year NFL career with Dallas, which took him with the No. 4 pick in the 2016 NFL draft. He led the NFL in rushing yards in ’16 and ’18 and made three Pro Bowls during that stretch. After taking on a heavy workload through his first few seasons, Elliott started surrendering carries to young rusher Tony Pollard over the last few seasons.
Last season, the former Ohio State star posted career lows in rushing attempts (231), rushing yards (876), receptions (17) and receiving yards (92), though he did score 12 touchdowns on the ground. He was limited to 69 yards from scrimmage and did not score in two postseason games.
Earlier this offseason, the Cowboys opted to use the franchise tag on Pollard, and released the 27-year-old Elliott. While there was some talk about him rejoining the team on a smaller deal, Dallas added former Buccaneers running back Ronald Jones II to pair with Pollard.
Cincinnati, the 2021 AFC champion, offers Elliott the opportunity to return to the state of Ohio, where he emerged as a college football superstar with the Buckeyes and spent time as a teammate of now-Bengals quarterback Joe Burrow. The future of starting running back Joe Mixon, who is set to make $9.4 million this season and has two years left on his deal with the Bengals, remains uncertain as free agency continues. Cincinnati lost backup Samaje Perine to the Broncos in free agency.
Philadelphia, Dallas’s NFC East rival which lost Super Bowl LVII last month, moved on from starting running back Miles Sanders, signing former Seahawks rusher Rashaad Penny. The team also employs Boston Scott and Kenneth Gainwell as significant contributors to the offense.
New York is having the most tumultuous offseason of the three, and is looking to overhaul its offense in a major way with an expected trade for Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers. The team has an established young running back Breece Hall, who may have won Offensive Rookie of the Year had his season not ended prematurely due to injury (an award that ultimately went to Jets receiver Garrett Wilson). Elliott could pair with the explosive Hall as a physical, short-yardage option, though the team already has two other intriguing young players at the position in Michael Carter and Zonovan Knight.
Elliott hopes to make a decision on his next team by the end of next week, Schefter reports. All three teams have significant playoff aspirations heading into the 2023 season.
