Getty Image / Michael Owens
It sounds like the Dallas Cowboys might be making some serious changes to the running back position.
For that reason, fans think the clock is ticking for Ezekiel Elliott.
According to Ari Meirov, the Cowboys have placed the franchise tag on Tony Pollard.
The #Cowboys have placed the franchise tag on RB Tony Pollard ($10M fully-guaranteed), meaning TE Dalton Schultz will become a FA and avoid a second straight tag.
The move also raises questions on what will happen to Ezekiel Elliott, who has a large $16.7M cap hit next season.
— Ari Meirov (@MySportsUpdate) March 6, 2023
After doing so, the team now is paying Elliott and Pollard over $36 million together which is over 12% of the total salary cap, per Warren Sharp.
after tagging Tony Pollard the Cowboys are spending:
$27,681,000 of their 2023 salary cap on RBs
$16,720,000 – Ezekiel Elliott
$10,091,000 – Pollard
$870,000 – Malik Davisthat would be the highest total in NFL history
and equates to over 12% of the salary cap pic.twitter.com/65Erg8BNrM
— Warren Sharp (@SharpFootball) March 6, 2023
No matter how you look at it, that’s a lot of dough! Especially for the running back position. So naturally, rumors are swirling around what the front office might do with Ezekiel Elliott.
Well, according to Matt Lombardo, rumors around the league suggest the Cowboys are going to give Elliott a “massive” pay cut.
The obvious next shoe to drop after the #Cowboys use the $10.09 million franchise tag on Tony Pollard is what kind of pay cut will Dallas ask Ezekiel Elliott to take?
Feeling inside the #NFL for weeks has been it will be "massive."
— Matt Lombardo (@MattLombardoNFL) March 6, 2023
That would suggest Dallas aims to keep Elliott Rostered for the 2023 season. Regardless, Cowboys fans believe the team is going to eventually release the star running back.
Zeke being cut as a post June 1st move would save $10.9 against the cap. As much as Jerry says he wants Zeke back, ultimately, I think Stephen gives Zeke his walking papers and they draft a RB day 2 or 3.
— the_truth_hurts (@dynomite_1331) March 6, 2023
At this point, it would be a smart business decision.
Zeke aint making it. Jun 1 cut, split that salary in half. Draft a guy
— Drew (@drew8117) March 6, 2023
Seems to be heading that way, doesn’t it?
Don't worry zekes salary will more than halved or gone.
— Bronxite (@BXITETV) March 6, 2023
This is a big moment for the Cowboys as they could be releasing a player who has been a star through the years. We’ll see how it plays out, but June 1 is a date to have marked on your calendar.