Dallas Cowboys are open to a return from RB Ezekiel Elliott at the right price

MOBILE, Ala. — Cowboys owner and general manager Jerry Jones, along with team executive vice president Stephen Jones, said they would like to see running back Ezekiel Elliott return.

If the price is right.

Elliott, a three-time Pro Bowler, finished with 876 rushing yards and no 100-yard rushing games. Elliott struggled down the stretch with just 63 yards total in the last three regular season games.

Yet, team officials believe the type of plays called for Elliott and the type of defensive looks he faced, contributed to a perceived down season.

“Obviously, we’re probably one of the top teams in the league already with what we pay running backs,” Stephen Jones said. “We have to make sure how we pay attention to this and how we spread it out — and how we divide up the pie. We have to relook at that. We have to look at Zeke and obviously Tony is looking to make more money. So, we have to relook at the whole thing in terms of turning back and what that looks like.”

Oh yes, the money.

Elliott is signed through the 2026 season and is scheduled to make $10.9 million in a base salary. The Cowboys can create $10.9 million in cap space if Elliott is designated as a post-June 1 cut. If that occurs, the team would have to spread out nearly $12 million in dead money over the next three seasons.

Pollard enters free agency — and if he’s franchised — the projected guarantee salary is $10.09 million.

“When we ask a question about whether financially something is realistic, any one thing is,” Jerry Jones said. “Any two things are and I’m not trying to talk out of both sides of my mouth. You can have anything you can do, one time, or anything you can do three or four places. But all of that impacts what you can do in other places.”

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