The Dallas Cowboys running back room doesn’t inspire much confidence right now. Last season’s leading rusher Tony Pollard signed with the Titans, and while the Cowboys re-signed Rico Dowdle to a one-year contract, most fans would admit Dowdle isn’t cut out to be a team’s primary rusher.
It’s unclear if the Cowboys want another free agent, but they’ve reportedly kept in touch with old friend Ezekiel Elliott. There was also mutual interest between A.J. Dillon and Dallas, though Dillon agreed to return to the Packers via a rare four-year qualifying offer.
Dillon to Dallas picked up steam early in the legal tampering period. NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport reported that three teams were in the running to sign the former Packer: the Cowboys, the rival Giants and Colts, who actually outbid Jerry Jones for fellow running back Zack Moss
Where Dallas goes from here at RB remains to be seen. Re-upping Dowdle seems to have ruled out a reunion with Elliott. What caught our eye amid the Cowboys’ chase for a new back, though, is that they disrespected Elliott during their pursuit of Dillon.
.@SlaterNFL mentioned the report about AJ Dillon being connected to the Dallas Cowboys just now on NFL Network
She noted that she believes the feeling is mutual
"I think what the Cowboys are looking to do here is trying to replicate a Tony Pollard, Ezekiel Elliott situation"
— RJ Ochoa (@rjochoa) March 13, 2024
Cowboys sign free agent RB A.J. Dillon, foolishly compare him to Ezekiel Elliott
Jane Slater of NFL Network was on top of the Dillon rumors all morning and listed several RB prospects the Cowboys could target in the draft, including Texas’ Jonathan Brooks.
“I think what the Cowboys are looking to do here is try and replicate the a Tony Pollard-Ezekiel Elliott situation. A lot of fans are upset they didn’t spend all that money on Derrick Henry. He was just too rich for their taste. I think they want someone who’s gonna be in that $3-4 [million] range.”
While Dillon and Elliott are both physical runners, Dallas pushing the narrative that Dillon could replicate Zeke’s role is highly disrespectful. A former second-round pick of the Packers, Dillon’s 3.4 yards per carry in 2023 ranked dead-last among 33 qualified running backs, per Pro Football Focus. He was also last in missed tackles forced and bottom-10 in yards after contact per attempt.
Elliott was never an afterburner, but he was a world-beater in his early- and mid-20s. In his fourth season, Zeke rushed for 1,357 yards and 13 touchdowns. He was tied for sixth in yards after contact per carry, seventh in missed tackles forced and fourth in total yards after contact.
There’s no comparing Elliott and Dillon. Even at 27 years old last season, Zeke averaged more yards per carry and forced more missed tackles than Dillon. It’s duly noted that Elliott and Dillon both bring a physical element to the running game, but the Cowboys were fooling themselves thinking Dillon would have filled the Zeke role.
