The Dallas Cowboys and running back Ezekiel Elliott could sign a new deal this weekend, according to ESPN’s Adam Schefter.
The Dallas Cowboys may soon be getting the news they’ve wanted to hear the entire offseason.
The Cowboys and running back Ezekiel Elliott are close to agreement on a new deal that will end the two-time Pro Bowler’s holdout that has lasted all through training camp. Both sides are aiming to sign a new contract as early as this weekend, according to a report by ESPN’s Adam Schefter.
Elliott, 24, has two years remaining on his rookie deal that pays him an average of $6.2 million a season. He’s looking for a contract that will make him the highest-paid running back in the league, ahead of the Los Angeles Rams’ Todd Gurley. The Cowboys have offered him a deal that would place him slightly below Gurley’s contract of $14.4 million per season.
Elliott refused the offer, leading to a months-long standoff between the team and its franchise player. Earlier this week, owner Jerry Jones admitted he expected Elliott’s holdout to continue into the regular season.
“I’m operating as though right now he’s going to miss regular-season games,” Jones said on Thursday after the Cowboys’ preseason finale against Tampa Bay. “My entire expectation for what we’re putting together as a team right now would anticipate with him holding out and not having any training camp that he’s going to miss games. I just accept that.”
Elliott, in the meantime, has been working out in Mexico in an attempt to stay in shape should Dallas make a new offer. Missing him for just a few games would’ve been a blow to the Cowboys offense that is largely built around his production.
In 2018, he accounted for 26 percent of the Cowboys’ total yards; Gurley, by comparison, earned only 19 percent of the Rams’ total yards. He led the NFL with 381 touches last season, 66 more than Gurley, and rushed for 1,434 yards and six touchdowns, averaging 4.7 yards per carry. He also caught 77 passes for 567 yards, third-highest on the team. He’s now led the league in rushing yards two out of the three seasons since the Cowboys made him the fourth overall pick in 2016, and has been the league leader in yards per game every year.
The importance of Elliott to the Cowboys was on full display a season ago. After Week 9 last season, the Cowboys were 3-5 and on their way to missing the postseason. They went on to win seven of their last eight games to finish 10-6 and win the NFC East before losing to the Rams in the Division Round. In those games, Elliott gained an average of 108 yards and scored three touchdowns (he sat out Week 17).
The Cowboys still have more than $22 million in cap space to work with entering the 2019 season, giving them room to sign Elliott long-term while also negotiating deals with quarterback Dak Prescott and wide receiver Amari Cooper.
Dallas opens the season next Sunday at home against the New York Giants.