NFL analyst urges Dallas Cowboys to trade 'overpaid' RB Ezekiel Elliott ahead of 2022 season
Last season, Dallas Cowboys running back Ezekiel Elliott posted over 1,000 rushing yards for the fourth time in his career. He also ran for 10 touchdowns from 237 carries. While these are respectable numbers for a running back in the NFL, 2021 was considered a subpar season for him.
The Cowboys' backup, Tony Pollard, had similar production and even left his compatriot behind in several metrics.
NFL analyst Brent Sobleski, of the Bleacher Report, thinks Dallas should trade Elliott. In an article posted earlier this month, Sobleski said that the Cowboys could be better off without the running back heading into the 2022 season.
He thinks that regardless of Elliott's statistics, the Cowboys won only one playoff game and got eliminated in the divisional round. He thinks that losing Elliott may hurt their running game in 2022, but that running the ball hasn't been effective for them in the last few years anyway.
The running back's salary-cap charge this season is $18.2 million. He is then under contract for four more campaigns and that number won't dip below $14.3 million.
Lifelong Cowboys fan and sports analyst Skip Bayless is also of the opinion that the running back is likely to continue his downtrend. On Skip and Shannon: Undisputed, Bayless discussed Elliott's chances of becoming the best running back in the league:
"On a scale of 1-10, I give Elliott 3. I hold out some hope to find out what No. 21 is really made of."
Bayless added:
"Zeke could be out of football in a year if he continues (with his poor form). To run down the list, he (averages) 109 yards a game in his rookie year, then 98, 96, then gets his money, 85, 65, and 59 last year. Even the catches and yards per catch have gone down almost every year."
He concluded his point by saying:
"The stats are screaming washed, washed, washed."
Can Ezekiel Elliott turn his fortunes around in 2022?
The 26-year-old became one of the highest earners in the league when he signed a six-year contract extension in 2019 worth $90 million. He has averaged 991 rushing yards on 4.1 yards per carry and eight touchdowns since 2019.
Though he has been bashed by the media for his form over the past few seasons, the 26-year-old is putting in the work. He recently posted photos from his workouts, looking absolutely ripped.
Cowboys coach Mike McCarthy said in an interview last month that the running back is "healthy" and having a tremendous offseason. This is important as the running back has struggled with injuries over the last few seasons. Regularly strapped up and playing through the pain, a period of rest was pivotal to his recovery.
Cowboys coach Mike McCarthy said Ezekiel Elliott is “completely healthy right now, and he’s had a tremendous offseason. I mean, the weight that he’s been pushing in the weight room, just the numbers he has been cranking out have been very, very impressive. …He’s in top shape.” https://t.co/qTxbmU5kn7
The two-time NFL rushing yards leader could well silence his critics in the 2022 season. If he can stay healthy and get enough touches, there's nothing stopping him from being one of the league's leading rushers.
If you use any of the above quotes, please credit Bleacher Report, Skip and Shannon: Undisputed and H/T Sportskeeda.