NFL Rumors: Cowboys open to exercising franchise tag option for RB sensation Tony Pollard
Dallas Cowboys fourth-year running back Tony Pollard will enter free agency for the first time in his career once the season is over.
Pollard has become one of the most explosive and quick running backs in the NFL and will have a lot of interested teams if he hits the market.
According to NFL Network reporter Ian Rapoport, the Cowboys want to keep Pollard and if a long-term deal isn't reached, they may opt to use the franchise tag.
From @NFLGameDay: The #Cowboys want to keep RB Tony Pollard and the franchise tag is considered an option; As for the #49ers, a massive Nick Bosa extension is a priority for this offseason. https://t.co/gm2fNqmE8L
The tag will be worth about $10 million for the upcoming season, and he will be paid an average of the top-five highest-paid running backs in the league.
He has progressed each season he's been in the NFL. As a rookie, he had 101 total touches, over 550 total yards, and three touchdowns.
In his second season, he recorded over 600 total yards on 129 touches and scored five touchdowns.
Last season, he recorded over 1,000 total yards on 169 touches and scored three touchdowns.
He had a breakout year this season as he rushed for 1,007 yards and nine touchdowns while adding 330 receiving yards and three touchdowns.
He was as productive as he was this season while being the backup running back to Ezekiel Elliott.
Elliott has a cap hit of $16 million this campaign, and the team will be spending over $20 million this season on the running back position.
Tony Pollard will be one of the best running backs to hit free agency this year
The running back market will be in full demand this offseason.
If Pollard becomes a free agent, he will be one of if not the best running backs on the market.
Other top running backs include the Las Vegas Raiders' Josh Jacobs, New York Giants' Saquon Barkley, Philadelphia Eagles' Miles Sanders, and Chicago Bears' David Montgomery.
Jacobs led the league in rushing yards this season after the Raiders elected not to pick up his fifth-year option.
Barkley has had three 1,000-plus rushing yard seasons, including a career-high 1,312 yards this season.
Sanders had the first 1,000-yard season of his career this campaign while recording a career-high 11 touchdowns.
Montgomery was on pace to break career-highs in touchdowns and rushing yards, but he missed four games this season due to injury.
Each of these backs will have a lot of interest and may become some of the highest-paid backs in the league.