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3 difficult decisions Dallas Cowboys must make due to salary cap issues

By Sayre Bedinger

TAMPA, FLORIDA - JANUARY 16: Tony Pollard #20 of the Dallas Cowboys carries the ball against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers during the third quarter in the NFC Wild Card playoff game at Raymond James Stadium on January 16, 2023 in Tampa, Florida. (Photo by Mike Ehrmann/Getty Images)
TAMPA, FLORIDA - JANUARY 16: Tony Pollard #20 of the Dallas Cowboys carries the ball against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers during the third quarter in the NFC Wild Card playoff game at Raymond James Stadium on January 16, 2023 in Tampa, Florida. (Photo by Mike Ehrmann/Getty Images) /
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Dallas Cowboys, Ezekiel Elliott
Dallas Cowboys, Ezekiel Elliott. (Photo by Michael Owens/Getty Images) /

3. Dallas Cowboys need to make a tough call at the RB position

The time may have come for the Dallas Cowboys to finally part ways with running back Ezekiel Elliott, which would be weird to see. The Cowboys would take on a hefty dead cap hit on Elliott unless he’s a post-June 1 designation. Here’s their current financial situation with him:

Ezekiel Elliott 2023 salary cap situation

  • Cap hit: $16.72 million
  • Dead cap if cut or traded (pre-June 1): $11.86 million
  • Cap savings if cut or traded (pre-June 1): $4.86 million
  • Dead cap if cut or traded (post-June 1): $5.82 million
  • Cap savings if cut or traded (post-June 1): $10.9 million

Now, to be clear, the Cowboys would not just be able to designate Elliott as a post-June 1 cut and have the savings immediately. They would not save $10.9 million against their salary cap until after June 1. With that being said, it’s more than double the cap savings they could have immediately if they do it that way and it seems to make a lot of sense given their current situation.

What complicates this matter is the fact that the Dallas Cowboys also have Tony Pollard to consider. Pollard is one of the best free agents available in 2023, but he’s coming off of a major injury. It’s hard to know exactly when he’ll be ready to go next season (or before) but the Cowboys have to figure out whether they’re going to let him test the market or franchise tag him. If they tag Pollard, it would count $10.091 million against this year’s salary cap.

Ironically, that’s almost the exact figure of the savings they would have if Zeke Elliott is a post-June 1 cut.

I think Jerry Jones would probably prefer to have both guys on his roster again, especially considering the fact that Pollard’s health is currently a question mark, but if the Cowboys keep Elliott and make other sacrifices to tag Tony Pollard, that’s an investment of nearly $27 million on this year’s salary cap alone at the running back position.

That’s just not a good use of assets especially looking at the fact Elliott averaged a career-worst 3.8 yards per rush this past year, Pollard is coming off of injury, and you have serious needs at wide receiver and corner.

A very difficult decision between Elliott and/or Pollard could be coming very soon.

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