Ezekiel Elliott, Cowboys Agree on Return to Dallas

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Ezekiel Elliott is returning to the team that drafted him in the Dallas Cowboys. Both sides have agreed on terms of a new deal and pending a physical, according to Ian Rapoport.

Elliott was drafted by the Cowboys No. 4 overall in the 2016 NFL Draft and spent his first seven seasons with Dallas. During his tenure, the former Ohio State standout broke out to be one of the league's most elite running backs. Elliott an the Cowboys agreed to a one-year, $3 million contract for the 2024 season.

He led the league in rushing yards in 2016 (1,631 yards on 322 attempts) and 2018 (1,434 yards on 304 attempts) and was selected to the Pro Bowl in three seasons during his Cowboys tenure. In his seven seasons with the Cowboys, Elliott accumulated 8,262 rushing yards and 68 touchdowns. In six playoff games with the Cowboys Elliott rushed for 393 yards on 102 attempts and 2 touchdowns.

Elliot was granted a $90 million contract with the Cowboys but was released after the 2022 season, four years into his six-year deal. Just prior to the 2023 season Elliott signed with the New England and rushed for 642 yards and 5 total touchdowns in 17 games with the Patriots. Last season marked the first time he didn't rush for more than 800 yards in a season, registered a career-low in rushing touchdowns (3) and was the second consecutive season he averaged less than 3 yards per carry for a season.

Elliott returns to Dallas filling a void in the backfield after the Cowboys let free agent running back Tony Pollard walk, eventually signing with the Tennessee Titans. Before singing Elliott, the Cowboys had just two running backs on the roster (Rico Dowdle and Deuce Vaughn) and later signed Royce Freeman to a one-year contract just before the 2024 NFL Draft. Dallas had eight selections in this year's draft but didn't address the running back room, instead picking up three offensive linemen and a wide receiver for Mike McCarthy's offense.

Elliott will look to resurrect his career back in Dallas where he was once loved by Cowboy fans everywhere.