The Dallas Cowboys made the call to let Ezekiel Elliott go, and even though he was reportedly willing to take a pay cut to stay with the team, they claimed they didn’t want to insult him with a low-ball offer.
Obviously, Elliott’s poor play had plenty to do with that decision, but the fact that they had a suitable replacement already waiting in line also made it easier for them.
Tony Pollard was the most efficient player at the position last season, outplaying Elliott more often than not.
Now, Dianna Russini of ESPN went as far as to call him the “most important factor” on their offense going forward, citing that an unnamed source told her that he looked like San Francisco 49ers star Christian McCaffrey at times.
.@diannaESPN thinks Tony Pollard is the "most important factor" on the Dallas Cowboys' offense.
Agree? 🤔 pic.twitter.com/hqs4yvhGXk
— Get Up (@GetUpESPN) June 29, 2023
While that could be a bit of a stretch, it’s undeniable that Pollard has already outplayed his draft stock, and he’s established himself as one of the most steady and reliable contributors at the running back position.
The Cowboys didn’t hesitate to place him under the franchise tag to see whether he’s going to earn himself a big deal for the future, and there’s no reason to believe that won’t be the case.
Dak Prescott was quite erratic and careless with the football last season, and while the Cowboys have a solid receiving corps led by CeeDee Lamb, they’ve fared better relying on the running game instead of putting pressure on Dak to lead them to success.
Don’t look now, but it might as well be breakout season for Pollard.
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