The Dallas Cowboys have a lot to ponder heading into the 2023 NFL season.
They have two elite running backs on their roster, Ezekiel Elliott and Tony Pollard, and both of them will be looking for another contract in the offseason.
Although teams can partly make their decisions on how much they like a player, or how valuable a player is to their organization, numbers talk.
There were 38 RBs who had 150 touches this season
Most yards per touch among them:
Tony Pollard 5.9Fewest yards per touch among them:
Ezekiel Elliott 3.9 pic.twitter.com/vrYUKxT1gx— NFL on CBS 🏈 (@NFLonCBS) January 12, 2023
When considering re-upping a player’s contract, age is one of the main factors that is considered, especially when it comes to running backs.
Pollard is only 25, whereas Elliott is 27.
Although these two players would be considered young outside of football, especially for Elliott, 27 is getting close to the end of shelf-life for elite production of running backs.
In 2022, Pollard averaged 5.9 yards per carry, a full two yards per carry more than Elliott.
When watching Cowboys games, although Elliott was used as a goal-line back for the majority of their contests, it was Pollard who often broke off for the long run and looked much more explosive of the two.
The Cowboys will be facing off against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers on Sunday, and Pollard and Elliott will be on full display, likely, competing for a contract with the team next season.
Although it is invaluable to have two work-horse style running backs on the same team, it’s looking more and more likely that one of these players will not be a member of the Cowboys in 2023.
Who will the Cowboys decide to retain, and pay big bucks for?
