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    Jerry Jones: Ezekiel Elliott 'Good Enough to Be' RB1 amid Cowboys Contract Rumors

    Joseph Zucker@@JosephZuckerX.com LogoFeatured Columnist IVApril 26, 2024

    ARLINGTON, TX - DECEMBER 24: Running back Ezekiel Elliott #21 of the Dallas Cowboys warms up before kickoff against the Philadelphia Eagles at AT&T Stadium on December 24, 2022 in Arlington, Texas. (Photo by Cooper Neill/Getty Images)
    Cooper Neill/Getty Images

    A reunion between the Dallas Cowboys and free-agent running back Ezekiel Elliott appears to be close.

    After failing to draft a running back in the first two days of the NFL draft, owner Jerry Jones told reporters that the team is "keenly interested in seeing what the future might look like with Zeke."

    "I know this, I saw as recent as the end of the year, I saw Zeke play," Jones added. "And I will tell you he's good enough to be a starter."

    The discussion comes after Michael Gehlken of the Dallas Morning News reported a deal between the two sides is "increasingly imminent."

    Gehlken reported the team's pursuit of Elliott is independent of what might happen in the 2024 NFL draft.

    Dallas can still take a running back on Day 3, although the team missed out on a chance to draft several high-upside options in the second and third rounds. Jones spoke highly of Texas' Jonathon Brooks before the draft:

    Todd Archer @toddarcher

    Jerry Jones on Texas RB Jonathon Brooks: "In my 30 years I thought it was the best interview that I ever interviewed with a player. He's outstanding. And he's a great football player. We got him high, high, high. And he's a good player." Someone to think about in Day 2.

    Jerry Jones: Ezekiel Elliott 'Good Enough to Be' RB1 amid Cowboys Contract Rumors
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    However, Brooks was taken by the Carolina Panthers in the second round.

    It leaves Elliott as a top option on the free-agent market. He and his agent reportedly met with Cowboys officials earlier this week, and Stephen and Jerry Jones lauded his contributions over a seven-year run.

    Jon Machota @jonmachota

    Cowboys EVP Stephen Jones on meeting this week with Ezekiel Elliott and his agent Rocky Arceneaux: "Zeke, as we all know, is one of our favorites. He's laid it on the line for this franchise. He's the ultimate competitor and we obviously think a lot of him. It was good to run…

    However, Elliott is no longer suitable to be a No. 1 option on the ground based on the last two seasons. Since the start of 2022, he has averaged 3.7 yards per carry and run for 47.7 yards per game.

    And the Cowboys need a true No. 1 ball-carrier right now.

    Tony Pollard is gone and in his place are Rico Dowdle and Deuce Vaughn, who have combined for 119 carries in the NFL. Dowdle, the more seasoned of the two, didn't exactly thrive in a secondary role behind Pollard, either. He averaged 4.1 yards per carry in 2023.

    Elliott can still be what they call an innings-eater in baseball parlance. He has remained pretty durable without his performance falling off a cliff.

    A team with Super Bowl aspirations will be leaving something to desired if it's counting on Zeke, Dowdle or Vaughn to anchor the rushing attack, though.