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There seems to be a divide on whether or not running backs should be paid handsomely in today's NFL. This discussion has been ongoing, but it has been rekindled with Ezekiel Elliott of the Dallas Cowboys holding out of training camp in hopes to land a new deal.
The Cowboys opened their training camp in Oxnard, California and one of their indispensable weapons on offense was a no-show. Elliott was nowhere to be found and Cowboys owner Jerry Jones described it as Elliott being “late.”
While the Cowboys enter a crucial year under Jason Garrett, there is already a discord between a player and the team. According to reports, the Cowboys have offered Elliott a deal, but the Cowboys running back remains away from the team.
No one (besides Elliott's agent and Elliott) knows what Dallas offered him, but it better be a decent amount. Elliott is entering the second-to-last year on his rookie deal but he wants a deal that pays him as one of the best running backs in the NFL.
So what should Ezekiel Elliott's contract with the Cowboys look like? Let's take a look at what the next offer should be for the Cowboys All-Pro running back. To do that, we'll dive into some of the league's top running backs' contracts in the process.
In just three seasons, Elliott has arguably become the league's most talented running back. Elliott is the engine that keeps the Cowboys offense running. Therefore, he should be paid near the top at his position.
Over the next two seasons, Elliott is set to earn $3.8 million in 2o19 and nearly $9.1 million in 2020. Although, Elliott wants a deal that gives him more insurance before he gets nearly 400 touches again.
Recently, we've seen Todd Gurley, David Johnson, and Le'Veon Bell all receive lucrative deals at the running back position. Among those guys, Gurley is making $14.3 million annually, Johnson is making $13 million annually, and Bell is receiving $13.1 million annually.
In that case, Elliott should be making at least $13 million per season. What about the length of the deal and the guaranteed money?
For running backs, the guaranteed money is the key to getting a deal done. After all, the running back position is heavily utilized in NFL offenses and they continually take a beating between the tackles.
In his three seasons in Dallas, Elliott has been given 1,003 touches—including 381 in 2018. Elliott accounts for a large portion of the Cowboys total offense.
For instance, in 2018, Elliott had 2,001 yards from scrimmage while the Cowboys offense as a whole had 5,501 total yards. That's nearly half of the offensive production coming from their running back.
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At just 24 years old, Dallas should be comfortable extending Elliott another three to four years. That's because running backs tend to decline in their later twenties due to wear and tear. The Cowboys should maximize Elliott's window of being a premier rusher by paying him.
Along with Elliott, the Cowboys have to pay Dak Prescott and Amari Cooper. It will be up to Jerry Jones and company to figure out how to get all three deals done.
Unlike the other top running backs (maybe besides Saquon Barkley), Elliott is absolutely needed for the Cowboys offense to be successful. The offense runs through him and he is relied upon to get them rolling.
As for Gurley, Johnson, and Bell, all three have a large sum of their contracts guaranteed. Gurley has 78% of his contract guaranteed, Johnson has nearly 82% of his contract guaranteed, and Bell has 51% of his contract guaranteed.
When or if Dallas gives Elliott a reasonable offer, they should be willing to dish out a decent amount of guaranteed money. So far, neither side seems willing to budge on their current stance. When a deal gets done, it should come in the range of a three-year, $42 million deal with $30 million in guarantees.
Jerry Jones told the media that “you don't have to have a rushing champion to win a Super Bowl.” Despite that, it's tough to believe this Cowboys team could reach their ultimate goal without Elliott.
The Cowboys aren't new to their lead rusher holding out as Emmitt Smith did the same thing in 1993. That season, Smith sat out the first two games—and the Cowboys lost both.
Then, Dallas (and Jerry Jones) decided to pay Smith and they would go on to win the Super Bowl that year. On the contrary, maybe the Cowboys do need a rushing champion to win a Super Bowl. But until they are willing to pay Elliott accordingly, they won't know.
