Although some have predicted that Tony Pollard will leave the Dallas Cowboys, a fresh perspective suggests that the running back may choose to stay. Prior to 2023, Pollard was regarded as a rising talent; however, a dismal season while playing for the franchise tag has altered public opinion.
However, ESPN reporter Bill Barnwell thinks Pollard might be re-signed for half of his 2023 salary as the free agency window draws near. For Pollard, Barnwell estimates a contract of $4-6 million annually, which is far less expensive.
On February 29, Barnwell observed, “Pollard is just 26 and should be fully recovered from his injury.” However, it would be difficult for clubs to predict that he will be a successful primary back in 2024.
Barnwell’s estimated amount should interest the Cowboys, according to RJ Ochoa of Blogging the Boys. He also points out that Pollard performed best when he was a part of a two-back formation.
“We’ll just suppose, hypothetically of course, that Pollard could be had for $5 million a year for the sake of discourse. This is not a large sum of money. Ochoa remarked on March 2 that “this is well worth doing.” The Cowboys (and anybody else, really) should tackle the running back problem with a committee of sorts. Combining a reasonably priced Pollard with a first-round draft pick may significantly improve the team’s running back room.
In 2023, Pollard Regresses
A 1000-yard season is rarely referred to as “regression,” but a closer examination of the data reveals the truth.In 2023, Pollard was still passable but much less effective.
Pro Football Reference reports that Pollard gained 1005 yards through 252 carries. His average plummeted from 5.2 yards per rush to 4.0 yards, which is significant given that he gained 1007 yards in 2022 on 59 fewer carries.
Moreover, he lacked explosiveness when it came to receiving. With 55 receptions, he set a career best, although his 311 receiving yards were the fewest since 2020. Additionally, Pollard scored just six touchdowns in 2023 compared to 12 in 2022.
One thing to think about is how the team used quarterback Dak Prescott, who came in second for MVP. However, Pollard was assigned a solo role, and it wasn’t quite as successful as the two-back formation.
Cowboys Calculating Their Pay Cap
The revelation that veteran tackle Tyron Smith won’t be coming back for 2024 allays some of the worries expressed about the pay cap. However, Dallas still needs to find solutions and room for future hires and extensions.
Right now, Pollard feels like a less important priority. Dallas, according to Spotrac, is $4 million over the salary cap. The Cowboys need to make that adjustment and make room in order to sign draft picks before they can do anything else.
But the Cowboys should be able to pull it off if Pollard is indeed available in 2024 for about $5 million. It’s good to have a seasoned presence back, and Dallas can afford to select a No. 2 RB in the draft.
It’s a welcome change from what the Cowboys have recently spent on running backs. Dallas must be economical in the wake of the Pollard solo experiment and the Ezekiel Elliott era.
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