Dallas Cowboys owner Jerry Jones expressed interest in the team welcoming back Ezekiel Elliott.
Jones addressed reporters on Friday after the completion of the third round of the 2024 NFL Draft. The Cowboys did not select a running back in the first two days of the three-day event.
“First of all, the draft’s not over and that’s a thought,” Jones said, after being asked if the team’s decision against selecting a running back thus far was about how the draft has progressed or if the team is comfortable with its ground attack.
“And it was a long time before a running back was taken in today’s draft. But we also are keenly interested in seeing what the future might look like with Zeke.”
Elliott played for Dallas from 2016-22 after the team selected him with the No. 4 overall section of the 2016 NFL Draft. He spent last season with the New England Patriots.
While no public agreement is in place, the Cowboys met with Elliott and his agent earlier this week. Jones also said that Elliott’s days as a starter are not behind him.
“I know this, I saw as recent as the end of the year, I saw Zeke play,” Jones said. “And I will tell you he’s good enough to be a starter.”
The Cowboys appear to be in need of help in the backfield after letting running back Tony Pollard leave in free agency.
Dallas’ current running back room consists of Rico Dowdle, Royce Freeman, Deuce Vaughn, Malik Davis and Snoop Conner.
Elliott, who turns 29 on July 22, stepped up last season after Patriots running back Rhamondre Stevenson was sidelined with a high-ankle sprain. Elliott finished with a team-best 642 yards and three touchdowns to go along with 51 catches for 313 yards and two scores in 17 games (five starts) last season.
Elliott led the NFL in rushing in 2016 and 2018 and posted four 1,000-yard seasons with Dallas. He ranks third in Cowboys history in rushing yards (8,262) and rushing touchdowns (68) behind Hall of Fame members Emmitt Smith and Tony Dorsett.
