FRISCO, TX — Dallas Cowboys Running Back Tony Pollard will officially play under the franchise tag for the 2023 season. This scenario seemed likely after he signed his franchise tag months ago, but now it’s official after the Cowboys Front Office and Pollard’s team failed to come to terms on a multi-year deal before the NFL deadline on July 17 at 4 p.m. ET.
Now that it's official, Pollard will earn $10.1 million of fully guaranteed money under the franchise tag in 2023. The running back also re-enters free agency at the conclusion of this upcoming season. If, at that time, the Cowboys want to place the franchise tag on Pollard again, the Dallas running back will earn $12.1 million, or 120% of what he earned in 2023.
Dallas Cowboys' Tony Pollard
(Credit: dallascowboys.com)
Several running backs in the NFL saw a raw deal this offseason. Not only are big names like Leonard Fournette and Dalvin Cook still without teams, but guys like Saquon Barkley and Austin Ekeler can not land deals from their respective franchises either. The Cowboys made a move for the future this offseason when they released former 2016 first-round draft pick, Ezekiel Elliot. Pollard is expected to be the guy for the future, but with how the NFL execs treat running backs these days, a long-term deal for Pollard seems unlikely.
Added to the current mood of the league towards ball carriers, Pollard broke his leg in the playoffs last year. When asked at the end of OTA’s, Pollard said he’s coming along and feels great. "Honestly, I feel faster," he said. "... I feel like I've got a lot of juice in me.” Whether or not Pollard will decline after the brutal leg break remains to be seen, but the explosive back’s window for a big deal is closing.
Tony Pollard breaks his leg against the San Francisco 49ers
(Credit: nbssports.com)
Some of the top running backs around the league sounded off after the Raiders' Josh Jacobs, the Giants' Saquon Barkley, and the Cowboys' Tony Pollard all failed to get deals done. Tennessee Titans running back Derek Henry expressed his discontent with the current state of running backs in the league.
“At this point, just take the RB position out the game, then. The ones that want to be great & work as hard as they can to give their all to an organization just seems like it don’t even matter. I’m with every RB that’s fighting to get what they deserve,” Henry wrote. Henry makes $12.5 million a season after signing a four-year extension for $50 million in 2020. The Titans tried to trade Henry this offseason but failed to find a suitor.
In 2022, Tony Pollard took over the majority workload from Ezekiel Elliot. Pollard carried the rock 193 times for 1,007 yards and nine touchdowns. Even with sharing the carries with Elliot, Pollard joined the 1,000-yard rusher club last season. On top of that, he hauled in 39 receptions for an additional 371 yards and three touchdowns. Expect a breakout year from Pollard if he can come back from the broken leg just as dangerous.
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