As more rounds go by of the 2024 NFL Draft, it looks more likely that the Cowboys will reunite with Ezekiel Elliott.
On Friday, owner and general manager Jerry Jones did not say the team has made an agreement with Elliott but reaffirmed his interest and the potential he sees in the former Cowboys running back of seven seasons from 2016-2022.
“First of all, the draft’s not over and that’s a thought,” Jones said, according to ESPN. “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.”
“I saw as recent as the end of the year, I saw Zeke play,” he added. “And I will tell you he’s good enough to be a starter.”
A potential reunion was reported in late March, and Elliott met with the Cowboys, along with his agent Rocky Arceneaux, earlier this week to chat about the possibility.
Later on, Elliott and Arceneaux went to the same restaurant, Dee Lincoln Prime in Frisco, Texas, where the Cowboys were hosting a scouts’ dinner.
Elliott is a free agent after signing a one-year deal worth $3 million with New England last August.
He went on to play all 17 games for the Patriots in their brutal 4-13 season.
He led the team with 642 rushing yards across 184 carries for three touchdowns along with 313 receiving yards and two touchdowns.
However, the 642 yards were a significant career-low compared to his output in Dallas, which saw him hit a career-best 1,631 yards in his rookie year.
Elliott was replaced by Tony Pollard when he was released by Dallas.
The Cowboys lost Pollard in free agency after being the leading rusher for the past two seasons.
However, the Cowboys re-signed Rico Dowdle and added veteran Royce Freeman.
“We have it in our power to feel good about the running back room. Period. Now are we through with the running back room? I’m not going to answer that,” Jones said. “Not trying to be coy. I just don’t need to answer that. But Zeke’s good enough to be in the running back room, and he’s good enough to play for the Cowboys. I’d say that.”
Elliott has not hit the 1,000-yard mark since 2021 after leading the league in rushing in both 2016 and 2018.
With the Cowboys, Elliott received three Pro Bowl nods and rushed for 8,262 yards and 68 touchdowns.
The yardage is the third most in the organization’s history behind Hall of Famers Emmitt Smith and Tony Dorsett.
