After speaking with several people connected to this situation, ESPN’s Dan Graziano doesn’t expect the Cowboys to sign RB Ezekiel Elliott to an extension this offseason or even next offseason.
Graziano says other Cowboys players, like QB Dak Prescott, WR Amari Cooper and CB Byron Jones, are seen as more urgent extension priorities than Elliott.
Elliott is entering the fourth year of his rookie deal and the Cowboys still have his fifth-year option for $9.099 million. Dallas could also franchise tag Elliott in 2021 for a similar amount to what the fifth-year option costs.
Per Graziano, Elliott could have as many as 1,000 more career touches in the next three years, which is significant mileage for a running back. It makes sense for the Cowboys to wait to see if that hampers his effectiveness before committing to an extension.
It’s worth mentioning that the Cowboys have said an extension for Elliott is one of their priorities. So far, however, the team has focused more on talks with Prescott and Cooper this offseason.
Elliott, 23, was taken with the No. 4 overall pick by the Cowboys back in May. He signed four-year contract worth $24,956,342, which includes a signing bonus of $16,350,068.
Elliott will make a base salary of $3.85 million for the 2019 season and another $9.1 million in 2020 under the fifth-year option of his contract.
In 2018, Elliott appeared in 15 games for the Cowboys and rushed for 1,434 yards on 304 carries (4.7 YPC) to go along with 77 receptions for 567 yards receiving and nine touchdowns.
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