The Cowboys are at a crossroads this year. They’ve parted ways with the handsomely compensated Ezekiel Elliott and by means of the franchise tag, they temporarily retained his replacement, Tony Pollard.
Since being drafted in 2019, Pollard has worked hard to make his case as a true RB1. His upright playing style and breakaway speed have led some to believe he’s best used in a tandem or a complementary role. But his 6-foot, 209-pound build and ever-increasing production says he just needs a chance.
RBs notoriously have a short shelf life. Data indicates a decline often starts by Year 5 (aka Pollard’s 2023 season) but that reality is also linked to a heavy workload and Pollard has an extremely light workload throughout his career (even extending into college).
Running backs don’t just regress after their first 4 seasons but the drop into negative RYOE territory making a second contract a risky proposition (per @tejfbanalytics ) pic.twitter.com/dU3dHM6GkW
— Reid D Hanson (@ReidDHanson) March 18, 2023
The question everyone seems to be asking these days is whether or not the Cowboys should re-sign Pollard long-term or just ride out the franchise tag and see where the journey leads.