Amid the usual free agency buzz, Cincinnati Bengals fans will likely wonder if the team should have an interest in running back Ezekiel Elliott.
The Cowboys released Elliott on Wednesday, clearing roughly $10 million in salary cap space.
Elliott was one of the biggest names at the position for years. Over seven seasons, he won two rushing titles (2016 and 2018) and racked up 10,498 all-purpose yards. He’s averaged 4.4 yards per carry for his career and scored 68 rushing touchdowns.
But Bengals fans are familiar with the notion of dropoff at the running back position. We’ve perhaps begun to see it from Joe Mixon, who will turn 27 this summer and is a cut candidate, too.
Elliott turns 28 this summer and has 1,881 rushing attempts over the course of his career so far, so there’s reason to believe the near-age-30 dropoff is coming. Despite scoring 12 touchdowns last year, he just averaged under four yards per carry for the first time.
Funny enough, the same arguments against keeping Mixon at his current price tag apply to Elliott, too. He saw just 23 targets through the air over 15 games last year and is an OK pass blocker. Adding Elliott might leave the Bengals in the same position they were in with Mixon — the “starting” running back might have to come off the field in key situations because of limitations as a receiver and pass-blocking consistency.
As the free agent market stands, many running backs have more three-down ability and might demand less money (not that Elliott should get a lot of money on the market; this is more about fit).
One could make the argument Mixon is a better player than Elliott at this stage of their respective careers, too, so going after Elliott might be a lateral move on the field, even if it is cheaper.
Elliott might be interested in the contending Bengals, but coaches and front office personnel probably have eyes on lesser-known names and a very deep draft class.
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