The Dallas Cowboys are set at running back for 2022. Ezekiel Elliott is in tow for his seventh season as the club’s lead tailback. Following a tremendous start to the 2021 campaign, Elliott gutted out a knee injury suffered in Week 4, but the ailment slowed down his production.
Behind Elliott sits Tony Pollard, a unique change-of-pace back and kick returner who can be split out wide as a receiver, though Dallas hasn’t done hardly enough of that in his first three years. Pollard has game-changing speed and the few times both backs appeared on the field together seemed to unlock something Kellen Moore never returned to. The depth chart is fine for this season, but after that?
Elliott’s contract is hefty, and though both he and team owner Jerry Jones seem to share a desire for Elliott’s career to play out entirely in Dallas, vice president Stephen Jones may be looking to save some money next offseason. In addition, Pollard is a free agent as his rookie contract expires. So it makes sense for the Cowboys to consider drafting a back to compete with the returning Rico Dowdle for third-back honors and a potential bigger role in 2023.
Here’s a look at the eight backs they’ve been linked to as the draft nears.