EZEKIEL ELLIOTT CONTRACT DETAILS: WHERE RB FALLS ON COWBOYS DEPTH CHART AFTER RETURNING TO DALLAS

The Cowboys were expected by many to add a new running back during the 2024 NFL Draft. Instead, they eschewed the position and brought a familiar face in to shore up their backfield depth.

Dallas agreed to a deal with veteran running back Ezekiel Elliott pending a physical, per NFL Network's Ian Rapoport and Tom Pelissero. The three-time Pro Bowler and 2016 AP All-Pro will return to the Cowboys after a one-year hiatus during which he played with the Patriots.

Elliott's signing isn't expected to be pricey. The running back can still handle a full workload, but he has slowed down in recent seasons and crossed the 2,000-carry mark in 2023.

Still, Elliott could be asked to play a big role in Dallas, especially with the team choosing not to draft a running back.

Here's what to know about Elliott's signing and how it could impact Dallas' backfield rotation.

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Ezekiel Elliott contract details

The terms of Elliott's contract with the Cowboys have not yet been disclosed. That said, it would be surprising to see the veteran running back get more than a one-year deal given his age and the sheer volume of touches he has handled during his NFL career.

Elliott's signing is expected to become official after 4 p.m. ET Monday, per Jonathan Jones of CBS Sports. This will allow Dallas to avoid having Elliott count against the compensatory picks formula for 2025.

Ezekiel Elliott age

Elliott is currently 28 but will turn 29 on July 22. That makes the 2024 NFL season his age-29 season, a mark only a handful of top-tier running backs reach in the modern NFL.

Elliott is playing his ninth NFL season in 2024, as he was drafted into the league at just 20 years old. That has allowed him to stay effective during his career, even if he isn't the same dynamic, do-it-all threat he once was.

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Ezekiel Elliott stats

Early in Elliott's career, he was a true workhorse back. He handled 300-plus carries in three of his first four seasons, and the only reason he didn't reach that mark in his second season was a six-game suspension he served for violating the NFL's personal conduct policy.

Elliott twice led the NFL in rushing yards in 2016 and 2018 and totaled 2,001 scrimmage yards during the latter season. His production has tailed off in recent years, but he still has never handled fewer than 235 touches in a season.

Below is a look at Elliott's stats from his eight-year NFL career so far:

Year	Team	Carries	Rush yards	Rush TDs	Y/a	Catches	Receiving yards	Receiving TDs
2016	Cowboys	322	1,631	15	5.1	32	363	1
2017	Cowboys	242	983	7	4.1	26	269	2
2018	Cowboys	304	1,434	6	4.7	77	567	3
2019	Cowboys	301	1,357	12	4.5	54	420	2
2020	Cowboys	244	979	6	4.0	52	338	2
2021	Cowboys	237	1,002	10	4.2	47	287	2
2022	Cowboys	231	876	12	3.8	17	92	0
2023	Patriots	184	642	3	3.5	51	313	2

The Cowboys probably shouldn't expect Elliott to be a 1,000-yard rusher again given his decline in recent seasons. Still, he can be an effective lead back and can handle a sizable workload.

That may give him the early edge in the battle for Dallas' starting job.

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Cowboys RB depth chart

Elliott figures to top Dallas' running back depth chart — currently comprised of seven players — early in the offseason.

Here's a projection of how things will stack up for the Cowboys backfield:

Rank	Player
1	Ezekiel Elliott
2	Rico Dowdle
3	Royce Freeman
4	Deuce Vaughn
5	Malik Davis
6	Snoop Conner
7	Nathaniel Peat

The Cowboys didn't select a running back in the 2024 NFL Draft, so Elliott and Dowdle figure to share the touches in the Cowboys backfield. Freeman is another veteran signing who could challenge for a between-the-tackles role, but the journeyman remains behind the other two in that pecking order.

Vaughn is a wild card, as the 5-6, 176-pound running back may be the team's best receiving option behind Elliott. That could help him leapfrog Freeman and take on a third-down-type role for Dallas in 2024.

Davis and Conner are young veterans who haven't yet gotten a chance to shine. Neither received carries last season, so they seem more likely to battle for practice squad spots if they can show upside.

Finally, Peat is the lone rookie running back the Cowboys have added thus far. The Missouri product was largely a rotational player and never handled more than 110 touches during his five college seasons. If he can overtake Davis and Conner quickly, perhaps he can battle for a roster spot.

But for now, it seems like Peat is fighting for a spot in the organization more than an actual role in Dallas' backfield.

2024-04-29T13:15:48Z dg43tfdfdgfd