Dallas Cowboys: An Ezekiel Elliott holdout could be for the best
By Joel Deering
Ezekiel Elliott rumors say he’s likely to holdout for a new deal. It’s never good not having your best player, but it may be best for the Dallas Cowboys.
Heading into the 2019-20 NFL season, the Dallas Cowboys have their work cut out for them when it comes to re-signing their star players. Offensive players Ezekiel Elliott, Dak Prescott and Amari Cooper are all due for big contract extensions. Dallas has known for quite some time that they’ll need these three guys moving forward, but no progress has been made on any of their next contracts.
With no progress being made, running back Ezekiel Elliott has indicated he’s potentially going to holdout until he gets what he believes he’s due. For the Dallas Cowboys, losing their best offensive weapon would obviously be a huge blow. If Elliott isn’t playing next season, this team will for sure take a step back. However, letting Elliott holdout could be best for the team in the long run.
How so? Well, there’s a quarterback by the name of Dak Prescott who’s also seeking a big contract extension. Rumors have indicated Dak Prescott getting a deal north of $30 million a year, which many people have heavily criticized.
While the Dallas Cowboys have indicated that Prescott is their franchise quarterback, I believe there is some sort of hesitancy to pay him the big bucks. If there wasn’t, they likely would have got the deal done already. Instead, it seems like they want Prescott to prove he’s worth the money. If Elliott holds out, it’s the perfect opportunity for Dallas to see what they’ve truly got with Prescott.
Dak Prescott and Ezekiel Elliott both entered the NFL back in 2016. In 48 games played since entering the league, Dak Prescott has a record of 32-16. He’s led the Cowboys to the playoffs twice in three seasons, also winning the NFC East twice in that same time frame.
That looks great, but many have knocked Prescott because of what he’s been able to do, or rather what he has not been able to do when Elliott hasn’t been on the field with him. In Prescott’s 48 games, Ezekiel Elliott has missed eight of those games (one in 2016, six in 2017 and one in 2018). Prescott’s record in games without Zeke is 4-4.
Eight games compared to 48 is a small sample size, but Dak’s winning percentage without Elliott drops from 66.6% to 50%. A quarterback with a .500 winning percentage most definitely does not deserve to be paid $30+ million a year.
Former Dallas Cowboys LB Bobby Carpenter breaks down another stat that shows how important Ezekiel Elliott is to Dak Prescott. Carpenter explains how much better Dak Prescott is at play-action passing when he has Ezekiel Elliott on the field.
Dak is a good young QB but his play action passing is 30% better when Zeke is on the field. It’s why @EzekielElliott needs to be on the field for Dallas this season and if he holds out they have to pay him @GetUpEspn pic.twitter.com/AHJAgJ4nim
— Bobby Carpenter (@Bcarp3) July 16, 2019
Dak Prescott has a really nice resume, but the majority of that resume lies on the shoulders of Elliott, as evidenced by just a couple stats. Every Dallas Cowboys fan loves Elliott when he’s on the field. After all, he is a game-changer. He’s arguably the best running back in the league.
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With that being said, I believe Cowboys fans everywhere would like Dak Prescott to truly prove his worth before the team hands him $30+ million a year. I know this upcoming season is a big one for the Dallas Cowboys, and if Elliott doesn’t play because of a holdout, it could be a rough one. However, not having Elliott will give Dak the chance to prove just how much he’s really worth.
If Elliott holds out, but then Dak Prescott leads the Dallas Cowboys to a 10-6 or better record and a playoff appearance, I say pay him his $30+ million. At that point, Prescott would have proved he can win without Elliott in the backfield. He would have proved he’s taking steps forward as the franchise QB.
If Zeke hold out, but then Dak Prescott leads the Cowboys to an 8-8 or worse record and doesn’t make the playoffs, then Dallas knows the true value of Dak Prescott as their franchise quarterback. They may not even have to wait that long. If Elliott holds out and Dak gets to the halfway mark of the season with a record under .500, it’s already clear how valuable Elliott is.
This would give Dallas leverage when it comes to contract negotiations with Dak. How could Dak demand $30+ million a year if he proves he can’t do it without Zeke? Dallas would know who’s most important to the team. In this case, the value of Elliott would drastically rise, and I don’t think the Cowboys would hesitate to make him the highest-paid running back in the league.
With three offensive stars in line to be paid, the Cowboys need to make sure they prioritize their players correctly. Quarterback is the most important position on the team, which is why they have to make sure they get their contract with Prescott right. They may only be able to see his true value if Ezekiel Elliott isn’t on the field.
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Again, it’s never going to help your team when a player like Ezekiel Elliott holds out, but in this case, a Zeke holdout could give the Cowboys the clarity they’ve been looking for.