Report: Dallas Cowboys, Ezekiel Elliott to part ways ahead of NFL league new year

Needing to make a dent in the cap space, the Dallas Cowboys are reportedly parting ways with former first-round running back Ezekiel Elliott. Clarence Hill of the Fort Worth Star-Telegram reported on Wednesday that the move could come ahead of the NFL’s new league year at 4 p.m. ET.

“Per a source close to the situation, the Cowboys are set to part ways with the two-time NFL rushing champ and the running back is preparing to start fresh with a new team,” Hill reported.

As things stood, he would have counted for almost $17 million against the cap next season. The Cowboys would save up to $11 million in cap for 2023 by designating him for a post-June 1 cut.

CLICK HERE to WIN March Madness Prizes in On3’s Bracket Challenge

NFL insider Ian Rapoport confirmed on Wednesday that the Cowboys are “likely” to make this move.

“This is the likely choice, sources confirm,” Rapoport tweeted. “Not official. But very real chance Zeke Elliott has played his last down in Dallas (and would be a post-June 1 release).”

NFL Network reporter Jane Slater confirmed the Cowboys’ “discussions.”

“I’ve inquired about Zeke and here’s what I’ve been told,” Slater tweeted. “‘There have been discussions about his release. Not sure if it’s happening today’ per one source. Another ‘Last I heard we were trying to make it work. That was a week ago.'”

After leading the Cowboys’ run game in each season since his rookie year, Elliott heavily split time with Tony Pollard in 2022, resulting in the least productive season so far for the 27-year-old.

Over 103 career NFL regular season games for Dallas, however, he rushed for 8,262 yards with 68 rushing touchdowns.

Elliott totaled 876 rushing yards in the regular season and just 53 rushing yards in the two postseason games. Meanwhile, Pollard notched his first 1,000-yard rushing season and made the Pro Bowl.

Hailing from Ohio State, Elliott was the No. 4 overall pick in the 2016 NFL Draft. He has four 1,000+ yard rushing seasons through seven seasons with Dallas. He is a three-time Pro Bowl and two-time All-Pro selection and he led the NFL in rushing yards in 2016 and 2018.

More on the 2023 NFL offseason, free agency

The NFL 2023 calendar year begins at 4 p.m. ET on March 15. At that time, contracts running through 2022 officially run out, making those players free agents.

Prior to the beginning of free agency, teams will have a chance to designate one franchise or transition tag player, starting on Feb. 21 at 4 p.m. ET and ending on March 7. Beginning March 13 through March 15 teams can enter into a legal negotiation with players who are will become unrestricted free agents.

In addition to NFL free agency, the new year also marks the beginning of all trades going official by the league office. April 21 marks the deadline to sign restricted free agents to offer sheets. On April 26, the deadline for teams to match restricted free agent offers sheets hits.

There are 722 players slated to become free agents in 2023, including 20 unrestricted free agents for Dallas.