Dallas Cowboys running back Tony Pollard signs 2023 franchise tag

The Dallas Cowboys officially inked running back Tony Pollard under the 2023 franchise tag on Thursday, according to ESPN’s Todd Archer. Although the two parties still have until late into the summer to work out a potential long-term deal, Pollard’s signature locks him in for the season. The move comes more than two weeks after the team announced their plans to tag the running back.

The former Memphis standout was a prime candidate to receive a franchise tag this offseason. Now, the Cowboys have to pay him $10.09 million for 2023, making him a top-10 running back in the league in salary.

By comparison, to franchise tag tight end Dalton Schultz for a second season, Dallas would have owed $13.1 million. Now, Schultz is with the Houston Texans and Pollard is sitting happily with the biggest deal of his young career.

The Cowboys drafted Pollard with the 26th pick in the fourth round of the 2019 NFL Draft. He signed a four-year deal for $3.18 million. The 2022 season was his first as the team’s leading rusher, topping Ezekiel Elliott for the first time since he joined the team in 2016.

He posted 1,007 rushing yards on 193 carries in 16 games played. He also caught 39 passes for 371 yards. Pollard totaled 12 scores this season, nine on the ground and three out of the air.

In four seasons for the Cowboys, Pollard has 2,616 rushing yards, 1,007 rushing yards and 23 touchdowns.

In Dallas’s playoff loss to the 49ers, Pollard suffered a high-ankle sprain that required offseason surgery and a fibula fracture. He is on track to make a return to the field by training camp.

More on the 2023 NFL offseason, free agency

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

Prior to the beginning of free agency, teams had a chance to designate one franchise or transition tag player, starting on Feb. 21 at 4 p.m. ET and ending on March 7.

The legal negotiation period spanned from March 13 through March 15. The new year marked the beginning of all trades going official per 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 were 722 players due to hit free agency in 2023, including 20 unrestricted free agents for Dallas. Follow all the Cowboys free agency news with the offseason tracker.