Dallas Cowboys officially release former first-round running back Ezekiel Elliott

The Dallas Cowboys have officially informed former first-round running back Ezekiel Elliott that they will release him with a post-June 1 designation, according to multiple reports. Clarence Hill of the Fort Worth Star-Telegram first reported on Wednesday that the move could come ahead of the NFL’s new league year at 4 p.m. ET.

Dallas was reportedly interested in restructuring the veteran RB’s contract, however, he ultimately heads to the free agent market. Elliott would have counted for almost $17 million against the cap next season. The Cowboys would save up to $11 million in cap space for 2023 by designating him for a post-June 1 cut.

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Without Elliott, the Cowboys are banking on newly franchise-tagged running back Tony Pollard to carry the load in 2023. Pollard remains on the roster, along with former Florida running back Malik Davis, and the Cowboys could also add to the room via the draft.

Dallas Cowboys and RB Ezekiel Elliott officially are parting ways and he now will be a free agent, per source.

— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) March 15, 2023

Cowboys part ways with two-time rushing leader

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.

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

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.

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

Elliott’s departure from Dallas marks an end of an era somewhat for the Cowboys. There are just 10 players remaining on the team that were there when Mike McCarthy took over in 2020, including Dak Prescott.

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.