Tony Pollard is 'really comfortable' in contract position with Dallas Cowboys, Jeremy Fowler says

As one of the only players in the league this offseason to sign his franchise tag, Tony Pollard is in a “comfortable” negotiating position with the Dallas Cowboys.

Although he already signed his deal that will net him just north of $10 million for the 2023 season, Pollard can still negotiate a long-term deal until July 17. According to NFL insider Jeremy Fowler, the former fourth-round pick was happy to lock in guaranteed money coming off of an injury that required surgery and put his future in jeopardy.

“I’m told that Tony Pollard is really comfortable with his situation, considers himself in a win-win because he’s signed that $10.1 million franchise tag, which guarantees him the money,” Fowler said on Sports Center. “A nice insurance coming off ankle surgery this offseason, but he’s also open to extension talks and Dallas could intensify those talks leading closer to that July 17 deadline.

“Remember, they have a lot of players that they could extend; CeeDee Lamb, Trevon Diggs, maybe Dak Prescott down the road, so if they reworked Pollard’s $10 million number, that could lessen his cap hit a bit. So, either way, Pollard is comfortable. He will be the lead back for Dallas next year regardless.”

If the Cowboys don’t get a long-term deal done with Pollard by July 17, it doesn’t mean he won’t be back in 2024. The first-time Pro Bowler will have solid leverage if he performs again like he did in 2022, racking up over 1,000 yards on the ground and another 371 as a receiver.

Unlike Pollard, fellow running backs Saquon Barkley and Josh Jacobs did not sign their franchise tags and are still holding out for bigger deals.

Pollard following in Ezekiel Elliott’s footsteps

During OTAs, Dallas head coach Mike McCarthy addressed how Pollard is doing as he steps into the leadership role vacated by Ezekiel Elliott.

McCarthy said Pollard is doing an “excellent job,” and also extended credit to Zeke for the example he provided the former fourth-rounder over the last four seasons.

“Watching him assert himself more, he has a commanding presence,” McCarthy said at Cowboys minicamp. “I think he’s done an excellent job with the younger players. Tony always asks excellent questions. Tony has a really good feel of how things fit together.

“The locker room is the locker room… Zeke was a tremendous teammate and example for those guys too, I think if Tony was standing here, Tony would compliment Zeke for showing him the right way.”

This season will be Pollard’s first as the leading running back on the Cowboys’ depth chart. He has several younger backs behind him with Deuce Vaughn and Malik Davis. The room did add one additional veteran in Ronald Jones during free agency.