The Dallas Cowboys 2022 season could showcase characteristics of previous years in Arlington. Perhaps it compares to the 2018 season, where Jerry & Jason rolled out a mediocre rotation of wide-receivers, only to acquire the desperately needed attention garnering Amari Cooper at the midway point. Fans would love to see a 2021 replication on the defensive side, where Micah Parsons and Trevon Diggs led a unit that should be charged with theft on the field. But after spending a first-round pick this past draft on Tyler Smith to shore up the offensive line, the 2014 season comes to mind.
As a refresher, the memorable season of 2014 began with selecting Zack Martin at 16 and quarterback turned fortune-teller Tony Romo led Dallas to a first-place finish and controversial playoff loss in Green Bay. The comparisons however won’t resemble Romo and Dez Bryant as much as it will showcase similarities to that season’s running back DeMarco Murray.
Murray in 2014 was entering a contract year after being taken in the third-round out of Oklahoma back in 2011. He had shown improvement yearly and was a big piece of the Dallas offense entering the season. The Cowboys rode Murray to the tune of nearly 450 touches, as the bell-cow set career highs in carries (392), rushing yards (1,845) and touchdowns (13).
Once the Cowboys were removed from the playoffs, Murray was eventually removed from the roster. No contract extension or reward for his Offensive Player of the Year efforts, not from Dallas at least. One current bell-cow could be in a similar scenario following this season in Ezekiel Elliott.
The former Buckeye and 4th overall pick of 2016 is entering his seventh season with the Cowboys. He inked an at the time record breaking six-year extension in September of 2019, but has shown a decline on the field in recent seasons. Although missing games has not been an issue for the three-time Pro Bowler, production with the football and a healthy body have been. Elliott has shown the ability to produce 1,000 yard rushing seasons and can also provide blocking and pass catching out of the backfield. The production however, is not matching the value that you should expect from the 2nd-highest paid running-back for the 2022 season ($15,000,000).
The Cowboys do find themselves in an interesting situation following the 2022 season when you look at Elliott’s contract. At the conclusion of 2022, Dallas could designate the then 27-year old as a post-June 1st release and save themselves close to $11-million-dollars in cap space for the 2023 season. This could be a smart move if you look at the Cowboys 2014 season with Murray.
What if Dallas decides to utilize the downward trending Elliott like they did with Murray? What if the Cowboys handed Elliott the rock 392 times and then sent him out the door?
Cowboys fans saw a backfield of Darren McFadden and Joseph Randle in 2015 after Murray’s monster season. Could Tony Pollard and a second-back take on a similar responsibility after a 350-touch season from Elliott? The thought has to be looming in the front office of Jerry & Co. How much is the running back position worth? How much money is Elliott really worth? Is the scenario of Elliott literally leaving it all out on the field this season a possibility?
During his six years thus far, Elliott has surpassed 300 carries on three occasions. In those same six seasons, only five other players have touched the 300 carry mark, demonstrating the rare feat it appears to be. The potential wash, rinse and repeat of Murray’s final season could be replicated with Elliott for one final run.
The Cowboys enter 2022 with high expectations, similar to every season at AT&T Stadium. McCarthy will lead Dak Prescott, Elliott and the rest of the explosive Dallas roster on the Lombardi Trophy quest. Cowboys fans can expect to see number-21 on the field for this season. The question remains, will this be the last time Elliott dons number-21 in a Cowboys uniform?
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