What does Zeke need to do to stay on the roster in 2023?

DanA · Jun 13, 2022

Lets look at the top running back contracts:

McCaffrey 16m per season
Kamara 15m per season
Ezekiel Elliott 15m
Gurley got 14.5m per season

More recent notable contracts:

Dalvin Cook 12.6m
Derrick Henry 12.5m
Aaron Jones 12m
Nick Chubb 12m
Joe Mixon 12m

Others relevant contracts:

Leonard Fornette 7m
James Connor 7m
Austin Ekeler 6.2m

My opinions:

Henry's contract shows running backs aren't getting 15m per season anymore, but I do think Zeke was running like the group of 12m APY running backs before the PCL. The thing is at every other stage in the last 3 years his production IMO belongs squarely in line with the 6-7m APY category, maybe with a slight premium due to his great blocking and locker room presence.

Looking forward at Zeke's base salary:

2022 - 12.4m (guaranteed)
2023 - 10.9m
2024 - 10.0m

If Zeke runs like he was prior to the PCL in 2021, and remains healthy, he could be kept on his current contract at 10.9m per season. That put his production above his base salary value and with no guaranteed money, the Cowboys have flexibility keeping him. If however he performs like he has looked at every other point in the last 3 years, he should be cut, or at the very least asked to take a pay cut. It's clear the 15m APY was a bad contract but IMO it remains to be seen what the Cowboys should do with him beyond 2023.

RonWashington · Jun 13, 2022

Pick up the blitz …keep # 4 upright

JoeKing · Jun 13, 2022

Zeke doesn't get enough credit from fans for doing what he does best these days. @RonWashington you have it right! Keep #4 upright!

RonWashington · Jun 13, 2022

I try . I blew it in the World Series game 6 2011 but i switched to football analytics :facepalm:

Hardline · Jun 13, 2022

He needs to be in the top 3 in rushing.
Keep killing it blocking and picking up blitzers.

Hardline · Jun 13, 2022

RonWashington said:
I try . I blew it in the World Series game 6 2011 but i switched to football analytics

I still haven't forgiven Nelson Cruz.

RonWashington · Jun 13, 2022

Hardline said:
I still haven't forgiven Nelson Cruz.

Me neither . I should have removed him for defensive purposes . When you look up DH in the dictionary Nelson’s mug shows up :thumbdown:

RonWashington · Jun 13, 2022

Zeke pounded it for over a 1000 last yr . I wish KM would use Pollard more of as a change up keep Zeke fresh .

Big D · Jun 13, 2022

He needs to be healthy enough to be a factor at the end of the season heading into the playoffs. He was a shell of himself last yr when we needed him most.

Jfconrow · Jun 13, 2022

Just be healthy, but he won’t play next year without guaranteed money

RonWashington · Jun 13, 2022

You know when a player waves you off doesn’t want to come out ( ZEKE ) as a HC it’s MM’s place to step in .

BoysfanfromCanada · Jun 13, 2022

He has to stay healthy and show the explosiveness he had early last season. And be more of a passing threat than he's been in a couple years. His pass protection will keep him employed for this year, but he has to show a bit more to keep going at his cap hit

GimmeTheBall! · Jun 13, 2022

DanA said:
Lets look at the top running back contracts:

McCaffrey 16m per season

Kamara 15m per season

Ezekiel Elliott 15m

Gurley got 14.5m per season

More recent notable contracts:

Dalvin Cook 12.6m

Derrick Henry 12.5m

Aaron Jones 12m

Nick Chubb 12m

Joe Mixon 12m

Others relevant contracts:

Leonard Fornette 7m

James Connor 7m

Austin Ekeler 6.2m

My opinions:

Henry's contract shows running backs aren't getting 15m per season anymore, but I do think Zeke was running like the group of 12m APY running backs before the PCL. The thing is at every other stage in the last 3 years his production IMO belongs squarely in line with the 6-7m APY category, maybe with a slight premium due to his great blocking and locker room presence.

Looking forward at Zeke's base salary:

2022 - 12.4m (guaranteed)

2023 - 10.9m

2024 - 10.0m

If Zeke runs like he was prior to the PCL in 2021, and remains healthy, he could be kept on his current contract at 10.9m per season. That put his production above his base salary value and with no guaranteed money, the Cowboys have flexibility keeping him. If however he performs like he has looked at every other point in the last 3 years, he should be cut, or at the very least asked to take a pay cut. It's clear the 15m APY was a bad contract but IMO it remains to be seen what the Cowboys should do with him beyond 2023.

4.6

Loso86 · Jun 13, 2022

DanA said:
Lets look at the top running back contracts:

McCaffrey 16m per season

Kamara 15m per season

Ezekiel Elliott 15m

Gurley got 14.5m per season

More recent notable contracts:

Dalvin Cook 12.6m

Derrick Henry 12.5m

Aaron Jones 12m

Nick Chubb 12m

Joe Mixon 12m

Others relevant contracts:

Leonard Fornette 7m

James Connor 7m

Austin Ekeler 6.2m

My opinions:

Henry's contract shows running backs aren't getting 15m per season anymore, but I do think Zeke was running like the group of 12m APY running backs before the PCL. The thing is at every other stage in the last 3 years his production IMO belongs squarely in line with the 6-7m APY category, maybe with a slight premium due to his great blocking and locker room presence.

Looking forward at Zeke's base salary:

2022 - 12.4m (guaranteed)

2023 - 10.9m

2024 - 10.0m

If Zeke runs like he was prior to the PCL in 2021, and remains healthy, he could be kept on his current contract at 10.9m per season. That put his production above his base salary value and with no guaranteed money, the Cowboys have flexibility keeping him. If however he performs like he has looked at every other point in the last 3 years, he should be cut, or at the very least asked to take a pay cut. It's clear the 15m APY was a bad contract but IMO it remains to be seen what the Cowboys should do with him beyond 2023.

Most will say nothing, I will say lower his cap hit. He's not a bad running back still pretty good just not great anymore. Yet!

DanA · Jun 13, 2022

GimmeTheBall! said:
4.6

Is that what his YPC needs to be or the score out of 10 you give the post?

GimmeTheBall! · Jun 13, 2022

DanA said:
Is that what his YPC needs to be or the score out of 10 you give the post?

Well, his ypc.
I am looking for any improvement. The same Zeke of 2021 will sink us.

DanA · Jun 13, 2022

GimmeTheBall! said:
Well, his ypc.
I am looking for any improvement. The same Zeke of 2021 will sink us.

Yeah, that's probably the tipping point for me too. Maybe 4.5 ypc with good production in key short yardage and redzone snaps if Pollard takes more snaps off him in other situations.

GimmeTheBall! · Jun 13, 2022

DanA said:
Yeah, that's probably the tipping point for me too. Maybe 4.5 ypc with good production in key short yardage and redzone snaps if Pollard takes more snaps off him in other situations.

Naw, 4.6 ypc vs, 4.5 of 2021

Like said, ANY imrovement.

gimmesix · Jun 13, 2022

Looking at his contract, I think he might be safe at least one more season if he plays at a high level. Dallas could easily restructure his deal, moving $6 million to the final three years (making his cap hit $10 million for 2023) while still being able to cut him without it costing more than his cap number in any of the next three years.

It really may come down to what they want to do with Pollard. If they would rather keep him and pair him with a power back, then they would probably want to cut Elliott. It'll be interesting to see how this year plays out at the position.

Risen Star · Jun 13, 2022

Keep being Prescott's BFF.

What does Zeke need to do to stay on the roster in 2023?

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