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

[12+88=7]

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

1000 yards was the standard when they played 12 games, now they play 17.

With the math it should be 1400 yards rushing and receiving, and 4300 yards passing to be considered good.

The receiving and passing numbers should be higher considering it's a passing league.

 

[john van brocklin]

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.

Stay healthy
Be productive
Consider a pay cut

 

[Flamma]

1000 yards was the standard when they played 12 games, now they play 17.

With the math it should be 1400 yards rushing and receiving, and 4300 yards passing to be considered good.

The receiving and passing numbers should be higher considering it's a passing league.

He had 1400 combined rushing and receiving last year. It was around 2000 in his good years.

 

[Flamma]

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

Of course he'll play next year without guaranteed money. Because no other team in the league is giving him 10m to play with them. Not even in Canada.

 

[GimmeTheBall!]

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

Dear, Ron, despite the keen response and the optimism, we have to take stock of our RB situation.
It is not a pretty picture. Noo, lad, it is no walk in the cake.
We find ourselves hoping that Pollard is a salve, like the hot streams of Anatolla, to a slower, plodding Zeke.
It is after all a false hope (a contradiction but it sounds good in me mind) that Zeke can even be average. Like last year.

He will be healthy, good, but doo we want a rerun of 2021?
No, I say, no!

Time to realize that Pollard is our back, for better or worse.

 

[3rdEyewarrior]

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.

Stay healthy and have some one other than Conner Williams as lg.

 

[DanA]

He had 1400 combined rushing and receiving last year. It was around 2000 in his good years.

With Pollard I think 2,000 all purpose yards is overuse. I'd think I'd like to see it sub 1,500 yards but with

• Greater than 4.5 Yards Per Carry
• Greater than 7.0 Yards Per Reception
• Less than 3 fumbles
• Greater than 80% catches made
• 10+ TD's

To me it's way more important he be effective overall than have high raw totals.

 

[DanA]

Naw, 4.6 ypc vs, 4.5 of 2021

Like said, ANY imrovement.

Nit picky but 4.5 was his yards per touch. His yards per carry was only 4.2 in 2021 so 4.5 would be significantly better.

 

[GimmeTheBall!]

Nit picky but 4.5 was his yards per touch. His yards per carry was only 4.2 in 2021 so 4.5 would be significantly better.

Well, I feel better already.
Right you are govnor, right you are.
Our fields of Ambrosia await.

 

[Flamma]

With Pollard I think 2,000 all purpose yards is overuse. I'd think I'd like to see it sub 1,500 yards but with

• Greater than 4.5 Yards Per Carry
• Greater than 7.0 Yards Per Reception
• Less than 3 fumbles
• Greater than 80% catches made
• 10+ TD's

To me it's way more important he be effective overall than have high raw totals.

I agree. But Zeke isn't getting 2000 anyway. Might as well work Pollard in there more. Either way, Zeke has either 1 or 2 years left.

 

[DanA]

I agree. But Zeke isn't getting 2000 anyway. Might as well work Pollard in there more. Either way, Zeke has either 1 or 2 years left.

His 2024 contract has a base salary of 10.0m so their is a chance it is 3 years but no way do we pay the 15m base salary of 2025. Or at least we shouldn't, you never really know with Jerry though.

 

[RomoIsGod]

If Zeke stays healthy, I think he has a very good season.

 

[Bullflop]

Zeke needs to recover from his injured knee woes of last year. He played the part of a determined stalwart, nevertheless, and did his best to service the offense as best he could, under the circumstances. The good news, at present, is that he's reportedly healthy now and ready to return to his old reliable self, once again. Whether such conjecture holds true, or not, is yet to be tested and proven in 2022. Let's hope it's all for real, fans! Let's just stay tuned.
Kindly note that Pollard will be entrusted with more action in the upcoming season. There's hope for an improved offense, after all. Keep smiling.

 

[Flamma]

His 2024 contract has a base salary of 10.0m so their is a chance it is 3 years but no way do we pay the 15m base salary of 2025. Or at least we shouldn't, you never really know with Jerry though.

Don't go by his base. Go by his cap hit VS dead cap.

I think it's significant in 2024. Not so much in 2023.

 

[RonWashington]

Dear, Ron, despite the keen response and the optimism, we have to take stock of our RB situation.
It is not a pretty picture. Noo, lad, it is no walk in the cake.
We find ourselves hoping that Pollard is a salve, like the hot streams of Anatolla, to a slower, plodding Zeke.
It is after all a false hope (a contradiction but it sounds good in me mind) that Zeke can even be average. Like last year.

He will be healthy, good, but doo we want a rerun of 2021?
No, I say, no!

Time to realize that Pollard is our back, for better or worse.

KM strategy should be a 50 50 split on workload . The time to address any meaningful new saviors was the 2022 draft ….I advocated for a Walker or a Spiller prior to the Las Vegas spectacle draft . Was soundly voted down on this forum that other positions were lacking needed new parts before RB.

I don’t think grabbing a 1000 last yr spells 21 is done ….although the fat lady in the opera might be warming up to sing. Pollard is a FA next season , enjoy watching him while it lasts.

 

[JBond]

Not run like he is in a a combo of sand and mud?

 

[Coogiguy03]

He needs to lose about 20 pounds, have you seen how his head barely fits in his helmet

 

[zrinkill]

Not hurt the Jones's feelings

 

[Jimbo123]

Take the veteran minimum salary.

 

[RonWashington]

Not run like he is in a a combo of sand and mud?

Players who have been taken down by the Art Gallery carpet ask when is Jerry going to remodel .