Will Ezekiel Elliott Get Traded in the Offseason? Fantasy Football Outlook

Dallas Cowboys running back Ezekiel Elliott has been a fixture in the team's backfield for seven seasons after being drafted fourth overall in 2016. However, the aging running back saw his play decline in 2022, so his future with the Cowboys could be in jeopardy.

Jerry Jones' team has failed to make a run past the NFC Divisional Round since the Dak Prescott and Elliott duo came to town, so the team could see some major changes ahead of the 2023 season.

How did Elliott perform in 2022 and will he be traded this offseason? Let's dive into it.

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Ezekiel Elliott 2022 Season Recap

In 15 games, Elliott rushed 231 times for 876 yards and 12 touchdowns. He added 17 receptions for 92 yards. He finished tied for his second-most rushing touchdowns in a season in his stellar career, but 2022 marked the first time his yards per carry fell under 4.0. His 3.8 yards per carry ranked 42nd in the league among players with at least 112 rushes.

Meanwhile, backfield-mate Tony Pollard 193 times for 1,003 yards -- a 5.2 yards per tote clip. Needless to say, Pollard was the more explosive and dynamic ball carrier for America's team. Late in the year, Elliott became a mere short-yardage back.

With Pollard outshining Elliott for most of the season, there's certainly a conversation to be had about Elliott's future this offseason. Elliott is the third-highest-paid running back based on average salary ($15 million), but the team has an out on his deal this offseason. Otherwise, he's locked in until after the 2026 season.

Will Ezekiel Elliott Get Traded in the Offseason?

Both Dallas Cowboys owner Jerry Jones and executive vice president Stephen Jones were adamant that they want Elliott back in 2023, but Stephen Jones reiterated it "has to work financially" for both sides. Elliott said recently that he'd be willing to take a pay cut to stay in Dallas. He has a dead salary cap hit of $12 million, so there's a chance the Cowboys cut him this offseason if they can't work something out.

If he stays in Dallas and Pollard (free agent) returns, he'll continue to see his role decrease as more of a short-yardage, goal-line back. It's worth noting Pollard suffered a broken left fibula in the loss to the 49ers, but he should be back to full strength by the time training camp rolls around.

Ultimately, the expectation is Elliott should be back, but if he's not, it will be because of a release -- not a trade.

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