By the end of the 2019 NFL season, budding superstars Dalvin Cook and Ezekiel Elliott finished fourth and fifth in rushing touchdowns, and combined for nearly 2,500 yards; a backfield with the two of them would have been unstoppable. Now, the Dallas Cowboys running back room has made that a reality. The only problem is, we are five years removed from 2019.
It became obvious towards the end of the 2023 season that running back was about to become a major need for Dallas. Veteran Tony Pollard was set to leave in free agency, and they had no clear heir to take his spot.
So, in a free agent class that featured names like Derrick Henry, Saquon Barkley, and Josh Jacobs, the Cowboys decided to run it back with Elliott, who has not seen an above average season since that 2019 campaign.
Fast-forward to a couple of days ago, and Dallas decides to complement one aging, former-star with another in Cook, who, at 29 years old, has developed the nickname “Dalvin Cooked,” as he has appeared to many as being far past his prime within the last year.
Cowboys to sign RB Dalvin Cook. (via @TomPelissero) pic.twitter.com/KNIauYKR5E
— NFL (@NFL) August 28, 2024
Simply put, this strategy of throwing it back to the good old days is not going to save the Cowboys running back corps. This is true for both veterans, and for different reasons, so let’s get into them.
Ezekiel Elliott: Fleeting Juice Is Major Concern
It pains me to talk badly about Elliott; he is one of my favorite players of all-time. Nothing could beat the “prime Zeke days” in Dallas, but those days are in the past.
I was a proponent of re-signing Elliott, but as an RB2/RB3 behind a younger, more electric top option. His skills at this point are pass-catching, blocking, and potentially goal line work. His juice, long-speed, and game-breaking abilities are more or less gone in 2024.
At his age with his workload history, that’s normal, and it doesn’t mean he can’t contribute this season.
What it does mean is he can’t lead the way, and it is unfair to ask him to do so. The Cowboys are setting him, and the offense, up for failure by making him the RB1.
Elliott is now over 2,000 carries in his NFL career after carrying the rock 184 times for the Patriots last year. Any suggestion that he would be able to provide a stronger spark into the offense than a guy like Rico Dowdle or Deuce Vaughn is simply wrong.
Ezekiel Elliott had 184 carries last year.
His longest run was 17 yards.
— Marcus Mosher (@Marcus_Mosher) March 27, 2024
If they want to use Elliott, like I said, that is completely fine, he can still contribute. Where things go wrong is when you start leaning more on the past than on the future, and that’s what making Zeke the primary carrier does.
Additionally, when you throw Cook into the mix, I find it hard to see a place for both guys.
Elliott and Cook combined, with the two younger backs and Hunter Luepke, overcrowd the room and for what gain? To make sure you have two guys past their prime in there? Let’s talk about that problem.
Dalvin Cook: Injury History Has Caught Up
I completely understand the rationale some fans have had regarding signing Dalvin Cook. I even wrote about the possibility and the reasons why not too long ago. The issue is, in reality, he just does not fit into this roster when you include Elliott.
Both are 29 years old, and despite Cook having more recent success, I think his skills might be more diminished than Elliott’s at this point because of his extensive injury history.
His 2023 was deeply concerning. The Vikings decided to move on from him, both to save money and clear up touches despite rushing for 1,173 yards in his final season. I suspect they saw the warning signs. Then, after months of working out for various teams, he latched onto the Jets, who barely gave him any burn, and when they did, it was ugly.
Reminder that Dalvin Cook is:
* NFL’s 4th-worst RB in Rush Yards over Expectation
* 4th-worst RB in Success Rate
* Dead last in yards per attempt
* PFF’s No. 52 graded RB among 57 qualifiers https://t.co/0OTh4BEIfn— Adam Levitan (@adamlevitan) October 4, 2023
The counterpoint to the “washed” argument is “he had one bad season, players don’t fall off that quickly.” Well, that’s not true for running backs.
This happens all the time at the position. The fact that it took until age 28 for Cook, with all his injuries, is almost impressive. It is rare for guys at the position to continue playing well into their 30s, and when you add in the wear and tear on Cook’s tires, it makes perfect sense that he is just out of gas.
Now, the Cowboys running back room has two guys who are, in my view, at the end of the road, and two guys (Dowdle and Vaughn) who are just getting started. The room is now too crowded to get everybody involved, and I don’t think you can rely on the two veterans to carry the load.
Because of that, Dallas will be left in no-mans-land trying to split up carries for their crowded and aging room. I don’t see a world where that is a great success.
