Good News AsCowboys Among Favorites to Sign Projected $22 Million Star RB…
It’s not that the Dallas Cowboys were a poor running team in 2023. It’s just that they were average and struggled in short-yardage situations with Ezekiel Elliott gone and Tony Pollard taking over the starting role. That’s not the reason that the team lost to the Packers in the first round of the playoffs, of course, but it did help set the team up as a pass-heavy offense that lacked balance throughout the year. The Cowboys were first in points (509) this year, and fifth in yardage (6,317), but were just 14th in yards on the ground (1,920).
Pro Football Focus is a little more bullish on the running back market in free agency and is projecting a two-year deal worth $22 million for Barkley. The site rates him as the top running back in free agency this offseason.
“Barkley is still capable of breaking off an explosive rush at any moment and made several highlight-reel catches in 2023, including a wheel route touchdown that ended with a dive for the pylon in Week 2 against the Arizona Cardinals. There’s no doubt Barkley’s highs are as high as any running back in the game, but the position market is a tricky landscape to navigate in 2024, especially with his missing extended time in three out of the past four seasons,” ..the No. 29 overall free agent.
Fair or not, much of that will fall to Pollard. That’s why there are growing rumblings that the Cowboys could soon move on from Pollard, who is a free agent this offseason, and seek an upgrade at running back. They might not have to look far—they are, according to the gambling among the favorite to swipe division-rival running back Saquon Barkley of the Giants in free agency this offseason.
The Cowboys are on the list of eight potential suitors for Barkley, and are tied for seventh on the list with the Patriots at 12-to-1 odds (or 7.7%).