Ezekiel Elliott Rumors: NFL Exec Thinks Former Cowboys RB Will Have 'Humbling' Market

Ezekiel Elliott was once the NFL's highest-paid running back. Following his release from the Dallas Cowboys, those days might be a far cry from the three-time Pro Bowler's new reality.

Yahoo Sports' Jori Epstein spoke to one AFC executive who projected Elliott could sign for $5 million annually on his next contract.

"Think teams are mostly paying for the name," the exec said. "I think the open market will be humbling for him."

Elliott is coming off his worst year in the NFL. In 15 games with Dallas, he ran for 876 yards and 12 touchdowns and caught 17 passes for 92 yards.

The 2022 season didn't happen in a vacuum. As a rookie, Elliott ran for a league-best 108.7 yards per game. That number has fallen for six straight years.

Since 2020, the 27-year-old has averaged 60.8 yards per game and 4.0 yards per carry. Those aren't numbers you'd associate with an elite running back, and you could argue whether he's even good enough to be a No. 1 option anymore. He was the second-best running back on his own team last season, with Tony Pollard running his way to the Pro Bowl.

As the AFC executive referenced to Epstein, the market can be unforgiving for running backs.

Le'Veon Bell was an All-Pro in 2017. Having sat out all of 2018 amid his contract dispute with the Pittsburgh Steelers, he signed a four-year, $52.5 million deal with the New York Jets in 2019.

It took one poor season for the Jets to get buyer's remorse, and they released Bell in October 2020. Now, the 31-year-old's career is effectively over after he went unsigned in 2022.

Because of his track record, Elliott will get a shot to prove his skeptics wrong on a new team. But he may have to accept not only a lot less money than he was earning in Dallas but also a diminished role from the one he typically enjoyed in the Cowboys offense.