Cowboys Sign Austin Ekeler Media Proposal: Long-Term Deal in Free Agency?
Las Vegas – The Dallas Cowboys are giving different signals about what they want to do in 2024 to resolve their running back dilemma.
On the one hand, a team source tells CowboysSI.com that they are more likely to draft a running back, mostly to replace Tony Pollard, who is set to hit free agency in March, than to pursue an established veteran name.
On the other hand, club owner Jerry Jones has spoken of being “different” and “disruptive” when it comes to talent acquisition, as well as using the term “influential” to describe the amount of newcomer that may be added.
And in the midst of our debates about everyone from Saquon Barkley to Derrick Henry, Bleacher Report suggests Austin Ekeler as a potential alternative for the Cowboys.
Our ideas about Ekeler are twofold: Ekeler has spent his entire seven-year career with the Los Angeles Chargers, but he has made it clear that he does not intend to return… and if he is viewed as a reclamation project of sorts – he played in 14 games last year but rushed for only 628 yards and five touchdowns while averaging just 3.5 yards per carry – it is worth discussing.
But Ekeler doesn’t talk about himself in that way, and Spotrac believes the 28-year-old is still worth a $22 million contract for three years.
That is not occurring in Dallas.
Ekeler displayed his flexibility as a weapon as recently as 2022, when he rushed for 915 yards and 13 touchdowns while also making 107 receptions for 722 yards and five more scores.
Perhaps it can be recaptured. However, a large financial commitment to any running back in Dallas is doubtful. And making a long-term commitment to a 28-year-old running back coming off a down year is imprudent.
There is a pricing point where Austin Ekeler may be worth a gamble. However, the Cowboys are unlikely to find $7 million APY to be sufficient.
