The Dallas Cowboys are taking it back to 2014 with their top pick in the 2016 NFL Draft, selecting Ohio State running back Ezekiel Elliott with the No. 4 overall pick in the draft.
It’s early for a running back, which may explain why CBSSports.com's Pete Prisco gives it a D grade.
Elliott Grade: D. Like the player. Hate the position.
— Pete Prisco (@PriscoCBS) April 29, 2016
But Elliott is a difference-maker, the type of three-down running back who can come in immediately and make a difference.
And he is going to be a monster in the Cowboys' offense. We saw what DeMarco Murray did for Dallas in 2014, but the team struggled last year. The addition of Alfred Morris was nice this offseason but he's not Elliott, who has a legitimate chance to be special for Dallas.
The maximum Ezekiel Elliott will get in his 4-year rookie deal is $24,956,344, which includes a signing bonus of no more than $16,350,068.
— Joel Corry (@corryjoel) April 29, 2016
"Just an honor to even be in that conversation, to be put up with one of the greats," Elliott said of a comparison to Emmitt Smith.
The former Ohio State standout made his mark on college football during the Buckeyes' run to a National Championship in 2014, running for 696 yards (!) in three postseason games (!!) against Wisconsin, Alabama and Oregon. It was an all-time performance.
Elliott's 2015 didn’t receive the same recognition, but only because the Buckeyes struggled to live up to the hype. He still finished with 1,821 yards and a 6.3 yards per carry, while catching 27 passes for 206 yards.
He's about to see some monster holes from the Dallas offensive line, and he's going to do major damage next season.
