While the rest of the NFL is zigging, Jerry Jones has zagged.
Instead of giving quarterback Dak Prescott his coveted new contract, Jones and the Dallas Cowboys have given running back Ezekiel Elliott a six-year contract worth close to $90 million. The Cowboys have not only made Elliott their highest-paid player, he has become the league's highest paid running back, overtaking Los Angeles Rams All-Pro Todd Gurley.
Ezekiel Elliott finally signed his deal! And he got … $90 million??? Did the Cowboys make a mistake? Are these numbers real?? What should we expect from him in Week 1?? To answer all those questions plus much more, Will Brinson, John Breech, Ryan Wilson and Jared Dubin fired up an emergency Pick Six Podcast to break it all down. Listen in the player below and subscribe to our daily podcast!
Many will (justifiably) argue that Elliott deserves the big payday after leading in the NFL in rushing in two of his first three seasons. That being said, the fact that the Cowboys are zigging here when the majority of the NFL is zagging should be alarming to Dallas fans hoping to see their team reach a Super Bowl for the first time in nearly a quarter century. Both recent and longterm history suggests that teams don't win Super Bowls with high-priced running backs. Consider the fortunes of the teams that fielded the last 10 rushing champions.
| Year | Name | Team | Base Salary | Was he the highest paid running back? | Team record | Super Bowl title? |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
2018 | $2,718,758 | No | 10-6 | No | ||
2017 | $465,000 | No | 10-6 | No | ||
2016 | Ezekiel Elliott | Dallas Cowboys | $450,000 | No | 13-3 | No |
2015 | $11,000,000 | Yes | 11-5 | No | ||
2014 | Dallas Cowboys | $1,406,000 | No | 12-4 | No | |
2013 | LeSean McCoy | $3,000,000 | No | 10-6 | No | |
2012 | Adrian Peterson | Minnesota Vikings | $8,000,000 | Yes | 10-6 | No |
2011 | $4,050,000 | No | 5-11 | No | ||
2010 | $395,000 | No | 6-10 | No | ||
2009 | $385,000 | No | 8-8 | No |
Yes, having an elite running back helps you win games. Seven of the 10 teams listed above finished with a winning record while qualifying for the postseason. But none of them reached the Super Bowl, let alone a conference championship game.
The 2015 Minnesota Vikings, who paid Adrian Peterson a handsome $11,000,000 salary, lost to the visiting Seattle Seahawks in the wild card round of the NFC playoffs. Peterson's 2012 team was also defeated in the opening round of the playoffs.
In comparison, here's a look at salaries for the last 10 Super Bowl champions' leading rusher.
| Year | Name | Team | Base Salary |
|---|---|---|---|
2018 | $480,000 | ||
2017 | Philadelphia Eagles | $900,000 | |
2016 | LeGarrette Blount | New England Patriots | $760,000 |
2015 | C.J. Anderson | $585,000 | |
2014 | LeGarrette Blount | New England Patriots | $257,647 |
2013 | Seattle Seahawks | $7,000,000 | |
2012 | $2,000,000 | ||
2011 | $1,500,000 | ||
2010 | $740,000 | ||
2009 | $460,000 |
As you can see, the recent salary level for running backs on Super Bowl teams is pretty low, with Marshawn Lynch the only outlier. Unlike most of the other backs on this list, Lynch was already an established running back who wasn't playing on a rookie contract by the time he helped the Seahawks win their first Super Bowl. The only other player on the list who could say that is Ray Rice, who received a $15,000,000 signing bonus that year along with his $2,000,000 base salary.
While Elliott may be worth paying, recent history suggests that the Cowboys would've been better served giving Elliott a more team friendly contract that would give them more cap space to sign other players.
If the Cowboys win a championship with Elliott, and if he leads the league in rushing yet again, he would join Emmitt Smith (1992 and '95) and Terrell Davis (1998) as the only two rushing champions to win the Super Bowl. If Dallas fails to end its Super Bowl drought, Jones might ultimately regret giving in to Zeke's demands.
Elliott's success won't just impact the Cowboys. It will likely impact how teams pay franchise running backs going forward.
