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Dallas Cowboys running back Ezekiel Elliott returned to action on Sunday. After dealing with a lingering knee injury for the last few weeks, the running back looked to be back in peak form. He scored two touchdowns as the Cowboys left Minnesota with a 40-3 win.
This was a welcome sight for the Cowboys as questions have lingered over the last few weeks about whether he is still the elite running back that he was when they drafted him. Those questions could not only be in relation to the injury side but also the financial aspect as well.
Elliott is one of the highest paid players on the Dallas Cowboys. Making $15,000,000 a season. In 2022, he will walk away with about $12.4 million in salary. This is the last season of the contract that pays the running back the guaranteed money he is owed.
After the completion of the 2022 NFL season, the 27-year-old will have made $70,668,561 throughout his career so far. Whether the Cowboys will be interested in parting ways with him after this season remains unknown.
Dallas Cowboys team owner Jerry Jones is a big supporter of Ezekiel Elliott. Releasing him before the start of the 2023 season and the $11.8 million in dead salary cap space that comes with that move doesn't seem reasonable.
How much is Ezekiel Elliott's contract worth?
After being drafted by the Dallas Cowboys with the fourth overall selection in the 2016 NFL Draft, Ezekiel Elliott initially signed his rookie contract. That deal was for four years and was worth $24.9 million along with a $16.3 million signing bonus.
Before the start of the 2019 NFL season, the former Ohio State standout, signed a contract extension with the Dallas Cowboys. The contract was for six years and worth $90 million with $50 million guaranteed and a signing bonus of $7.5 million.
As he has dealt with injuries last season and this season, his possible successor has haf an increase in his productivity. Tony Pollard has quietly become the more dominant running back in the Cowboys offense. Even as Elliott returned to the field on Sunday, Pollard, didn't have a touchdown, but did have 80 yards compared to Elliott's 42 yards.
Elliott is expected to become a free agent in 2027, but the Cowboys could decide to make a move before that. They could also decide to restructure his contract heading into 2023 to make room for other signings on the roster.
