NFL Rumors: Cowboys Nearing Deal With Star Running Back Before Week 1

The Dallas Cowboys seem to have made some headway on running back Ezekiel Elliott. The two sides are reportedly on the verge of signing a massive six-year deal worth an estimated $90 million. It is not a done deal but sources claim that it will be close.

According to Ian Rapoport, the Cowboys and Elliott are in the final stages of a contract extension. Once made official, the 24-year-old will become the highest-paid running back in the NFL. But the keyword here is once it gets done. Even though it is a positive development, everything will go for naught of the chinks are not ironed out (assuming there is any).

If both the Cowboys and Elliott close the deal, the contract would exceed the one Todd Gurley II got from the Los Angeles Rams. The 25-year-old signed a four-year extension worth up to $60 million with $45 million guaranteed, the LA Times reported.

For the Cowboys, this development could be a sigh of relief considering the season opener is just days away. Team owner Jerry Jones previously said that he is not worried on getting a deal done with Elliott, adding that Zeke will be most needed when Dallas reaches the playoffs. He feels that a fresh and well-rested Zeke would be a big boost in the end.

However, the Cowboys need to first reach that stage this NFL season. Dallas could be facing problems similar to last season when Elliott was suspended. They were 9-7 and missed the playoffs. Zeke appeared in 15 regular-season games in his other two NFL campaigns, and Dallas won the NFC East in each of those seasons.

The good news is that Elliott is keeping himself in shape. Even though he has held out, he is keeping himself in shape over at Cabo San Lucas in Mexico. In the event he does not make it in time when the Cowboys meet the New York Giants, coach Jason Garrett may be forced to use rookie Tony Pollard and Alfred Morris instead.

The fourth-round pick of the 2019 NFL Draft was impressive during the preseason, rushing for 84 yards and one touchdown on 15 carries. It remains to be seen if he can do the same when the NFL regular season gets underway.