The Dallas Cowboys are entering one of the most important seasons for the team in recent memory. Dallas has been stomped out of the playoffs multiple years in a row despite strong regular season performances. The Cowboys have been hard at work adding talent this offseason, and they recently brought Ezekiel Elliott back into the fold. Zeke didn’t waste any time putting himself back into the fans’ good graces.
Ezekiel Elliott was welcome backed to Dallas with a huge round of applause. Elliott was in attendance Wednesday at the Reliant Energy Home Run Derby, which was benefitting the Salvation Army.
“Yeah super excited,” Cowboys QB Dak Prescott said when asked about Elliott rejoining the team. “Just obviously knowing our history my experience with him as a brother, but in this case as a teammate, understanding what he brings to the team just the locker room alone, the culture he sets, a guy who does everything the right way from the locker room to the field.”
The Cowboys cut Ezekiel Elliott last offseason after a seven-year career with Dallas. The team opted to roll with Tony Pollard and Rico Dowdle as their primary backs in 2023.
Pollard left the Cowboys for the Titans in free agency, leaving a gaping hole at running back that Dallas desperately needed to fill. The team was heavily linked to Texas running back Jonathon Brooks, but he ultimately went to the Carolina Panthers in the second round of the 2024 NFL Draft.
The Cowboys drafted Ezekiel Elliott with the fourth pick of the 2016 NFL Draft. Throughout his eight-year career, Ezekiel Elliott rushed for 8,904 rushing yards at 4.3 yards per carry and 71 TDs. In 2023, Elliott rushed for 642 yards at 3.5 yards per carry and three TDs for the New England Patriots.
Recapping the 2024 NFL Draft for the Dallas Cowboys
The Cowboys came into the 2024 NFL Draft with some serious needs. The team’s primary needs included rebuilding their offensive line, adding a running back, getting help at receiver, and adding depth pieces on the front seven of their defense. Dallas accomplished many of these tasks, but were still hailed as one of the biggest losers of the draft.
The Dallas Cowboys selected the following players in the 2024 NFL Draft:
- Tyler Guyton – T – First round (29th overall)
- Marshawn Kneeland – DE – Second round (56th overall)
- Cooper Beebe – G – Third round (73rd overall)
- Marist Liufau – LB – Third round (87th overall)
- Caelen Carson – CB – Fifth round (174th overall)
- Ryan Flournoy – WR – Sixth round (216th overall)
- Nathan Thomas – G – Seventh round (233rd overall)
- Justin Rogers – DT – Seventh round (244th overall)
Guyton and Beebe fit the bill for rebuilding the offensive line. Guyton is a solid tackle prospect who was a tier below many of the top guys in the draft, which helped him slide to 29th overall. Beebe was a popular mid-round guard target in the pre-draft process and should fit into the Cowboys’ starting lineup.
Kneeland was a great value pick. Defensive end may not be the biggest need for the team, but grabbing Kneeland was a great move after the Panthers took Jonathon Brooks off the board. Kneeland is a feisty, raw player who has some position versatility on the defensive line.
The Cowboys will be expecting big things out of their rookie class during the 2024 NFL season.
