Ezekiel Elliott and the Dallas Cowboys have reached an agreement on a new contract that would see him earn $90 million over the course of six years. This brings to a close the most high-profile and protracted holdout in the National Football League only days before the start of the new season.
This contract will make Elliott the highest-paid running back in the league, surpassing Todd Gurley’s four-year, $60 million contract that he signed the previous year. It will also once again reset the market for top-tier players at the position. Reports indicate that Elliott’s contract will include more guaranteed money than Gurley’s will, with Zeke getting $50 million in guarantees from the Cowboys in comparison to Gurley’s $45 million from the Rams.
According to reports, surpassing Gurley’s contract was a sticking point during discussions between Elliott and the Cowboys, but it appears as though both sides have arrived to an arrangement that will offer the Dallas superstar a shot of suiting up for Week 1.
Elliott, who has played the whole season in two of the three seasons in which he has played in the NFL, desired to be compensated as a top-tier running back given the fact that he has demonstrated that he is capable of leading the NFL in rushing in two of those seasons. On the other hand, the Cowboys owed money to a large number of other players, and since Elliott’s rookie deal still had two more years to run, it is likely that the Cowboys wanted to delay paying Elliott for as long as possible.
following the Cowboys’ last preseason game, owner Jerry Jones said, “I’m operating as though right now he’s going to miss regular-season games.” Jones made this statement following the team’s final exhibition match.
Elliott’s future with the Cowboys is now guaranteed through the 2026 season, despite the fact that the holdout had the potential to continue into the beginning of the season. The deal was finalized on Tuesday, which brought the Cowboys back together with their most deadly offensive weapon and ensured that Elliott will remain with the team until 2026.