Ezekiel Elliott and the Dallas Cowboys are back together, but there are rumors that they are involved in a trade for a running back from the Pittsburgh Steelers. The rumor mill has been in full swing since the Steelers declared they would not be taking up RB Najee Harris’ fifth-year option.
On the other hand, the potential deal might just be a rumor. 93.7 Adam Crowley of The Fan acknowledged the original links before talking about the potential.
This is the latest rumor about a potential Steelers trade. I’m not sure if it’s the most reliable thing because it comes from two guys: one from Fan Sided and the other from Bleacher Report. I’m not sure if it’s true either, as both of those men claim to have Steelers contacts, and there’s a rumor that the Dallas Cowboys would be open to dealing for Najee Harris, according to Crowley on May 6.
Although the prospect is intriguing, the veracity of the reports has already been called into question. Jane Slater of NFL Network swiftly dismissed the development as the product of idle rumors.
Slater stated on X, “Team source tells me this is ‘click bait’ on these Najee Harris and Cowboys reports.”
Slater is employed by the NFL, thus it’s difficult to accept the early rumors.
Harris might be departing the Steelers.
Harris’s decision to leave Pittsburgh seems odd at first glance. Having earned the Pro Bowl as a rookie in 2021, he has completed three seasons with at least 1,200 yards from scrimmage. However, Harris might be too costly given that the Steelers have three reliable running backs.
Pro Football Reference indicates that Harris made a huge splash in 2021. Despite not being selected for the All-Pro team, he made the Pro Bowl after amassing 1667 total yards and 10 touchdowns.
Harris has continued to be effective in the last two years since 2021, but his averages aren’t very high. Despite receiving a lot of touches, Harris’ career average of 3.9 yards per rush is low.
While not terrible, the production does not lead teams to carry an extra wide receiver. Giving up on a talent like Harris makes more sense than reinvesting in this day and age when running backs are more underappreciated than ever.
This is especially true given that Cordarrelle Patterson’s arrival gives another physical option and Jaylen Warren is the team’s most dynamic RB. Although he may not be as good as Harris these days, Patterson nonetheless adds a similar degree of complexity to the Pittsburgh running game.
Zeke is Returned by Cowboys for Less
The Cowboys may appear unable to afford any potential trade for a running back, but they did not spend much money to re-sign Ezekiel Elliott. Zeke is currently one of Dallas’ lowest-paid players, but he was previously the NFL’s highest-paid running back.
Elliott’s 2024 salary is expected to be $2 million, per Spotrac. Elliott’s salary is set at $1.25 million, with additional funds coming from signing and roster bonuses.
Zeke is past his peak, but even so, that is an excellent deal for a dependable bruiser RB. Elliott has every reason to try to negotiate for a better offer once his one-year contract expires.
