The Dallas Cowboys appeared to make an odd choice with running back Ezekiel Elliott this offseason when they signed another veteran for the backfield. Reports surfaced earlier this offseason that Elliott and the Cowboys reportedly had mutual interest for the 2024 season.

Royce Freeman is heading to Dallas

As discussed in GH, the Cowboys signed Royce Freeman:

However, at tailback, with just Rico Dowdle and Deuce Vaughn as recognizable names at the position, the Dallas Cowboys are finally turning to a free agent for external help. A free agent that will be very familiar to state rivals, the Houston Texans; per Todd Archer.

Whilst Royce Freeman is hardly the hallmark names many Cowboy fans would have wanted, he does bring pedigree as a backup or rotational back.

The Dallas Cowboys could have signed Ezekiel Elliott

Freeman is an interesting choice for the Cowboys in an offseason owner Jerry Jones said the team would be “all-in.” The Cowboys had several better players they could have added at running back, including Derrick Henry. Henry said the Cowboys had no interest in signing him this offseason.

The Cowboys did have an interest in signing Elliott. However, Freeman’s signing makes it unlikely the former Cowboys All-Pro will sign with Dallas for the upcoming season. The Cowboys would have been better off with Elliott than with Freeman.

Was Elliott too expensive?

But how much would Elliott have cost the Cowboys?

Last year, Elliott signed a one-year deal with the New England Patriots for a base salary of $3 million. He had a chance to earn another $3 million in incentives. Per Spotrac, the Los Angeles Rams signed Freeman to a $1 million contract last season.

One would assume Freeman isn’t making much more than that this year.

The Cowboys appear to be passing over Elliott for a worse running back this season. And the Cowboys’ finances look better for it.

But will the team’s record be?