After the Dallas Cowboys surprisingly emerged from the 2024 NFL Draft without selecting a running back, a reunion with former starter Ezekiel Elliott seemed inevitable. On Tuesday, the two sides officially agreed to a one-year deal reportedly worth $3 million.
Elliott joins a Cowboys running back room missing Tony Pollard, his former tag-team partner who signed with the Tennessee Titans in March. Fellow RBs Rico Dowdle, Deuce Vaughn, Royce Freeman, and others are still around, but Dallas could consider trading for another option.
Let’s run through the running backs that might be up for grabs on the trade market, starting with an in-state choice.
Which Running Back Should the Cowboys Acquire?
Dameon Pierce, Houston Texans
While Dameon Pierce posted 939 rushing yards for the Texans in his 2022 rookie season, the former fourth-round pick’s inefficiency and lack of passing-down value have driven his Houston stock into the ground.
Devin Singletary overtook Pierce as the Texans’ lead back last year, while Houston acquired and extended RB Joe Mixon this offseason.
Pierce managed just a 37.9% rushing success rate in 2023, but the Cowboys could be interested in his youth (24), past production, and affordable contract, which will pay him just over $2 million through 2025.
Pierce also has special teams ability and scored on a 98-yard kickoff return last year.
Miles Sanders and Chuba Hubbard, Carolina Panthers
The Panthers traded up to grab Texas RB prospect Jonathon Brooks in the second round of the draft. He was the first back off the board and should become Carolina’s starter almost immediately, provided he’s fully recovered from a November ACL tear.
Miles Sanders’ four-year, $25 million deal might have been the worst NFL contract of 2023. He’s due $4.02 million in guaranteed salary in 2024, which the Cowboys won’t be interested in paying after Sanders rushed for just 432 yards last season.
Chuba Hubbard quickly surpassed Sanders as Carolina’s starter, finishing the year with 902 yards and five touchdowns.
While Hubbard doesn’t have Sanders’ track record, he was the better player in 2023 and is two years younger than his backfield partner. The Panthers could trade one of these two backs, and Hubbard would garner more in a deal.
Khalil Herbert, Chicago Bears
Khalil Herbert, 24, remains underrated as a pure runner. The former sixth-round pick finished ninth in attempts per broken tackle (10.2) and 11th in yards after contact per attempt (2.1) in 2023, suggesting he can generate his own yardage.
Due just $1.055 million in 2024, Herbert could be a realistic addition for the cap-strapped Cowboys.
Chicago might want to hold onto Herbert as it surrounds No. 1 pick Caleb Williams with offensive talent. But the Bears signed D’Andre Swift to a three-year free agent deal in March and selected Roschon Johnson in the fourth round of last year’s draft.
The Bears might be willing to move on from Herbert as he enters the final season of his rookie contract.
Tyler Allgeier, Atlanta Falcons
Tyler Allgeier already proved he’s an NFL-caliber starter by posting 1,035 yards and three scores in his 2022 rookie campaign. He played behind a solid Falcons offensive line but still ranked seventh in rushing yards over expectation per attempt, meaning he created more yards than a league-average back in the same offensive environment.
Allgeier still received 204 total touches in 2023 after Atlanta used the No. 8 pick on fellow RB Bijan Robinson, but the gap between the two backs could widen next season.
Allgeier still has two cheap years left on his rookie contract and could command a decent pick in a trade.
Samaje Perine, Denver Broncos
Although Elliott caught 51 passes for the New England Patriots last season, he wasn’t efficient as a receiver. He averaged just 6.1 yards per reception and posted only a 40% receiving success rate.
Samaje Perine caught one fewer pass than Elliott in 2023 but averaged three yards more per reception.
KEEP READING: Dallas Cowboys Final 2024 NFL Draft Grades
The Broncos already have former second-round pick Javonte Williams, fourth-round rookie Audric Estimé, and intriguing 2023 UDFA Jaleel McLaughlin on their roster.
That could mean Perine is available in a trade and would make sense as an Elliott complement in Dallas.