The Dallas Cowboys are set to delight quarterback Dak Prescott by re-signing his close friend, Ezekiel Elliott.
The running back is expected to ink a one-year deal this week after passing his physical to complete a return to the Cowboys who drafted him with the fourth overall pick in 2016, but also let him walk as a free agent in 2023.
Elliott, who was the Cowboys' most explosive playmaker from 2016 to 2021, left the team last season and his role was given to Tony Pollard, his former backup.
However, Pollard struggled before being released by the Cowboys, while Elliott spent the year with the New England Patriots. Now, with a vacancy at the running back spot in Dallas, the Cowboys are set to fulfil Prescott's earlier offseason wish for a reunion with Elliott.
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While the team may still be on the hunt for a starting running-back, Elliott will compete for the starting role and act as a mentor to the younger players in the position. He will join Rico Dowdle, Deuce Vaughn, Malik Davis, and Snoop Conner in the running backs room.
Despite being linked with Johnathan Brooks and Blake Corum, the Cowboys decided against drafting a player at the position and have been one of the quieter teams in free agency this offseason.
Over the next 12 months, Dallas will need to offer hefty new contracts to several players on their roster, including Prescott, pass-rusher Micah Parsons and wide receiver CeeDee Lamb, all of whom could command some of the highest salaries in the game.
Prescott is buzzing at the prospect of Elliott rejoining the Cowboys' lineup, which might just fuel his desire to stick with the squad, even though contract discussions haven't kicked off yet.
At a recent event, Prescott shared with journalists: "I'm focused on here, right now where I am. That's how I've always been. Anytime y'all have asked me, it's always been about right now, getting better tomorrow. And I've been in this situation before, so it's OK. I'm fine in any situation at that point betting on myself or playing this year out."
If the Cowboys don't seal a deal with Prescott during this offseason, they're taking a massive gamble. Come next March, the quarterback could hit the free market, allowing teams to snap him up without sacrificing any draft picks.
Dallas has its eyes on Colorado's hotshot quarterback Shedeur Sanders, son of the legendary Deion Sanders. He's tipped to be one of the top picks in next year's quarterback draft class.
Meanwhile, after their stellar performances on rookie-scale contracts, both Parsons and Lamb are expected to bag over $30 million per season.