Dallas Cowboys Apply Franchise Tag to Tony Pollard
According to ESPN’s NFL insider, Adam Schefter, the Dallas Cowboys have applied the franchise tag to Tony Pollard. The 25-year-old running back, was the Cowboys fourth-round pick (128th overall) in the 2019 NFL Draft and, will receive a $10.09 million salary for the 2023 season.
Pollard, who is viewed as the more explosive back of the Cowboys tandem that consists of Pollard and Ezekiel Elliott, suffered a high-ankle sprain during the Cowboys’ divisional playoff loss to the San Francisco 49ers which ended his career-best 2022 season. He underwent what is known as a “TightRope” procedure, using a braided polyethylene cord in lieu of surgical screws to allow the tibia and fibula to heal.
The franchise tag is the most logical and cost-effective option for the Cowboys to retain Pollard, with the ramifications of Ezekiel Elliott’s six-year $90 million contract still being dealt with. With running backs facing a lot of wear and tear, the days of long-term running back contracts are likely a thing of the past. It will be interesting to see what happens with 26-year-old Saquon Barkley of the New York Giants, who may end up a free agent. The Cleveland Browns signed 27-year-old running back Nick Chubb to a three-year $36 million extension in the 2022 offseason.