Cowboys, Tony Pollard fail to reach long-term deal before franchise-tag deadline, per reports
Running back Tony Pollard is a lock on the Dallas Cowboys' roster, but his future beyond the 2023 season hangs in the balance after Monday's 4 p.m. ET franchise-tag deadline came and went.
The Cowboys and Pollard were not expected to agree on a long-term deal before the buzzer, according to a report from ESPN, which was confirmed by NFL Network's Jane Slater. The team reportedly placed the franchise tag on him in May.
Since there was no change, the Cowboys and Pollard are now unable to ink a long-term extension to until the end of the regular season in January.
Pollard is set to make a fully guaranteed $10.09 million this upcoming season under the tag. This comes after he had his best season in 2022. Rushing for 1,007 yards and 9 touchdowns and averaging 5.2 yards per carry, he also had 39 receptions for 371 yards and 3 touchdowns.
Saquon Barkley of the New York Giants and the Las Vegas Raiders' Josh Jacobs joined Pollard in not agreeing to long-term deals with their respective teams before the deadline.
The 26-year-old is currently recovering from a broken fibula he suffered during the Cowboys' playoff loss to the San Francisco 49ers, but he's reportedly expected to be ready for action before training camp.
After being selected in the fourth round out of Memphis in 2019, Pollard played behind three-time Pro Bowler Ezekiel Elliott for the past four seasons.
Elliott was released in May after reportedly saying he'd be willing to take a pay cut from his $90 million deal, because Dallas didn't want to insult him with a low offer.
Nick Chubb in 2021 was the last running back to sign a long-term contract worth $10 million or more per year, according to ESPN's Adam Schefter.
In today's market for the position, it makes sense the Cowboys wouldn't be in a rush to come to a long-term deal with Pollard, especially after Elliott's massive contract didn't pan out.
