Understanding Ezekiel Elliott’s Dallas Cowboys contract and what it means to team’s salary cap

David Ammenheuser
·1 min read
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Why are the Dallas Cowboys releasing running back Ezekiel Elliott on Wednesday?

It’s all about money and timing.

The NFL’s new season begins on March 15. Thus, each team must be under the $224.8 million salary cap.

He signed a six-year, $90 million contract in 2019. There was guaranteed money in the contract for the first three years; there is no guaranteed money in the final three years, beginning in 2023.

Elliott is set to count $16.4 million against the 2023 salary cap with a non guaranteed $10.4 million base salary.

Cutting Elliott saves the Cowboys $4.86 million. If they designate him a post-June 1 cut, they would save $10.9 million.