Should Cowboys Sign Eagles' Pro Bowl RB D'Andre Swift in Free Agency?
The Cowboys cut running back Ezekiel Elliott ahead of the 2023 season giving Tony Pollard an increased role. The Dallas running game didn't recover as the Cowboys carried the ball just 468 times for 1,920 yards last season. The season prior, with Elliott leading the way, Dallas rushed 531 times for 2,298 yards.
Pollard's productivity went down too, from 5.2 yards per carry in 2022 to just 4.0 this season.
With Pollard playing on the one-year franchise tag this season, the Cowboys will have a decision to make regarding not just him, but the running game in general.
There will be a free agent that Dallas could target, and it's someone they're familiar with. D'Andre Swift, the current Eagles running back will be available, and Bleacher Report points at Dallas as one of three potential landing spots for Swift, along with Cleveland and Green Bay.
“Last offseason proved that the free-agent market is cruel to running backs in today’s NFL, so Swift shouldn’t expect a large contract this spring,” writes Holder. “However, he is coming off a career year, rushing for over 1,000 yards for the first time as a pro and earning his first Pro Bowl appearance. The Georgia product also can catch passes out of the backfield with nearly 200 receptions and over 1,400 receiving yards in four years, which should help increase his value. When healthy, he’s a legitimate offensive weapon.”
It's possible the Cowboys could get Swift cheaper than Pollard based on Spotrac market value rankings. Pollard's market value is listed at a projected $6.6 million per season to Swift's $5.6 per year.
It's a decision Dallas will have to address. And if the Cowboys decide to pursue Swift and can land him, not only will they be adding him to the roster, they'll be taking him away from Philadelphia.
