Cowboys Source: 'No Setbacks' on Tony Pollard; Camp Plan & Future Odds?
Tony Pollard's first season on a Dallas Cowboys franchise tag hasn't even kicked off yet - and the team has yet to step on the practice field this week in Oxnard - but speculation already abounds around what's about to happen.
The immediate news: A Cowboys source tells CowboysSI.com that there are "no setbacks'' in Pollard's leg rehab, so he figures to be available for training camp.
The long-range thought? The trajectory of Pollard's position, much less his 2024 employment, has been a hot topic in recent NFL news cycles, but the latter issue received a forecast favorable to North Texas: early odds shared to Cowboys Country by Empire Stakes and FloridaBet.com name Dallas as the favorite to land Pollard's service for the 2024 season.
Dallas leads the way at -120 and a 54.5 percent chance of keeping Pollard in a starred helmet. The first contenders to woo him away represent three-quarters of the AFC East, as the Miami Dolphins (+350/22.2 percent) lead the Buffalo Bills and New York Jets (+400/20 percent).
Pollard, 26, has emerged as one of the most potent dual-threat talent in the modern NFL but this will be the first year where he has undisputed top rushing duties in Dallas following the departure of Ezekiel Elliott. Despite sharing the primary ground responsibilities with Elliott, Pollard ranks 14th among NFL running backs with 2,434 yards from scrimmage in the last two seasons.
With his return yardage added to his tally in 2021, he ranked ninth in the league in all-purpose output. With 12 total end-zone visits added to his four-digit yardage output, last year also saw Pollard invited to his first Pro Bowl.
Inflated box scores, however, have been unable to provide long-term stability to the league's top ground men, a situation exacerbated by the fact Saquon Barkley and Josh Jacobs will also be playing the upcoming year on a franchise tag, which offers big money but no stability. Barkley, in fact, has hinted at sitting out of the New York Giants' opening games, which include the Week 1 contest against the Cowboys.
And that's a stumbling block to this predicted odds: Pollard makes $10 million now under the tag. Tag him again in 2024? That could be about $13 million. Try again next year to keep him via a long-term deal? Maybe ... though Pollard might be disappointed in that APY number.
For now, though? Pollard's return to Dallas is one of the many reasons why the Cowboys have a considerable amount of offensive hype surrounding it this year. Training camp is getting ready to roll in Oxnard with the first preseason games scheduled for Aug. 12 against Jacksonville. ... and Pollard is healthy enough to help when the time is right.
Geoff Magliocchetti is on Twitter @GeoffJMags
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