Dallas Cowboys RB Future: Sign Texas Longhorns D’Onta Foreman as Tony Pollard Replacement?

ARLINGTON - To some, the idea of the Dallas Cowboys replacing starting running back Tony Pollard in 2024 is about what is happening on the field in 2023, as he is following up his first Pro Bowl season with a job as the No. 1 ball-carrier ... and some pockets of disappointment.

But to us? It's about the salary cap.

Pollard, 26, has been productive in many ways this year in a starting role this season for Dallas. He's got 474 yards rushing and 29 catches. But "tough yards'' and touchdowns have been hard to come by; indeed, eight games in, Dallas is 5-3 but "TP'' has just two TDs all year - both of them coming way back in Week 1.

He is doing all of this while playing on the franchise tag, which pays him $10 million for this season ... with no promises for the future. So while the present focus obviously needs to be on Sunday's visit from the New York Giants, and Pollard carrying a load there, a breather in the action causes us (and Bleacher Report’s NFL staff) to float ideas.

B/R's take? The Cowboys should consider signing Chicago Bears running back D’Onta Foreman in free agency during the 2024 offseason.

Both Pollard and backup running back Rico Dowdle (who is playing on a $1 million contract for this year) are hitting free agency next offseason. Maybe Dowdle stays. Maybe rookies Hunter Luepke and Deuce Vaughn offer answers. Maybe practice-squadder Malik Davis gets another crack.

But if Pollard gets an offer in free agency anywhere near what he makes now? The NFL trend says Dallas shouldn't match that ... and could look at Foreman - or players like him.

Foreman is 6-0, 235, a 27-year-old power runner who is a Texas native and a former University of Texas Longhorns standout. He's a rotational running back for the Bears (with Khalil Herbert and Roschon Johnson) and he's on a cheap one-year $2 million contract.

Tony Pollard Final Season with Cowboys? $10 Million And Free?

Is Foreman better than Pollard? Of course not. But salary-wise, is Pollard five times better than Foreman?

The future of the Cowboys at running back could be Pollard on a more affordable deal. But the present of "the devaluation of the running back'' means an exploration of the likes of Foreman is merited as well.