Running back Tony Pollard might be willing to accept a lower salary in order to remain with the Dallas Cowboys.
The upcoming offseason is expected to see significant activity in the free agent market for running backs, with notable names such as Derrick Henry, Josh Jacobs, Saquon Barkley, D’Andre Swift, and Austin Ekeler all looking for new contracts. Among these players is Tony Pollard, the running back for the Dallas Cowboys, who is seeking his second multi-year contract after playing under the franchise tag in 2023. According to Calvin Watkins of The Dallas Morning News, Pollard is reportedly open to accepting a lower salary to remain with the Cowboys next season.
Pollard had a solid performance in the 2023 season under the franchise tag, although it wasn’t as impressive as his 2022 season. Despite receiving 59 more carries, he rushed for two fewer yards than in 2022, and he also had 60 fewer receiving yards despite catching 16 more passes on 12 more targets. He scored six touchdowns last year, half as many as in his Pro Bowl season in 2022.
However, Pollard still ranked 12th in the league in rushing yards, outperforming Barkley (who missed three games), Jacobs (who missed four games), and Ekeler (who missed three games). Only Henry and Swift exceeded Pollard’s performance, and Henry’s age (30) might limit his value compared to Pollard and Swift.
In Dallas, there is a belief that Pollard anticipates a salary increase after earning $10.09 million on the franchise tag last year. However, this seems unlikely, especially given the underperformance of this year’s free agent class in contract years. Spotrac.com’s projected market values show only Henry earning more than $10 million in 2024. Swift, the second-best performer among the aforementioned group, is projected to be worth only $6.7 million per year. Spotrac projects Pollard to sign a two-year, $13.05 million deal, which aligns with the two-year, $12-14 million deal proposed by Watkins.
While Pollard may be willing to accept a slight discount to stay in Dallas, it seems he will explore multiple offers before negotiating with the Cowboys. He may let the league establish his value before giving Dallas the opportunity to slightly undercut it if they wish to retain him. However, this strategy could carry some risk if he waits too long and other free agent moves or the draft influence his value to the Cowboys. The coming weeks will reveal how risky a strategy Pollard chooses to pursue.
