After Being Released By Cowboys, Where Will Ezekiel Elliott Go Next?

FOXBOROUGH, MASSACHUSETTS - OCTOBER 17: Ezekiel Elliott #21 of the Dallas Cowboys reacts after defeating the New England Patriots at Gillette Stadium on October 17, 2021 in Foxborough, Massachusetts. (Photo by Maddie Meyer/Getty Images)

A number of NFL teams are reportedly interested in signing free agent Ezekiel Eliott for the 2023 season. Elliott was released by the Dallas Cowboys Wednesday, but the star running back’s next team could be quick to take him off the market.

Of all the teams that could potentially benefit from signing Elliott, the Los Angeles Chargers and Buffalo Bills have been pegged as the likeliest suitors. The Chargers will likely be in the market for a running back very soon, as star Austin Ekeler has requested a trade and would leave a gaping hole in the team’s offense. Elliott offers a very different skillset to Ekeler’s but has also worked well with offensive coordinator Kellen Moore in the past.

The Bills are another obvious candidate as the team looks for some way to overcome perennially stiff competition in the AFC this season. Josh Allen has proved to be a revelation for the team’s passing game and the defense is highly reputable, but running backs Devin Singletary and James Cook were somewhat underwhelming. Elliott could provide experience to Buffalo’s backfield and give the team another dimension on offense.

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While Los Angeles and Buffalo are most likely to sit down with Elliott, there will certainly be other teams inquiring about the former Dallas power runner. The Kansas City Chiefs have taken chances on players like Elliott in the past and always seem to have cap space despite a prolifically talented offense. The Baltimore Ravens could also prove to be a fortuitous landing spot as well, though the team will likely have to sort out negotiations with Lamar Jackson before it can consider other major contracts.

The market for running backs is fairly small this offseason as most teams are either satisfied with their current system or would rather spend less on younger talent, as the Buccaneers did when they signed Chase Edmonds to a one-year deal Thursday. Elliott’s status next season also depends on how much he asks for, as his best seasons are behind him and a short-term deal would likely suit most teams best. For the right price, however, he could make a difference for a team in need of his services.