The Dallas Cowboys have finally reached a contract agreement with Ezekiel Elliott following a holdout that lasted nearly the entire offseason.
Elliott and the Cowboys finalized a six-year, $90 million contract extension on Wednesday morning, according to multiple reports. The star running back is expected to report to the team for practice on Wednesday, and there’s a good chance he will play in the season opener against the New York Giants.
Elliott’s new deal is an extension rather than a restructure, meaning he is under contract with the Cowboys through the 2026 season since he still had two years remaining on his rookie contract. The average annual value of $15 million surpasses the $14.375 million per year Todd Gurley makes with the Los Angeles Rams, which means Elliott is the highest-paid running back in NFL history. Ian Rapoport of NFL Media reports that Elliott’s extension includes $50 million in guaranteed money, placing him ahead of Gurley’s $45 million.
While the negotiations between Elliott and the Cowboys appeared tense for a while because of the way team owner Jerry Jones criticized Zeke, both sides ultimately got what they wanted. Elliott is the top-paid player at his position, and the Cowboys get to keep him in Dallas for eight more seasons if they so choose. Next in line for a contract will likely be Dak Prescott, who is in the final year of his rookie deal.
