The Dallas Cowboys and Ezekiel Elliott have reunited. Just days after passing on selecting a running back at the NFL Draft, the club has taken a step toward shoring up its backfield by agreeing to a one-year deal with the free agent.
Elliott spent last year with the New England Patriots. Now he’s back with a potential contender that boasted one of the league’s best offenses a season ago. As the offseason continues, here’s where Cowboys futures odds stand in various NFL betting categories.
Latest Cowboys futures
- To win the Super Bowl:
- To win the NFC:
- To win the NFC East:
- Regular season win total:
- To make the playoffs:
The Cowboys are eighth in the latest Super Bowl 59 odds. Dallas was among the favorites a season ago as well, but it exited in round one of the NFL playoffs with an upset loss to the Green Bay Packers. Observers expect the club to contend for the postseason once again.
In odds to win the NFC, the Cowboys are tied for third with the Philadelphia Eagles, behind only the San Francisco 49ers and Detroit Lions. For current NFL division odds, they’re neck-and-neck with the Eagles to win the NFC East.
Dallas is one of only eight teams with an NFL win total line in the double digits at online sportsbooks. Last season, the Cowboys went 12-5 and won the division. They were the second seed in the NFC before falling to the Packers 48-32 in the wild card round as 7.5-point favorites.
Is Ezekiel Elliott going to be the lead running back in Dallas?
Elliott and the Cowboys have agreed to terms on a one-year deal worth up to $3 million. The deal is pending a physical and is expected to be made official once that happens. Elliott could be in line for significant work upon his return to Dallas.
The Cowboys released him last offseason. Tony Pollard took charge of the backfield from there. He put up 1,316 combined yards and six TDs during the regular season and contributed 85 total yards and a touchdown in the playoff loss to the Packers.
Pollard joined the Tennessee Titans in free agency, leaving a big void in the Dallas backfield. Elliott should quickly move to the top of the team’s RB depth chart, a group that includes Rico Dowdle, Deuce Vaughn, and Royce Freeman.
Barring any additional trades or signings, Elliott is the likely RB1 in Dallas. Last season with the Patriots, he had 184 carries for 642 yards and three touchdowns, and he added 51 catches for 313 yards and a pair of TDs.
The Cowboys originally drafted Elliott in 2016 with the fourth overall pick, and he ranks third on the franchise rushing yard list, behind only Emmitt Smith and Tony Dorsett. He claimed the NFL rushing yard title in 2016 and 2018.
Who did the Cowboys draft this year?
Dallas expected to snag a back at the NFL Draft after failing to replace Pollard during free agency, but that didn’t happen. Below are the newest members of the Cowboys:
| Round/Pick # | Player | Position | School |
| 1-29 | Tyler Guyton | OT | Oklahoma |
| 2-24 | Marshawn Kneeland | DE | Western Michigan |
| 3-9 | Cooper Beebe | OG | Kansas State |
| 3-24 | Marist Liufau | LB | Notre Dame |
| 5-39 | Caelen Carson | CB | Wake Forest |
| 6-40 | Ryan Flournoy | WR | SE Missouri State |
| 7-13 | Nathan Thomas | OT | Louisiana |
| 7-24 | Justin Rogers | DT | Auburn |
Cowboys regular season schedule
The NFL schedule release will likely happen soon, potentially in early May. While we don’t know how it’s going to shake out for the Cowboys on a week-to-week basis just yet, we do know the team’s opponents for the upcoming season. Dallas will have its usual six matchups versus NFC East foes as part of its 17-game slate:
- Home: Giants, Commanders, Eagles, Saints, Buccaneers, Lions, Ravens, Bengals, Texans
- Away: Giants, Commanders, Eagles, 49ers, Falcons, Panthers, Steelers, Browns
Dallas has nine games against playoff teams from a season ago, including the 49ers and Lions, the conference favorites. For the AFC portion of the schedule, the Cowboys will take on the AFC North teams and the Texans. One of the nine home games will be its annual Thanksgiving Day game, and schedule makers have several options to consider for that one.
