3 Trade Targets the Cowboys Must Avoid at the Deadline

1. Ezekiel Elliott, RB, New England Patriots

The fourth overall pick in 2016, Ezekiel Elliott broke into the NFL and was an instant star. He led the league with 1,631 yards and had 15 touchdowns as a rookie to go along with 363 yards and another score as a receiver.

He and fellow rookie Dak Prescott ushered in a new era for America's Team and gave fans a reason to believe. Even with a suspension in 2017, Elliott was able to shine throughout his first four seasons. But then, he started to get worn down and only topped 1,000 yards once in his final three years in Big D.

This led to his release ahead of the 2023 campaign and despite one rumor after another hinting at a reunion, Elliott wound up with the New England Patriots. He's now played seven games for them, including one in Dallas where fans were able to pay their respects to a player they rooted for during the past seven years.

While that was a good story, Elliott's time in New England hasn't led to a career revival. Zeke has 224 yards and two touchdowns on the ground with just 59 yards through the air. What's worse is, he's averaging just 3.7 yards per carry and 4.5 per reception, both of which are career lows for him.

Elliott was wildly popular in Dallas, so there's still a lot of love for him. There are also still those who think he's the answer to their red zone issues this season after he had 12 touchdowns a year ago. Having said that, Pollard had nine touchdowns and is struggling, so the issues go well beyond the running back. Adding a blast from the past won't fix things, no matter how popular the player is.

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