Dallas Cowboys officially in market for starting RB as Tony Pollard heads to Titans

The Dallas Cowboys are officially in the market for a starting running back after Tony Pollard agreed to a three-year, $24 million deal with the Tennessee Titans Monday on the first day of the legal tampering period.

The deal won’t be official until free agency begins on Wednesday.

Pollard had back-to-back 1,000-yard seasons with the Cowboys. But his production in 2023 when he rushed 1,005 yards on 252 carries was not the same as it was in 2022 when he rushed for 1,007 yards on 193 carries.

He averaged just 4 yards per carry last season in his first year as a starter and didn’t have the same big-play production as he did in his breakout 2022 campaign when he averaged 5.2 yards per carry, prompting the Cowboys to move on from two-time rushing champion Ezekiel Elliott.

Pollard struggled early in getting back to form after suffering an ankle in injury in a playoff loss to the San Francisco 49ers.

He got stronger as the season went on and the Cowboys were interested in bringing him back at the right price.

Pollard made $10.1 million in 2023 on the franchise tag. He was going to have to take a significant cut to stay in Dallas.

The Titans offered more many and a chance for the Memphis native to return to his home state of Tennessee.

Look for the Cowboys to target a running back in free agency and the 2024 NFL Draft as they will have a new starter at the position for the third straight season.