Football
Dallas Cowboys

Ezekiel Elliott Contract: Salary, Guaranteed Money, Dead Cap

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Dallas Cowboys' Ezekiel Elliott runs during the second half of an NFL football game against the Philadelphia Eagles Saturday, Dec. 24, 2022, in Arlington, Texas. The Dallas Cowboys are reuniting with running back Ezekiel Elliott after agreeing to terms on a contract with the former two-time rushing champion, a person with knowledge of the deal said Monday, April 29, 2024.
(AP Photo/Ron Jenkins)
Chase Kiddy @chaseakiddy Apr 30, 2024, 1:33 PM

On Sept. 4, 2019, Jerry Jones and the Cowboys signed Ezekiel Elliott to an infamous six-year, $90 million contract extension.

The deal quickly became legendary among journalists and NFL fans alike. NFL front offices were clearly moving to devalue running back contracts, yet the Cowboys were signing Zeke to a bell cow deal like it was still 2005. 

As the deal reached its back half, the Cowboys were on the hook for big cap numbers that virtually no other modern NFL team was paying. To make matters worse, Elliott was — predictably — slowing down. He was becoming less effective on the field and yielding carries to backups like Tony Pollard.

By 2023, the Cowboys had enough. They cut him, and he ended up on a sorry Patriots offense that PFF ranked 29th in the NFL.

For the 2024 season, Elliott and the Cowboys are reuniting. This time, the Dallas front office has wised up and is paying the 29-year-old running back a measly salary.

Elliott probably feels he’s underpaid, but the rock-bottom running back market says he’s paid just right. 

Ezekiel Elliott Contract

Ezekiel Elliott will play the 2024 NFL season with a one-year contract. 

Like many aging running backs, Zeke will likely only be able to negotiate one or two-year contracts in the future.

Ezekiel Elliott Salary

The Dallas Cowboys will pay Ezekiel Elliott $3 million for his services in 2024. This is the same value as the contract he signed with the Patriots last season.

Ezekiel Elliott Dead Cap

The Cowboys still owe a shade over $6 million in dead cap money for Elliott’s 2019 contract extension. 

Ironically, Elliott’s 2024 cap hit for the Cowboys is more than double his current salary.

Ezekiel Elliott Guaranteed Money

Ezekiel Elliot’s 2024 contract includes $2 million in guaranteed money. 

Ezekiel Elliott Career Earnings

Following the 2023 NFL season, Ezekiel Elliott had made a total of $73,668,561 from his eight seasons as an NFL running back. 

That number doesn’t include endorsements or other marketing deals.

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About the Author

Chase Kiddy

Read More @chaseakiddy

Chase Kiddy is a writer for BetMGM and co-host of The Lion's Edge, an NFL and college football podcast available on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, and everywhere else. He has also written for a number of print and online outlets, including the Richmond Times-Dispatch, Washington Post, Daily News-Record, and HERO Sports. His first novel, Cave Paintings, is in development.

Chase Kiddy is a writer for BetMGM and co-host of The Lion's Edge, an NFL and college football podcast available on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, and everywhere else. He has also written for a number of print and online outlets, including the Richmond Times-Dispatch, Washington Post, Daily News-Record, and HERO Sports. His first novel, Cave Paintings, is in development.