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Now that's Ezekiel Elliott's return is official (right down to his jersey number), what does it all mean for the Cowboys backfield? And what's Elliott's role really going to be? There's one aspect to his game- that could potentially be huge for the Cowboys offense in 2024- that no one is talking about. And make no mistake about who will actually determine the success (or not) of the Dallas ground game this coming season. Elsewhere, prepare to be wowed by the early comparisons that second-round defensive end Marshawn Kneeland is drawing, and get to know fifth-round steal Caelen Carson now, before he's the next Cowboys cornerback to blow up in a big way. Also in News and Notes, we're revealing the jersey numbers for this year's draft class, we're looking ahead to the 2025 draft for names to remember, and we're mulling over what an 18-game regular season schedule would really look like, both on the calendar and to the bubble players who would be losing preseason exposure. And we take an educated stab at when the NFL will release the 2024 slate of games. Link The two-time rushing champ made his return to Dallas official on Tuesday and says he's excited to be back. Elliott will also come back to the No. 21 he wore for seven years, after switching to 15 in his one season with the Patriots. Link Sure, short-yardage and goal-line situations. Absolutely on pass blocking. But Elliott also showed surprising versatility in his one year with New England, grabbing 51 receptions and catching at least four passes in seven games. Don't be surprised if the Cowboys put more backfield passes into the playbook, and don't forget about Zeke's ability to be the closer when Dallas is nursing a lead late. Link Over the last two seasons, Elliott and Rico Dowdle both have negative RYOE, meaning they aren't adding anything beyond what's given. Their ground attack will have less to do with their skills and more to do with the front five. If the Cowboys don't add another rusher to install at the top of the depth chart, it'll be up to the O-line all season long. Link The comps for the team's second-round pick are setting an awfully high bar. Will McClay likened Kneeland to DeMarcus Lawrence, and Greg Ellis said the Western Michigan product reminds him of himself. Mike Zimmer will be more than happy to get his hands on a definitive run-stopper who plays with violence and a high motor. Link Guyton and Liufau will sport numbers they wore in college. Thomas will try to start a new legacy for his jersey. The other five draft picks will look to build on the reputations of some beloved names within the Cowboys history books as they take over jersey numbers that have stories to tell. Link Carson is a raw talent with much to learn about the finer points of CB play, but being able to get him a full two rounds later than some projections made it a no-brainer for Dallas. A physical tackler who prides himself on being a factor in run defense, he'll now learn at the hands of Trevon Diggs, DaRon Bland, and Jourdan Lewis. Link Jerry Jones's transparency made for puzzling decisions in the draft. Why trade down in the first round just to take a developmental project at left tackle? And then he practically guaranteed that Jonathon Brooks would be snatched up early on Day 2 by gushing so openly about him the night before. After that, there was no plan B at all at running back, leaving the Cowboys with a very mediocre grade of C for the 2024 draft. Link Bring a calculator. This cheat sheet goes over the total contract numbers, signing bonuses, and 2024 cap hits for all eight Cowboys draft picks. The team has just over $9 million in their rookie pool for 2024. Link The 28-year-old has bounced around to nine different teams since 2019. One of the fastest players in Dallas, he spent last year on the Cowboys practice squad and will return as one of 14 wide receivers currently on the roster. Link We don't know exactly when the NFL will announce the 2024 regular season schedule yet, but we can make some educated guesses. Based on past release dates, NFL fans can expect to see the full 2024 NFL season slate in early May, probably on a Thursday. Perhaps Thursday, May 9 might be the best guess. Link Dane Brugler admits it's too early to project who will go where a year from now, but 16 of his 32 first-round picks from the 2023 way-too-early mock did, in fact, go in the first round last weekend. For what it's worth, though, he likes Texas wide receiver (and Alabama transfer) Isaiah Bond, one of five wideouts he has being picked on opening night next spring. Link The push for getting to an 18-game schedule might bring teams a second bye week. But then expect the season to kick off over the Labor Day weekend and go right up until President's Day. That could then cause the combine to move to March, free agency to come in April, and the draft to be held in May. Get ready; it's all probably coming at some point. Link An 18-game schedule would likely scrap one more preseason game, That wouldn't be meaningless to an entire class of player like Daniel. "It was my Super Bowl and playoffs, in the preseason," he explained, and what allowed him to carve out a 14-year career, primarily as a backup in multiple camps. Scrimmages simply can't replace "real-game reps" for young guys and players trying to latch on. Read all the best Cowboys coverage at the Austin American-Statesman and Cowboys Wire.
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