No Jonathon Brooks, but Dallas Cowboys sure look close to adding Ezekiel Elliott | Bohls
FRISCO — Jerry Jones didn’t really want to talk about the one that got away Friday night.
Maybe because he didn’t.
The Dallas Cowboys owner wasn’t bashful in his praise of Texas running back Jonathon Brooks on Thursday night when he told the American-Statesman the Longhorn was “high, high, high” on the team’s NFL draft board. But when the Carolina Panthers stole Jones’ thunder — and his tailback — by taking Brooks with the 46th pick, a good 10 spots in front of the Cowboys’ slot in the second round, flirtation with the Longhorn went for naught.
“I just have such an appreciation for him,” Jones said. “I think he’ll be an outstanding player. But I don’t think me talking about him helped or hurt our cause.”
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But Jones made it clear that he still might get his man.
And that man could be, well, his old man.
Zeke Elliott.
Jones had admitted the night before that the club was interested in the former Cowboys tailback and might add him to the roster. And he did nothing to stop that thinking in a hallway discussion with a number of reporters following his second-day press conference after Dallas drafted Western Kentucky edge rusher Marshawn Kneeland, Kansas State All-American guard Cooper Beebe (who might play center) and Notre Dame linebacker Marist Liufau.
Asked earlier if he saw Elliott as a back still with starting capability at age 28 with another birthday coming in July, Jones said, “Yes, yes.”
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Later in the hallway, he elaborated about the three-time Pro Bowler who twice led the league in rushing but had career lows with the Patriots last season with only 642 yards on 184 carries and another 313 receiving yards with a team-best 51 catches.
“Zeke’s good enough to be in the room and play for the Cowboys,” Jones said.
And he added that he saw Elliott play in his final game and was impressed with what he’s got left in the tank even though he hasn’t run for 1,000 yards since 2020.
“He’s good enough to be a starter,” Jones insisted.
The one who got away: Jonathon Brooks
But is he good enough to be the feature back for his old team now that Tony Pollard is gone? That’s doubtful, but Jones is still hopeful the team can address this glaring need Saturday, although Dallas doesn’t have a fourth-round pick and won’t select another player until No. 174.
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Still on the board are smaller backs such as Tennessee’s 5-foot-10 Jaylen Wright, Oregon’s 5-9 Bucky Irving and Kentucky’s 5-8 Ray Davis as well as more physical runners such as Wisconsin’s 6-1, 235-pound Braelon Allen and South Dakota State’s 218-pound Isaiah Davis.
The Cowboys did re-sign Rico Dowdle and brought in Royce Freeman to add to a room with Deuce Vaughn, Malik Davis and Snoop Conner. But Jones has had conversations with Elliott’s agent, and it appears likely there could be a reunion.
Dallas still has some options in this NFL draft
Brooks was clearly a target of the Cowboys, however. Jones said his conversation with the humble ex-Longhorn was “the best conversation I’ve ever had in my 30 years” with a draft prospect.
Brooks was one of only four running backs taken in Friday’s second and third rounds. None went in the opening round.
After Brooks went to Carolina, making a Longhorn the first running back taken off the board for the second consecutive year — Bijan Robinson was the eighth pick of the Falcons in 2023 — Florida State’s Trey Benson (Cardinals), Michigan’s Blake Corum (Chargers) and USC’s MarShawn Lloyd (Packers) were chosen.
"We have it in our power to feel good about the running back room. Period," Jones said. "Now, are we through with the running back room? I'm not going to answer that. Not trying to be coy. But Zeke's good enough to be in the running back room, and he's good enough to play for the Cowboys."
This article originally appeared on Austin American-Statesman: With Brooks no longer an option, Dallas Cowboys look to Zeke Elliott
