Why did Zeke go to Cabo? Ezekiel Elliott is one of the richest running backs ever, but why did he get paid so much? Tony Pollard was a huge concern involving this deal, because he was a running back that would potentially take Zeke’s spot. Did fantasy sports owners know that Zeke would ever get a big contract when he was drafted at the four position most of the times in fantasy leagues? They should’ve known, because in 2016 Zeke Elliot was drafted fourth overall. If you want to know how much value goes into an NFL fourth overall pick, it is guaranteed your future star if he plays to his potential, in which Zeke has done. Were the cowboys prepared?
Drafting a running back in the fourth round shouldn’t be a concern, because if an NFL team would pick a guy that early it would just mean that he is a backup just in case Zeke doesn’t work out. How would the Zeke contract never happen?
The thing is, a guy doesn’t go in the offseason to train his body to the best potential to “potentially” have the best body possible to prepare himself through the season…it just doesn’t happen! This is why it makes sense that a running back would get in the best shape possible, go to a Mexican Island, not just for vacationing, but to show that he can get the best contract. So what proves that Zeke deserves this kind of money?
First of all, Zeke has only played three seasons before this big time contract and has put up 4000 yards throughout three seasons, which would mean that if he played at this pace, his first eight years would have over 10000 yards. 10000 yards is an astronomical amount of yards, as only 31 running backs in NFL history have accumulated 10000 yards rushing in their career. If there is one guy that is going to give you everything on the ground to accumulate 10000 yards, Elliott will most likely be the guy that will give you that in the first eight seasons.
You might question why guys like Gurley, Barkley, and Kamara aren’t more likely to achieve these yards. This would be because Zeke has played three seasons and has done well in every one of them, besides Gurley. But the problem with Gurley is that his durability isn’t as great as Zeke, he might be a better back, but Zeke hasn’t shown up on the injury report yet.
Can the big contract be a curse? Not necessarily, as Gurley tore his ACL before getting drafted by the Rams in 2014, so this isn’t new for Gurley. Gurley has been looked upon as someone who has fought with knee pain and has been very lucky that his knee has been protected during games. Unlike Gurley, Zeke might be the most durable back that the NFL has seen in a long time, which does make him a guy that would get paid 15 million per year like Gurley. Zeke has proven that he is well molded to be the guy for the Cowboys, which everyone is waiting on in 2019 season.
“The thing is, a guy doesn’t go in the offseason to train his body to the best potential to “potentially” have the best body possible to prepare himself through the season…it just doesn’t happen!”
