The Ezekiel Elliott Rumors
March 19th, 2023
Formers Cowboys RB Ezekiel Elliott.
Joe has been asked, ‘What about the Bucs signing Ezekiel Elliott?’
The former All-Pro Cowboys running back got released recently. Some have linked him to the Bucs because Tampa hired Elliott’s Dallas running backs coach, Skip Peete.
Joe does know there was significant interest here in Elliott when he was coming out of Ohio State back in 2016. But was that unusual? He was the fourth overall pick.
Joe heard former NFL suit Michael Lombardi on his podcast “GM Shuffle” last week suggest Elliott’s lost a step or two, which is close to a death knell for running backs. Lombardi claimed the reason Dallas waved goodbye is Elliott can no longer run outside the tackles.
Here is why Joe doesn’t think Elliott is in play for the Bucs, unless he’s willing to sign a cheap, prove-it contract. The Bucs are strangled by the salary ca. After re-signing key starters like Jamel Dean and Lavonte David and finding a (competing) quarterback in Baker Mayfield, the Team Glazer checkbook is about tapped out.
So no, Joe cannot see the Bucs signing an aging Elliott. Besides, the Bucs already signed Chase Edmonds as a veteran in the backfield. The Bucs, with a loaded running back draft class, can likely find someone just as good as Elliott at a much cheaper cost.
Below you can hear Jordan Schultz of @theScore discuss Elliott rumors, which includes linking him to the Bucs.
"I don't see that being realistic financially."
On #LombardiLine, @Schultz_Report joined @mlombardiNFL and @FemiAbebefe to break down some high-profile free agents still on the market.
For Lombardi's breakdown of the NFL Free Agency: https://t.co/iKrS2lSVHQ pic.twitter.com/sZLK49mlBe
— VSiN (@VSiNLive) March 18, 2023
March 19th, 2023 at 10:57 am
Running backs don’t suddenly re-find their legs. Zeke is done. Waste of a roster spot.
March 19th, 2023 at 11:03 am
No thanks…
This goes against the Buc’s motto for 2023 – Younger, faster, cheaper and hungry.
If our motto was – Old, over priced, slower and aloof – I would say “go for it!”
Draft a RB in rounds 3-6 and we will be fine.
March 19th, 2023 at 11:06 am
Zeke, Fournettee, Gordon, etc…..once those guys got paid, they never ran the same again. Go young, they are hungry to earn a pay day.
March 19th, 2023 at 11:09 am
Once upon a time Zeke was a Bull. But his time is almost done. He will wander thru a couple of teams for a yr or 2 before retirement. He has had a nice career.
March 19th, 2023 at 11:13 am
Sean Tucker please
March 19th, 2023 at 11:16 am
i’d rather go re-find rojo if he is cut loose from kc…
seems like he didn’t really work out there…
and he didn’t fit in here with tom at the time, as lenny became his guy…
rojo runs hard af – i’d be good to add him in the mix here – if possible with white, sneak, and the new guy from the cards
March 19th, 2023 at 11:32 am
Nope. Jason knows.
March 19th, 2023 at 11:34 am
Bowles Broke the Back of the team. Elliot is not the answer. It will be a few years until Bowles legacy is gone for good. Only a very few will still be here by then.
March 19th, 2023 at 11:36 am
Joe … ‘unless he’s willing to sign a cheap, prove-it contract.’
Signing Elliott doesn’t make a bit of sense under any conditions IF the Bucs are truly trying to rebuild & get younger. Besides, if he did do well here in 2023 on a ‘prove it’ contract, I kinda think he might want a raise in 2024 (ala Playoff Lenny?). Been there, done that … no thanks. Draft 2 RBs in Rnds 5-7 and hope that 1 kicks ass.
March 19th, 2023 at 11:37 am
The answer is NO. I wouldn’t even bring him in for the vet minimum. Repeat after me: younger and faster, younger and faster.
March 19th, 2023 at 11:43 am
No
March 19th, 2023 at 11:46 am
No
March 19th, 2023 at 11:48 am
Stay the course Jason Licht. Younger and inepensive. Covet thy own if warranted. No overpriced end of career retreads, so don’t fall in love like some star struck fans……..
March 19th, 2023 at 11:48 am
Older slower Lenny
March 19th, 2023 at 11:50 am
Inexpensive as in payoff the superbowl, save some money, help the cap pinch, balance the check book. Be ready to be major players in next years sweepstakes for what ever is needed for this team. Better days are ahead.
Go Bucs
March 19th, 2023 at 11:56 am
Running backs have short careers but they can carry teams for a five year period. Zeke did. Could Bijan?
March 19th, 2023 at 12:01 pm
Reading that Elliott has lost a step at 27 makes me appreciate the production of running backs likes Emmitt Smith, Walter Payton, Eric Dickerson, Adrian Peterson, Barry Sanders, and Frank Gore (among others), who were still highly productive past 30. It’s not like the ball has gotten heavier and all those backs carried the ball a lot. What’s up? Heck, the great Walter Payton ran for 1,333 yard, and averaged over four yards a carry, in 1986 at age 33. You would think with all the resources teams have today (in terms of nutrition and physical therapy) that running backs would have a longer shelf life.
March 19th, 2023 at 12:09 pm
Joe has been asked, ‘What about the Bucs signing Ezekiel Elliott?’
___________
Of course that question was asked by Joe himself while shaving this morning.
No one is thinking/wanting/expecting Zeke to be a Buc.
March 19th, 2023 at 12:25 pm
Zo long, Zeke.
March 19th, 2023 at 12:26 pm
Seriously, just re-sign Lenny if the Bucs are even thinking of Elliot.
March 19th, 2023 at 12:26 pm
I mean a lot of you guys were not happy with Lenny last year. I think Zeke was/is worse than him.
March 19th, 2023 at 12:51 pm
Zeke was shot and on borrowed time for a few seasons now. That is not conducive to improving one of the worst running attacks in the league last year. Must be a Bucs life again if we are wishlisting with past their prime players.
March 19th, 2023 at 1:07 pm
Ill still be here after bowels is gone ill be a buc till the day i die no matter how bad it gets
March 19th, 2023 at 1:09 pm
I don’t think any fans of the Bucs were thinking about Elliot. Just sound like a media person wanting to generate content during the offseason.
March 19th, 2023 at 1:11 pm
Hey Joe do you think there is any chance the Bucs sign Bijan Robinson with our 1st pick? I think he could be a game changer for us? Or does the signing of Edmonds all but kill that dream. We don’t have a game changing rb and I think this kid could help accelerate this offense especially if we are going to the offense Bowles wants which is pounding the rock.
I would love to draft him and then use the rest of the picks to stock up the trenches and of course a safety. I think we could compete next year without a doubt if we do that. Not hopeful with Bowles at the helm but am very curious to see what Canales brings to us!
March 19th, 2023 at 1:21 pm
Can get someone good in middle rounds
March 19th, 2023 at 1:23 pm
Riggins gained 1200 yards at 35, I loved to watch that guy play
March 19th, 2023 at 1:25 pm
Hc Grover’s daily bash of Todd Bowles.. nothing positive to say ever.. he pulls his head out of the toilet to spew crap literally
March 19th, 2023 at 2:14 pm
I like Adam’s idea of getting Rojo back on the cheap.
With more mobile quarterback than Brady, Rojo’s limited blocking skills become less of a liability. And with more creative play calling and addition of Ko Kieft as a lead blocker,
Rojo might thrive on running downs. Rojo already’s ran hard!
March 19th, 2023 at 2:37 pm
HC Grover yup – the damage will take years to overcome. Strap yourself in lean times are ahead.
March 19th, 2023 at 2:38 pm
Elliott’s worn down and will be over priced. Pass.
March 19th, 2023 at 2:50 pm
I’d take him for the right price. Another player some people hate just because. He isnt the same player he used to be but he is a great pass blocker, goal line rusher and runs hard. And a team player. Good wr out of backfield. better than given credit for when healthy.
March 19th, 2023 at 2:53 pm
I’d rather have Fournette over a washed up, slow, unexplosive Ezekiel Elliott. The only morons who want Elliott are Cowboy turds fans who hate the Bucs and want to cripple the roster.
The Bucs are set at RB. White has star written all over him. Vaughn showed enough last year that you’d be fine with him having to start some games if there was an injury. And Chase Edmonds is a very very good pass catching 3rd down back (although White is also a very very good pass catcher who is hopefully playing 3 downs).
Elliot, if he wanted to sign a vet min to be the 4th RB, I guess that’d be OK. But I’d rather take a shot on someone who can break a 5.0 40.
March 19th, 2023 at 2:56 pm
Jon Grudin Says:
March 19th, 2023 at 2:14 pm
I like Adam’s idea of getting Rojo back on the cheap.
———–
Rojo wouldn’t command more than the vet minimum, that’s just the RB market these days. I’d much rather have him over slow a– washed up Elliott, that’s for sure.
March 19th, 2023 at 3:05 pm
Always a chance. And he would be wonderful in a Seattle offense (which is going to be sort of Dave Canales’ offense).
Various reasons Joe doesn’t believe Robinson will be drafted by the Bucs. He may not be on the board at No. 19 and generally, you don’t build a team with a running back. You draft a running back as a final piece.
By the time a team starts rolling, the running back drafted high will have peaked.
Besides, this draft is supposed to be loaded with running backs.
March 19th, 2023 at 3:31 pm
This is probably the deepest RB draft in the last 20 years. Guys like Tavion Thomas will be available in 6th-7th round.
Its a big list within the top 250 prospects. Really good players will be available on day 2 and 3. Its a head scratcher to me they even signed Edmonds – especially since Vaughn has that same size and skillset – is younger and they used a 3rd round pick on him. Makes zero sense to me.
Its not like Vaughn didn’t do good things when given the opportunity. They think Edmonds is going to get 900+ yards from scrimmage like he did in 20 & 21?
You got Vaughn, you got White, this is a deep RB draft class. That made no sense to me and neither does Elliott.
Why wouldn’t you use this draft to go get at least depth at RB?
March 19th, 2023 at 4:06 pm
If Bijon fall to 19, you draft him…his bpa is too much to not draft at 19. Arguably top 4 player in draft.
March 19th, 2023 at 4:20 pm
chark – It’s not 1990 anymore. If he was a top 4 player, he’d be taken in the top 4. The Bucs shouldn’t be drafting any RBs, they spent their 3rd rounders on the position for the last two years when they could have used those picks to add things like offensive and defensive line depth. Meanwhile, in 2020, they just pick up a RB off the street and he’s a star in the playoffs. That’s how you get RBs, not wasting top picks on them.
March 19th, 2023 at 4:38 pm
The biggest decision this off-season that will effect the run game is the switch to a zone blocking scheme. Pass on Zeke the plan this off season was to get younger and faster. Elliot doesn’t fit into that plan.
March 19th, 2023 at 6:23 pm
Rod Munch … ‘The Bucs are set at RB. White has star written all over him. Vaughn showed enough last year that you’d be fine with him having to start some games if there was an injury. And Chase Edmonds is a very very good pass catching 3rd down back’.
White intrigues me in terms of his potential, but not Vaughn or Edmonds. Vaughn was a 3rd Rnd pick in 2020, so he’s in his 4th year. In 3 years he has a grand total of 79 rushes & 342 yards. Nope, doesn’t excite me either. Chase Edmonds was a 4th Rnd draft pick back in 2018 who actually had 4 good years with Arizona (4.7 YPC) and 1 good year with Denver (4.8 YPC) before falling off the cliff with Miami last year (2.9 YPC). Hopefully that was the fluke, not the first 5 years.
I’m really hoping that the Bucs use TWO of their 6 Rnd 5-7 picks to draft RBs. My preference is for drafting an Alstott type who can get us short yardage near the goal line & for close 1st down situations. The smaller backs seem to need holes for some reason, but the bigger backs can make their own for a yard or two. Works great if that’s all you need. Used to love watching the A-Train hit the line like that. You could hear the collisions no matter where you sat in the stadium.
March 19th, 2023 at 6:32 pm
gotbbucs Says
“Running backs don’t suddenly re-find their legs.”
Not actually true. I know of several RBs the Bucs fans gave up on who went elsewhere, and Superbowls were won by at least one of them.
March 19th, 2023 at 7:01 pm
Stay away.
March 19th, 2023 at 7:23 pm
Defense Rules Says:
White intrigues me in terms of his potential, but not Vaughn or Edmonds.
————
I’m not saying Vaughn or Edmonds are stars, I’m just saying Vaughn, last year, played really well in limited snaps. I think he’d be a fine replacement level player if he needed to play, kind of an Earnest Graham type of guy. I will agree that in in his first two years he didn’t show much, but last preseason he looked good, then in the season, when he got a chance, he did well.
As for Edmonds, he is a very good pass catcher, a traditional 3rd down back who has experience, and has done well in that role. His issue is that there’s a ton of these guys now, so no one gets paid at RB unless you’re a 3-down guy.
For drafting someone, I disagree. You can find RB’s literally everywhere. There will absolutely be a bunch of UDFA’s who end up playing in the NFL. Meanwhile in the 5th and 6th rounds, you can still find useful LB’s and corners, WRs, etc, that are a little harder to find when you’re talking about UDFAs.
Personally I want the Bucs to spend all three sixth rounders on QB as a tribute to Tom Brady.
March 19th, 2023 at 8:05 pm
Thanks Joe foe the response. I think he is a game changer. We missed on Cook a few years ago. This guy could change our entire offense imho!
March 19th, 2023 at 10:15 pm
There are no significant RBs left in free agency. That didn’t take long. Nobody there, including Zeke, look like the kind of 3-down difference maker this backfield needs. Edmonds is not that guy. Just another 3rd down back. Rachaad is not that guy, either, although he thinks he is.
If they are smart, they need to draft the most imposing back in this draft, a guy who can carry the offense and reduce the importance of the QB, and in the Bucs’ case, the poor quality of the QB. If they manage to draft the stud of the future, and significantly upgrade and rescheme the OL, then this team might actually be able to compete through the mini-tank period. But whoever this back is has to be Alstott-esque in dominance. Or, in this case, by Rah Rah Canales’ memory, another Marshawn Lynch.
March 20th, 2023 at 9:00 am
I’d rather draft 7 running backs and take the best one in camp than sign Elliott.
March 20th, 2023 at 10:38 am
If Tyjea Spears is available in the 3rd round, draft him. With the right OC, he can be a difference maker
If not, draft a RB in round 4 or 5. Either would be light years better than Zeke at this stage in his career and cheaper.