By Anthony Caruso III | Publisher
With the fourth overall pick in the 2016 NFL Draft, the Dallas Cowboys selected former Ohio State Buckeyes running back Ezekiel Elliott. He was the lone running back that was considered to go in the first round.
The Cowboys were struggling with the decision. They were considering trading back with the Baltimore Ravens as the teams swapped picked.
The Cowboys would have moved to sixth, while the Ravens would have gone to four — but they were considered Elliott would have been gone if they made the trade.
READ MORE: Click here for our latest NFL coverage
⚡️ Level up your game-day experience! ⚡️ Add some extra thrill to every play by betting with our trusted sports betting partners. Click the link below to get in on the action! 👇
The Capital Sports Report is your source for national sports news, but we need YOUR help to keep going strong! 💪 Just like traditional newspapers, we rely on your support to bring you the best coverage possible. Donations allow us to expand our reach, travel to cover more events, and bring you unique stories and perspectives you won’t find anywhere else. Invest in the future of sports journalism – donate today! You can make a monetary donation here.
However, that never worked out. Nor was the original speculation that the Cowboys struggled over Joey Bosa and Elliott.
With Bosa going to the San Diego Chargers with the third overall pick, the pick became clear. The Cowboys desperately needed a running back — and they failed in their attempts to trade for former back DeMarco Murray and Philadelphia Eagles back Ryan Mathews.
The 20-year-old Elliott is expected to be used like they did when Murray was the star back before signing with the Eagles under former head coach Chip Kelly. He was a bust in his one-year in the City of Brotherly Love.
As a junior, Elliott carries the ball 289 times for 1,821 yards and 23 touchdowns.
He also had 27 receptions for 206 yards.
READ MORE: Click here for our latest Sports coverage
During the 2015 season, Darren McFadden carried the ball 239 times and had 1,089 yards. He also had three touchdowns — as the team had eight overall.
Joseph Randle had 313 yards, while Robert Turbin had 139. Lucky Whitehead had 107, while everyone else had below 78.
In the past two seasons, Elliott has rushed for 3,699 yards alone. In 2014, Murray had 1,845 yards in his final season in Dallas.
Editorial Note: There are affiliated links on this page. We may receive compensation if you purchase a product through a link on our site. If you enjoy our work and would like to donate to support our coverage, you can do so through this PayPal link https://paypal.me/tcsrmedianj
Follow Us on Social Media:Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Telegram, Tumblr, YouTube, and TruthSocial
Check out our videos: Videos Keep Independent Journalism Alive! Ad-free experience and Exclusive Premium-plus content. Join our Paid Substack for additional content for $10 per month. This is ad-free content. We believe that what you read matters and great writing is valuable. Through Substack, writers can flourish by being paid directly by their readers.© 2007-2025 The Capital Sports Report. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcasted, rewritten, or redistributed.
