Patriots Sign Ezekiel Elliott to 1-Year Deal; Ex-Cowboys RB Changes Jersey Number

The New England Patriots are about to add veteran presence and a boost in the backfield in one of the most decorated running backs left in the free agent market, according to multiple reports.

The Massachusetts-based team is expected to sign former Dallas Cowboys running back Ezekiel Elliott to a one-year deal.

The 28-year-old's compensation will be $3 million as base salary, plus an additional $1 million signing bonus. Incentives can make the deal worth up to $6 million in total, per Adam Schefter of ESPN.

Elliott reportedly visited New England during the end of the first week of training camp as a free agent at the end of July. Patriots quarterback Mac Jones was spotted having dinner with the three-time Pro Bowl selection, perhaps making a pitch on why he should join the team.

The six-foot, 228-pound veteran will most likely work with emerging Patriots running back Rhamondre Stevenson for the upcoming 2023 season. The 25-year-old ran for a career-high 1,040 yards and had six total touchdowns in 2022, his second season in New England.

Elliott was selected by the Cowboys in the first round of the 2016 NFL Draft with the fourth overall pick. He was arguably the best running back in the league at one point.

Elliott played for seven seasons in Dallas, where he had a remarkably strong start to his NFL career. He led the league in rushing yards during his rookie season, getting selected to the First Team All-Pro and the Pro Bowl game alongside fellow rookie quarterback teammate Dak Prescott.

In 2019, Elliott signed a six-year extension worth $90 million, making him the highest-paid running back in the league then, as well as the first Cowboy to eclipse $100 million in value.

However, his production dipped after signing the lucrative deal. Last season, Elliott had the worst year of his career, running for a career-low 876 yards and 12 touchdowns and averaging fewer than four yards per carry (3.8) in another career-worst performance while playing in 15 games.

Due to the decline in production and the emergence of former fourth-round pick running back Tony Pollard, the Cowboys released Elliott from the team last March. Pollard made the Pro Bowl game in 2022.

A nod to the past for Ezekiel Elliott

The 2016 First Team All-Pro selection has announced a major external change for his stint with the Patriots.

Elliott took to social media platform X, formerly known as Twitter, to announce that he will be wearing number 15 with the Patriots, his former number, during his college football days at the Ohio State University. He played for the Buckeyes from 2013 to 2015.

The two-time league leader in rushing yards wore number 21 during his time with the Dallas Cowboys.

Elliott also recently showed off another change in his appearance, chopping off his signature locks last Sunday. He posted a picture of his chopped hair on Instagram Story.