The Dallas Cowboys face a significant challenge replacing the explosiveness of running back Tony Pollard, who joined the Tennessee Titans in free agency. Last season, the Cowboys ranked fifth in yards per game and first in points, but were tied for ninth-worst with just seven 40+ yard passing plays and only one 40+ yard rush. With Pollard gone, the team lacks a clear candidate to replicate his big-play ability, which could negatively affect both the running and passing games in 2024.

By the Numbers
  • Cowboys finished 5th in yards per game and 1st in points last season.
  • Ninth worst in explosive plays with only seven 40+ yard passing plays and one 40+ yard rush.
  • Tony Pollard had eight plays of 20+ yards in 2023.
Yes, But

The return of Ezekiel Elliott and the potential of Rico Dowdle or Deuce Vaughn offer little hope for replicating Pollard's explosiveness. While CeeDee Lamb and Brandin Cooks are capable of chunk yardage, neither has been a consistent home run threat. The reliance on unproven players like KaVontae Turpin or rookie Ryan Flournoy adds to the uncertainty.

State of Play
  • Cowboys have done little this offseason to address the loss of explosive playmakers.
  • Muslim O. Dickson could be a potential game-changer but faces a steep learning curve in his rookie year.
What's Next

The Cowboys will need to find new ways to generate explosive plays to maintain their offensive prowess. Mike McCarthy might have to innovate or adjust strategies to compensate for the loss and optimize the potential of current roster players.

Bottom Line

The Cowboys' ability to generate explosive plays is in jeopardy without Tony Pollard, posing a significant risk to their overall offensive effectiveness in 2024. The team’s performance will heavily depend on untested players stepping up in unexpected ways.