The Cowboys made the right decision to let Ezekiel Elliott go last offseason. Tony Pollard didn’t take over the lead back role as expected, but Elliott didn’t exactly light it up in New England, either.

Moving on from Pollard was a fine decision in a vacuum. The Titans didn’t overspend when they gave him a three-year, $21.8 million contract, but he didn’t show the same burst that he had when he was Elliott’s running mate.

Right now, it would appear that the Cowboys are relying on Rico Dowdle to take over the lead back responsibility. They brought back Elliott on a cheap $2 million contract. The problem is that Dowdle has just 96 career carries and hasn’t really stood out in three years with the team.

It would be a lot easier to feel good about the Cowboys backfield if they had sprung for a back like D’Andre Swift, Devin Singletary or even Antonio Gibson.

Alternatively, they could have taken a running back in this year’s draft that could have emerged as a star in Year 1 or 2.

Instead, they have an uninspiring backfield with a past-his-prime Elliott on a team that’s supposed to be contending for the Super Bowl.