FRISCO, Texas (AP) — The Dallas Cowboys passed on running back in the NFL draft after moving on from their starter each of the past two seasons.
There was as much talk about one of those former Cowboys — two-time rushing champion Ezekiel Elliott — as there was any of the college prospects throughout draft weekend.
Now the focus shifts to when Elliott might return to the franchise for which he gained 8,262 yards, third-most in club history, in seven seasons before a release in a cost-cutting move after the 2022 season.
“Anytime,” owner Jerry Jones said Saturday night, speaking generally about the positive influence he believed Elliott was after saying a day earlier he thought Elliott was still good enough to be a starter.
“I don't want to get into that because I'm not sure what all we’re touching on here in terms of the rules,” Jones said. “Bottom line is that he’s a positive.”
Two of Dallas' top three picks, and three of the eight, were offensive linemen, which was among the biggest needs for the Cowboys after losing two starters this offseason. Running back was another.
“I think a lot of times, there’s always a question mark, will you really, really, really stick to your board?” executive vice president of personnel Stephen Jones said. “It just felt like every time the situation was there for us to make a pick and do the right thing, it wasn’t at running back.”
The Cowboys acknowledged on the opening night of the draft that they had met with Elliott, who played for New England last season, and the 28-year-old's agent earlier that day.
After Dallas still hadn't taken a running back on the second day of the draft, Jerry Jones brought up Elliott again.
“There was a long time before a running back was taken, actually in today’s draft,” Jerry Jones said Friday night. “We also are keenly interested in seeing what the future might look like with Zeke.”
Tony Pollard, a 2019 fourth-round pick who replaced Elliott in 2023, didn't have the impact to match his $10.1 million salary playing on the franchise tag last season. Pollard signed with Tennessee in free agency.
At the moment, the four running backs on the Dallas roster who saw the field for the Cowboys last season have 163 carries for 605 yards and four touchdowns combined for their careers. Dallas added veteran journeyman Royce Freeman earlier this month.
“If you look at the dynamics of the running back room right now, it's a young group, but they all have upside,” coach Mike McCarthy said. “I like our group. You have players that are going to be here two-plus years.”
The Cowboys drafted an offensive lineman in the first round for the fifth time since 2011, getting Oklahoma's Tyler Guyton at No. 29 after trading down five spots.
All four of the other first-rounders made the Pro Bowl at least once, with 23 selections between them. The line is anchored by 2014 first-round Zack Martin, a seven-time All-Pro at right guard.
Cooper Beebe of Kansas State was Dallas' third-round choice, and Louisiana's Nathan Thomas was taken in the seventh round.
“This is a year where there are a lot of offensive linemen,” Jerry Jones said. “Why do you rob banks? Because that’s where the money is. This was a good year for us to zero in on that offensive line.”
The second-round choice of defensive end Marshawn Kneeland out of Western Michigan prompted comparisons to DeMarcus Lawrence a decade earlier.
The Cowboys didn't move up to get Kneeland the way they did in 2014 to draft Lawrence out of Boise State with the second pick of the second round, 34th overall. Kneeland went at No. 56.
Lawrence, who is going into his 11th season, doesn't have an overwhelming number of sacks (58 1/2) but has been durable and dependable, particularly as a run-stopper.
The two are almost the same size, both listed at 6-foot-3 and in the range of 270 pounds.
“The thing that attracted us to D-Law back when he was coming out was the incredible effort that he played with was the same effort that you see on Sundays now still, after as many years as he played,” vice president of personnel Will McClay said.
“When that attracts you, it's something that you put in your Rolodex and go, ‘If I see that, I know what it looks like and what it can do.’ Just watching (Kneeland) play, he's bouncing off people and he's chasing screens down,” McClay said.
Defense was the focus on the middle rounds, with Notre Dame linebacker Marist Liufau in the third round at 87th overall. Dallas waited 86 picks before getting cornerback Caelen Carson of Wake Forest at No. 174 overall in the fifth round.
Southeast Missouri State receiver Ryan Flournoy went in the sixth round, and 6-3, 346-pound defensive tackle Justin Rogers of Auburn was the final Dallas pick in the seventh round.
AP NFL: https://apnews.com/NFL
Dallas Cowboys head coach Mike McCarthy attends an NFL football news conference in Frisco, Texas, Friday, April 26, 2024. (AP Photo/Gareth Patterson)
Dallas Cowboys owner Jerry Jones, right, speaks at an NFL football news conference announcing first round draft pick Tyler Guyton, left, in Frisco, Texas, Friday, April 26, 2024. (AP Photo/Gareth Patterson)
TORONTO (AP) — Carlos Santana hit a tiebreaking home run in the fifth inning, Joe Ryan pitched a season-high seven innings and the Minnesota Twins won for the 16th time in 18 games by beating the Toronto Blue Jays 3-2 on Friday night.
Carlos Correa had two hits and scored twice as the Twins won for the ninth time in their past 13 games in Toronto.
Jose Miranda added an RBI single as the Twins, who successfully brought their lucky sausage across the Canadian border, extended their road winning streak to seven.
Santana was struck on the helmet by the sausage as he returned to the dugout following his home run.
“When you win, you have fun,” Santana said. “We have a great team, we’re playing good. We have to keep continuing to play and take it one day at a time, one game at a time. That’s why we’re playing good now.”
Ryan (2-2) allowed one run and six hits for his first victory in three starts. He struck out seven and did not give up a walk.
“Joe worked through their lineup really well and then got stronger, it looked like, in the sixth and seventh innings,” Twins manager Rocco Baldelli said.
Jhoan Duran worked the eighth and Griffin Jax pitched the ninth for his fifth save in seven chances.
Isiah Kiner-Falefa had three hits, including his second home run, but the Blue Jays lost for the sixth time in eight games. Toronto won at Philadelphia on Wednesday but the Blue Jays haven’t won back-to-back games since home wins over the Dodgers on April 28 and Kansas City on April 29.
Kiner-Falefa cut the deficit to one with an RBI single off Jax in the ninth but Ernie Clement stranded the tying run at third when his liner hit Jax and caromed to Santana at first base.
Santana’s leadoff homer against Blue Jays left-hander Yusei Kikuchi (2-3) gave the Twins at least one home run in 18 consecutive games in Toronto, extending the second-longest such streak in team history. Minnesota homered in 21 straight games at Kansas City between July 30, 1998 and Aug. 25, 2001.
Santana’s homer was his fifth.
“That was obviously one of the biggest swings of the game,” Baldelli said.
Santana has 14 home runs and 37 RBIs in 81 career games against Toronto.
“Good pitch to Santana but a better swing on it for the home run,” Blue Jays manager John Schneider said.
Kikuchi allowed two runs and four hits in a season-high eight innings and is winless in three starts.
“Overall, he was absolutely fantastic,” Schneider said. “Eight innings against a good lineup and he was on his game.”
TRAINER’S ROOM
Blue Jays OFs George Springer and Kevin Kiermaier were both held out of the starting lineup because of an illness. … Schneider said RHP Yimi García (back) was available Friday. García last pitched April 28.
UP NEXT
RHP Kevin Gausman (2-3, 3.78 ERA) starts for Toronto on Saturday against Twins RHP Simeon Woods Richardson (1-0, 1.74). Gausman has a 6.35 ERA in 11 career games against Minnesota.
This story has been changed to correct the number of hits allowed by Ryan to six.
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Minnesota Twins' Max Kepler gestures after his RBI single against the Toronto Blue Jays during the ninth inning of a baseball game Friday, May 10, 2024, in Toronto. (Cole Burtson/The Canadian Press via AP)
Minnesota Twins pitcher Jhoan Duran reacts after the eighth inning of the team's baseball game against the Toronto Blue Jays on Friday, May 10, 2024, in Toronto. (Cole Burtson/The Canadian Press via AP)
Minnesota Twins' Max Kepler watches his RBI single against the Toronto Blue Jays during the ninth inning of a baseball game Friday, May 10, 2024, in Toronto. (Cole Burtson/The Canadian Press via AP)
Toronto Blue Jays' Isiah Kiner-Falefa (7) strikes out in the seventh inning of the team's baseball game against the Minnesota Twins on Friday, May 10, 2024, in Toronto. (Cole Burtson/The Canadian Press via AP)
Minnesota Twins pitcher Jhoan Duran (59) reacts after the eighth inning of the team's baseball game against the Toronto Blue Jays on Friday, May 10, 2024, in Toronto. (Cole Burtson/The Canadian Press via AP)
Minnesota Twins pitcher Griffin Jax point to an umpire during the ninth inning of the team's baseball game against the Toronto Blue Jays on Friday, May 10, 2024, in Toronto. (Cole Burtson/The Canadian Press via AP)
Minnesota Twins shortstop Carlos Correa celebrates the team's win against the Toronto Blue Jays in a baseball game Friday, May 10, 2024, in Toronto. (Cole Burtson/The Canadian Press via AP)
Minnesota Twins shortstop Carlos Correa throws to first for the out on Toronto Blue Jays' Vladimir Guerrero Jr. during the eighth inning of a baseball game Friday, May 10, 2024, in Toronto. (Cole Burtson/The Canadian Press via AP)
Toronto Blue Jays catcher Danny Jansen (9) and pitcher Yusei Kikuchi (16) meet on the mound during the fourth inning of the team's baseball game against the Minnesota Twins on Friday, May 10, 2024, in Toronto. (Cole Burtson/The Canadian Press via AP)
Minnesota Twins catcher Christian Vazquez (8) and shortstop Carlos Correa (4) lie in front of the team as players pose for a photo to celebrate their win against the Toronto Blue Jays in a baseball game Friday, May 10, 2024, in Toronto. (Cole Burtson/The Canadian Press via AP)
Canadian cricket team captain Saad Bin Zafar waves as he's flanked by teammates Nicholas Kirton, left, and Jeremy Gordon after throwing out the ceremonial first pitch, before the Toronto Blue Jays' baseball game against the Minnesota Twins in Toronto on Friday, May 10, 2024. (Cole Burston/The Canadian Press via AP)
Canadian cricket team captain Saad Bin Zafar leads teammates Nicholas Kirton, middle, and Jeremy Gordon, right, to the mound ahead of throwing out the ceremonial first pitch at the Toronto Blue Jays' baseeball game against the Minnesota Twins in Toronto on Friday, May 10, 2024. (Cole Burston/The Canadian Press via AP)
Minnesota Twins' Manuel Margot (13) reacts after striking out against the Toronto Blue Jays during the fourth inning of a baseball game Friday, May 10, 2024, in Toronto. (Cole Burtson/The Canadian Press via AP)
Toronto Blue Jays pitcher Yusei Kikuchi throws to a Minnesota Twins batter during the first inning of a baseball game Friday, May 10, 2024, in Toronto. (Cole Burtson/The Canadian Press via AP)
Minnesota Twins pitcher Joe Ryan throws to a Toronto Blue Jays batter during the first inning of a baseball game Friday, May 10, 2024, in Toronto. (Cole Burtson/The Canadian Press via AP)
Minnesota Twins' Willi Castro reaches third base on an RBI single by Jose Miranda against the Toronto Blue Jays during the first inning of a baseball game Friday, May 10, 2024, in Toronto. (Cole Burtson/The Canadian Press via AP)
Toronto Blue Jays pitcher Yusei Kikuchi prepares to take the mound for the team's baseball game against the Minnesota Twins on Friday, May 10, 2024, in Toronto. (Cole Burtson/The Canadian Press via AP)
Toronto Blue Jays' Isiah Kiner-Falefa (7) runs the bases after hitting a solo home run against the Minnesota Twins during the third inning of a baseball game Friday, May 10, 2024, in Toronto. (Cole Burtson/The Canadian Press via AP)
Minnesota Twins' Carlos Santana (30) watches his solo home run against the Toronto Blue Jays during the fifth inning of a baseball game Friday, May 10, 2024, in Toronto. (Cole Burtson/The Canadian Press via AP)
