The Buffalo Bills finally discovered a potent rushing companion for quarterback Josh Allen in 2023 when they signed second-year running back James Cook. Cook had been hunting for one for several seasons.
Cook led an enhanced rushing approach that relieved pressure on the passing game, becoming the first Bills running back to surpass 1,000 yards since LeSean McCoy. However, the Bills also had trouble finding a dependable quarterback in Cook, suffering from a number of serious injuries and uneven play in the power rush game, which made the club continue to rely mostly on Allen when it came to short yardage situations.
In an attempt to give their running game a fresh perspective, the Bills are reportedly seeking former division opponent Ezekiel Elliott, a running back for the New England Patriots and Dallas Cowboys.
Bills’ Ideal Fit Could Be a Veteran Back
The sports director of Buffalo’s WKBW, Matt Bove, stated that Elliott is the only free-agent running back that the Bills should consider this summer. He pointed out that the 28-year-old would probably be able to contribute the power-rushing element they were lacking while still fitting within their strict budget.
Bove stated, “I genuinely believe Ezekiel Elliott makes sense for the Buffalo Bills.” “I believe that as soon as you hear his name, you ask yourself, ‘Why would the Bills spend so much money on a running back who is past his prime?’ He won’t put a significant financial strain on you. I believe it would just need $2–$3 million a year to get Ezekiel Elliott.
Elliott, according to Bove, would be a formidable opponent for the smaller Cook, who replaced Devin Singletary as the starting running back following his departure via free agency in the previous summer.
“I really like the combination there when you think about how he could pair with James Cook,” Bove remarked. “Ezekiel Elliott is an excellent pass protector and a true expert in scenarios with little yards. Before Damien Harris was hurt last year, that’s what they were expecting to obtain.
Elliott scored two touchdowns last season while rushing for 642 yards on a career-low 3.5 yards per carry, suggesting that his days as the starting running back are over. Despite the decline in output, he was still a potent dual-threat back, with 51 catches for 313 yards and two receiving scores.
Bills Examining Backfield Modifications
The free agency of Ty Johnson, Latavius Murray, and Harris, along with other running backs, creates some uncertainty for the Bills at running back in 2024. Joe Tansey of Bleacher Report projected that the Bills will attempt to re-sign Johnson, who began the season on the practice squad but rose to the position of backup running back following Harris’s season-ending injury.
Tansey stated, “Of the three backup running backs, Johnson would be the primary candidate to keep around.” “Johnson was more productive than Harris in 2023, is seven years younger than Murray, and played a major role in Buffalo’s crucial games in the second half of the 2023 season.”
Johnson added seven receptions for 42 yards and a receiving touchdown to his 30 carries for 132 yards. In light of the impending NFL Draft, Tansey said the Bills may select a different running back in the late rounds.