After spending his first four years in Washington, Morris was let go by the Redskins following the 2015 season, but he wanted to stay in the NFC East and signed with the rival Cowboys in March 2016. At the time, Dallas’s top running back was Darren McFadden, and Morris had reason to think that he would get plenty of playing time, but one month later, the team spent the No. 4 overall pick on Elliott.

AD

AD

The Cowboys have had little reason to question that decision, as Elliott immediately impressed as a rookie, leading the NFL in rushing and being named first-team all-pro. Meanwhile, Morris mostly languished on the bench, and Dallas came to view him as poorly suited to his role.

As described by the Star-Telegram’s Clarence E. Hill Jr., Morris is “not a good third-down option,” and he “needs carries to be effective and productive.” The 28-year-old’s waning effectiveness in Washington — his per-carry average dropped every season (4.8-4.6-4.1-3.7) — was a major reason he got released by the Redskins, and he averaged a mere 3.5 yards on 69 rushing attempts for the Cowboys last season.

Those numbers likely mean that Dallas will also have to release Morris, rather than find another team willing to give up a draft pick and pay his salary. However, the team has some time before it has to make that decision, so it makes sense to gauge the league’s interest.

The Cowboys want to bring back McFadden and Lance Dunbar, who offer more versatility than Morris, but both are unrestricted free agents. The Star-Telegram also reported that the team is “moving Rod Smith back to tailback from fullback.”