The Dallas Cowboys drafted Ohio State running back Ezekiel Elliott with the No. 4 overall pick, hoping he can turn into a superstar for them right away. It's the highest a running back has been taken since the Browns took Trent Richardson with the No. 3 pick in 2012, but it will prove to be a smart pick. Here are three reasons why Elliott will thrive with the Cowboys:
3) Pure talent level
Before we get into the fit with the Cowboys, Elliott is going to be a very good NFL back for several years because of his tremendous skill set. An ideal combination of speed and power, Elliott has never been brought down by an arm tackle and was never caught from behind at the college level. His excellent vision allows him to find the hole, and he has the patience to find the perfect one. Plus, he's already an elite pass blocker and a superb receiver out of the backfield.
Quite frankly, he's the perfect all-around back who will excel in whatever position he's put in.
2) Pressure isn't on him to carry the offense
Dallas' offense won't be designed around Elliott, which is actually a good thing. Tony Romo still runs the show and Dez Bryant is still one of the best receivers in the league, and they'll continue to be the focal point of the offense. Elliott was brought in to bring pressure off of them. That will give him room to grow without it crippling the team, which will greatly help his development.
1) Dominant offensive line
Elliott was salivating throughout the pre-draft process at the opportunity to run behind this offensive line, and rightfully so. They're the best in the business and open holes you would be able to drive a truck through. They turned Darren McFadden into a 1,000-yard back and helped Joseph Randle look like a viable starting running back in the NFL.
Elliott is much, much more talented than either of those backs, and he'll be able to take advantage on his way to a monstrous year.
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