Ezekiel Elliott isn't going anywhere.
While speaking to reporters Wednesday, Cowboys executive vice president Stephen Jones confirmed the team has every intention of picking up the running back's fifth-year option.
"Obviously we’re gonna do it," Jones said, via the Dallas Morning News.
This move would increase Elliott's salary to $9.09 million in 2020, barring a new contract agreement before July 15 next year.
Elliott, who has twice led the NFL in rushing yards in 2016 and '18, has rushed for 4,048 yards and 28 touchdowns in three seasons with the Cowboys since being selected fourth overall in 2016.
Another star player due for a big payday is fourth-year quarterback Dak Prescott, who is up for free agency after the 2019 season. While Seahawks quarterback Russell Wilson secured the richest extension in NFL history by inking a new four-year contract worth $140 million this week, Jones insists the move will have no influence on Dallas' discussions with Prescott.
"I don’t feel any pressure to rush the situation," Jones told the Dallas Morning News, adding Wilson's record-breaking deal doesn't give the team a sense of urgency to get their own deal done.
"(Wilson's) won a Super Bowl. He has success year in and year out. The guy deserves to be paid at the top of the market."
Given the Cowboys' mid-season trade with the Raiders for wide receiver Amari Cooper — also a candidate for a new deal — Dallas will sit out the opening day of the NFL Draft next Thursday.
The team's first pick will come Friday in the second round with the 58th overall selection.
"I don’t think there is any buyers remorse there," Jones said Tuesday, via the Fort Worth Star-Telegram. "I think we are really pleased we made that move. But as Jerry said it’s painful to go through a draft without a No. 1 pick. We have looked at each other before and said we would never do that again.
"But certainly, after we have gone through the receivers and looked at that, I think we are very happy with where we have ended up in terms of what we could get at our pick, in terms of a receiver or any other player in terms of what we ended up with with Amari."