When people ask when was Ezekiel Elliott drafted, the date is etched in Dallas Cowboys lore: April 28, 2016. It feels like a lifetime ago, doesn't it? Back then, the NFL landscape was completely different. Running backs were starting to be viewed as "disposable," yet the Cowboys decided to buck every trend by taking a ball carrier with a premium top-five pick.
Honestly, it was a massive gamble. Taking a running back at No. 4 overall is the kind of move that either makes a General Manager look like a genius or gets them fired.
For the Cowboys, it was about finding the missing piece to a puzzle that included a dominant offensive line and a veteran quarterback in Tony Romo. Little did they know that the 2016 draft wouldn't just bring them a star running back, but a total shift in franchise identity.
The Night Zeke Became a Cowboy
The 2016 NFL Draft was held at the Auditorium Theatre in Chicago. The atmosphere was electric. The Los Angeles Rams had already traded up to grab Jared Goff at number one, and the Philadelphia Eagles followed suit by taking Carson Wentz at number two. When the San Diego Chargers took Joey Bosa—Zeke’s college teammate—at three, all eyes turned to Jerry Jones.
The Dallas Cowboys were officially on the clock.
They had a lot of holes to fill coming off a disastrous 4-12 season. Many experts thought they’d go for a defensive playmaker like Jalen Ramsey. Instead, they went with the kid from Ohio State. Ezekiel Elliott was drafted in the first round with the 4th overall pick.
He walked across that stage wearing a light blue suit with a cropped dress shirt—the famous "crop top" look that signaled his arrival. He wasn't just a football player; he was a brand.
Why the 4th Overall Pick Was So Controversial
You've got to understand the "running back value" debate to appreciate how bold this was. Basically, the league was moving toward a pass-heavy approach. Most teams believed you could find a productive runner in the third or fourth round. Spending the 4th overall pick on a back was considered "old school" at best and "reckless" at worst.
But Zeke wasn't just any runner. At Ohio State, he was a monster. He had just finished a career where he rushed for nearly 4,000 yards in three seasons. His performance in the 2014 College Football Playoff was legendary. He put up 246 yards and four touchdowns against Oregon in the National Championship game.
The Cowboys didn't just see a runner; they saw a "three-down back." He could catch. He could block like a fullback. He could run over a linebacker and then outrun a cornerback.
Life Before the NFL: The Ohio State Years
Before we get into his pro career, it's worth looking at why his draft stock was so high. Elliott wasn't just a product of a good system. He was a freak athlete. In high school in Missouri, he won four state championships in track and field in a single afternoon. That kind of explosive speed in a 225-pound frame is what scouts dream about.
During his time with the Buckeyes, he became the engine of their offense.
- 2014 Season: 1,878 rushing yards and 18 touchdowns.
- 2015 Season: 1,821 rushing yards and 23 touchdowns.
He finished his college career second only to Archie Griffin in total rushing yards at Ohio State. That is some serious company. By the time he declared for the draft, everyone knew he was the best back in the class. The only question was how high someone would be willing to jump for him.
The Immediate Impact of the 2016 Draft
The 2016 season turned into a perfect storm. Tony Romo went down with a back injury in the preseason, thrusting another rookie, fourth-rounder Dak Prescott, into the spotlight. Suddenly, the two rookies were the faces of "America's Team."
✨ Don't miss: Broncos versus Chiefs Score: What Really Happened on Christmas Day
Zeke didn't just meet expectations; he shattered them.
In his rookie year, he led the entire NFL in rushing with 1,631 yards. He scored 15 touchdowns on the ground. He was a First-team All-Pro as a 21-year-old. The Cowboys went 13-3 and won the NFC East. For a moment, it looked like Jerry Jones had found the next Emmitt Smith.
The "Feed Zeke" celebration—where he’d mimic eating with a spoon after a first down—became a cultural phenomenon in Dallas. It was a golden era for Cowboys fans, fueled by a draft pick that many "smart" analysts said was a mistake.
Comparing the 2016 Class
When you look back at that draft, the talent was actually insane. Zeke was the first running back taken, but he wasn't the only star.
- Jalen Ramsey (5th pick): Went on to become arguably the best corner of his generation.
- Ronnie Stanley (6th pick): An elite left tackle for the Ravens.
- Derrick Henry (45th pick): The Titans waited until the second round to grab the other legendary back from this class.
The debate often circles back to whether Dallas should have taken Ramsey and then grabbed a back later. But honestly, Zeke's impact on those early Dak Prescott years was immeasurable. He took the pressure off a young quarterback and allowed the Cowboys to control the clock in a way few teams could.
The Longevity and the Legacy
Zeke's career has been a rollercoaster. He led the league in rushing again in 2018 with 1,434 yards. He signed a massive six-year, $90 million extension in 2019, which—looking back—is where things started to get complicated for the Cowboys' salary cap.
Running backs have a short shelf life. The heavy workload caught up to him. Between 2016 and 2022, he was the workhorse for Dallas, but the explosive "home run" speed started to fade. He eventually spent a year with the New England Patriots in 2023 before making a sentimental return to the Cowboys in 2024.
Even with the "decline" that people love to talk about, Zeke’s stats are top-tier. He’s racked up over 9,000 rushing yards and 70+ touchdowns. For a guy who was drafted nearly a decade ago, that’s incredible production at the most punishing position in sports.
Practical Takeaways for Fans and Collectors
If you're a sports fan or someone who follows draft history, there are a few things to keep in mind regarding the 2016 class:
- Rarity of the Top-5 RB: Since Zeke was taken at No. 4, we’ve seen fewer and fewer teams spend high picks on running backs. It makes his draft position a historical outlier.
- Memorabilia Value: Rookie cards and jerseys from the 2016 season remain some of the most sought-after for Cowboys collectors because of the 13-3 record and the Zeke-Dak connection.
- Draft Strategy Evolution: The "Zeke Era" in Dallas is often cited in front-office meetings today as both a success (immediate wins) and a cautionary tale (the difficulty of second contracts for RBs).
To really understand the impact of when Ezekiel Elliott was drafted, you can check out the official Pro Football Hall of Fame draft archives or dive into the Pro Football Reference stats for a deep look at his year-by-year production.
Looking at the full picture, the 2016 draft wasn't just a date on a calendar. It was the moment the Dallas Cowboys decided to go "all in" on a physical identity. Whether you think they should have drafted a defensive player or not, you can't deny that for a good five-year stretch, Zeke was the most feared runner in the game. He proved that under the right circumstances, a running back can still be the heart of a franchise.
Keep an eye on the upcoming 2026 scouting reports to see if any new prospects are drawing the same "three-down" comparisons that made Zeke a top-five lock. You might find the next game-changer before they even hit the stage.