For the first time in his eight-year NFL career, Ezekiel Elliott served primarily as a backup last season.

He still appeared in all 17 games for the New England Patriots, rushing for 642 yards and three scores, while adding 313 receiving yards and two receiving touchdowns.

Elliott may no longer be the NFL rushing leader he was during his 2016 rookie season with the Dallas Cowboys, but he could still serve as a valuable pass blocker for a team looking to add to its running back depth.

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The veteran running back met Wednesday with the Cowboys about a possible deal for next season, according to NFL Network's Ian Rapoport and Tom Pelissero.

Elliott spent the first seven years of his career with the Cowboys, where he was named to three Pro Bowls while recording four seasons with more than 1,000 rushing yards.

After losing Tony Pollard to free agency, the Cowboys are looking to add depth to a depth chart currently led by Rico Dowdle. Although CEO Stephen Jones has previously indicated the team plans to address that need in the upcoming draft, per DallasCowboys.com's Patrik Walker, Elliott could still serve as a valuable depth piece behind the new rookie.

There's also Elliott's connection with Cowboys quarterback Dak Prescott, whom referred to the running back last season as "little brother, a best friend," per CBS Sports' Garrett Podell.

The New York Giants could be another candidate as a fit for Elliott after the team lost Saquon Barkley to free agency.

The Giants have a starting running back set to replace Barkley with Devin Singletary. ESPN's Bill Barnwell recently noted that the two could be a good fit together, writing that Elliott is "a more physical interior runner than Singletary and can help fill in as a pass-blocker."

That's not the only New York team that could serve as a match for Elliott. ESPN's Adam Schefter reported last year that the veteran running back was considering the New York Jets in free agency.

Robert Saleh said in March that the Jets' running back room is "not done yet," per The Athletic's Zack Rosenblatt. Elliott could provide a veteran presence in New York as the Jets work on further developing 22-year-old running back Breece Hall after a successful 2023 season.