After four seasons in Washington, Alfred Morris has signed a deal with the Dallas Cowboys, according to ESPN's Adam Schefter. It's a two-year deal, according to his agent. NFL Media's Ian Rapoport is reporting that deal is worth $3.5 million and could go up to $5.5 million.
Morris was selected by Washington in the sixth round of the 2012 NFL Draft, and he exploded on to the NFL scene in his rookie season. He finished the season with 1,613 rushing yards, a single-season team record, and 13 rushing touchdowns. Morris ran for 200 yards and three touchdowns against the Dallas Cowboys in Week 17 of the 2012 season, earning him NFC Player of the Week honors.
His productivity has declined with each passing season. In 2013, Morris finished the season with 1,275 rushing yards and seven touchdowns on 276 carries. He had his third consecutive 1,000-yard rushing season in 2014, finishing with 1,074 yards and eight touchdowns. Morris was named to the Pro Bowl following the 2013 and 2014 seasons.
In 2015, a contract year for Morris, he had the least productive season of his career. With just 202 carries, Morris contributed 751 rushing yards and just one touchdown to Washington's offensive efforts. Morris split carries with rookie Matt Jones, who finished the season with 490 yards and three touchdowns on 144 carries. Jones is also a threat in the passing game, adding 304 yards and a touchdown through the air.
Durability hasn't been an issue for Morris, who has never missed a game in four seasons. Fumbling isn't a concern, either. Morris hasn't fumbled the ball since 2014. His lack of production for a team with a stated goal of establishing a consistent ground attack, however, was enough reason for Washington to decide to move on from Morris.
Morris, 27, certainly has demonstrated the talent to succeed on the ground. Washington head coach Jay Gruden pointed to run blocking as a possible hindrance for Morris in 2015, and splitting carries with Jones didn't help. A fresh start may help Morris get back to form.
Morris will join and compete with Darren McFadden for the No. 1 running back spot on the Cowboys depth chart. McFadden, 28, ran for 1,089 yards and averaged 4.6 yards per carry last season while starting 10 games for Dallas.