Machota: Remembering the Cowboys’ 5 best, 5 worst free-agency signings of the last decade

Cotton

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By Jon Machota Apr 3, 2020

In roughly three weeks of free agency, the Cowboys’ most notable 2020 additions include defensive tackles Gerald McCoy and Dontari Poe, safety Ha Ha Clinton-Dix, suspended edge rusher Aldon Smith and kicker Greg Zuerlein. Their most notable losses: center Travis Frederick (retired), cornerback Byron Jones (Dolphins), defensive end Robert Quinn (Bears), wide receiver Randall Cobb (Texans) and defensive tackle Maliek Collins (Raiders).

To wrap up this portion of the offseason, we are taking a look back at some of the Cowboys’ best and worst free agency signings over the last decade.

Dallas certainly hasn’t spent big this time of year. The Cowboys’ most notable free agency move over the last decade was signing cornerback Brandon Carr to a five-year, $50 million deal in March of 2012. Carr started every game during those five seasons, finishing with seven interceptions and 45 passes defended. Some will be surprised to find out that Carr isn’t on either list. He was never a Pro Bowl player, but he was a solid starter and quality leader behind the scenes. He wasn’t one of the league’s elite corners, but he was a dependable starter for five seasons. Generally, that’s what free agency ends up being: overpaying for talent to fill roster holes. As Cowboys executive vice president Stephen Jones has said about free agency, teams pay average players like good players and good players like great players.

Sometimes, though, the value swings wider in one direction or the other. Let’s get started with Dallas’ five worst and five best free agency signings from 2010 to 2019.

5 WORST:

5.) Jasper Brinkley, LB.
The Cowboys signed him in 2015 to a two-year deal worth $6.2 million with $2 million guaranteed. The 2009 fifth-round pick joined the Cowboys after four seasons with the Vikings and one with the Cardinals. He started 11 games for Minnesota in 2014, recording 74 tackles. He started 15 games for the Vikings in 2012, finishing with a career-high 99 tackles. He never made any impact with the Cowboys. He was passed over on the depth chart during training camp and released before the 2015 season started. Brinkley played for the Giants in 2015, starting nine games in what ended up being his final NFL season. Other signings that haven’t given the Cowboys much, if anything, include pass rushers Kony Ealy and Damontre Moore and safety George Iloka. Brinkley gets the nod because the value of his deal was significantly greater than the others.

4.) Cedric Thornton, DT. The Cowboys signed him to a four-year, $18 million deal with $9 million guaranteed in March of 2016. Thornton played only one season in Dallas, never starting a game and finishing with 1.5 sacks and four tackles for loss. Henry Melton was another defensive tackle in consideration for this list, but his deal was structured in a way that allowed the Cowboys to get out after one year. And in that one season (2014), Melton only started three games, but he was second on the team in sacks with five.

3.) Nolan Carroll, CB. He was signed in 2017 to fill a starting role with the departures of veteran corners Carr and Morris Claiborne. Carroll’s deal was for three years, $10 million with $4 million guaranteed. He ended up not even playing two full games before he was released. Two months after signing with Dallas, Carroll was arrested on suspicion of driving while intoxicated. Carroll started 16 games for the Eagles in 2016 and 11 in 2015. He has not played in the NFL since his release from the Cowboys.

2.) Nate Livings, OG. During the same 2012 offseason that the Cowboys signed Carr, they added Livings on a five-year deal worth $19 million with $6.2 million guaranteed. At the time, Dallas was in the early stages of remaking their aging offensive line. They had drafted Tyron Smith the year before to be their starting left tackle. The hope was that Livings could be the starter next to him at left guard. That plan worked for only one season. Livings was released the following year after having knee surgery.

1.) Greg Hardy, DE. The 2015 contract he signed with the Cowboys was only a one-year deal, but it was worth up to $13 million. He earned closer to $9 million after playing in 12 games and recording six sacks and 20 QB hits. The statistics don’t look bad, but considering his innumerable off-field concerns, signing Hardy was a mistake. He was suspended the first four games of the season for violating the NFL’s personal conduct policy by using physical force against his former girlfriend. While with the Cowboys, Hardy was a distraction. Some of the more memorable moments came when he made questionable comments about Tom Brady’s wife before the Cowboys played the Patriots in his first game back. Later in the season, he slapped a clipboard out of a coach’s hand during a sideline argument. Jason Garrett had to meet with Hardy on several occasions during the 2015 season to address his conduct. Hardy has not played in the NFL since.

5 BEST:

5.) Joe Looney, C.
The Cowboys first signed the veteran center to a two-year, $1.6 million deal in 2016. They re-signed him to another two-year deal ($2.1 million) in 2018. This offseason, they brought Looney back on a one-year, $2.4 million contract with $1 million guaranteed. Looney has been a solid backup on the interior of the offensive line, most notably filling in for Frederick for the entire 2018 season. Looney has played in every game for Dallas over the last four seasons. Players like George Selvie and Laurent Robinson could be also considered for this list, but they were not included in this exercise because they weren’t signed at this time of year. Selvie (seven sacks in 2013) was added for training camp depth in July of 2013. Robinson (54 catches, 858 yards, 11 TDs in 2011) was signed in September of 2011 after being released by the Chargers at the end of their training camp.

4.) Nick Hayden, DT. He signed a two-year, $1.36 million contract with the Cowboys in February of 2013. Over the next three seasons, he started all but one game as the one-technique defensive tackle in Rod Marinelli’s defensive system. Hayden didn’t put up huge numbers (no sacks, nine tackles for loss, seven QB hits), but he was a solid contributor for three years, including on the 2014 team that ended up being one of Dallas’ best of the decade.

3.) Randall Cobb, WR. Cobb was so good for Dallas in his one season that he recently signed a three-year, $27 million contract with the Texans. Cobb signed with the Cowboys last year for one-year, $5 million. The 29-year-old played in 15 games, starting six as Dallas’ No. 3 wide receiver. He finished fourth on the team in receptions (55), third in receiving yards (828) and tied for fourth in touchdown catches (3).

2.) Darren McFadden, RB. The Cowboys went into the 2015 season without DeMarco Murray, who had signed a five-year, $40 million deal with the Eagles. Dallas decided to use a committee approach with McFadden and Joseph Randle looking to get the bulk of the carries. The Cowboys only won four games as Tony Romo missed 12 starts because of injury. But McFadden still managed to finish fourth in the league in rushing with 1,089 yards on 239 carries. Not bad for a two-year, $3 million investment.

1.) Jeremy Mincey, DE. The majority of the Cowboys’ significant investments have been spent on the offense throughout the last decade. That was certainly the case in 2014 when Dallas won 12 games with a defense led by Mincey, Carr, Rolando McClain, Tyrone Crawford, Anthony Hitchens and Barry Church. With DeMarcus Ware no longer on the roster, Mincey stepped in as a defensive captain, leading the team with six sacks and 39 QB pressures. He also had a sack in each of the Cowboys’ two playoff games that season. Mincey didn’t come close to that production the following year, but it was still an excellent free agency addition for two years at $3 million.
 

Stasheroo

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By Jon Machota Apr 3, 2020

In roughly three weeks of free agency, the Cowboys’ most notable 2020 additions include defensive tackles Gerald McCoy and Dontari Poe, safety Ha Ha Clinton-Dix, suspended edge rusher Aldon Smith and kicker Greg Zuerlein. Their most notable losses: center Travis Frederick (retired), cornerback Byron Jones (Dolphins), defensive end Robert Quinn (Bears), wide receiver Randall Cobb (Texans) and defensive tackle Maliek Collins (Raiders).

To wrap up this portion of the offseason, we are taking a look back at some of the Cowboys’ best and worst free agency signings over the last decade.

Dallas certainly hasn’t spent big this time of year. The Cowboys’ most notable free agency move over the last decade was signing cornerback Brandon Carr to a five-year, $50 million deal in March of 2012. Carr started every game during those five seasons, finishing with seven interceptions and 45 passes defended. Some will be surprised to find out that Carr isn’t on either list. He was never a Pro Bowl player, but he was a solid starter and quality leader behind the scenes. He wasn’t one of the league’s elite corners, but he was a dependable starter for five seasons. Generally, that’s what free agency ends up being: overpaying for talent to fill roster holes. As Cowboys executive vice president Stephen Jones has said about free agency, teams pay average players like good players and good players like great players.

Sometimes, though, the value swings wider in one direction or the other. Let’s get started with Dallas’ five worst and five best free agency signings from 2010 to 2019.

5 WORST:

5.) Jasper Brinkley, LB.
The Cowboys signed him in 2015 to a two-year deal worth $6.2 million with $2 million guaranteed. The 2009 fifth-round pick joined the Cowboys after four seasons with the Vikings and one with the Cardinals. He started 11 games for Minnesota in 2014, recording 74 tackles. He started 15 games for the Vikings in 2012, finishing with a career-high 99 tackles. He never made any impact with the Cowboys. He was passed over on the depth chart during training camp and released before the 2015 season started. Brinkley played for the Giants in 2015, starting nine games in what ended up being his final NFL season. Other signings that haven’t given the Cowboys much, if anything, include pass rushers Kony Ealy and Damontre Moore and safety George Iloka. Brinkley gets the nod because the value of his deal was significantly greater than the others.

4.) Cedric Thornton, DT. The Cowboys signed him to a four-year, $18 million deal with $9 million guaranteed in March of 2016. Thornton played only one season in Dallas, never starting a game and finishing with 1.5 sacks and four tackles for loss. Henry Melton was another defensive tackle in consideration for this list, but his deal was structured in a way that allowed the Cowboys to get out after one year. And in that one season (2014), Melton only started three games, but he was second on the team in sacks with five.

3.) Nolan Carroll, CB. He was signed in 2017 to fill a starting role with the departures of veteran corners Carr and Morris Claiborne. Carroll’s deal was for three years, $10 million with $4 million guaranteed. He ended up not even playing two full games before he was released. Two months after signing with Dallas, Carroll was arrested on suspicion of driving while intoxicated. Carroll started 16 games for the Eagles in 2016 and 11 in 2015. He has not played in the NFL since his release from the Cowboys.

2.) Nate Livings, OG. During the same 2012 offseason that the Cowboys signed Carr, they added Livings on a five-year deal worth $19 million with $6.2 million guaranteed. At the time, Dallas was in the early stages of remaking their aging offensive line. They had drafted Tyron Smith the year before to be their starting left tackle. The hope was that Livings could be the starter next to him at left guard. That plan worked for only one season. Livings was released the following year after having knee surgery.

1.) Greg Hardy, DE. The 2015 contract he signed with the Cowboys was only a one-year deal, but it was worth up to $13 million. He earned closer to $9 million after playing in 12 games and recording six sacks and 20 QB hits. The statistics don’t look bad, but considering his innumerable off-field concerns, signing Hardy was a mistake. He was suspended the first four games of the season for violating the NFL’s personal conduct policy by using physical force against his former girlfriend. While with the Cowboys, Hardy was a distraction. Some of the more memorable moments came when he made questionable comments about Tom Brady’s wife before the Cowboys played the Patriots in his first game back. Later in the season, he slapped a clipboard out of a coach’s hand during a sideline argument. Jason Garrett had to meet with Hardy on several occasions during the 2015 season to address his conduct. Hardy has not played in the NFL since.

5 BEST:

5.) Joe Looney, C.
The Cowboys first signed the veteran center to a two-year, $1.6 million deal in 2016. They re-signed him to another two-year deal ($2.1 million) in 2018. This offseason, they brought Looney back on a one-year, $2.4 million contract with $1 million guaranteed. Looney has been a solid backup on the interior of the offensive line, most notably filling in for Frederick for the entire 2018 season. Looney has played in every game for Dallas over the last four seasons. Players like George Selvie and Laurent Robinson could be also considered for this list, but they were not included in this exercise because they weren’t signed at this time of year. Selvie (seven sacks in 2013) was added for training camp depth in July of 2013. Robinson (54 catches, 858 yards, 11 TDs in 2011) was signed in September of 2011 after being released by the Chargers at the end of their training camp.

4.) Nick Hayden, DT. He signed a two-year, $1.36 million contract with the Cowboys in February of 2013. Over the next three seasons, he started all but one game as the one-technique defensive tackle in Rod Marinelli’s defensive system. Hayden didn’t put up huge numbers (no sacks, nine tackles for loss, seven QB hits), but he was a solid contributor for three years, including on the 2014 team that ended up being one of Dallas’ best of the decade.

3.) Randall Cobb, WR. Cobb was so good for Dallas in his one season that he recently signed a three-year, $27 million contract with the Texans. Cobb signed with the Cowboys last year for one-year, $5 million. The 29-year-old played in 15 games, starting six as Dallas’ No. 3 wide receiver. He finished fourth on the team in receptions (55), third in receiving yards (828) and tied for fourth in touchdown catches (3).

2.) Darren McFadden, RB. The Cowboys went into the 2015 season without DeMarco Murray, who had signed a five-year, $40 million deal with the Eagles. Dallas decided to use a committee approach with McFadden and Joseph Randle looking to get the bulk of the carries. The Cowboys only won four games as Tony Romo missed 12 starts because of injury. But McFadden still managed to finish fourth in the league in rushing with 1,089 yards on 239 carries. Not bad for a two-year, $3 million investment.

1.) Jeremy Mincey, DE. The majority of the Cowboys’ significant investments have been spent on the offense throughout the last decade. That was certainly the case in 2014 when Dallas won 12 games with a defense led by Mincey, Carr, Rolando McClain, Tyrone Crawford, Anthony Hitchens and Barry Church. With DeMarcus Ware no longer on the roster, Mincey stepped in as a defensive captain, leading the team with six sacks and 39 QB pressures. He also had a sack in each of the Cowboys’ two playoff games that season. Mincey didn’t come close to that production the following year, but it was still an excellent free agency addition for two years at $3 million.
Nick Hayden? Talk about scraping the bottom of the barrel! I would have put La'roi Golver on the Best list. Sure he cost a lot, but I thought he was a real difference maker for the Cowboys. A Pro Bowl player and leader in all four years in Dallas.

And Nolan Carroll and Cedric Thornton should top the Worst List.

Carroll cost the team $4 million and didn't even start two games! And he was effectively finished in the league after the Cowboys dumped him.

And Thornton cost $9 million and never started a single one!

Machota putting Hardy above both shows a clear bias against his signing, not a return on investment issue.

And what about Marco Rivera in terms of misses? Five years, $20 million, $9 million signing bonus. Hurt his back right after signing his deal and was never the same player.
 

jsmith6919

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Ah!

I missed that qualifier, thanks!

D'oh!
:drool
The best thing about the Glover signing is it made Spags eat crow, he was the first one Spags said "if he's so good why is he available" to a radio caller just a couple days before we signed him.
 

1bigfan13

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When Nick Hayden is on you list of best FA signings, you might want to reevaluate how you do things. :lol
That's pretty much what I was thinking as I was scanning this list.

Holy shit that's a terrible lest of "best" FA signings.
 

1bigfan13

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The best thing about the Glover signing is it made Spags eat crow, he was the first one Spags said "if he's so good why is he available" to a radio caller just a couple days before we signed him.
Ah, the old Spag's special.

~2012 Peyton Manning hits free agency~

Spagnola: "If he's so good, why is he available?"
 

Stasheroo

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The best thing about the Glover signing is it made Spags eat crow, he was the first one Spags said "if he's so good why is he available" to a radio caller just a couple days before we signed him.
Too bad Spags never learned his lesson. He said the same exact thing on hi 'going away episode' of Talkin' Cowboys just the other day. 20 years plus later and he still hasn't learned anything.
 

jsmith6919

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Too bad Spags never learned his lesson. He said the same exact thing on hi 'going away episode' of Talkin' Cowboys just the other day. 20
years plus later and he still hasn't learned anything.
Yeah that was back when The Ticket radio show was the official Cowboys one iirc, and after we signed Glover he had to keep hanging up on callers that brought it up after they got on air :lol
 

Stasheroo

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Yeah that was back when The Ticket radio show was the official Cowboys one iirc, and after we signed Glover he had to keep hanging up on callers that brought it up after they got on air :lol
And two decades later, Spagnola was doing a radio spot a few weeks ago and hit into it with the hosts. And he's hung up on them too. He's losing it and it's all coming crumbling down in him. He's now been exiled to 'his own' podcast so nobody has to listen to him. And they won't.
 

jsmith6919

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And two decades later, Spagnola was doing a radio spot a few weeks ago and hit into it with the hosts. And he's hung up on them too. He's losing it and it's all coming crumbling down in him. He's now been exiled to 'his own' podcast so nobody has to listen to him. And they won't.
I'm not sure but didn't Broaddus leave because they got into it one too many times with Spags spouting nonsense?
 

jsmith6919

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They got into it a lot, but Broaddus publicly denied that it was about Mickey. I still have my own doubts however.
Yeah I remember seeing him say that but they had got into more than usual the couple weeks preceding him leaving
 

Stasheroo

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Yeah I remember seeing him say that but they had got into more than usual the couple weeks preceding him leaving
I'm with you, I think getting away from Mickey was a factor in Broaddus leaving. They've shuffled the deck repeatedly with Talkin' Cowboys and it doesn't matter. Mickey doesn't get along with anybody. I'm very glad he's gone.
 

Genghis Khan

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I still laugh about his "City!" ad read when he was supposed read the actual name of the city (iow "Dallas").
 
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