Cowboys in free agency: 10 players to consider at WR, LB and other areas of need
By
Jon Machota
2h ago
If you’ve been following the
Cowboys for at least the last five years, you understand this time of year isn’t all that exciting in Dallas.
The Cowboys’ current draft-and-develop plan is expected to continue on a similar path when the
NFL’s
free agency negotiation period begins Monday at 11 a.m. CT. Players then can begin officially signing on Wednesday at 3 p.m. CT. Dallas will attempt to re-sign several of its own unrestricted free agents and then fill some other holes so they aren’t forced to
draft a certain position next month.
As a quick refresher, here are some of the Cowboys’ most notable signings this time of year over the previous five seasons.
2022: DE Dante Fowler (one year, $3 million), WR
James Washington (one year, $1.2 million).
2021: LB
Keanu Neal (one year, $4 million), DE
Tarell Basham (two years, $5.5 million), S Jayron Kearse (one year, $1.1 million).
2020: DT Gerald McCoy (three years, $18.3 million), DT Dontari Poe (two years, $8.5 million), K Greg Zuerlein (three years, $7.5 million), S Ha Ha Clinton-Dix (one year, $3.75 million).
2019: WR
Randall Cobb (one year, $5 million), TE Jason Witten (one year, $4.25 million), DT
Christian Covington (one year, $2.5 million).
2018: WR Allen Hurns (two years, $12 million), WR Deonte Thompson (one year, $1.8 million), LB
Joe Thomas (two years, $3.6 million).
The Cowboys enter this week with 18 unrestricted free agents: TE
Dalton Schultz, LB Leighton Vander Esch, S Donovan Wilson, G Connor McGovern, QB
Cooper Rush, CB
Anthony Brown, DE Dante Fowler, WR
T.Y. Hilton, LB
Anthony Barr, DT
Johnathan Hankins, OT
Jason Peters, LB
Luke Gifford, WR
Noah Brown, DT
Carlos Watkins, DB
C.J. Goodwin, K Brett Maher, LS
Jake McQuaide, and LS
Matt Overton.
Of that group, Schultz, Vander Esch, Wilson and Brown made
The Athletic’s initial
top 150 free agents list. Running back
Tony Pollard was also listed, but he has since been given the franchise tag.
https://theathletic.com/4281818/2023/03/06/cowboys-tony-pollard-franchise-tag-dalton-schultz/
It’s difficult to envision the Cowboys making a bold move and signing one of the top players on that list. Whenever the subject of pursuing bigger players in free agency is mentioned, Dallas executive vice president Stephen Jones is usually quick to explain that the franchise’s main goal is to re-sign its own stars. Jones and company are hopeful of being able to re-sign standout players like WR
CeeDee Lamb, LB/DE
Micah Parsons and CB
Trevon Diggs in the near future as they approach the end of their rookie contracts.
But what if the Cowboys could find a way to accomplish that and be just a little more involved early in free agency? Maybe a scenario where they envision a piece or two being added to put the franchise over the top and finally get back to the Super Bowl?
Looking through the top 150 free agents, several players stood out at some positions of need. Some might be regarded as too expensive for Dallas, but let’s at least take a look at 10 unrestricted free agents who could make sense for the Cowboys.
https://theathletic.com/4299883/2023/03/13/nfl-free-agency-value-rankings/
LB Bobby Wagner
He’s No. 5 on the
updated list of best available players, so typically that would mean no chance for Dallas. But Wagner has ties with Cowboys defensive coordinator Dan Quinn from their time together in Seattle. Wagner’s most recent contract with the
Los Angeles Rams was for five years, $50 million. The Cowboys are unlikely to give him a deal that averages $10 million per season, especially with Wagner turning 33 in June. But maybe something could be worked out on a more team-friendly deal. Wagner has made first- or second-team All-Pro each of the last nine seasons.
CB Patrick Peterson
Another well-known defender who has been to eight Pro Bowls. Peterson, who turns 33 in July, started all 17 games for the
Minnesota Vikings last season. He intercepted five passes, which was one off the league lead. His contract last season was for one year, $4 million. The Cowboys need help at cornerback with Brown headed to free agency. They probably can address it as early as the
26th pick in the draft. They could also potentially go into next season with Diggs,
Jourdan Lewis and
DaRon Bland as their three starters.
WR Odell Beckham Jr.
Some are probably tired of hearing his name after nothing materialized between Beckham and the Cowboys a few months ago. He recently held a workout in front of several NFL teams. The Cowboys say they still have interest. Wide receiver remains arguably Dallas’ biggest position of need. The only way this doesn’t make sense is if the price tag is too high, which is certainly possible.
WR DJ Chark
He’s not Beckham, but he can produce like a No. 2 wide receiver. Injuries slowed him early last season in Detroit, but he finished strong with some big games during the final month of the season. Chark, 26, played last season on a one-year, $10 million deal. Alongside Lamb, he could be a 700- to 800-yard receiver with five or six touchdowns. It’s not a great wide receiver draft class, so unless the Cowboys are going to make a trade, signing a player like Chark isn’t a bad idea.
WR Adam Thielen
The recently released pass catcher turns 33 in August. He’s no longer a 1,000-yard wide receiver, but he’s probably still capable of 700 yards and five or six touchdowns. He played in all 17 games last season, catching 70 passes for 716 yards and six touchdowns. Pairing him with Lamb and
Michael Gallup on the right one-year deal could make sense.
https://theathletic.com/4301225/2023/03/13/nfl-free-agency-best-available-players/
DE Arden Key
This all depends on what the Cowboys think of the possibilities for
Sam Williams in Year 2. If they believe he’s ready to make a much bigger impact, then there’s no need to put anyone else in his way. But if the Cowboys are looking to keep a similar rotation to last year, Key would be an intriguing player to fill Fowler’s role. Key, who turns 27 in May, has 11 sacks over the last two seasons.
Rashaan Evans had two sacks, two fumble recoveries and 159 tackles in 17 games last season. (Brett Davis / USA Today)
LB Rashaan Evans
The 2018 first-round pick started all 17 games for the
Atlanta Falcons last season, totaling a career-high 159 tackles and two sacks. If the Cowboys don’t re-sign Vander Esch, they have to do something else at linebacker. They feel good about
Damone Clark, but there are question marks everywhere else after him. Perhaps
Jabril Cox plays better the further removed he is from that November 2021 ACL injury. But the position needs to be addressed in free agency.
DT A’Shawn Robinson, DT
Another position that needs help. Hankins and Watkins are both headed to free agency. Bringing at least one back is a good idea. Robinson could also be the answer to helping shut down the run in the middle. The 6-4, 330-pound Fort Worth native suffered a torn meniscus in Week 11 last season but it’s not expected to affect his preparation for the upcoming season.
K Matt Gay
The Cowboys have been pretty clear this offseason about moving on from
Brett Maher. So what’s next at kicker? They have to have a better plan than last year entering training camp. Gay is regarded as the best at the position in this free-agent class. He was 31 of 32 on his extra points last season while also making 93 percent of his field-goal attempts, including 7 of 9 from 50 or more yards.
K Eddy Pineiro
Another potential option to handle Dallas’ kicking duties. Pineiro made 33 of 35 field-goal attempts last season for the
Carolina Panthers. He was 30 of 32 on extra points. He’s attempted only five field goals of 50-plus yards in his three seasons with the
Bears,
Jets and Panthers, but he has made all five. Some other free-agent kickers:
Greg Joseph,
Chase McLaughlin and
Riley Patterson.
