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By Jon Machota Jan 7, 2020
Despite nine of their 22 offensive and defensive starters heading into the 2020 offseason as unrestricted free agents, the Cowboys have a solid roster in place for new head coach Mike McCarthy.
The Cowboys aren’t expected to be major players in free agency, but they should have enough salary cap space to re-sign some of their own free agents and make a few other bargain additions. Dallas also has the 17th pick in April’s NFL Draft.
McCarthy will have a say in roster decisions. What sort of tweaks might he be looking to make?
To give you an idea of where the current roster stands, here is a position-by-position breakdown.
Quarterback: On paper, the Cowboys are technically without a quarterback for the upcoming season. Realistically, Dak Prescott isn’t going anywhere. Whether through a long-term contract extension that makes him the highest-paid player in team history or the franchise tag, Prescott will be wearing a Cowboys uniform in 2020. It’s likely that he was one of the first topics of discussion between McCarthy and Jerry Jones during the interview process. McCarthy’s experience working with QBs like Joe Montana, Brett Favre and Aaron Rodgers should provide confidence that he will be good for Prescott’s career. The backup spot is intriguing because the Cowboys could retain Cooper Rush or allow McCarthy to bring in someone he feels more comfortable with. Either way, the quarterback position should continue to be one of the team’s strengths well into the future.
“I’m sure he knows a lot about Dak, but not the ins and outs, what his likes and dislikes are, only what you see from the outside,” Brett Favre said about McCarthy Monday on SiriusXM NFL Radio. “I think when he really examines and studies Dak, Mike has his philosophy as far as offense is concerned, and I don’t think that’s going to change greatly. But I do think what he’ll do is try to incorporate what Dak feels very comfortable with, what he does better, in terms of maybe what Mike likes to call maybe is not exactly what’s great for Dak. And I go back to when Mike Holmgren and I first started working together, Mike called plays that Joe Montana and Steve Young ran very well that maybe I didn’t read as well or was very good at executing. And so he had to adjust. I think that’s exactly what Mike McCarthy will do with Dak. He’ll find a way to make it work for both.”
2020 contract status:
Dak Prescott: Unrestricted free agent.
Cooper Rush: Restricted free agent.
Running back: During McCarthy’s 13 seasons in Green Bay, his top running backs were Ahman Green at the end of his career, Ryan Grant and Eddie Lacy. As Bob Sturm detailed, McCarthy leans on the passing game much more than the running game. With that being said, Ezekiel Elliott will be the best back he has coached. The most rushing yards a running back has accumulated in a season under McCarthy was 1,253 by Grant in 2009. Elliott has rushed for more than that in three of his first four NFL seasons. Combine the league’s two-time rushing champ with Tony Pollard’s upside in both the running and passing game, and McCarthy has a lot to work. The Cowboys didn’t have as much success in the screen game last season as they did in previous years. It’ll be interesting to see if McCarthy can get that back on track.
“At Mike’s core, he does want to run the football,” Troy Aikman said Tuesday morning on 1310 The Ticket (KTCK-AM). “When you have Aaron Rodgers, then you do tend to build everything around that guy a little bit more. Some people complained about how much they threw the ball, but I know at his core, he wants to run the football. When he took over there in Green Bay, Brett Favre was coming off some tough years, and they started running the football, took a lot of the pressure off of him as he was aging and it helped him. He had some of his best years under Mike there towards the end.”
2020 contract status:
Ezekiel Elliott: Under contract.
Tony Pollard: Under contract.
Jamize Olawale, FB: Under contract (team option).
Wide receiver: Much like Dak Prescott, Amari Cooper is expected to be back despite his current contract situation. The Cowboys are adamant that they didn’t trade a first-round pick to get only a season and a half of Cooper. The three-time Pro Bowler struggled down the stretch, but a new coach and some tweaks to the offense could be good for the former top-five pick. Randall Cobb is in an interesting situation because he was drafted by McCarthy and spent eight seasons being coached by him. Cobb had a good season for the Cowboys, and it’s very possible they want him back. If Cobb doesn’t return, look for the Cowboys to add a slot receiver in free agency or the draft. McCarthy’s offenses have a history of spreading the ball around in the passing game. Michael Gallup had a very strong second season, and there’s no reason to think he won’t continue to grow in the new offense.
2020 contract status:
Amari Cooper: Unrestricted free agent.
Randall Cobb: Unrestricted free agent.
Tavon Austin: Unrestricted free agent.
Michael Gallup: Under contract.
Cedrick Wilson: Under contract.
Devin Smith: Under contract.
Noah Brown: Under contract.
Ventell Bryant: Under contract.
Jon’Vea Johnson: Under contract.
Tight end: This position is the biggest question mark on the offensive side of the ball. Will Jason Witten return for a 17th season? His numbers have been pretty similar over his last four years as Dallas’ No. 1 tight end. If he decides to step away, the Cowboys need to address the position in free agency or the draft. Blake Jarwin will likely see a larger workload regardless, but they’ll need another pass-catching option if Witten is no longer on the roster. Had Witten not returned last year, tight end was expected to be one of Dallas’ top draft needs. The Packers signed Jimmy Graham to a three-year, $30 million deal in free agency heading into McCarthy’s final season in Green Bay. That ended up not working out. Don’t look for the Cowboys to spend significantly on the position in free agency.
2020 contract status:
Jason Witten: Unrestricted free agent.
Blake Jarwin: Restricted free agent.
Dalton Schultz: Under contract.
Offensive line: This should be one of the NFL’s best offensive lines in 2020, but it will be interesting to monitor who will be coaching the group. The Cowboys were pleased with the job Marc Colombo has done since taking over. Will McCarthy keep Colombo or bring in his own offensive line coach? Regardless of the talent, the coach matters. The group was very successful under Bill Callahan and Frank Pollack but dropped off when they switched to Paul Alexander to start the 2018 season. Four of the five starting spots are expected to remain the same, but left guard could come down to a battle between Connor Williams and Connor McGovern. Williams has battled knee injuries during his first two seasons. McGovern essentially redshirted last year because of a pectoral injury. Joe Looney is the most notable free agent of the position group. He’d be worth keeping for the right price. Looney has proved to be a solid veteran backup at center and both guard spots.
2020 contract status:
Joe Looney, C/G: Unrestricted free agent.
Xavier Su’a-Filo, G: Unrestricted free agent.
Adam Redmond, C/G: Exclusive rights free agent.
Cameron Fleming, T: Under contract (team option).
La’el Collins, RT: Under contract.
Zack Martin, RG: Under contract.
Travis Frederick, C: Under contract.
Connor Williams, LG: Under contract.
Tyron Smith, LT: Under contract.
Connor McGovern, G: Under contract.
Brandon Knight, T: Under contract.
Mitch Hyatt, T: Under contract.
Cody Wichmann, G: Under contract.
Special teams: 2019 was a bad year for the Cowboys’ special teams unit. Their coverage teams weren’t very good, they didn’t do much in the return game, Chris Jones had a down year and the kicking situation was an absolute disaster at times. Kai Forbath righted the ship late in the season, but there’s no guarantee Dallas sticks with him next season. This offseason could be a lot like 2011 when the Cowboys brought in multiple young kickers and eventually settled on Dan Bailey, who then remained their kicker for the next seven years. There’s no question that the special teams unit has to improve significantly if the Cowboys are going to be a serious playoff contender in 2020.
2020 contract status:
Kai Forbath, K: Unrestricted free agent.
L.P. Ladouceur, LS: Unrestricted free agent.
Chris Jones, P: Under contract.
Defensive line: On paper, the 2019 Cowboys defensive line should have been one of their best in recent memory. Instead, they ended up being one of the most disappointing. They only recorded 39 sacks, the exact same total they had in 2018 and good for 19th in the league this year. For some reason, the combination of DeMarcus Lawrence and Robert Quinn just never reached the dominant level many expected. The addition of Michael Bennett didn’t provide much of a spark. Maliek Collins was solid, but the defensive tackle position was also a disappointment. This is an important position group to watch over the next few months. Lawrence is a good piece to build around, but he’s going to need some help with several key guys hitting free agency. Quinn’s 11.5 sack season likely priced him out of Dallas’ range. Also, how will things change under a new defensive coordinator like Mike Nolan? Will the Cowboys put more value on upgrading at defensive tackle? Would Nolan blitz more than the Cowboys have in the past under Rod Marinelli?
2020 contract status:
Robert Quinn, DE: Unrestricted free agent.
Maliek Collins, DT: Unrestricted free agent.
Michael Bennett, DE/DT: Unrestricted free agent.
Kerry Hyder, DE: Unrestricted free agent.
Christian Covington, DT: Unrestricted free agent.
Antwaun Woods, DT: Exclusive rights free agent.
Daniel Ross, DT: Restricted free agent.
DeMarcus Lawrence, DE: Under contract.
Tyrone Crawford, DE/DT: Under contract.
Dorance Armstrong, DE: Under contract.
Trysten Hill, DT: Under contract.
Joe Jackson, DE: Under contract.
Jalen Jelks, DE: Under contract.
Linebacker: Jerry Jones made it clear after the season finale that he wants Sean Lee to remain on the roster. If Lee returns and Leighton Vander Esch makes a full recovery from his minor neck procedure, Dallas should have a very good linebacking corps. Then again, many thought that would be the case last season, and the group ended up being the most disappointing on the team. What would significantly change things is if Vander Esch continues to have neck issues. If that’s the case, the position group is in trouble, and they would likely need to address it with another high draft pick.
2020 contract status:
Sean Lee: Unrestricted free agent.
Joe Thomas: Unrestricted free agent.
Malcolm Smith: Unrestricted free agent.
Justin March: Unrestricted free agent.
Leighton Vander Esch: Under contract.
Jaylon Smith: Under contract.
Chris Covington: Under contract.
Luke Gifford: Under contract.
Defensive back: If Byron Jones can be re-signed on a somewhat team-friendly deal, the Cowboys need to bring him back. Despite not intercepting passes, he’s their best defensive back. If he’s looking to break the bank, Dallas should probably move on and make cornerback their top draft target. Baltimore cornerback Marcus Peters recently agreed to a three-year, $42 million extension — more affordable than expected. Even if Jones returns, the defensive back position needs to be upgraded. Will the new coaching staff put a greater value on safeties? If so, that will likely be addressed in the first few rounds of the upcoming draft.
2020 contract status:
Byron Jones, CB: Unrestricted free agent.
Anthony Brown, CB: Unrestricted free agent.
C.J. Goodwin, CB: Unrestricted free agent.
Deante Burton, CB: Restricted free agent.
Jeff Heath, S: Unrestricted free agent.
Kavon Frazier, S: Unrestricted free agent.
Darian Thompson, S: Unrestricted free agent.
Chidobe Awuzie, CB: Under contract.
Jourdan Lewis, CB: Under contract.
Donovan Olumba, CB: Under contract.
Chris Westry, CB: Under contract.
Xavier Woods, S: Under contract.
Donovan Wilson, S: Under contract.
Despite nine of their 22 offensive and defensive starters heading into the 2020 offseason as unrestricted free agents, the Cowboys have a solid roster in place for new head coach Mike McCarthy.
The Cowboys aren’t expected to be major players in free agency, but they should have enough salary cap space to re-sign some of their own free agents and make a few other bargain additions. Dallas also has the 17th pick in April’s NFL Draft.
McCarthy will have a say in roster decisions. What sort of tweaks might he be looking to make?
To give you an idea of where the current roster stands, here is a position-by-position breakdown.
Quarterback: On paper, the Cowboys are technically without a quarterback for the upcoming season. Realistically, Dak Prescott isn’t going anywhere. Whether through a long-term contract extension that makes him the highest-paid player in team history or the franchise tag, Prescott will be wearing a Cowboys uniform in 2020. It’s likely that he was one of the first topics of discussion between McCarthy and Jerry Jones during the interview process. McCarthy’s experience working with QBs like Joe Montana, Brett Favre and Aaron Rodgers should provide confidence that he will be good for Prescott’s career. The backup spot is intriguing because the Cowboys could retain Cooper Rush or allow McCarthy to bring in someone he feels more comfortable with. Either way, the quarterback position should continue to be one of the team’s strengths well into the future.
“I’m sure he knows a lot about Dak, but not the ins and outs, what his likes and dislikes are, only what you see from the outside,” Brett Favre said about McCarthy Monday on SiriusXM NFL Radio. “I think when he really examines and studies Dak, Mike has his philosophy as far as offense is concerned, and I don’t think that’s going to change greatly. But I do think what he’ll do is try to incorporate what Dak feels very comfortable with, what he does better, in terms of maybe what Mike likes to call maybe is not exactly what’s great for Dak. And I go back to when Mike Holmgren and I first started working together, Mike called plays that Joe Montana and Steve Young ran very well that maybe I didn’t read as well or was very good at executing. And so he had to adjust. I think that’s exactly what Mike McCarthy will do with Dak. He’ll find a way to make it work for both.”
2020 contract status:
Dak Prescott: Unrestricted free agent.
Cooper Rush: Restricted free agent.
Running back: During McCarthy’s 13 seasons in Green Bay, his top running backs were Ahman Green at the end of his career, Ryan Grant and Eddie Lacy. As Bob Sturm detailed, McCarthy leans on the passing game much more than the running game. With that being said, Ezekiel Elliott will be the best back he has coached. The most rushing yards a running back has accumulated in a season under McCarthy was 1,253 by Grant in 2009. Elliott has rushed for more than that in three of his first four NFL seasons. Combine the league’s two-time rushing champ with Tony Pollard’s upside in both the running and passing game, and McCarthy has a lot to work. The Cowboys didn’t have as much success in the screen game last season as they did in previous years. It’ll be interesting to see if McCarthy can get that back on track.
“At Mike’s core, he does want to run the football,” Troy Aikman said Tuesday morning on 1310 The Ticket (KTCK-AM). “When you have Aaron Rodgers, then you do tend to build everything around that guy a little bit more. Some people complained about how much they threw the ball, but I know at his core, he wants to run the football. When he took over there in Green Bay, Brett Favre was coming off some tough years, and they started running the football, took a lot of the pressure off of him as he was aging and it helped him. He had some of his best years under Mike there towards the end.”
2020 contract status:
Ezekiel Elliott: Under contract.
Tony Pollard: Under contract.
Jamize Olawale, FB: Under contract (team option).
Wide receiver: Much like Dak Prescott, Amari Cooper is expected to be back despite his current contract situation. The Cowboys are adamant that they didn’t trade a first-round pick to get only a season and a half of Cooper. The three-time Pro Bowler struggled down the stretch, but a new coach and some tweaks to the offense could be good for the former top-five pick. Randall Cobb is in an interesting situation because he was drafted by McCarthy and spent eight seasons being coached by him. Cobb had a good season for the Cowboys, and it’s very possible they want him back. If Cobb doesn’t return, look for the Cowboys to add a slot receiver in free agency or the draft. McCarthy’s offenses have a history of spreading the ball around in the passing game. Michael Gallup had a very strong second season, and there’s no reason to think he won’t continue to grow in the new offense.
2020 contract status:
Amari Cooper: Unrestricted free agent.
Randall Cobb: Unrestricted free agent.
Tavon Austin: Unrestricted free agent.
Michael Gallup: Under contract.
Cedrick Wilson: Under contract.
Devin Smith: Under contract.
Noah Brown: Under contract.
Ventell Bryant: Under contract.
Jon’Vea Johnson: Under contract.
Tight end: This position is the biggest question mark on the offensive side of the ball. Will Jason Witten return for a 17th season? His numbers have been pretty similar over his last four years as Dallas’ No. 1 tight end. If he decides to step away, the Cowboys need to address the position in free agency or the draft. Blake Jarwin will likely see a larger workload regardless, but they’ll need another pass-catching option if Witten is no longer on the roster. Had Witten not returned last year, tight end was expected to be one of Dallas’ top draft needs. The Packers signed Jimmy Graham to a three-year, $30 million deal in free agency heading into McCarthy’s final season in Green Bay. That ended up not working out. Don’t look for the Cowboys to spend significantly on the position in free agency.
2020 contract status:
Jason Witten: Unrestricted free agent.
Blake Jarwin: Restricted free agent.
Dalton Schultz: Under contract.
Offensive line: This should be one of the NFL’s best offensive lines in 2020, but it will be interesting to monitor who will be coaching the group. The Cowboys were pleased with the job Marc Colombo has done since taking over. Will McCarthy keep Colombo or bring in his own offensive line coach? Regardless of the talent, the coach matters. The group was very successful under Bill Callahan and Frank Pollack but dropped off when they switched to Paul Alexander to start the 2018 season. Four of the five starting spots are expected to remain the same, but left guard could come down to a battle between Connor Williams and Connor McGovern. Williams has battled knee injuries during his first two seasons. McGovern essentially redshirted last year because of a pectoral injury. Joe Looney is the most notable free agent of the position group. He’d be worth keeping for the right price. Looney has proved to be a solid veteran backup at center and both guard spots.
2020 contract status:
Joe Looney, C/G: Unrestricted free agent.
Xavier Su’a-Filo, G: Unrestricted free agent.
Adam Redmond, C/G: Exclusive rights free agent.
Cameron Fleming, T: Under contract (team option).
La’el Collins, RT: Under contract.
Zack Martin, RG: Under contract.
Travis Frederick, C: Under contract.
Connor Williams, LG: Under contract.
Tyron Smith, LT: Under contract.
Connor McGovern, G: Under contract.
Brandon Knight, T: Under contract.
Mitch Hyatt, T: Under contract.
Cody Wichmann, G: Under contract.
Special teams: 2019 was a bad year for the Cowboys’ special teams unit. Their coverage teams weren’t very good, they didn’t do much in the return game, Chris Jones had a down year and the kicking situation was an absolute disaster at times. Kai Forbath righted the ship late in the season, but there’s no guarantee Dallas sticks with him next season. This offseason could be a lot like 2011 when the Cowboys brought in multiple young kickers and eventually settled on Dan Bailey, who then remained their kicker for the next seven years. There’s no question that the special teams unit has to improve significantly if the Cowboys are going to be a serious playoff contender in 2020.
2020 contract status:
Kai Forbath, K: Unrestricted free agent.
L.P. Ladouceur, LS: Unrestricted free agent.
Chris Jones, P: Under contract.
Defensive line: On paper, the 2019 Cowboys defensive line should have been one of their best in recent memory. Instead, they ended up being one of the most disappointing. They only recorded 39 sacks, the exact same total they had in 2018 and good for 19th in the league this year. For some reason, the combination of DeMarcus Lawrence and Robert Quinn just never reached the dominant level many expected. The addition of Michael Bennett didn’t provide much of a spark. Maliek Collins was solid, but the defensive tackle position was also a disappointment. This is an important position group to watch over the next few months. Lawrence is a good piece to build around, but he’s going to need some help with several key guys hitting free agency. Quinn’s 11.5 sack season likely priced him out of Dallas’ range. Also, how will things change under a new defensive coordinator like Mike Nolan? Will the Cowboys put more value on upgrading at defensive tackle? Would Nolan blitz more than the Cowboys have in the past under Rod Marinelli?
2020 contract status:
Robert Quinn, DE: Unrestricted free agent.
Maliek Collins, DT: Unrestricted free agent.
Michael Bennett, DE/DT: Unrestricted free agent.
Kerry Hyder, DE: Unrestricted free agent.
Christian Covington, DT: Unrestricted free agent.
Antwaun Woods, DT: Exclusive rights free agent.
Daniel Ross, DT: Restricted free agent.
DeMarcus Lawrence, DE: Under contract.
Tyrone Crawford, DE/DT: Under contract.
Dorance Armstrong, DE: Under contract.
Trysten Hill, DT: Under contract.
Joe Jackson, DE: Under contract.
Jalen Jelks, DE: Under contract.
Linebacker: Jerry Jones made it clear after the season finale that he wants Sean Lee to remain on the roster. If Lee returns and Leighton Vander Esch makes a full recovery from his minor neck procedure, Dallas should have a very good linebacking corps. Then again, many thought that would be the case last season, and the group ended up being the most disappointing on the team. What would significantly change things is if Vander Esch continues to have neck issues. If that’s the case, the position group is in trouble, and they would likely need to address it with another high draft pick.
2020 contract status:
Sean Lee: Unrestricted free agent.
Joe Thomas: Unrestricted free agent.
Malcolm Smith: Unrestricted free agent.
Justin March: Unrestricted free agent.
Leighton Vander Esch: Under contract.
Jaylon Smith: Under contract.
Chris Covington: Under contract.
Luke Gifford: Under contract.
Defensive back: If Byron Jones can be re-signed on a somewhat team-friendly deal, the Cowboys need to bring him back. Despite not intercepting passes, he’s their best defensive back. If he’s looking to break the bank, Dallas should probably move on and make cornerback their top draft target. Baltimore cornerback Marcus Peters recently agreed to a three-year, $42 million extension — more affordable than expected. Even if Jones returns, the defensive back position needs to be upgraded. Will the new coaching staff put a greater value on safeties? If so, that will likely be addressed in the first few rounds of the upcoming draft.
2020 contract status:
Byron Jones, CB: Unrestricted free agent.
Anthony Brown, CB: Unrestricted free agent.
C.J. Goodwin, CB: Unrestricted free agent.
Deante Burton, CB: Restricted free agent.
Jeff Heath, S: Unrestricted free agent.
Kavon Frazier, S: Unrestricted free agent.
Darian Thompson, S: Unrestricted free agent.
Chidobe Awuzie, CB: Under contract.
Jourdan Lewis, CB: Under contract.
Donovan Olumba, CB: Under contract.
Chris Westry, CB: Under contract.
Xavier Woods, S: Under contract.
Donovan Wilson, S: Under contract.