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By Jon Machota 19m ago
With NFL free agency officially beginning on March 17, we have started to take a look at the unrestricted free agents on the Cowboys’ roster.
Earlier this week, we took a look at the eight players who fit into that category on offense and special teams. We will now break down the nine defenders.
As noted in the previous story, Dallas won’t be able to keep all of its own, so we shared our opinion on who should be retained and who it might be time to move on from. The Cowboys re-signed 11 of their own players last offseason. It’s unlikely that they will reach that number again this year, especially after having a defense that was one of the worst in franchise history.
Here’s a look at Dallas’ defensive free agents.
DT Eli Ankou
Decision: Move on.
Previous contract: two years, $1.4 million from the Browns. He was traded from the Texans to the Cowboys for a seventh-round pick in November.
The Cowboys need to get better at the defensive tackle position. Ankou played in seven games last season, totaling five tackles as a reserve behind Antwaun Woods and Neville Gallimore. The goal entering training camp was for Trysten Hill, Gerald McCoy and Dontari Poe to see most of the time at defensive tackle. But McCoy and Hill were both lost to season-ending injuries before Week 6. Poe was ineffective and released in late October. Woods and Gallimore are both expected to be part of the rotation along with a healthy Hill in 2021. But they need to find another starting-caliber player in free agency or the draft. McCoy returning could be a possibility. This year’s defensive tackle draft class isn’t considered to be a strong one.
CB Chidobe Awuzie
Decision: Move on.
Previous contract: four years, $4.3 million.
Awuzie became an immediate starter at outside cornerback after the Cowboys used a second-round pick on him in 2017. He ended up starting 42 of the 49 games he played in over the last four seasons. He intercepted four passes, forced two fumbles and had 37 passes defended. Awuzie was often in a solid defensive position, but he just didn’t make enough plays on the ball. It wouldn’t be a complete shock if he re-signed on a team-friendly deal, although it seems more likely that the Cowboys will look to find a starting cornerback in the first two or three rounds of the upcoming draft.
DL Tyrone Crawford
Decision: Move on.
Previous contract: five years, $45 million.
Crawford has played just about every position along the defensive line during his time in Dallas. He had his most productive seasons from 2014 to 2018, but injuries have limited him significantly the last two years. He appeared in all 16 games this past season, working as a rotational pass rusher, finishing with two sacks and four quarterback hits. While he could probably still contribute as a reserve edge rusher, it seems much more likely that the Cowboys and Crawford will part ways, with the 31-year old possibly retiring.
LB Sean Lee
Decision: Move on.
Previous contract: one year, $4.5 million.
A healthy Lee from a few years ago is exactly what this team needs on defense. However, at 34, there have just been too many injuries for him to consistently contribute at a high level. Lee said he planned to sit down with his family this offseason and determine if he would play another year. That’s a possibility, and Lee also could be retained as an assistant coach. But the Cowboys need to get younger and healthier at the linebacker position, and the best way to do that is through the draft. Look for that to potentially happen in the middle rounds, like they did in 2014 with Anthony Hitchens and 2015 with Damien Wilson.
CB Jourdan Lewis
Decision: Move on.
Previous contract: four years, $3.2 million.
Lewis started 26 games over the last four years with half of those coming in 2020. Lewis had four interceptions and 19 passes defended in 61 games. His greatest strength has been getting after the quarterback when asked to blitz, totaling six sacks and five quarterback hits. Like Awuzie, Lewis could be retained at the right price, but it seems more likely that the bulk of the Cowboys’ 2021 cornerback snaps will be played by Trevon Diggs, Anthony Brown, Maurice Canady, Reggie Robinson II and a player they draft in the first few rounds.
LB Justin March
Decision: Move on.
Previous contract: one year, $910,000.
March was strictly a special teams player in 2020, recording four tackles in 12 games. Special teams coordinator John Fassel could be in favor of keeping March, which probably wouldn’t cost the Cowboys much. Defensively, it doesn’t seem like March would be much of a factor if he returned.
DE Aldon Smith
Decision: Move on.
Previous contract: one year, $2 million.
Smith had a strong start to his first season back in the NFL, recording four sacks and six quarterback hits in the first three games. But he managed just eight QB hits and only one sack in the final 13 games. Although Smith can play either defensive end spot in a 4-3 scheme, he’s a better fit to play in a 3-4 defense. It’s possible he returns, but it’s more likely that Randy Gregory ends up being the starting right defensive end next season. Would Smith re-sign to be a reserve edge ruser? Possibly. However, a better bet is that he joins a team that uses a 3-4 scheme.
LB Joe Thomas
Decision: Move on.
Previous contract: one year, $1.2 million.
Thomas ended up seeing increased playing time last season because of Leighton Vander Esch’s injuries. Thomas started four of the 15 games he played in, tying for eighth on the team with 48 total tackles. Mike McCarthy has now coached Thomas in Green Bay and Dallas, so they have a connection. But there might not be much opportunity for Thomas if Dallas signs another free agent linebacker or uses a relatively high draft pick on the position.
S Xavier Woods
Decision: Move on.
Previous contract: four years, $2.6 million.
Woods has started all but four games over the last three seasons. He could return if his best option is a team-friendly deal with Dallas. But if there was ever a year for the Cowboys to make a significant investment at the free safety position, this would be it. New defensive coordinator Dan Quinn needs a single-high safety who can make plays in coverage. Woods didn’t have any interceptions last season in 15 starts. He had one pass defended.
