DALLAS — For most teams, free agency is about to begin when legal tampering kicks off on March 11. While most of the league is trying to improve, the Dallas Cowboys appear to be more comfortable sitting back once again and saving their salary cap dollars.
No, the first week of free agency isn’t for the Cowboys, it’s for the teams who are truly going all-in on trying to win a Super Bowl. Jerry and Stephen Jones prefer to watch the well dry up before they pick at the leftovers. That assures that the organization doesn’t overpay for players who haven’t helped them win any games, as they dole out their dollars to players from the org seeking extensions.
When the Cowboys do get active, it’s mostly for veterans who come in on short, cheap deals that rarely exceed $5 million annually. The team uses free agency to patch up their holes with viable depth so they can draft the best player available in April. It’s a sound philosophy for long term roster building but isn’t exactly thrilling for a franchise that had been expected to show some urgency this year.
Here are some of the possible targets for the Cowboys in free agency with their modest budget in mind:
Linebacker Eric Kendricks
The Cowboys have major holes to fill at linebacker, especially after playing with just one true LB at the position last season. New defensive coordinator Mike Zimmer has already mentioned how his unit needs to get bigger bodies in the middle and Kendricks would be a perfect fit.
One issue for Kendricks to the Cowboys was cleared when the Los Angeles Chargers released the veteran LB after just one year.
Kendricks spent seven years with the Minnesota Vikings when Zimmer was the head coach and was one of the most productive LBs in the league during that time. Under Zimmer, the veteran had an All-Pro season in 2019 and six career 100 tackles seasons. Kendricks does a little bit of everything; he has nine career interceptions and 18.5 sacks in his nine seasons in the league.
At 32 years old, Kendricks isn’t the same player he was with the Vikings, but he knows Zimmers’ defensive system and is still productive. The cost shouldn’t be too high, and it feels like a solid match.
Linebacker Azeez Al-Shaair
Adding one LB won’t be enough for Dallas, so if they want to build the position back up, Al-Shaair would be another good fit. The sixth-year LB is younger than Kendricks and is coming off his best season with a career-high 163 tackles for the Tennessee Titans, good for fifth best in the league.
Al-Shaair also has considerably less wear and tear on his body, only playing the majority of snaps in two seasons. In the years where he’s started at least 13 games, Al-Shaair has surpassed 100 tackles, proving that he can produce when given a larger role. He’s better against the run than playing in coverage, but the Cowboys have a need for a run-stuffing LB.
If the Cowboys go younger at LB, or opt to add multiple LBs this offseason, Al-Shaair makes sense. He won’t break the bank and would give Zimmer’s defense a solid option to help rebuild the position.
Defensive tackle Tim Settle
If the Cowboys are going to improve against the run, they need big bodies in the middle, and Settle fits the bill. The veteran DT can eat up double-teams and could be an upgrade from former starter Johnathan Hankins at five years younger.
Settle was a fifth-round pick of the Washington Commanders in 2018, before catching on with the Buffalo Bills, where he became a valuable rotational DT. He doesn’t offer much as a pass rusher, but he can help one of the biggest weaknesses with the Dallas defense in the last few years, slowing down opposing rushing attacks.
There are better options out there for the Cowboys, but Settle’s price tag and ability to plug the middle would be welcomed.
Defensive tackle Sebastian Joseph-Day
Dallas could use some interior defensive linemen to help plug the run, but they also need someone who can make the opposing offense worry about pressure up the middle. The Dallas DTs last year combined for just eight sacks, which isn’t enough.
Joseph-Day offers some pass rush with 11 career sacks in five seasons. It’s not a high number, but he has three years where he’s had at least two sacks. Only one current Cowboys tackle has two or more sacks in a season, Osa Odighizuwa.
The veteran DT will be 29 years old when the 2024 season begins and he can be a valuable rotational piece in the middle who can help against the run and push the pocket after finishing last season with the NFC Champion San Francisco 49ers.
Running back Zack Moss
The Cowboys only have three running backs currently signed, and none of them have more than 38 career carries. For a team that prides itself on having a good running game with a star in the backfield, this is clearly a position in transition.
Deuce Vaughn, Hunter Luepke, and Malik Davis are the RBs on the roster, as last year’s top two rushers are free agents. The Cowboys have interest in bringing back Tony Pollard, and the veteran RB could be eyeing a return as well, even taking less money to stay, but there’s no guarantee that a reunion will happen.
If Dallas moves on, Moss would be a good option. Moss is a former third-round pick of the Buffalo Bills and didn’t see significant playing time until last year with the Indianapolis Colts.
With ample opportunity, Moss played well, posting career-highs in rushing yards and touchdowns. Moss has averaged 4.6 yards per carry over the last two years and fits in well with a backfield where he doesn’t need to be a workhorse.
The Cowboys could sign Moss to a modest deal while also drafting another RB to compete for their touches with the remaining options on the roster.
Wide receiver Kendrick Bourne
The Cowboys will likely move on from wide receiver Michael Gallup this offseason, which opens a spot at the position. The team routinely finds a veteran option at WR each offseason to fill the void and add experience.
Bourne has had a few down years, but he did have seasons where he caught 49 and 55 passes in back-to-back years when he had decent quarterback play. In 2020, Bourne had 667 yards receiving, which he followed up with a career year in 2021, when he had 800 receiving yards and five scores
Even with Brandin Cooks still in the fold, Bourne brings a big play element and has the speed to threaten defenses. He also adds experience as a returner and can line up in the backfield as a runner.
The offense does have a similar player on Kavontae Turpin, but Bourne is a much bigger version and has produced at a higher level.
Which player do you most want to see the Cowboys pursue in free agency? Share your thoughts with Ben on Twitter @BenGrimaldi.
