DALLAS — When it comes to adding free agents, it’s been a slow offseason for the Dallas Cowboys. Even with their normal frugal spending, the organization went to extremes this spring and barely entered the open market.
Upper management went to great lengths to detail the whys about their cap space issues and how it affected them from adding quality talent or extending any of their big priorities who are due new contracts. All that pie talk wore thin with Cowboys fans, but the team now has gained some cap relief. As of June 1st, there will be $9.5 million off the books due to the release of wide receiver Michael Gallup earlier in the year.
Dallas is now flush with cash to use on improving their current roster. Recouping Gallup’s money now gives the Cowboys a decent amount of cap space to work with at $12.3 million according to OverTheCap.com. The question now becomes whether or not they will be willing to spend.
One avenue that the team could traverse is using those extra dollars to bring in some veteran help. If the Cowboys were waiting until June to gain the money to sign some free agents, the time to act is now. There are some solid players still available who would make the roster better.
Here are some veterans who would make sense for the Cowboys with their newfound financial windfall:
Cornerback Stephon Gilmore
The team acquired the veteran cornerback last offseason via a trade and Gilmore played well in his only season in Dallas. Gilmore had a career-high 68 tackles, 13 passes defensed, two interceptions and had one big forced fumble that changed the momentum during a victory against the division rival Philadelphia Eagles.
At 33-years old, Gilmore was brought into pair with Trevon Diggs as an elite CB tandem, but instead wound-up being part of one of the best CB duos in the league, along with the All-Pro play from second-year CB DaRon Bland after Diggs missed the season with an injury. The Cowboys traded a fifth-round selection for Gilmore, and he paid off when Diggs got hurt to keep the position at an elite level.
Gilmore remains unsigned and would bring more depth and skill to a position where the defense could use more veteran depth.
Defensive lineman Calais Campbell
Campbell is a veteran who would provide the Cowboys with two valuable commodities: versatility and leadership. Even though he’ll be 38-years old when the season starts, Campbell still has plenty of gas left in the tank.
Last year with Atlanta, Campbell had 6.5 sacks and 10 tackles for a loss for a defense that was devoid of play-makers. In Dallas, Campbell would be part of a unit that gets to the quarterback, causes turnovers, and after a couple of exits from the roster in free agency, he would have the opportunity to be the third best threat on the defensive line.
Campbell is a defensive end but can move inside if necessary. The Cowboys have a need to get better on the interior of the defensive line and lack options of Campbell’s quality. The defense doesn’t need an every down end or tackle, but they could use a rotational veteran who still produces. Campbell is also considered a leader who could be utilized as a mentor for 2023 first-round defensive tackle Mazi Smith.
Wide Receiver Hunter Renfrow
With Gallup now gone, the Cowboys could use a veteran WR to compete for the third receiver spot in the offense. Young WRs Jalen Tolbert and Jalen Brooks are the current options, and while they offer potential, neither has shown they are ready for an increased workload.
Renfrow is just two seasons removed from a 103-catch, 1,038-yard, nine touchdown season, and can be the quick-twitch underneath WR that the offense needs. Injuries and ineffectiveness at QB have hurt the former Las Vegas Raider Renfrow in the last few seasons, but he’s still a solid bet to be productive.
The Cowboys might be fine with one of the Jalen’s, but they shouldn’t leave it to chance. Adding Renfrow boosts a position that could use a bump in talent and brings insurance in case the young receivers aren’t ready for the next step.
Renfrow’s price would be right in the Cowboys’ wheelhouse, which would allow them to add depth at a low cost.
Extend one of the Big 3
While the new figure available on the cap isn’t an exorbitant amount, it could get the ball rolling for Dallas to finally extend one of their top talents. QB Dak Prescott, WR CeeDee Lamb and pass rusher Micah Parsons are all still waiting for new deals and having some extra money could signal the beginning of extension season.
One of the dominoes for the Cowboys has fallen with Minnesota Vikings All-Pro wideout Justin Jefferson getting a mega-deal, now Jerry and Stephen Jones have a baseline with which to frame a deal for Lamb.
The meager post-June 1 cap space isn’t going to be the sole reason for Lamb – nor Prescott or Parsons, for that matter – to agree to an extension, but with how the Cowboys have been pinching every penny, every little bit helps. With an additional $9.5 in tow, the Cowboys are better positioned to add some talent, or to keep some of their premium players.
Do you think the Cowboys will make use of their post-June 1 salary cap windfall? Share your thoughts with Ben on X (formerly Twitter) @BenGrimaldi.
