FRISCO, Texas — With a full list of 25 unrestricted free agents, including several premiere names among the list, the Cowboys have several needs that have to be addressed in free agency and the 2020 NFL Draft. After the team’s disappointing 8-8 finish to conclude the 2019 season, the franchise is in dire need of new impact players on both sides of the football.
Tight End:
The Cowboys need a reliable tight end with a solid capability as an in-line blocker and as a receiver. Blake Jarwin can stretch the field and gained consistent yards after the catch (11.8 average) when given opportunities, but for some reason the staff did not seem to trust him enough last season despite his playmaking ability in the passing game. Witten had five drops in 2019 and averaged only 8.4 yards after the catch but he received 75% of snaps with Jarwin amassing just 39%. It is time for the Cowboys to make the TE position a priority and to move on from the 38-year-old veteran.
Wide Receiver:
Both Amari Cooper and Randall Cobb are scheduled to become free agents unless a deal is made before March 18th. Dallas gave up a number one draft pick in the trade for Amari in 2018 and even though the team’s number one receiver had dips in performance at times against solid coverage, he was ranked in the top ten among receivers in the league; his 1,189 receiving yards (7th) and eight receiving touchdowns (tied at 7th). Amari has made it clear that he wants to stay in Dallas and it would be a waste for the Cowboys to give him up 18 months after acquiring the wide out. There have been talks of a possible franchise tag on Coop if a long-term deal is struck with Prescott, but the new proposed CBA is expected to prohibit NFL teams from using both the franchise and transition tags.
Cobb spent 13 seasons playing under Mike McCarthy in Green Bay and now that the pair has reunited in Dallas, there is more than a good chance that the slot receiver will remain a Cowboy. He was a constant go-to target for Dak Prescott on third down and young players like Michael Gallup took advice from the veteran. More than just his impact on the field, he brought a lacking leadership aspect to the locker room.
WR is currently a necessity but if both Cobb and Cooper are re-signed and return in 2020, the Cowboys will have a solid receiving core.
Linebacker:
Sean Lee is set to hit the market unless re-signed by Dallas. After mulling over retirement during the offseason, he made the announcement that he wants to continue playing. Lee has been the heart and soul of the Cowboys’ defense for many years and ads tremendous position flex being able to play Sam, Mike, or Will. The majority of the team’s depth at the LB position is URFA’s alongside Lee: Malcolm Smith, Joe Thomas, Justin March-Lillard, and Ray-Ray Armstrong.
Then to add to the pile, Leighton Vander Esch appeared in only nine games in 2019 dealing with a neck injury and had a minimally invasive surgery to repair the nerve in his neck. He should be back before Training Camp but there are a lot of question marks surrounding his performance level once he returns. MLB Jaylon Smith did rack up a team-high 142 combined tackles last season along with 2.5 sacks and an interception but stats can be deceiving. Many times throughout the season he did not hold his gap and left gaping holes when he tried to rush opposing quarterbacks- a talented group of players that lacked consistency. The unit needs attention.
Interior Defensive Lineman:
The Cowboys struggled against the run last season and need to prioritize an interior defensive lineman to help fill gaps at the line of scrimmage and boost penetration. Three-technique Maliek Collins is heading to FA, along with most of the squad’s interior depth: Kerry Hyder and Christian Covington. Nose tackle, Antwaun Woods is an exclusive right’s free agent, meaning he has less than two years of service in the league and has an expired contract. Woods can only negotiate a deal with the team that originally signed him (Cowboys), unless they release his rights. The Cowboys are taking a ‘best player available’ approach and new head coach Mike McCarthy and defensive coordinator Mike Nolan have made it clear that Dallas will now tailor scheme to fit the players individual talents. The staff will no longer be looking for prospects that fit into the Cowboys’ longtime base 4-3 defense.
Safety:
Dallas has not prioritized a true safety in the first three rounds of the draft since J.J. Wilcox in 2013 (third round). Hopefully, the staff has deemed now to be the time. Strong safety Jeff Heath arrived in Dallas as an undrafted free agent in 2013 and worked his way up the depth chart to the team’s starting SS and a captain in 2019. His presence from a leadership standpoint off the field and physicality on the field are often underappreciated. If he walks, the Cowboys need a match in the backfield for free safety, Xavier Woods. Safety contributors Kavon Frazier and Darian Thompson are also URFA’s.
The new regime in Dallas has to get to work in building a foundation for a new era of Cowboy football in free agency and the draft.
