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The Dallas Cowboys have built a juggernaut offense complete with the core pillars every team salivates over.
They've transitioned from one franchise quarterback to a confident rookie in Dak Prescott who can make any throw with precision. They invested a high first-round pick in running back Ezekiel Elliott, who, for a time, threatened Eric Dickerson's rookie rushing record before finishing with 1,994 yards from scrimmage during the regular season.
And in front of both Elliott and Prescott, the Cowboys have assembled a bulldozing offensive line that provides the muscle and foundation for the entire offense.
Now they need the defensive muscle in equal measure—both reloading and reinforcing in that area. The problem is the Cowboys likely won't have much money to take a cannonball into the free-agency pool.
They fielded the league's fifth-ranked defense in average points allowed (19.1) in 2016. That defense included safety Barry Church for much of the season. He was one of the NFL's best coverage safeties, and he allowed an opposing passer rating of only 67.8, according to Pro Football Focus.
Church is now a pending free agent, and he will rightfully seek a raise from his $4.25 million base salary in 2016. Cornerbacks Morris Claiborne and Brandon Carr aren't on Church's level, but they still made valuable contributions. They're both set to leave as free agents, too.
That's three starting defensive backs who could hit the open market, along with wide receiver Terrance Williams and guard Ronald Leary. The Cowboys are a shining example of why maintaining a team's current level of play is so incredibly difficult, before you even begin to think about improvements.
And when it comes to those improvements, any additions through free agency could be of the dumpster-diving variety due to a certain contract albatross that needs to be dealt with.
So let's start there as we put the magnifying glass over the Cowboys offseason outlook.
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They've transitioned from one franchise quarterback to a confident rookie in Dak Prescott who can make any throw with precision. They invested a high first-round pick in running back Ezekiel Elliott, who, for a time, threatened Eric Dickerson's rookie rushing record before finishing with 1,994 yards from scrimmage during the regular season.
And in front of both Elliott and Prescott, the Cowboys have assembled a bulldozing offensive line that provides the muscle and foundation for the entire offense.
Now they need the defensive muscle in equal measure—both reloading and reinforcing in that area. The problem is the Cowboys likely won't have much money to take a cannonball into the free-agency pool.
They fielded the league's fifth-ranked defense in average points allowed (19.1) in 2016. That defense included safety Barry Church for much of the season. He was one of the NFL's best coverage safeties, and he allowed an opposing passer rating of only 67.8, according to Pro Football Focus.
Church is now a pending free agent, and he will rightfully seek a raise from his $4.25 million base salary in 2016. Cornerbacks Morris Claiborne and Brandon Carr aren't on Church's level, but they still made valuable contributions. They're both set to leave as free agents, too.
That's three starting defensive backs who could hit the open market, along with wide receiver Terrance Williams and guard Ronald Leary. The Cowboys are a shining example of why maintaining a team's current level of play is so incredibly difficult, before you even begin to think about improvements.
And when it comes to those improvements, any additions through free agency could be of the dumpster-diving variety due to a certain contract albatross that needs to be dealt with.
So let's start there as we put the magnifying glass over the Cowboys offseason outlook.
Begin Slideshow
Continue reading...