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The Cowboys have been slow-playing free agency, but they could still pick up some serviceable pieces.
Two weeks into free agency and the Dallas Cowboys have yet to sign a free agent defensive end or quarterback. They've also met with quite a few defensive backs but still haven't signed any of them either. All of this patience has caused some consternation among the faithful. The Cowboys decided to pass on big-ticket items, but there is still time to get some players of value. Let's take a look at the market and see what it may have to offer. There are still good players out there looking for jobs. Free agency is a 365 day a year business, the Cowboys are steadily keeping an eye on quite a few guys.
DE Jason Jones- The former Lion had 31 tackles, 4.5 sacks last season and a forced fumble. He's only 29 years old and has shown the ability to produce. For a team looking for a left end, Jones may be a nice fit for the Cowboys. He's a great guy on and off the field and is a team-first type of dude. Could be a valuable rotation piece.
DE Jared Crick- Here's another lunch pail guy to keep an eye on. He's not the sack monster that J.J. Watt is for the Texans, but he's been a solid player for Houston. He had 48 tackles, two sacks, and a forced fumble last season. His price is probably not that high and he's still very young at 26. Who knows what Rod Marinelli could get out of a guy like Crick who plays with intensity and a high motor.
The two above mentioned pass rushers aren't too exciting, but they could help solidify a rotation for Marinelli. Dallas is still trying to finalize a deal with restricted free agent Benson Mayowa. He's young, 24, and they love the combination of his size and speed and believe that he's just on the cusp of his NFL potential.
Other potential targets - Jack Crawford, Mike Neal.
Just food for thought, let's look at some defensive backs still out there.
CB Leon Hall- We know that Hall is on the Cowboys' radar, but at 31-years old his age could be a factor in negotiations. Hall had two interceptions last season and has had an admirable career with the Bengals. He also had 55 tackles, but they are quite aware that he's just one guy out there and again may favor Carr over him.
CB Patrick Robinson- The Cowboys showed some interest in Robinson last season, but have yet to show any this offseason. Robinson had 49 tackles last season and one interception. However, he's likely inexpensive and has shown that he could be an adequate starter, if not, even better. He's still young.
CB Brandon Boykin- Here's another less expensive option for the Cowboys. Boykin was traded to the Pittsburgh Steelers in 2015 from the Eagles. He didn't light up the stat-line with only 20 tackles, one interception, and one forced fumble. However, he was more of a backup for the Steelers for most of the season and has been on some pretty bad secondaries. One of his counterparts, William Gay, is also set to hit free agency this offseason.
FS Dashon Goldson- The two-time Pro Bowler is an interesting candidate but despite reports, the Cowboys haven't met with him just yet. Again, here is an aging player that still has some value. He made 110 tackles last season and had an interception too. However, Goldson fits more of the free safety position, where the Cowboys have currently pinned Byron Jones. Still, Goldson is an intriguing player to monitor as this process continues.
Lastly, when it comes to quarterbacks, I can't sugarcoat anything for you, it's a lousy market. Robert Griffin III and Ryan Fitzpatrick are the only guys out there that seem serviceable. The Cowboys look poised to draft a quarterback this year, not necessarily at fourth overall, but they will address the position. This is a position that they neglected to address in free agency, but there just wasn't much after Matt Moore. They seem comfortable riding with Kellen Moore as the QB2 behind Tony Romo. Though I certainly have been in favor of bringing in someone else as my belief in Kellen Moore isn't strong.
There are no real big, flashy free agents still available. But there are serviceable NFL vets still out there. At this point, their contracts will be small and could help Dallas fill some holes while preparing for the draft. The Cowboys will continue to explore the trade market, and they will be on the lookout for any vets that are released over the summer. This is how the Cowboys play the free agency game now, we all hope they make it work.
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