Updated Free Agent List Targets

[dantheman41]

Plenty of solid value still to be had...


Safeties
Chris Clemons - Excellent veteran safety. Nice complement for Church. He is only 28 too.

Nate Allen - Only 25, and has nice upside. Hasn't played great with Eagles, but I know Cowboys loved him coming out of draft. Can be worked with and compete with other young safeties.

Defensive Tackles

Henry Melton - Depends on the money. Can be a nice 3 tech for this scheme

Pat Sims - Really good 1 tech. Excellent against the run. Had really good year, and is only 28.

Alex Carrington - Only 26, but has nice upside and excellent size at 6'5 305. Coming off season ending surgery early in season. Had a nice 2012 season, and really seemed to be getting better. Low risk high reward player. Can be moved around the line.

Defensive Ends

Anthony Spencer -

Robert Ayers - Only 28, and is excellent again the run. Had his best season rushing the QB this year, and has skills to work with.

Jared Allen - 31 years old, but is probably going to command too much money. Has continued to be productive year after year despite his age. His numbers have been very consistent, and had a much better year then Ware last year.

Corey Wootton - Only 26, but does not possess great pass rushing ability. Has experience with Marinelli, but would be more of a depth signing then anything.

Linebackers

Arthur Moats - Only 26, and can play either Mike or the Strong Side.

Akeem Jordan - Not great in space, but great depth player who can play either Will or Mike when asked. Excellent excellent special teams player as well.

 

[TheRomoSexual]

Great breakdown. Thanks.

 

[Wolf2k5]

I'd rather go 1 tech in FA to stick next to youth at the 3. Maybe stick with what we have at safety and grab a vet DE. Draft Defense heavy then possibly grab another WR in 3-4 where the value is good.

 

[ceerrece]

Honestly, i don't think we could get Melton... my main targets would be Pat Sims(our 1-tech addressed), and Robert Ayers... that gives the team some flexibility towards the draft.

 

[cowboys1981]

I can see Sims being signed before anyone else. I believe Allen gets a deal similar to Peppers.

 

[The Natural]

Clemons is a decent football player..4 interceptions in 5 years says he isn't the ballhawk we need back there but at this juncture he's certainly better than Wilcox, Heath, and the china doll.

Allen is a scrub, wanted him out the draft but the Eagles went through that so hopefully we wouldn't have to.

Of the other defensive guys I'd only be interested in Sims and perhaps Ayers

 

[Kaiser]

Great OP, I'd be on Melton (and yeah, he will be overpaid), Spencer and Ayers at this point. I think they stand pat at Safety, get a 1 technique in the draft (fairly low) and still pick up a Will in FA with another coming in the draft. Then the first three rounds of the draft are still the same - DE, DT and OG in whatever order BPA dictates.

 

[manster4ever]

Plenty of solid value still to be had...

VERY good value to be had indeed. I would think J. Allen will sign with someone like the Pats. They appear to be bulking up on D. I hope we take a look at Clemons but with our cap situation I doubt we sign him.


Safeties
Chris Clemons - Excellent veteran safety. Nice complement for Church. He is only 28 too.

Nate Allen - Only 25, and has nice upside. Hasn't played great with Eagles, but I know Cowboys loved him coming out of draft. Can be worked with and compete with other young safeties.

Defensive Tackles

Henry Melton - Depends on the money. Can be a nice 3 tech for this scheme

Pat Sims - Really good 1 tech. Excellent against the run. Had really good year, and is only 28.

Alex Carrington - Only 26, but has nice upside and excellent size at 6'5 305. Coming off season ending surgery early in season. Had a nice 2012 season, and really seemed to be getting better. Low risk high reward player. Can be moved around the line.

Defensive Ends

Anthony Spencer -

Robert Ayers - Only 28, and is excellent again the run. Had his best season rushing the QB this year, and has skills to work with.

Jared Allen - 31 years old, but is probably going to command too much money. Has continued to be productive year after year despite his age. His numbers have been very consistent, and had a much better year then Ware last year.

Corey Wootton - Only 26, but does not possess great pass rushing ability. Has experience with Marinelli, but would be more of a depth signing then anything.
Linebackers

Arthur Moats - Only 26, and can play either Mike or the Strong Side.

Akeem Jordan - Not great in space, but great depth player who can play either Will or Mike when asked. Excellent excellent special teams player as well.

 

[WPBCowboysFan]

I believe Allen gets a deal similar to Peppers.

It wont be from Jerry

 

[Maxmadden]

I think Dallas will over pay for Melton just so it will allow them to be flexible in the draft. They went into last year knowing they had to address the OL immediately. I think they will pay Melton so they can go into the draft without having to address need over BPA. Not necessarily advocating Melton but I think this is what they will do, if he doesn't get signed before he gets here. I don't buy into all the strapped by the cap nonsense. Jerry will sign whoever he wants if that is what he wants.

 

[manster4ever]

Great OP, I'd be on Melton (and yeah, he will be overpaid), Spencer and Ayers at this point. I think they stand pat at Safety, get a 1 technique in the draft (fairly low) and still pick up a Will in FA with another coming in the draft. Then the first three rounds of the draft are still the same - DE, DT and OG in whatever order BPA dictates.

SPENCER? Why?....are we rebuilding or not? Solid player when healthy....problem is, he isn't ever healthy.

 

[davey999]

I would take Carrington and Ayers, then go DL, S, DL in the 1st three rounds.

 

[AsthmaField]

Nice thread OP.

To me, age and athleticism are the two most vital things in this year's free agency for Dallas. If those two things fit, then it should be somebody we should look at. As long as it fits dollar-wise.

I really do like Melton and we can make the deal work. I know he's recovering from an ACL, but guys almost always come all the way back from those now days. The upside is just so high with him in the defense we're going to be running. With his age, he really, really could be an important player for Dallas for several years. We could still go DT in the draft and Melton along with a high pick or two could transform the DL in one offseason. Melton is a terrific pressure player inside... exactly what Marinelli needs. He's got the junkyard dog attitude the defense needs and he would increase the "quick-twitch" aspect of the line all by himself.

I think Alex Carrington really help too. He isn't a top-tier talent, but he's more than a few notches above about half the guys we had on the line last year. He's versatile enough to play some end as well at playing inside. If Marinelli likes him, I'm sure Carrington is someone they will look closely at.

Ayers could play on the strongside but he isn't a great pass rusher and as Jimmy Johnson once said... run stoppers are a dime-a-dozen. Don't pay a lot for him, but if the price is right, Dallas could use him.

Nobody else on the list really excites me very much.

 

[dantheman41]

Nice thread OP.

To me, age and athleticism are the two most vital things in this year's free agency for Dallas. If those two things fit, then it should be somebody we should look at. As long as it fits dollar-wise.

I really do like Melton and we can make the deal work. I know he's recovering from an ACL, but guys almost always come all the way back from those now days. The upside is just so high with him in the defense we're going to be running. With his age, he really, really could be an important player for Dallas for several years. We could still go DT in the draft and Melton along with a high pick or two could transform the DL in one offseason. Melton is a terrific pressure player inside... exactly what Marinelli needs. He's got the junkyard dog attitude the defense needs and he would increase the "quick-twitch" aspect of the line all by himself.

I think Alex Carrington really help too. He isn't a top-tier talent, but he's more than a few notches above about half the guys we had on the line last year. He's versatile enough to play some end as well at playing inside. If Marinelli likes him, I'm sure Carrington is someone they will look closely at.

Ayers could play on the strongside but he isn't a great pass rusher and as Jimmy Johnson once said... run stoppers are a dime-a-dozen. Don't pay a lot for him, but if the price is right, Dallas could use him.

Nobody else on the list really excites me very much.

Well that's the best of what is available.... There isn't a ton of exciting left, but there is some depth value...

I'm hesitant of giving big money to Melton. Personally I would rather sign a few younger less costly high upside guys like carrington and Clemons

 

[DanTanna]

The word "great" probably should not be used for any of those players.

 

[Mrdude108]

Great post!

I really didn't think Pat Sims or Clemens were still available, those would be nice pieces although I admit I haven't seen much of Clemens, just based off what I've heard over the last few days.

It would be really nice if they could pull off 2 or three of Clemens/Sims/Ayers/Melton dependent upon salaries. If these guys don't work out or you only get one, maybe see what falls in the later days of FA. Maybe Spencer(ONLY on a one year cheap as heck deal, we've given him too much free money) or Carrington.

 

[ghst187]

I think Dallas will over pay for Melton just so it will allow them to be flexible in the draft. They went into last year knowing they had to address the OL immediately. I think they will pay Melton so they can go into the draft without having to address need over BPA. Not necessarily advocating Melton but I think this is what they will do, if he doesn't get signed before he gets here. I don't buy into all the strapped by the cap nonsense. Jerry will sign whoever he wants if that is what he wants.

hopefully, but even with Melton in the fold, i'm not sure we still aren't desperate in the draft for DL….both DE and DT

 

[Alexander]

I would take Carrington and Ayers, then go DL, S, DL in the 1st three rounds.

Sounds like a fool proof plan.

Especially the slotting of what position to take and in what rounds.

 

[Alexander]

I think Alex Carrington really help too. He isn't a top-tier talent, but he's more than a few notches above about half the guys we had on the line last year. He's versatile enough to play some end as well at playing inside. If Marinelli likes him, I'm sure Carrington is someone they will look closely at.

Carrington is a lot like the players we brought in last year. He just happens to be a free agent during this period and not someone who was cut, so I guess that is why he seems so much more attractive.

His production as pro is about where Jarius Wynn's was.

 

[AsthmaField]

Carrington is a lot like the players we brought in last year. He just happens to be a free agent during this period and not someone who was cut, so I guess that is why he seems so much more attractive.

His production as pro is about where Jarius Wynn's was.

Well, I disagree. I feel he's better than that group, but really there is no way to know for sure. I think he'd be a solid rotational guy, but he certainly isn't anyone I'd spend much for at all.