When was the last time Dallas signed an impactful Def player?

[jrumann59]

2019 Packers signed three fringe pro bowlers all in one offseason (Amos and both Smith's)

We're not talking generational talent but still very very good players that immediately improved performance significantly day 1

That's the problem with the cowboys, they justify the upper class free agents as too expensive as grounds to only get budget guys. There's so many holes throughout the years that mid to upper mid at positions of need would have been significant upgrades

It's like saying Lexus is too expensive so I'm going to buy a stock Corolla. It's like shouldn't I be targeting a Camry or Avalon ?

Both Smiths were slightly above average at best in their rankings as FA, neither had more than 8 sacks in a season, Washington had a choice Kerrigan or Smith. IF Baltimore thinks you are not worth the money why would, GB was desperate for defensive help and paid what was asked and got lucky, call the Smiths late bloomers or whatever but I am willing to bet most of the personnel people in the NFL never expected them to be double digit sack guys.

 

[ABQCOWBOY]

Well, honestly, I don't really believe in signing FAs, especially on Defense. They are hit and miss at best and they are always short lived. I'd rather draft good Defensive players and develop them. But we aren't really great at that, of late, so we are stuck with hoping and praying for savior from FA. It's a bad way to run your team.

 

[Cowboysheelsreds053]

Rolando McClain 2014 season he was a top 5 linebacker

That "PURPLE DRANKER" this guy was a d-- beast those first 2 years. Best player on D and brought the thump that has been missing since.

 

[Kaiser]

No McCoy was a guy 6 years removed from his prime. That's completely different than zadarius and amos trending up to their primes. Even Preston had a very solid 2018 year before hitting the market

That's the problem, Jerry wants flashy names not guys in there mid 20s who can legimatetly start

Jerry hadn't signed a high dollar FA since Brandon Carr until McCarthy came to town, was the criticism here that Jerry wasn't spending enough?

 

[dsturgeon]

That was a trade.

they still have to sign him

 

[xwalker]

Trying to think of the last time Dallas signed in an impactful defensive player that actually worked for Dallas. Not just re-signing a player or signing a big name player at the end of his career. Signed a big name free-agent defensive player then that player was actually good for his contract or the majority of his contract. Brandon Carr maybe in 2012? The last true defensive free agent signing that had a great impact at Dallas to me is La’roi Glover all the way back in 2002.

Their goal is to build through the draft and spend money to retain their own players.

 

[Tussinman]

Jerry hadn't signed a high dollar FA since Brandon Carr until McCarthy came to town, was the criticism here that Jerry wasn't spending enough?

The fan narrative was poe and McCoy are over half a decade removed from their prime, played on one of the worst run defenses last year, and we're only signed because Jerry likes flashing names that get him clicks and views

 

[Blitzen]

Those guys were not "big time free agents". AJ Bouye was a Brandon Carr type signing. Gilmore was solid in Buffalo but he didn't become a All Pro until he got to the Patriots. Nobody considered him the best corner in the league until he got to the Patriots.

Lol, keep digging. All of them got top end contracts. Which in free agency is the mark of a "big time" free agent. They don't always get results (obviously free agency has more big misses than big hits). But they happen. And denying that they do is a cop out, since you can then claim they never do work out (or that the frequency is less frequent). Demarcus Ware worked out pretty well for Denver.

 

[Kaiser]

The fan narrative was poe and McCoy are over half a decade removed from their prime, played on one of the worst run defenses last year, and we're only signed because Jerry likes flashing names that get him clicks and views

I'm confused, where was DrunkCrazyStupid Jerry in the 8 years between the Brandon Carr and Donatari Poe signings? He has only had the yacht for one year.

 

[Whirlwin]

Trying to think of the last time Dallas signed in an impactful defensive player that actually worked for Dallas. Not just re-signing a player or signing a big name player at the end of his career. Signed a big name free-agent defensive player then that player was actually good for his contract or the majority of his contract. Brandon Carr maybe in 2012? The last true defensive free agent signing that had a great impact at Dallas to me is La’roi Glover all the way back in 2002.

Charles Haley

 

[Kaiser]

Demarcus Ware worked out pretty well for Denver.

Denver worked out pretty well when Demcarcus Ware was there, but they paid him 26 Million over three years for 21 sacks. Hard to argue that was a good contract other than him being part of a SB team.

 

[Bobhaze]

Trying to think of the last time Dallas signed in an impactful defensive player that actually worked for Dallas. Not just re-signing a player or signing a big name player at the end of his career. Signed a big name free-agent defensive player then that player was actually good for his contract or the majority of his contract. Brandon Carr maybe in 2012? The last true defensive free agent signing that had a great impact at Dallas to me is La’roi Glover all the way back in 2002.

You bring up a good question. Here’s a follow up- When was the last defensive player signed that made a difference for us in the playoffs? Deion Sanders is the only one in the Jones era I could think of.

 

[Bobhaze]

Charles Haley

Haley wasn’t a FA signing. It was a trade. Deion was a FA signing, and he was after Haley.

 

[CowboysFaninHouston]

Trying to think of the last time Dallas signed in an impactful defensive player that actually worked for Dallas. Not just re-signing a player or signing a big name player at the end of his career. Signed a big name free-agent defensive player then that player was actually good for his contract or the majority of his contract. Brandon Carr maybe in 2012? The last true defensive free agent signing that had a great impact at Dallas to me is La’roi Glover all the way back in 2002.

Haley?

 

[TheMarathonContinues]

Lol, keep digging. All of them got top end contracts. Which in free agency is the mark of a "big time" free agent. They don't always get results (obviously free agency has more big misses than big hits). But they happen. And denying that they do is a cop out, since you can then claim they never do work out (or that the frequency is less frequent). Demarcus Ware worked out pretty well for Denver.

You keep digging. You are recreating what the OP said. HE said have the Cowboys ever gotten a big time free agent. If you think what they got was big time free agent then you must think Brandon Carr was too.

 

[jnday]

Brandon Carr wasn't a bad signing.

Carr was a bad signing if you consider his salary compared to his production. He was an average player that was payed an elite salary.

 

[tyke1doe]

That "PURPLE DRANKER" this guy was a d-- beast those first 2 years. Best player on D and brought the thump that has been missing since.

Too bad he had too many personal demons.
Heck, I would have signed him this time too.

 

[tyke1doe]

PacMan "Script Club" Jones

 

[G2]

The question was about defensive players.

Damn it

 

[doomsday808]

I think under Garrett, the Cowboys have always been, "we like who we have". I think they were disappointed with the production vs. Money spent on B Carr.