Grading the Dallas Cowboys' first week of free agency
It's become a known fact how the Dallas Cowboys conduct themselves in free agency. Stay away from the top deals, retain their own and opt instead to find good veterans, for bargain prices. Despite this philosophy not yielding any quality results, it's now rinse and repeat. Not only are they sticking to it, but it […]
It's become a known fact how the Dallas Cowboys conduct themselves in free agency. Stay away from the top deals, retain their own and opt instead to find good veterans, for bargain prices.
Despite this philosophy not yielding any quality results, it's now rinse and repeat. Not only are they sticking to it, but it seems to have bitten them a few times so far.
So, how did they grade out? Let's take a look below.
Cowboys' losses in free agency (so far)
- Edge Randy Gregory: signed a five-year, $70 million deal with the Broncos.
- WR Amari Cooper: traded to the Browns for a fifth round pick and swapping sixths.
- OT La'el Collins: designated post-June 1st release. Signed for three-years, $30 million deal with the Bengals.
- WR Cedrick Wilson: signed a three-year, $22 million deal with the Dolphins.
- LG Connor Williams: signed a two-year, $14 million deal with the Dolphins.
The losses to Collins and Williams have both been immanent. Williams has been a reliable blocker, and athletic at the position became a liability with his constant penalty issues. Enough to allow Connor McGovern to take his spot for a short time.
Collins has only played in 13 games in two seasons (incl. playoffs) for a myriad of reasons. Those reasons, coupled with Steele's improvement, made Collins expendable. Unfortunately, Dallas is only getting cap space for next season, as opposed to taking whatever they could get for him in a trade, like Amari Cooper.
Cooper, who had a down statistical year, clearly rubbed the organization the wrong way. It wasn't enough to be shown at Mavericks games unvaccinated and unmasked, but has made his frustrations with his role in the offense clear. Now the Dallas Cowboys are down arguably their best receiver, in an effort to save $16 million in cap space.
If it wasn't enough to lose Cooper, Dak Prescott also lost one of his most reliable weapons in Cedrick Wilson. After a breakout season, the Dallas Cowboys were outbid by Miami, effectively making the passing attack worse.
Perhaps worst of all is the Randy Gregory debacle. Originally it looked as if the Broncos were going to price out the Cowboys, until owner Jerry Jones stepped in. Even restructuring DeMarcus Lawrence to make the contract work and had his offer matched.
The issue was the wording in the contract, discovered by his agent Peter Schaffer, that Gregory's guarantees would be wiped out from fines.
“No other teams have that language in their contracts. No other teams. Never in 30 years have I seen that language.”
This rubbed Gregory the wrong way and opted to sign with Denver, making the front office look cheap(er) and sneak(ier) on his way out.
Cowboys' retainment's/additions in free agency (so far)
- WR Michael Gallup: signed for five years, $62.5 million
- S Malik Hooker: signed for two years, $8 million
- S Jayron Kearse: signed for two years, $10 million
- Edge Dorance Armstrong Jr: signed for two years, $13 million
- Edge Dante Fowler Jr: signed for one year, $5 million
- WR James Washington: signed for one year
- LB Leighton Vander Esch: signed for one year
- LB Luke Gifford: signed for one year
Aside from Michael Gallup, this was a very quiet signing period. The optics of signing Gallup after trading Cooper don't make a lot of sense, but his contract is very 'cap-friendly'. This includes just a $4 million cap hit in 2022. One of Dak's better friends and best weapons on the team, Gallup should be right back where he was in this offense after his rehab.
The Dallas Cowboys were also able to reclaim some other key players on their defense in Hooker, Armstrong and Vander Esch, with the first two coming off career seasons.
It's odd to see the Cowboys invest in the safety position, but Hooker not only broke through his injury stigma in 2021. He was great as both a free and strong safety, playing all across the back end.
For Armstrong and Vander Esch, it will be interesting to see how they're played. Armstrong looks to be the presumed starting right edge in place of Gregory. Vander Esch looks to be one of the starting linebackers alongside Micah Parsons and Jabril Cox when all three are on the field.
Armstrong had career highs in sacks, tackles for loss and pressures while Vander Esch played better down the stretch at the end of last season. Their play was enough to warrant a return for both.
Luke Gifford is much more of a special teams player. Like CJ Goodwin, his position (LB) is in name only. Gifford lead the Cowboys in special teams snaps (368), having a quietly impressive season with 11 tackles and a memorable blocked punt.
Final Grade (so far):
The Dallas Cowboys front office looks foolish from the outside looking in. Mainly from the botched contract negotiation with their most important free agent. It also comes in the form of being able to trade one starter in Cooper but not in Collins. They've created all this cap space, but are barely using it.
To put it simply: the people in charge of the Cowboys are getting in their own way.
Re-signing Hooker and Armstrong are good moves on the defense, as is Gallup on offense. However, the Cowboys are allowing other free agents to go to other teams, which has only made said teams better. Not only are the Cowboys NOT better than they were at the end of the season, it appears they'll continue going down the same path that got them here.
Whether the front office wants to make a 'splash' move is irrelevant. But the moves they've made and allowed others to do gives off the impression of ineptitude. It hasn't been a good start.
Grade: D
