4 free agents Dallas Cowboys should have on standby
The Dallas Cowboys finally report to training camp this week (July 24) in Oxnard, California. All of the guesstimating and speculation we’ve been forced to endure throughout the offseason will finally come to an end. One way or another answers will be provided via the goings-on throughout training camp and preseason.
While the hope is everything goes as planned in training camp/preseason, there’s always those “what if” situations that will linger in the back of everyone’s minds until the dust finally settles. Because of those “what if’s” we decided to take another look at free agency to identify a few players the Cowboys may want to have on standby just in case.
LT David Bakhtiari
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Photo by Todd Rosenberg/Getty Images
With Tyron Smith’s exit via free agency to join the New York Jets this offseason, the Cowboys are now forced to figure out how to replace their long time blindside protector. They drafted Tyler Guyton in the first round (29th overall), but there are concerns he may not be ready to step in immediately as a rookie. And, unless the Cowboys are willing to move Tyler Smith back to LT, the other options on the roster leave much to be desired.
While injuries have hit him pretty hard the last few seasons, David Bakhtiari might be somebody the Cowboys want to have on standby if they don’t like what they see from the LT options they currently have on the roster in training camp/preseason. When healthy he’s still one of the better blindside protector’s in the league, and if nothing else, could potentially fill-in until Tyler Guyton is better acclimated to life in the NFL.
DT Mike Purcell
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Photo by Cooper Neill/Getty Images
The Cowboys are expecting last year’s first-round pick, Mazi Smith, to make a significant Year 2 jump entering his sophomore season in the league, but even if he does they can still use more depth at defensive tackle. Mike Zimmer prefers the bigger-bodied, space-eating DTs in the interior of defensive line, and right now the Cowboys don’t have anyone currently on the roster who shows a lot of promise.
The free agent options currently available on the open market are pretty slim pickings, but former Broncos DT Mike Purcell could be a solid addition in a rotational role as a depth piece. He spent the last five seasons with the Broncos and started 10 games for them last year. At 6’3″, 338-pounds, he has the size Mike Zimmer likes at the position and could provide veteran experience like Johnathan Hankins did the last few years.
CB Stephon Gilmore
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Photo by Cooper Neill/Getty Images
If Trevon Diggs can return to his former self after last year’s season-ending knee injury with no lingering effects or setbacks, the Cowboys are in pretty good shape as far as their top three cornerbacks go. Considering how hard they’ve been hit with injuries at this position the past few years though, having more proven depth behind them on the depth chart might not be a bad direction to take.
Stephon Gilmore may no longer be the player he once was, but his veteran savvy and starting experience probably saved the Cowboys season last year after Trevon Diggs’ season-ending knee injury. Re-signing him would significantly upgrade Dallas’ CB depth and provide an insurance policy just in case something were to go wrong. It would be better to have him on the roster and not need him, then need him and not have him.
EDGE Carl Lawson
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Photo by Jim McIsaac/Getty Images
As long as DeMarcus Lawrence and Micah Parsons are on the field and healthy the Cowboys have one of the better pass rushing duos in the league. Behind them on the depth chart things are a bit murky with young/unproven players. If for whatever reason they struggle in their backup roles in training camp/preseason, Dallas may need to look for some more proven outside help.
Carl Lawson would be an excellent depth piece in a rotational role behind D-Law and Micah Parsons. While he hasn’t been quite the same dominant player he was earlier in his career after tearing his Achilles in 2021, and was a regularly healthy scratch with the Jets last season, he still has enough in the tank to help the Cowboys if they don’t like what they see from their youngsters in training camp/preseason.