Dallas Cowboys Free Agency: Offensive/Defensive Line Needs
By Carl Daley
With NFL free agency in full swing, will the Dallas Cowboys take a chance on a veteran offensive/defensive lineman?
The Dallas Cowboys finally came to terms with offensive guard Jonathan Cooper to help patch the hole left behind by the departing veterans Doug Free and Ronald Leary. They should however add a few more offensive linemen as they attempt to find a replacement. And NFL free agency could be an easy way to handle this situation.
Free agents such as offensive tackle Ryan Clady and center Nick Mangold could jump start their career’s with the talented teammates they would acquire in coming to Big D. Sure Mangold is a center but could be a pretty decent addition to this roster if he could play guard or tackle. That is for the right price, of course.
Clady could be the easier signing as injuries have killed his value during free agency. The talented 30-year old would still be more experienced than any of the players coming out of the draft in what is a pretty thin year for offensive linemen.
On the defensive side of the ball is somewhat of a different story.
The Cowboys need to build a pass rush but will need to fully utilize affordable options in free agency. Veteran nose tackle Dontari Poe could be somewhat of a bargain for Dallas if he agrees to a one year deal. Poe is terrific against the run and would be a pretty useful chess piece for defensive coordinator Rod Marinelli.
The player that could have the biggest impact along the Cowboys defensive line in free agency is arguably Johnathan Hankins. The defensive tackle is a terrific run stopper and may not add that much in terms of a pass rush but can fortify the middle of the Dallas defensive line. Other players that the Cowboys should take a flier on are defensive ends Mario Williams, Devin Taylor, and Dwight Freeney.
Freeney has been productive as a situational pass rusher in recent years, that should not change anytime soon. He could be an affordable and productive option for a team not looking to break the bank when it comes to pass rushers. Williams has seemingly lost his flair for football. But so did Rolando McClain before the Cowboys got significant production out of him.
If Mario Williams can be added to Dallas’ roster for an affordable price, why not see what the former number one overall selection in the 2006 NFL Draft has left in the tank?
Devin Taylor might be the most promising out of the three mentioned above as he has impressive size for a defensive lineman. At 6-foot-7 and 275 pounds, Taylor could be a nightmare next to Cowboys starter, David Irving.
Next: Dallas Cowboys 5 Best Free Agent Signings Of All Time
Adding a veteran defensive lineman would also help Dallas focus on selecting the best player available instead of being forced to find a pass rusher early.