Dallas Cowboys and free agency are like oil and water

SANTA CLARA, CA - OCTOBER 22: (L) Dallas Cowboys owner Jerry Jones stands on the field prior to their NFL game against the San Francisco 49ers at Levi's Stadium on October 22, 2017 in Santa Clara, California. (Photo by Ezra Shaw/Getty Images)
SANTA CLARA, CA - OCTOBER 22: (L) Dallas Cowboys owner Jerry Jones stands on the field prior to their NFL game against the San Francisco 49ers at Levi's Stadium on October 22, 2017 in Santa Clara, California. (Photo by Ezra Shaw/Getty Images) /
facebooktwitterreddit
Prev
3 of 3
Next
ARLINGTON, TX – NOVEMBER 23: Casey Hayward #26 of the Los Angeles Chargers tries to break up a pass intended for Terrance Williams #83 of the Dallas Cowboys in the second half of a football game at AT&T Stadium on November 23, 2017 in Arlington, Texas. (Photo by Tom Pennington/Getty Images)
ARLINGTON, TX – NOVEMBER 23: Casey Hayward #26 of the Los Angeles Chargers tries to break up a pass intended for Terrance Williams #83 of the Dallas Cowboys in the second half of a football game at AT&T Stadium on November 23, 2017 in Arlington, Texas. (Photo by Tom Pennington/Getty Images) /

Thornton and Carroll did not combine to play 16 games in the two years they were Cowboys collectively.  Gachkar almost solely saw time on the field as a special teams contributor.  Not a bad gig for $5.2M, eh?

Hardy played in 12 games and registered six sacks.  While he did not necessarily play bad, he did not provide what Dallas was looking for and was out of the league the next year.

Hanna has four catches for 88 yards and one touchdown in the two years since signing his deal.  That one touchdown was apparently worth $4.75M.  Dallas has until March 14th to avoid paying Hanna another $3.5 in 2018.  I can’t imagine they won’t take the $750K hit just to cut him.

As you can see the facts are what they are.  Dallas is just not successful evaluating free agent talent.  This is yet another reason why they have not been able to get back to the top of the mountain.

A great example is the Williams deal.  You know who else was a free agent wide receiver last season?

Alshon Jeffery.

Philadelphia gave him a one year deal for $250K more guaranteed than Williams received.  Jeffery caught nine touchdowns with almost 800 yards playing with a torn rotator cuff all season.  The Eagles won the Super Bowl thanks in part to his 12 catches, 219 yards and 3 TDs in the playoffs.

Next: First Round Mock – Dallas Cowboys’ surprising pick

Moves like that can take you to the promised land.  Moves like what the Cowboys make time and time again, allow you to watch the Super Bowl on whatever nice television millions can buy you.

Will the Cowboys make any big free agent moves in 2018?  It’s not likely.

From the looks of recent history, if you’re a fan, you don’t really want them to either.