Dallas Cowboys: Is re-signing your own free agents enough?
The Dallas Cowboys plan this offseason appears to be spending all their salary cap space re-signing or extending their own players. Is that enough to win?
The Dallas Cowboys have been very conservative in recent years when it comes to free agency. They’ve simply adopted the philosophy that re-signing the players they know is better than signing veterans they don’t. Unfortunately, that has yet to result in playoff success beyond the divisional round.
Still, this offseason figures to be no different as there are several big names either hitting free agency or wanting an extension. The top names scheduled to become free agents in March are defensive end DeMarcus Lawrence, tight end Geoff Swaim, tackle Cameron Fleming plus wide receivers Cole Beasley and Tavon Austin.
Wide receiver Amari Cooper, quarterback Dak Prescott and running back Ezekiel Elliott are all expected to receive or wanting contract extensions as well.
The fact is there may not be enough money to go-around. This could mean longtime veterans like Beasley will not be re-signed. While someone like Prescott or Elliott may be forced to play out their rookie contract. For Zeke, the Cowboys still can use a fifth-year option to extend him through 2020.
But is re-signing or extending their own players enough to win in 2019? In an article titled One thing each NFC team can do to earn a spot in Super Bowl LIV that appeared on the league’s official website, Around The NFL Editor Gregg Rosenthal wrote that the biggest single thing the Cowboys could do to get to the Super Bowl next season was to sign their top free agent.
"“Pay DeMarcus Lawrence his money … After backing up his breakout 2017 campaign with a 10.5-sack effort in ’18, Lawrence is one of the top five defensive linemen in football. At 26 years old, he’s cap space well spent.”"
Obviously, re-signing their stars is the top priority this offseason for America’s Team. But without a first-round selection in the upcoming draft due to their midseason trade for Cooper, last season, Dallas’ rookie impact will likely be less this year. Will this force the Cowboys’ hand and make them sign a key free agent or two? A certain safety out of Seattle perhaps?
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It’s possible the Dallas Cowboys could have their cake and eat it too. Dallas can still be players when it comes to free agency by extending some of their own and re-working contracts, the Cowboys could actually free up salary cap space if needed. The question is: Will Dallas maintain the status quo or make moves to actually improve?