Dallas Cowboys fail to cover all their bases in free agency

The Dallas Cowboys re-signed some players and added a couple to the roster during free agency, but there are still holes that need to be filled.

The Dallas Cowboys were poised to have one of their more active free agency periods in recent years. They had a some flexibility with player contracts that could’ve freed up some salary cap space to upgrade a position or two. Instead they went conservative and filled some holes with inexpensive, low-risk, high-reward players.

The Cowboys brought back some solid but less than exciting players with the re-signings of fullback Jamize Olawale, offensive tackle Cameron Fleming, linebacker Justin March-Lillard, and wide receiver Tavon Austin. They also signed tight end Codey McElroy and defensive tackle Christian Covington. They were safe plays and it leaves Dallas with some flexibility going into the draft. But they still haven’t addressed the biggest need on the team. Safety.

Going all they way back to last year’s draft as their was talk about safety Earl Thomas going to play in his hometown state of Texas with the Boys’. That all came to a screeching halt after he signed a huge four-year, $55 million contract.

Cowboys’ owner Jerry Jones was never going to come close to that number but there were plenty of other, less-expensive options at safety that the team could’ve made a run at. Names like Adrian Amos (four-year, $37 million) and Tashaun Gipson (three-year, $22 million) both signed for less than $10 million a year as the Cowboys’ front office sat on their hands.

While the free agency period hasn’t ended, and players like veteran safeties Eric Berry and Tre Boston out there, it seems as if Dallas wont be making any splashy moves. A couple of free agent safeties that may be cheap enough to warrant a contract are Johnathan Cyprien, Clayton Geathers and, former Cowboy, Barry Church.

The Dallas Cowboys have done a fairly good job of not overspending for lesser players in free agency. But waiting to address the safety position might cost them. And time is running out fast.