Should the Dallas Cowboys sign self-proclaimed safety Logan Ryan?

If the Dallas Cowboys feel they need safety help, should they consider Logan Ryan?

The coming weeks of training camp should be telling when it comes to the safety position for the Dallas Cowboys. As it stands, it appears likely veteran Xavier Woods and free-agent signee Ha Ha Clinton-Dix are penciled in as the Week One starters.

The safety depth chart also includes Darian Thompson, who started four games for Dallas last season. It will also be the second-season for 2019 sixth-rounder Donovan Wilson, who excited fans after racking up three preseason interceptions as a rookie.

But there has also been some speculation that the Cowboys could look to shift some of their current cornerbacks to the safety position. Most notably, starter Chidobe Awuzie, who played the position for a time in college.

New arrivals in free agent veteran Daryl Worley, who played some safety with the Oakland Raiders last year, and the team’s 2020 fourth-round draft pick out of Tulsa in Reggie Robinson II both might also receive some consideration.

But the Cowboys could squash that speculation by signing another free agent at the position. And it just so happens one of the biggest names on the open market has expressed interest in moving to safety.

Here’s what NFL Network Insider Ian Rapoport reported on Monday about free-agent defensive back Logan Ryan‘s desire to shift to safety highlighting his numbers as a cornerback last season and how those stats compare to others at the position. That includes the Cowboys’ two potential starting safeties in 2020, Woods and Clinton-Dix.

Ryan put up career numbers last season for the Tennessee Titans, playing primarily out of the slot. He recorded 113 tackles, 18 pass deflections, four interceptions, 4.5 sacks, eight quarterback hits, and four forced fumbles as a 16-game starter.

Putting up those kinds of numbers, the question has to be why is Ryan still available? In March, Rapoport reported that the 29-year old defensive back was looking to be paid no less than $10 million per year.

According to OverTheCap.com, that kind of contract would tie Ryan with the 15th highest-paid cornerback in the NFL. That same amount would make him the 12th highest-paid safety in the NFL. Although considering his desired position shift and length of time he’s been on the open market, Ryan’s alleged asking price might have dropped.

In the end, the Cowboys already have plenty of options when it comes to safety. It’s just a matter of if they are happy with their current set of candidates or not. And a new defensive coaching staff could be looking to upset the applecart a bit.

But the truth is, the stunted offseason means these new coaches haven’t really had a chance to properly evaluate their current talent at the safety position yet. And until they do, the team doesn’t really know if they need to bring in someone like Ryan.

So, if the Dallas Cowboys decided to sign Logan Ryan right now, it would likely have to be on a very team-friendly contract. Possibly similar to the one-year, $4 million deal the Cowboys landed Ha Ha Clinton-Dix on earlier this year. And based on Ryan’s previously rumored asking price, that seems unlikely.