Dallas Cowboys: 5 most important free agents in 2021
By Connor Green
The Dallas Cowboys have several important contracts expiring in 2021
The Dallas Cowboys 2020 season went about as well as one might expect anything occurring in this awful year to go. However, with the season past the halfway point and the team currently in last place in the dreadful NFC East, it might be a good time to start thinking beyond this year.
The Cowboys season has been marred with injuries and disappointments from the first game of the season. Hopefully, 2021 will be better for fans of America’s Team. That being said, for next year to be more fruitful for Dallas they first must make several key decisions in regards to free agency.
The organization has several important players whose contracts will expire at the end of the season. America’s Team will be forced to make several important decisions as to whether to bring back those players or let them walk.
These decisions will likely have a significant impact on the future of the organization. Therefore, it would seem like a good idea to evaluate those upcoming decisions that the Cowboys front office will have to face.
Without further ado here are the five most important free agents for the Dallas Cowboys and what the team should do with those players.
5. Xavier Woods, Safety
The 25-year old safety was drafted in the sixth round by the Dallas Cowboys in the 2017 NFL Draft. Since then Woods has been a relatively consistent starter for the team. He has started at least 14 games each of his past two seasons in Dallas.
Xavier Woods had an inconsistent start to his career, but the young safety managed to haul in five interceptions over his first three seasons. However, despite being one of the only healthy members of the teams’ secondary this year, he has not gotten a single interception thus far in 2020.
Woods would likely not be a costly investment for the organization moving forward, at least compared to some other players on this list. However, he has been inconsistent in coverage this year and has not popped off the screen much over his first nearly four years in the league.
The reason why Woods finds himself on this list is due to the position he plays. America’s Team has struggled on the defensive side of the ball this year. The organization is currently giving up the most points per game in the NFL and has ranked towards the bottom of the league in takeaways each of the past two seasons.
Safety is one of the most pressing needs for the team moving forward and keeping a young player who has shown flashes of promise might be a good idea. The Dallas Cowboys should keep Woods as long as he does not cost too much.