5 safeties the Cowboys could dive into free agency for

Anthony Harris

Anthony Harris is an often overlooked safety that could be the leading favorite depending on who you ask. If I asked you who led the league in interceptions in 2019, Harris might not be the name that immediately jumps out at you but that is exactly what he did.

Harris led the league in 2019 with six interceptions but was still left out of the Pro Bowl. Pro Football Focus had him rated as the best safety in the league that year. 2020 was slightly different as he failed to record an interception.

That stat line doesn’t bode well for a player looking for a nice payday but having a down year for a player who was regarded as one of the best safeties in the league the past four years could be looking for more than just money.

Recognition is a player’s best friend and not getting the spotlight as much as he would like in Minnesota could have this player looking for a bigger stage. Dallas not only provides the biggest regular-season playing stage but could also offer more off-field visibility opportunities.

The entire Minnesota defense had a down year so placing the blame solely on him isn’t a fair assumption on what this player can do on the field.

Harris has shown that he can consistently play center field and not be a liability. Even though he has missed a few games in his career, the injury label is not one that I would associate with this unrecognized star.

I understand that Minnesota might value Harris more than other teams, his relative lack of spotlight could allow the Cowboys front office to pounce if the offers he receives don’t match his production. It is also noteworthy that Minnesota’s other star safety Harrison Smith has already signed his big contract but could be extended to make more salary-cap space.

Teams rarely double-dip on safety contracts so Harris could find himself looking for a new home. Dallas would provide that and much more if he decides to jump ship.

The market will be especially difficult to gauge this offseason but if the Cowboys front office can offer more years entering the new television money, they could set themselves up for a nice offseason.