Dallas Cowboys must now go out and hire their mercenary

PR – Haason Reddick

Pass rusher Haason Reddick is a late riser in this category but one that is worth pursuing based on ignorance alone. You see, the Arizona Cardinals drafted Reddick after he put on a show at his pre-draft rehearsals but rarely saw these traits during his first three years in the desert. After a series of uneventful years as an off-the-ball linebacker, the coaching staff decided to play Reddick at his college position and allowed him to rush the passer.

Reddick responded with 12.5 sacks including an Arizona franchise-record 5.0 sack game in Week Five against the New York Giants. It is not common for a team to break the bank on a seemingly brief spike but Reddick was projected to be a pass rusher but was restrained until his final year in Arizona.

I wouldn’t venture into elite territory but if the Cowboys can afford a pass rusher, Reddick has to be at the top of my list. A rotation of Randy Gregory and Reddick in the LEO role would give Dallas what they thought they had when they signed Aldon Smith.

Reddick’s story is awfully similar to free-agent to be Shaquil Barrett. Barrett was not utilized correctly in Denver where he recorded only 13.0 sacks in five seasons before erupting for 19.5 sacks in his first year in Tampa Bay back in 2019. He followed up that performance with an eight-sack year for the new World Champion Tamp Bay Buccaneers.

Reddick showed the league that he can be a pass rusher if allowed but also figures to be fairly raw in the pass rush department which could entice position coaches to clamor for his services. He is also just 26 years old which is a prime age to hand out a second contract.