Grading the Cowboys free agency signings so far

Ty Nsekhe, OT – Grade: C-

The Cowboy lost offensive tackle Cam Erving to free agency this week. So, in turn, Dallas adds Ty Nsekhe in response. The biggest knocks on Nsekhe is the fact he’s 35-years old and he’s started just one game over the past two years.

Nsekhe played a total of 54 offensive snaps for the Buffalo Bills in 2020. In comparison, young Cowboy tackles Terence Steele (started 14 games) and Brandon Knight (nine starts) gained valuable experience last year and offer much more upside.

Carlos Watkins, DT – Grade: D

The Cowboys needed to add more quality defensive tackle depth to aid their ailing rush defense. The team already has young disruptors at the position in Trysten Hill and Neville Gallimore.

In Carlos Watkins, Dallas signed a player who started a career-high 11 games for the Houston Texans in 2020. Yet, Houston was the worst team in the NFL last season against the run, allowing a whopping 160.3 rushing yards per game.

If Watkins can’t prove to be a worthy run defender, what are his chances advancing on the depth chart past former high-draft picks in Hill and Gallimore?

Jake McQuaide, LS – Grade: A

Honestly, it can only downhill from L.P. Ladouceur, right? After all, the 40-year old Ladouceur was near perfect for 16 straight years in Dallas. Anyone coming in has to meet his impossibly high standard. But consider this …

The 33-year old Jake McQuaide has spent the last nine years with the Rams, and eight of those seasons were with John “Bones” Fassel as his special teams coordinator (who’s now in Dallas). Reuniting with Cowboys’ kicker Greg Zuerlein as well, there’s likely not a better replacement for Ladouceur than McQuaide in this situation.