4 potential free agent replacements for Cowboys DE Randy Gregory

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ORCHARD PARK, NY – OCTOBER 03: Jerry Hughes #55 of the Buffalo Bills on the field before a game against the Houston Texans at Highmark Stadium on October 3, 2021 in Orchard Park, New York. (Photo by Timothy T Ludwig/Getty Images) /

You’ve heard it time and time again for the past couple of weeks: the Dallas Cowboys are in the red in terms of cap space… big time. As of right now, Dallas is $21 million over the cap, ranking them third-worst in the NFL. This would be a problem in any offseason, but it creates an even bigger problem in 2022 when 24 Cowboys players are set to hit free agency in March.

That list includes fan favorites like Dalton Schultz, Michael Gallup, and Randy Gregory. Although America’s Team will eventually make a bunch of monetary maneuvers to get even, there is no doubt that they will not be able to keep everybody on this current roster. And while the 2022 NFL Draft is a great way to get new talent, it doesn’t always give you players who can make an immediate impact like Micah Parsons.

Cowboys defensive end Randy Gregory has only played for America’s Team since getting drafted in 2015 in the second round out of Nebraska. While he struggled in his first two seasons, Gregory has steadily improved and was a big part of the impressive defensive turnaround in Dallas this year.

The edge rusher had six sacks, 19 tackles, 4 tackles for loss, 17 QB hits, three forced fumbles, and one interception in just 12 games this year. His presence will be hard to replace. But, he is one of the top defensive ends in free agency, which means the Cowboys simply may not be able to afford him. Spotrac predicts Gregory will get somewhere around a 3-year contract for about $13 million a year. That’s a lot of money.

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So if the Cowboys have to sadly say goodbye to Gregory, who can they replace him with on the market? We’d love to throw out names like Chandler Jones, Von Miller, and Jadeveon Clowney. But if Dallas can’t afford Gregory, they certainly can’t afford those guys.

Here are 4 free agent defensive ends who could potentially replace Cowboys edge rusher Randy Gregory

4. Jerry Hughes, Buffalo Bills

Jerry Hughes is an excellent option for the Cowboys. He may not be as young and spry as he was when he entered the league in 2010, but he is a strong veteran presence just like Gregory. The 34-year-old has expressed uncertainty about his future in Buffalo and is ready to win some hardware before he retires. Well, Jerry… the Cowboys have also been waiting a long time for a trophy and they have the roster to do it.

Perhaps one of the best things about Hughes is his consistency. Since 2012, he has played in all games of the season except when he missed only one game in 2020. Dallas struggled with losing players to both injury and COVID last year, so adding a player who has consistency is a huge plus. In 2021, Hughes had two forced fumbles, two sacks, 18 tackles, and seven QB hits.

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Spotrac predicts that Hughes will get a two-year contract worth almost $7 million in free agency. That’s a much more palatable price tag for Jerry Jones than the one Gregory is currently walking around with. Hughes has received a grade of over 90.0 from PFF in pass-rushing for the past three seasons in a row despite his age.

Age doesn’t seem to be stopping Hughes. And with several younger guys on the defensive line and in the secondary, Hughes can bring experience and knowledge to the Dallas defense.

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