Grading the Cowboys’ 11 in-house free agency moves so far

2. Luke Gifford, LB

Grade: C-

Contract: One-year extension, monetary details unknown

Depth is great but not when the depth isn’t great. Gifford is a fairly unknown guy who is pictured above unable to stop a touchdown. In his three years with Dallas, Gifford has started zero games. He played in his most amount of games in a season in 2021 given the injury and COVID issues surrounding an already-weak linebacker corps. We all know the Cowboys want to be able to use Parsons in the pass rush more often, but Gifford is clearly not a starting linebacker. He has never had a sack in his NFL career.

Let’s also not forget that the team released him at the start of free agency just to bring him back. The decisions around here are just confusing. Gifford will remain deep in the reserves and may contribute a bit on special teams. Aside from that, he once again likely won’t see the field much in 2022. Let’s hope it’s costing the Joneses the bare minimum.

1. Jeremy Sprinkle, TE

Grade: C+

Contract: One-year, veteran salary benefit deal

This move isn’t doing all that much. It is incredibly understandable that the Cowboys need someone on the depth chart with Jarwin cut, but this veteran has passed his prime. The reason it’s a C+ is that this move won’t keep them from hopefully signing a better tight end in the draft.

Sprinkle is used as a blocker more than anything else. He caught just three passes for 31 yards in 2021. Sprinkle joins Sean McKeon on the dismal tight end depth chart. This puts a lot of pressure on Schultz unless the Cowboys can address the position (along with many others) in the draft.

Let us know your thoughts on the Cowboys’ free agency moves thus far. Don’t forget that you can stay up to date on all of the free agents, front office moves, trades, and cuts by keeping up with our offseason tracker below.