15 best free agent signings in Dallas Cowboys history

7. Leonard Davis, G, 2007

One year after adding Kosier to replace Allen, the Cowboys added a much more high-profile offensive lineman in Leonard Davis. Selected second overall out of Texas in 2001, the 6-6, 355-pound Davis started his career as a guard for the Arizona Cardinals, but they wanted him to play tackle eventually.

He spent his second season at right tackle before switching back to guard, but finally in 2004, Dennis Green moved him to the blindside. That proved to be his downfall in Arizona as Davis wasn’t cut out for that role.

He was highly penalized and never found his footing. After six seasons with the team, he hit the open market and the Cowboys came calling with their checkbook wide open. Davis signed a seven-year contract worth $49.6 million. They were heavily criticized for the move since he was going to play on the interior of the line and was coming off a rough season with the Cardinals.

Davis ended up making them look good though as he flourished in Dallas once moved back to guard. While he didn’t play out the entire contract, he never missed a start in four seasons. His play did decline sharply at the end, which led to his release in 2011, but he still was a smart signing that made three-straight Pro Bowls from 2007 through 2009.