It’s been written in the stars for weeks, and now it’s official: the Dallas Cowboys will be wheels up to Tampa Bay for a date with Tom Brady and the Buccaneers on (Super) Wild Card Weekend. To add a little flavor to what is already a mouthwatering matchup, the NFL went ahead and scheduled the clash for Monday night.
The regular season coming to a close sadly means we’re one step closer to the offseason. Even if the Cowboys win the Super Bowl, the game is scheduled for Feb. 12, meaning there’s just one month of football left at maximum.
We hate to add even more pressure to Dallas, but the team has over 20 players set to hit free agency in the offseason. This roster could look a lot different in a few month’s time, so it’s hard to overstate how important it is that the Cowboys capitalize on a golden opportunity to end their Super Bowl drought.
With all of this in mind, we went ahead and listed four Cowboys who could be playing their final game with the team vs the Buccaneers.
These Cowboys could be playing final game vs Buccaneers
4. Brett Maher, K
The NFL is so unpredictable. A few months ago, Cowboys fans were dreading the thought of Maher being the team’s full-time kicker. Hard to blame them for that after Maher’s wonky most recent stint in Arlington.
That year (2019), Maher converted just 66.7% of his field goals, including 1-of-5 from 40-49 yards, and 4-of-8 from 50 yards and beyond.
Now, Maher is one of the game’s most underrated special teams weapons. If Pro Bowl rosters carried two kickers, Maher likely would’ve gotten the nod, as he’s drilled over 90% of his field goals and over 96% of his extra points.
Maher’s field goal percentage is fifth among kickers who’ve attempted at least 30 kicks, and he set the Cowboys’ single-season points record in Week 17, and his 137 points on the season entering Week 18 led all kickers.
In a perfect world, Dallas will bring Maher back in the offseason, but you can never guarantee anything in the NFL. Fortunately for the Cowboys, Maher has a ton of familiarity with the front office, coaching staff, and personnel, so he’d (hopefully) prioritize re-signing with Dallas over other potential suitors.
3. Dalton Schultz, TE
Anyone else get scared thinking about what the Cowboys offense will look like without Schultz? Playing on a one-year franchise tag after both sides failed to negotiate a contract extension in the offseason, Schultz is primed to hit free agency as arguably the top tight end available next to former rival Evan Engram.
It’s anyone’s guess what Dallas’ plans are for Schultz, but it doesn’t seem like the front office wants to doll out top-dollar to a tight end.
As of this writing, the Cowboys are projected to have $8.62 million in cap space, according to OverTheCap. That could increase depending on potential releases and restructured contracts (Ezekiel Elliott, anyone?), but the team isn’t presently equipped with the necessary resources to pay Schultz big money.
There’s a better chance Dallas re-signs Schultz to a long-term deal than franchise-tagging him again, but that isn’t saying much.
After posting 78 catches for 808 yards and 8 touchdowns last season, Schultz managed 53 catches for 544 yards and five scores in 2022.
Those numbers are incomparable, but you have to wonder what they’d look like if Dak Prescott didn’t miss five games, as Schultz’s production took off once QB1 was back under center. Either way, Monday night’s showdown against the Buccaneers could be the 26-year-old’s final game with the Cowboys.
2. Donovan Wilson, SS
If you had to pick, would you rather the Cowboys re-sign Schultz or Wilson? That’s an impossible question, but one the front office might be faced with this offseason. At the start of the season, you’d probably say Schultz and not think twice about it after injuries limited Wilson to nine games (three starts) in 2021.
This season, however, Wilson has been indispensable to Dan Quinn’s defense. He finished the regular season leading the team in tackles. He’s started every game and is responsible for maybe the most splash plays on a D that features studs Micah Parsons, DeMarcus Lawrence, Trevon Diggs and Jayron Kearse.
On top of leading the way in tackles, Wilson’s compiled seven tackles for loss, nine quarterback hits, five (!) sacks, and two forced fumbles. Again, we’re taking about a safety; not a linebacker or edge defender.
A former sixth-round pick in 2019, Wilson’s logged the most defensive snaps of any Cowboys defender in 2022, and the front office should absolutely prioritize re-signing him, assuming he hasn’t played himself out of their budget.
1. Tony Pollard, RB
I, for one, do not want to envision a world in which Pollard isn’t taking carries in the Cowboys backfield. Running back isn’t the most important position on the field, but Dallas’ offense starts with the rushing attack and Pollard’s ability to break explosive plays brings a dynamic Ezekiel Elliott doesn’t offer anymore.
That doesn’t mean Elliott isn’t still valuable, however.
He’s still one of the best backs in short-yardage situations, and his sheer presence (and efficiency) near the goal line cannot be overstated. Given everything Zeke’s given to the franchise, it’s unlikely Dallas outright cuts him. A renegotiated contract is the more likely scenario. Ideally, that won’t impede Pollard’s negotiations.
Say what you will about being able to find RBs anywhere, but the Cowboys aren’t finding 1,000 rushing yards and 9 TDs on over 5.0 yards per carry in the draft or free agency. Not to mention 40 catches for nearly 400 yards and three more touchdowns.
We saw what Dallas’ running game looked like without Pollard against the Titans. That game alone should be all the evidence Jerry Jones and company need to re-sign the former fourth-round pick. He’s one of the team’s best mid-round draft finds in recent memory, and losing him would be absolutely devastating.
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