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2 signings that would give Cowboys perfect offseason after Brandin Cooks trade

By Jerry Trotta

INGLEWOOD, CALIFORNIA - OCTOBER 03: A'Shawn Robinson #94 of the Los Angeles Rams warms up before the game against the Arizona Cardinals at SoFi Stadium on October 03, 2021 in Inglewood, California. (Photo by Harry How/Getty Images)
INGLEWOOD, CALIFORNIA - OCTOBER 03: A'Shawn Robinson #94 of the Los Angeles Rams warms up before the game against the Arizona Cardinals at SoFi Stadium on October 03, 2021 in Inglewood, California. (Photo by Harry How/Getty Images) /
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The Dallas Cowboys are all-in on winning a Super Bowl next season.

That’s certainly what their early offseason aggressive suggests as they have secured trades for Stephon Gilmore and Brandin Cooks, two of the best players at their respective positions who have three Super Bowl appearances combined between them.

Dallas has yet to make an external signing, but that’s not going to last forever. They were active in the first wave, but prioritized re-signing their own, including Donovan Wilson, Leighton Vander Esch, Cooper Rush and C.J. Goodwin.

There’s admittedly very few roster holes to fill after all of these moves. Between the remainder of free agency and April’s draft, the Cowboys should boast one of the league’s premier rosters by the start of the offseason program.

With that in mind, here are two signings Dallas can make to put an exclamation point on their perfect start to the offseason.

2 free agent signings that would give Cowboys a perfect offseason

INGLEWOOD, CALIFORNIA – JANUARY 17: Aaron Donald #99 of the Los Angeles Rams rushes as Justin Pugh #67 of the Arizona Cardinals defends during the NFC Wild Card at SoFi Stadium on January 17, 2022 in Inglewood, California. The Rams won 34-11. (Photo by Michael Owens/Getty Images)
INGLEWOOD, CALIFORNIA – JANUARY 17: Aaron Donald #99 of the Los Angeles Rams rushes as Justin Pugh #67 of the Arizona Cardinals defends during the NFC Wild Card at SoFi Stadium on January 17, 2022 in Inglewood, California. The Rams won 34-11. (Photo by Michael Owens/Getty Images) /

2. Justin Pugh, OL

Pictured above is Pugh winning a rep against Aaron Donald. Do we need to say anything else? In all seriousness, the Cowboys need interior offensive line help after Connor McGovern signed with Buffalo early on in free agency.

Dallas obviously has Tyler Smith to play left guard in McGovern’s wake, but that doesn’t solve their Terence Steele predicament. Coming off a torn ACL, Steele is expected to be ready for training camp, but it would be shortsighted to pencil him into the Week 1 starting lineup.

If the Cowboys move Tyron Smith to right tackle, where he played exclusively after returning from injury late in the 2022 season, and the younger Smith to right tackle until Steele is ready, that creates a hole at left guard.

Could Dallas simply draft a guard early? Sure, but that wouldn’t change the fact they’re short on bodies on the interior. Pugh has started 119 of 120 games in his career, and has played both guard positions, an even a little right tackle.

Pro Football Focus projects Pugh to get a one-year, $2.05 million deal with $1.23 million guaranteed. It wouldn’t be a splash signing by any means, but the importance of having offensive line depth cannot be understated and Pugh has a long track record of delivering viable interior OL play in his career.

Now, about that splash signing …

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