3 Tyron Smith backups Cowboys should sign in free agency
3. Cameron Fleming
There is nothing wrong with a second go-round. Cameron Fleming already knows what it is like to play as Tyron Smith’s backup. He signed with Dallas in 2018 and played in 14 games, starting three of them at left tackle when Smith got hurt. He performed well and protected Prescott, who had his best year to that point and helped Ezekiel Elliott lead the league in rushing for the second time in his career.
Fleming came back in 2019 and once again started three games at left tackle in place of the injured Smith. Surprisingly Dallas declined the option on his contract extension he signed after 2018 and Fleming signed with the divisional rival New York Giants in 2020.
After starting all 16 games in New York, Fleming went to the Denver Broncos where he has spent the past two seasons. As a backup he only appeared in five games, starting four in 2021. He started 15 games this past season in Russell Wilson’s first year in Denver, but the Broncos let him walk in free agency.
Bringing back Fleming would be an easy depth piece for the Cowboys. While it is rare, Dallas has been known to bring back players for a second go-around with the club such as Brandon Carr and Abram Elam. While both of those reunions did not pan out, Fleming’s could. He is primarily a swing tackle, making him easier to be a “plug and play” guy on the line.
All three of these tackles are not the cream of the crop in this year’s free agency class. If Jerry wants any of these guys bad enough, he can easily have them. While the Cowboys will more than likely draft multiple offensive linemen in the upcoming draft, they should still look to bring in at least some more veteran help through free agency. Smith is nearing the end of his career and Dallas needs to be thinking about the future to some degree.
