NFL free agency is quietly right around the corner, and you can only hope that the Dallas Cowboys have been roadmapping their approach. This year's class is actually deeper than most, and it's only going to get deeper as teams release players in the name of getting under the salary cap.
The Miami Dolphins got the ball rolling in a big way on Monday, releasing star wide receiver Tyreek Hill and standout pass rusher Bradley Chubb, among others.
There may be nothing Jerry Jones loves more than trying to turn another team’s castoff into his own treasure. That philosophy backfired last year, when his trades for former first-round picks Kenneth Murray and Kaiir Elam aged terribly in a hurry.
Jones should take that lesson and apply it to Chubb, who has intriguing counting stats but is no longer prolific at getting after opposing quarterbacks.
Dallas Cowboys should stay far away from ex-Dolphins star Bradley Chubb
Is Chubb better than any of Dallas' current pass rushers? Absolutely, but that doesn't mean the bar should be that low.
Chubb played all 17 games this past season, producing 8.5 sacks and 20 quarterback hits. Not bad numbers by any stretch, but he didn't fare as well in the advanced metrics.
Out of 34 edge defenders who logged at least 380 pass-rush snaps, Chubb's 48 pressures ranked 24th, and his 11.1 percent pass-rush win rate ranked 28th, per Pro Football Focus (subscription required). And he didn't contribute much as a run defender.
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Chubb was a force to be reckoned with early in his career, but injuries have eroded a lot of his athleticism, and he turns 30 in June. He missed all of 2024 with a torn ACL (the second such injury of his career). The production is going to continue to decline.
Do not be seduced by Chubb's sack output. While sacks matter, they’re often the product of coverage holding up or quarterbacks hanging onto the ball too long.
Signing Chubb would signal the Cowboys still aren’t operating in a serious capacity. They’d be far better off pursuing Boye Mafe or Odafe Oweh. Heck, even bringing back Jadeveon Clowney would make more sense if they are serious about fixing the defense.
The Cowboys can’t afford to be choosy, but that doesn't mean they should sign a warm body. Better players are available if they're willing to look hard enough.