A multitude of roster needs exist for the Dallas Cowboys this offseason. So much so that we don't even know where to start in terms of identifying potential solutions.
What is abundantly clear, though, is that the front office needs to plug some holes in free agency and not solely rely on the NFL Draft to supplement their roster turnover. The team has over 20 impending free agents on the roster, most of whom won't be back.
While wide receiver, running back and defensive tackle top the list of needs, linebacker is another sneaky pressure point on the roster.
Eric Kendricks is a free agent and emerging star DeMarvion Overshown is expected to miss at least half the season after major knee surgery. Former fifth-round pick Damone Clark is a cut candidate, but Dallas may need to keep him for sheer body count.
Kendricks is a candidate to return on a team-friendly deal, but it would behoove the front office to target a younger player in free agency. Well, a potential target has entered the picture after the NFL announced its 2025 salary cap number.
Cowboys need to target Robert Spillane in free agency after 2025 salary cap reveal
Teams have been informed that the salary cap will fall between $277.5 million and $281.5 million, according to ESPN's Dan Graziano. That represents a monstrous jump from last season's $255.4 million hard cap. The 2025 cap was iniitally expected to come in around $270 million, so that tells you all you need to know about the money the league is making.
The NFL today informed teams that the 2025 per-team salary cap will fall in the range of $277.5 million to $281.5 million, way up from last year's $255.4 million. Cap will have increased by more than $53 million over the last two years.
— Dan Graziano (@DanGrazianoESPN) February 19, 2025
In any event, Robert Spillane needs to be among Dallas' top priorities entering free agency. Re-signing Osa Odighizuwa and Jourdan Lewis are obviously up there as well, but Spillane should be the first player outside the organization on the to-do list.
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Spillane is one of the NFL's best-kept secrets. It took five (!) seasons for the former undrafted free agent to find a solidified starting role in the league but he was a revelation for the Las Vegas Raiders the last two seasons.
Over that span, Spillane compiled 306 tackles, 17.7 tackles for loss, five interceptions, 103 defensive stops and a combined 88.8 PFF run-defense grade. Those are anything but empty stats.
Speaking solely in terms of last season, 39 linebackers played at least 770 snaps. Among those players, he ranked third in tackles, 10th in defensive stops, third in missed tackle rate, fourth in pass breakups and fourth in tackles for loss among inside backers. Just insane production.
Spillane will turn 30 in December, but he's arguably just hitting his prime given he wasn't a full-time starter until 2023. He's an every-down player and he'd wear the green dot for Matt Eberflus as the organizer of the defense. He plays with a competitive edge the new coaching staff has preached and he's good for the occasional splash play in coverage.
Zack Baun, Nick Bolton, Lavonte David, Dre Greenlaw, and Bobby Wagner are considered the cream of this year's linebacker crop in free agency. We'd venture to say that Spillane is the second-best player in that group behind Baun.
He needs to be the Cowboys' top priority in March.