3 former players Mike McCarthy could sign to save his job with Cowboys

2. David Bakhtiari

Five-time All-Pro David Bakhtiari could be available this offseason. He is under contract in Green Bay for another season, but his cap hit of a little over $40 million puts the Packers in a tough spot.

Factoring in his recent injury history and contract situation, it's unlikely that teams will offer much to the Packers in a trade, especially if they know he will likely get cut. However, Dallas should have interest if Green Bay releases its star left tackle.

Bakhtiari only played one game this season and has missed a lot of time since suffering a significant knee injury on New Year's Eve in 2020. He hasn't played since Week 1, undergoing surgery "aimed at allowing him to play at full strength in 2024," per NFL Network's Ian Rapoport.

But it would be a low-risk, high-reward move—Bakhtiari isn't going to sign a massive multi-year contract. The Cowboys could sign him to a team-friendly one-year deal.

The upside is huge. Bakhtiari hasn't lost any of his All-Pro ability. Despite missing a lot of time in recent years, he is still a dominant pass protector when healthy, even when he hasn't practiced the week of a game. Bakhtiari has experience in Mike McCarthy's offense and can win consistently against the league's top pass rushers one-on-one.