The Dallas Cowboys front office has seen all of the criticism following the horrifying playoff loss against the Green Bay Packers. In response to that criticism, owner Jerry Jones has come out and said that he isn't looking to rebuild in 2024, and is instead looking to go "all-in" for the 2024 season.
What that means exactly remains unclear. They could go all-in and sign their free agents or it could mean going out and spending money on outside free agents.
The Cowboys are currently over the cap and will need to hit some triggers in some of the current contracts they have with players like Trevon Diggs, Zack Martin, and Terence Steele. There's also the possibility of giving a new contract to quarterback Dak Prescott which would enhance their cap space dramatically and give the front office more options in free agency.
With that in mind, here are several impending free agents outside the organization who'd qualify as "all-in" signings.
Defensive Tackle
Grover Stewart - Indianapolis Colts
PFF Overall Grade: 21st out of 130 Defensive Tackles
The Cowboys tried to get themselves a run stuffing defensive tackle in the draft taking Mazi Smith in the first round but that blew up in their faces they also have Johnathan Hankins hitting free agency. Smith's inability to get off the ball on time and his weight issues will lead the team to go back to the drawing board, this time signing another big-bodied run stuffer to go along with resigning Hankins. A perfect fit would be Stewart who during his time in Indianapolis has been their best run-defending defensive tackle.
With Stewart on the field, the Colts were one of the better teams at stopping opposing rushing attacks compared to when he was out, and the team ranked dead last. He has the ability to eat up double teams and free up linebackers to make plays, but he also has the power to shed blockers to make plays himself if out in one-on-one situations. Pairing him with Hankins would be a running back's worst nightmare and give the Cowboys two solid run defenders that would give any offensive line issues.
Leonard Williams - Seattle Seahawks
PFF Overall Grade: 22nd out of 130 Defensive Tackles
Sometimes it's best to look inside your division to find players to that can help you, and while Williams was shipped out of the division mid-season the Cowboys know him very well and know just how effective he can be in stopping the run having faced him for years in New York. The addition of Williams to this defensive front would give the Cowboys a run stopping defensive tackle that has also shown an ability to play on passing downs with effective pressure up the middle. That ability to create pressure on passing downs would give the Cowboys the ability to keep a run defender on the field with Osa Odighizuwa and force offenses to account for each of them and open up more lanes for Micah Parson's and DeMarcus Lawrence to rush on the outside and in on stunts.
Williams's asking price might be high but if you are truly going all in and you're bringing back Hankins on a smaller deal, you should have the opportunity to get Williams and give them a lot more versatility in the middle of their defensive line.
Linebacker
Patrick Queen - Baltimore Ravens
PFF Overall Grade: 23rd out of 82 Linebackers
The Cowboys' situation at linebacker isn't the greatest but they do have DeMarvion Overshown coming back from his torn ACL which helps. The issue is the injury history of Leighton Vander Esch and his inability to stay healthy, the Cowboys need to find themselves another option at the position, someone with experience and the same attributes as Vander Esch if not better. That's where Queen comes in, the Ravens linebacker has been a force in the running game during his time there, but his play in pass coverage against running backs and tight ends is better than Vander Esch along with his ability to rush the passer.
The Cowboys would be able to pair two highly athletic linebackers together, players that are effective at both stopping the run and dropping back into coverage. Not too many teams can say that, but again that's if the Joneses are serious about going all-in. Queen would be an excellent addition if that were the case.
Lavonte David - Tampa Bay Buccaneers
PFF Overall Grade: 28th out of 83 Linebackers
David has been a name Cowboys fans have floated around quite a bit last offseason and during the trade deadline this season. While he's an older linebacker his intelligence on the field is beyond reproach and would come in handy for a Dallas Cowboys team looking for a veteran to man the middle of their defense and teach their younger linebackers how to play the position. David would be a bit of a liability in the passing game but can still make a difference in the running game for the Cowboys if given the opprotunity to do so.
The Cowboys can't trust that Vander Esch will be able to come back from that serious neck injury and even though he's a player they really like they have to get out of that mentality, especially with a player that is dealing with an issue that serious. David would be able to come in and help get their linebacking group back on track and help develop their future at the position.
Center
Andre James - Las Vegas Raiders
PFF Overall Grade: 9th out of 36 Centers
The Cowboys need to find themselves a center for the future, a center that has the ability to hold up against the more physical defensive tackles in the NFL because Tyler Biadasz just hasn't been able to. James could be a player that the Cowboys look at if they are looking to go outside and find someone to hold down the fort and take one in the upcoming draft. He's a physical center at the point of attack with the ability to get to the second level of the defense quickly in order to pick up his blocks.
He's also a solid pass protector, his ability to mirror defenders and carry his man is something that the Cowboys can use in the center of their offensive line. It would be a nice signing for Dallas if they are able to pry him away from the Raiders.
Lloyd Cushenberry III - Denver Broncos
PFF Overall Grade: 10th out of 36 Centers
A few years ago Cushenberry III wouldn't have sniffed this list for the Cowboys as he came into the league and wasn't performing at a high level. Things have changed for him the last two seasons and now Cushenberry III truly looks like an NFL center that can hold his own against both speed rushers and the bigger and stronger defensive tackles in the league. He does have deficiencies in run blocking, mainly his ability to pull and reach blockers at times but his pass blocking is something that can't be overlooked.
Cushenberry would give the Cowboys a veteran center that has seen just as much as Biadasz has with a better ability to block in the passing game and better run blocking that Biadasz has given the Cowboys since his arrival. The Cowboys are going to get another center this offseason, hopefully, it's someone who can replace what they have now.
Wide Receiver
Michael Pittman Jr. - Indianapolis Colts
PFF Overall Grade: 27th out of 128 Wide Receivers
If we're going all in then let's do it, the first receiver on my list is the top receiver for the Colt, Michael Pittman Jr. I know the Cowboys are going to be looking to pay CeeDee Lamb this offseason but they can't just hope that they are able to keep Brandin Cooks around to help, they need another young receiver that can come in and help this passing attack, one not named Michael Gallup. Pittman Jr. isn't a burner but this offense isn't predicated on having speeders on the outside as much as it focuses on route running and timing.
His ability to beat his man off the line of scrimmage and run crisp routes paired with Lamb and Cooks would be a deadly combination for this Cowboys passing attack. It would also give the Cowboys a passing attack that can go up against any defense in the league.
Darnell Mooney - Chicago Bears
PFF Overall Grade: 107th out of 128 Wide Receivers
Don't let the PFF grade fool you, Mooney is a very good receiver who has been in a run-first offense while with the Bears. If allowed to be in a more consistent passing game, he would be much higher on their list. Unlike Pittman Jr., Mooney does have the speed to get behind defenders along with the ability to get open on the more intermediate routes and finding holes in zone coverages. Mooney would be a better option than Gallup who just seems to have lost a few steps since his torn ACL and the Cowboys can't wait for him to regain his confidence and need to move on.
Mooney would give them that option at a fraction of the cost that they are paying Gallup to catch one or two passes a game. This move would be a no-brainer in my book and the fact that you wouldn't have to break the bank to do it is even better.