Cowboys reuniting with troubled defender makes more sense than you think

Dallas Cowboys fans are up in arms over CeeDee Lamb's contract saga. It also seems like Dak Prescott will play out the final year of his contract. The front office deserves all the vitriol that's come its way, but it has also made a flurry of savvy moves in the past week.

Between trading for cornerback Andrew Booth, who led the Cowboys with eight tackles in Saturday's preseason win, trading for defensive tackle Jordan Phillips and signing edge rusher Carl Lawson, the Cowboys plugged the remaining holes on their already-polished defense.

Jerry Jones said Monday the team isn't done adding to its DT room. That's exactly what Cowboys fans want to hear, but Jones and Co. should also have incentive to add another pass rusher.

Lawson is a quality pickup, but the DE room still leaves something to be desired. One more body would go a long way. It may sound outlandish, but a reunion with old friend Randy Gregory (!) is suddenly possible after he was released by the Buccaneers.

The Cowboys should consider signing DE Randy Gregory

Gregory inked a one-year, $3 million deal with the Buccaneers in April. However, he skipped mandatory minicamp and had yet to report to training camp, which is just about over, before his release. The cause behind Gregory's extended absence is still unknown.

It's been a turbulent year for Gregory, who signed with the 49ers late last season after he was released by the Broncos less than two years after he signed a five-year, $70 million contract. The former Cowboys second-round pick is suing Denver and the NFL after he was fined $500k for THC use that he says was prescribed for PTSD and social anxiety.

It's unclear what caused Gregory's falling out with Tampa Bay. Assuming he isn't contemplating retirement, the Cowboys should absolutely kick the tires on a reunion.

Jerry Jones might have to mend fences with Gregory, who claimed Jones "acted in bad faith" when Dallas tried to re-sign him during the 2022 offseason. Assuming Gregory isn't still holding a grudge, he'd be a sound final addition to the DE room.

Cowboys fans are excited about the signing of Lawson, but his injury history cannot be ignored. Furthermore, rookie Marshawn Kneeland already looks like a plus run defender, but he is still developing as a pass rusher. Mike Zimmer plans to play Chauncey Golston more on the edge than inside, but like Kneeland he is more accustomed to stopping the run.

Gregory's history with suspensions and being injured is well-documented, but he enjoyed his best seasons with the Cowboys. While he might not be the game-wrecker Dallas nearly paid him to be, he can be a dynamic role player as a pass-rush specialist.

A DE room of Micah Parsons, DeMarcus Lawrence, Kneeland, Lawson, Golston and Gregory would allow Zimmer to pull out all the stops.