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Cowboys: Ranking Moves In Free Agency So Far

By Christian Blood

Aug 1, 2015; Oxnard, CA, USA; Dallas Cowboys director of football administration Todd Williams (left), chief operating officer Stephen Jones and coach Jason Garrett at training camp at River Ridge Fields. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports
Aug 1, 2015; Oxnard, CA, USA; Dallas Cowboys director of football administration Todd Williams (left), chief operating officer Stephen Jones and coach Jason Garrett at training camp at River Ridge Fields. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports /
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Aug 29, 2015; Green Bay, WI, USA; Philadelphia Eagles defensive end Cedric Thornton (72) puts pressure on Green Bay Packers quarterback Brett Hundley (7) in the first quarter at Lambeau Field. Mandatory Credit: Benny Sieu-USA TODAY Sports
Aug 29, 2015; Green Bay, WI, USA; Philadelphia Eagles defensive end Cedric Thornton (72) puts pressure on Green Bay Packers quarterback Brett Hundley (7) in the first quarter at Lambeau Field. Mandatory Credit: Benny Sieu-USA TODAY Sports /

Cowboys Sign Defensive Tackle Cedric Thornton

Four years, $17 million

Ever since the poorly designed 3-4 scheme utilized from 2005-2012 was discarded, the franchise has done little to nothing in terms of re-shaping the front four needed to make defensive coordinator Rod Marinelli’s scheme work. In fact, the Cowboys have, in recent offseasons, lost more key players than they’ve added for the deep end.

Remember DeMarcus Ware, Jay Ratliff, Jason Hatcher and Anthony Spencer?

The first new pieces of the newish 4-3 alignment arrived two years ago with defensive end Demarcus Lawrence. The former Boise State standout was followed up by last season’s additions of second-round draft pick Randy Gregory and free agent Greg Hardy, both players controversial and inconsistent as defensive ends.

Well, free-agent acquisition Cedric Thornton arrives as the first statement player to be added to Tyrone Crawford along the interior of the defensive line. An undrafted free agent out of Southern Arkansas in 2011, Thornton projects as the replacement as the 1-technique tackle, apparently taking over for Nick Hayden.

Thornton’s job won’t be to apply pressure on opposing quarterbacks, although he can get pressure from time to time – his lone sack last season came against Romo, of all people. Occupying blockers and helping to clog the A-gap is the deal here, and this is a job that the 6’3” and 300-plus pound Thornton should be able to handle well.

However, I’m not completely sold on Crawford playing the role of Warren Sapp in Marinelli’s front, so there’s also the chance that Thornton could end up being more than what the Cowboys are expecting.

Some in the Philadelphia media, obviously still miffed that the Eagles ate it big time on the DeMarco Murray deal, will minimize this acquisition by the Cowboys.

Others, like Andy Benoit of MMQB, will acknowledge that Thornton is a very solid pick up for the Cowboys at a definite area of need that was void of playmakers of any kind.

Next: Grading Free Agent Effort So Far

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