Dallas Cowboys: 3 Bargain Free Agent Pass-Rushers
By Reid Hanson
The Dallas Cowboys enter free agency with significant needs in the pass-rush department. Here are three potential free agent signings that are both helpful and affordable.
It has been argued that the Dallas Cowboys single, most important position to address this offseason, is edge rusher. It’s not surprising why, either.
The Dallas Cowboys ended this season the same way they did two seasons before – with Aaron Rodgers standing clean in the pocket and picking them apart. Without a reliable edge rusher to lean on, the Cowboys found themselves helpless against the pass in the playoffs once again.
It’s clear something has to change or the Cowboys may never get over that playoff hump – no matter how good their offense gets.
When Stephen Jones said this: “We’re very focused on fixing our pass-rush”, he was specifically referring to the NFL Draft. But that doesn’t mean the draft alone can fix the Cowboys pass-rush problem. In fact, the draft may not fix it at all.
"“As much as we need a pass rusher, I think it’d be a huge mistake to say we can’t get out of the first round without a pass rusher,” Stephen said. “I think that’s how you make a big mistake.”"
If history is an indication, Stephen means what he’s saying. Last offseason the Dallas Cowboys were in a similar situation entering the draft. They need an edge rusher in a big way. But as the draft played out, edge rushers were not the top-ranked players on their board.
It wasn’t until the fourth round that the Cowboys addressed the defensive end position by drafting Charles Tapper. As we discussed last week, the Cowboys WILL be active in free agency this year. They have too many needs they need to turn into wants.
In order for the Dallas Cowboys to stick to their draft board, once again, they will need to turn that defensive end “need” and make it a just a “want”. And they do that by signing an affordable free agent before the draft.
Here are three affordable veteran free agents that could improve the Dallas Cowboys in 2017 and beyond.