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Dallas Cowboys: 3 Bargain Free Agent Pass-Rushers

By Reid Hanson

Dec 27, 2015; Glendale, AZ, USA; Green Bay Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers (12) loses his helmet while being sacked by Arizona Cardinals outside linebacker Alex Okafor (57) and cornerback Jerraud Powers (25) during the second half at University of Phoenix Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Matt Kartozian-USA TODAY Sports
Dec 27, 2015; Glendale, AZ, USA; Green Bay Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers (12) loses his helmet while being sacked by Arizona Cardinals outside linebacker Alex Okafor (57) and cornerback Jerraud Powers (25) during the second half at University of Phoenix Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Matt Kartozian-USA TODAY Sports /
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dallas cowboys
Oct 16, 2016; Green Bay, WI, USA; Green Bay Packers linebacker Julius Peppers (56) during the game against the Dallas Cowboys at Lambeau Field. Dallas won 30-16. Mandatory Credit: Jeff Hanisch-USA TODAY Sports /

Julius Peppers

Age: 37

Height: 6’7”  Weight: 287lbs

Sacks Last Season: 7.5

Last Team: Green Bay Packers

Julius Peppers has been a familiar name and reoccurring thorn in the Dallas Cowboys side for some time. At 37, Peppers is on the down slope, but that doesn’t mean he couldn’t help a team like Dallas if cast in the right role.

That’s 21 spots higher than the highest rated Cowboy

Peppers’ starting days are long gone. After seemingly wearing down in 2015, Peppers was cast in a part-time role in 2016. As the intensity of the season picked up, so did Peppers’ snap count.

Not surprisingly, Julius Peppers saw his collective statistics take a dip in 2016.

Peppers’ sack total dropped from 10.5 to 7.5 in 2016, but his snap-to-snap productivity increased. Despite only playing 715 snaps, Julius Peppers was rated by Pro Football Focus as the 35th ranked edge defender in the NFL last season. That’s 21 spots higher than the highest rated Cowboy (Tyrone Crawford at 56) and his 7.5 sacks were more than the Cowboys sack leader Benson Mayowa (6.5).

Even as a part-time player, Julius Peppers was better than the Dallas Cowboys best edge players! That’s both a testament to Peppers and an indictment on the Cowboys.

If Peppers decides to play in 2017, it would be to chase a Super Bowl, not to get paid. And with so much budding young talent in Green Bay, his place on the Packers roster is probably gone. But on a team like Cowboys, serving a part-time role of rushing the passer from the right defensive end spot, he would be an asset.

Without knowing what the draft holds, the Cowboys would be wise to consider adding an affordable role player like Peppers to the mix.

Or maybe they should sign this affordable veteran pass-rusher…

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