The Dallas Cowboys Quietly Made a Huge Signing With Bryon Bell

The Dallas Cowboys quietly made a significant signing when they inked offensive tackle, Byron Bell, to a one-year deal on Friday

Don’t look now but the Dallas Cowboys are quietly getting things done in free agency. No, they aren’t signing the big flashy stars that garner the headlines, but rather, they’re plugging roster holes in preparation for the NFL Draft next month.

Quite simply, they are doing exactly what we thought they’re be doing.

As we discussed on the eve of free agency earlier in the month, the Dallas Cowboys will be very active in free agency turning “needs” into “wants”. Since that activity is the cornerstone by which you draft “best player available (BPA)” it was clear from the start what the Cowboys would be doing.

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As David Helman first reported on Friday:

The signing of Byron Bell is pretty significant given the pending retirement of right tackle Doug Free. Not that Byron Bell is considered a comparable replacement to Free, because he’s not. But given the lack of options currently on the Dallas Cowboys roster and the shortage of viable options both on the free agent market and in the upcoming draft.

Offensive tackle is tough thing to go hunting for this offseason so the Dallas Cowboys are fortunate they were able to sign an option like Byron Bell.

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How good is Byron Bell?

As stated before, Byron Bell for Doug Free is not an even swap. For as much crap as we give Doug Free for his miscues, he’s head and shoulders better than Byron Bell. Bell’s last full season as a tackle earned him a score from Pro Football Focus that ranked him as the next-to-last tackle in the NFL.

Granted, he was forced to play the left tackle that season and since nothing in his footwork says he’s a left tackle, the coaching staff deserves most of the blame for that score.

The season before that (2013), he played right tackle, ranking 52 of 76 amongst his peers. Not great, but considerably better.

Unfortunately, he hasn’t played either tackle in the past two seasons so the Dallas Cowboys will need to be patient as he re-adjusts to his original position of right tackle.

Draft Implications

With Byron Bell’s signing, the Dallas Cowboys continue their strategy of signing “C” players to fill important roster holes. If the Dallas Cowboys see better options in the draft, they won’t feel hesitant to draft them with such a small free agent investment. Conversely, by filling the need of RT with a capable player, the Cowboys won’t feel obligated to fill the spot with a premium draft pick. This allows the Dallas Cowboys to draft BPA rather than draft for “need”.

That’s why this signing is so huge. It allows the Cowboys ultimate flexibly going forward.

Byron Bell, a former undrafted free agent, started his career in Carolina playing tackle for four years (one year as a LT) and racking up 56 starts. The past two seasons he’s spent in Tennessee starting 16 games at guard in 2015 and missing the 2016 season to injury.

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Having played four of five positions, he offers versatility to the line and fits in most ideally as a backup lineman and possibly even the primary swing tackle. It is still in the Dallas Cowboys best interests if Chaz Green wins the starting right tackle spot early in camp.