How the Dallas Cowboys are built for the long haul

The Dallas Cowboys have not been big spenders in free agency, but they’re fulfilling their roster with wise spending on key personnel.

Over the last several years, the Dallas Cowboys treat the free agent signing period like the bubonic plague. When it comes to spending large sums of money on talented players, the Cowboys are cheap! As I started before in a previous article about the Cowboys and their spending, this team is tighter than a Dixie hat band. If you know anything about a Dixie hat band, it’s very tight.

With each passing day of free agency, we watched helplessly as the Cowboys passed on elite, ultra-talented All Pro Safety Earl Thomas (and Thomas wanted to play for the Cowboys), Landon Collins, Adrian Amos, Ha Ha Clinton-Dix, and Lamarcus Joyner (just to name a few)..

But after the smoke cleared and teams had paid handsomely for the aforementioned free agent safeties, the Cowboys zeroed in on two key free agents -Slot Receiver Randall Cobb and Strong Safety George Iloka. In addition, the Cowboys signed defensive linemen Christian Covington and Kerry Hyder to free-agent contracts.

It’s Cobb’s and Iloka signings that were the most impressive, but Cobb’s signing is seen as a high reward deal because the Cowboys paid Cobb only $5 million for one season. Wow! Now that’s a bargain.

With the signing of those players and a few others, the Cowboys’ roster is built for the long haul. When I say long haul, that translation means a successful season is on the horizon because of the significant free agent signings to fulfill must needed positions.

Plus, Dallas retained their own players like Jamize Olawale, Cameron Fleming, Tavon Austin, and L.P. Ladouceur. Further, Dallas is rumored to be in trade discussions with Miami Dolphins defensive end Robert Quinn. Even running back C.J. Anderson is rumored on the team’s radar.

When you combine all of these signings (future signings) with an experienced team that won the NFC East and a playoff game last season, Dallas will be lethal on both sides of the ball.

Cobb gives Dallas’ offense an explosive weapon to go along with Amari Cooper, Michael Gallup, Allen Hurns, Tavon Austin, Noah Brown and the Mr. Reliable Jason Witten.

Cobb is the difference maker because he can play in the slot and on the outside with the ability to take a five-yard slant or post route to pay dirt. Also, the speedster serves as a safety blanket for Dak Prescott.

Cobb’s presence has made Dak’s job easier and forces opposing defenses to pick their poison-either stop the run or get beat by the pass.

The offense already has one of the best offensive lines in the league with All Pro center Travis Frederick returning after being sidelined all of 2018 with Guillian-Bare syndrome. Then the offense boosts the NFL’s leading rusher in Ezekiel Elliott, and the quarterback with the most fourth quarter comebacks since 2016 in Dak.

As an added bonus, this young bunch is hungry for a Super Bowl. Dallas’ offense has depth and gives offensive coordinator Kellen Moore plenty of options to work with.

As good as Dallas’ defense played last season as a top-10 unit, it had a glaring weakness in its secondary , specifically at the Strong Safety position. SS Jeff Heath is capable of landing a big hit or intercepting a ball when least expected, but he’s mediocre at best most of the time making him better as a reserve and special teamer.

That’s about it. Too many times Heath had a took a bad angle on a play or was burned like toast in coverage.

But Iloka is an upgrade from Heath and is a good compliment to free safety Xavier Woods. Iloka has recorded 359 tackles and nine interceptions during his NFL career.