Dallas Cowboys: Top-5 Free Agent Defensive Tackles to Target

Michael Pierce

Age: 27

PFF Rank: 49 (But top-5 last season)

Ladies and gentlemen, I give you your trashcan full of dirt. Over the past couple seasons Michael Pierce has been a beast against the run up in Baltimore. The 27-year-old stands 6-foot-0 340lbs and is an elite performer against the run.

Banged up in 2019, his recent numbers and film are a little deceiving. But if you look at his total body of work, especially that 2018 breakout season, you’ll find a guy who may be a steal on the free agent market (Should Baltimore let him walk).

According to Pro Football Focus, Pierce was the 5th best interior defender in 2018. And his 12.0 percent run-stop percentage was second in the NFL inside.

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Change in Philosophy

In case you haven’t noticed, there’s a lot of run-stuffing DTs on the market this offseason. Normally this is a position and a role the Dallas Cowboys take a hard pass on, but 2020 is shaping up to be anything but normal. The coaching change combined with vulnerability against the run and Leighton Vander Esch and Jaylon Smith’s sudden regression make a big-bodied DT more of a need than a want.

With the exception of Pierce, all of the tackles listed do have some pass-rushing qualities as well. Defensive Coordinator Mike Nolan and D-Line Coach Jim Tomsula both value explosiveness so finding a player who has a bit of everything is optimal.

What say you? Is it time the Dallas Cowboys invest free agent money in the DT position or would you rather invest in the secondary? Do you have better options? Perhaps retaining Maliek Collins? Sound off..