Which Cowboys are PFF’s top-50 free agents and where are they going

Who are the NFL’s top-50 free agents this year and where are they going? We look at who the Dallas Cowboys are expected to keep and who they’re expected to lose…

The Dallas Cowboys can play this offseason a variety of ways and frankly, none of them look all that optimal. That’s what you get when roughly half of your starting roster hits free agency at the same time.

Dak Prescott, Amari Cooper, Byron Jones, and Robert Quinn all headline the Dallas Cowboys free agent class. All of them are regarded amongst the best at their respective position and all are going to cash in very shortly. Things are tough on the Cowboys because even if Dallas was able to afford everyone, they still have needs elsewhere they need to address.

Since this is about assessing internal talent as well as options on the market, we turn to our friends at Pro Football Focus (subscription required). PFF scouts all the snaps on all the players across the NFL.

While all fans may not universally like PFF’s sometimes harsh determinations, teams certainly respect them. PFF grades players based on old school scouting and execution along with advanced stats and analytics. It’s worth pointing out that often the people who dislike PFF the most are the same people who understand their methodology the least.

PFF recently released where they think the top-free agents of 2020 are expected to sign and for how much.  While it’s not going to surprise many where they have Cooper (their No. 6 free agent) and Prescott (their No. 2 free agent) playing in 2020, it may surprise some who else from Dallas is included on the list and where they have them landing.

Byron Jones, their overall ninth ranked player and 3rd ranked defensive player, is predicted to go to the AFC and sign for a $16 million per season. According to Spotrac that would make him the highest paid CB in the NFL on a per-year basis.

More from Dallas Cowboys

• Dallas Cowboys Linebackers: 2023 Position Overview
• Ballhawk University: Why the Cowboys will be takeaway leaders
• Dallas Cowboys Player to Watch: Sleeper TE John Stephens, Jr.
• Dallas Cowboys: The impact of Micah Parsons and a well-rounded secondary
• Dallas Cowboys still unsure about their left guard position for 2023

It’s also somewhat notable Robert Quinn isn’t even included on their top-50 list. While Quinn posted the best pass-rush win rate amongst edge rushers last year (according to Next Gen Stats) his overall game didn’t shine as brightly. PFF ranked him the 47th edge rusher last season largely because of his inability to even remotely play the run. This is noteworthy because the Cowboys have expressed a desire to re-sign their soon-to-be 30-year-old defensive end and Spotrac says his market value is roughly $11.8 million per season. Yikes.

The Dallas Cowboys have the privilege (and curse) of having three players in the top-10 free agent list this year and they’ll probably only be able to keep two of them. I think we’ve all come to grips with that reality. But they also might invest heavily in a player well outside the top-50 list, further hampering their ability to make moves elsewhere.

What do you think the Cowboys should do in free agency this offseason?

• Published on 02/20/2020 at 17:01 PM
• Last updated at 02/20/2020 at 13:24 PM