Dallas Cowboys: 5 Free Agent Defensive Tackles to Target

Dallas Cowboys: Free Agent DTs

Shelby Harris

A player the Dallas Cowboys are more likely to spend big on is Denver Broncos defensive tackle, Shelby Harris. At age 30, he’s not exactly the ideal age to invest in, but as one of the top producing interior linemen on the market, he’s exactly what the Dallas Cowboys need.

Unlike Tomlinson, Harris is pass-rusher who can consistently offer pressure inside – something Dallas was at the bottom  of the league in last year. His 76.1 run defense grade from Pro Football Focus shows he wasn’t just a dominant pass-rusher, but also an asset against the run. Keep in mind, that was higher than Antwaun Woods and Tomlinson each scored in their run defense.

Harris, 6-foot-3, 300lbs. was graded by PFF as the 8th overall DT last season. He’s coming off arguably his best season to-date and has been an ascending player ever since joining the Broncos back in 2017. So he’s hardly the declining player Poe and McCoy were when Dallas signed them last offseason.

COVID protocols and a season ending injury in Week 17 limited his games to just 11 last year but in the games he played, he was consistently disruptive. Denver would love to have him back but they are facing some big financial decisions this offseason and may not be able to.

Spotrac estimated he was worth $11million/year last year but after the market fizzled, he accepted a $3.25M one-year deal to prove it again. Having silenced doubters, expect him to command something closer to that $11M/season multiyear deal this season than the bargain contract he played on in 2020.

Last season was the first time Harris did not play all 16 games since joining the Broncos. Despite his age, he’s an ascending player who’s been extremely durable over the course of his career. If Dallas breaks the bank for someone, this is the kinda guy they’ll go after.