Off-season roster decisions are rarely as black and white as some want to make them seem. The Dallas Cowboys have to weigh cost, effectiveness, availability, and the future before they dole out cash to any of their own free agents.
It’s not just about signing the best players and letting bad players leave, it’s almost always somewhere in between and the financials are just as important as the play on the field.
Stephen Jones, the Dallas Cowboys chief bargain hunter and unofficial shot caller in most roster decisions, is always on the lookout for a deal. He doesn’t want to spend a penny more than he must and isn’t afraid to gamble if it saves a buck.
The Dallas Cowboys might be able to negotiate bargain deals with these three internal players.
Today we look at three Dallas Cowboys players who are set to hit free agency (kind of) in March. Each one offers value but comes with concerns. This could be just the right amount of leverage Stephen Jones needs to leverage a bargain…
Tyron Smith, OT
Tyron Smith isn’t what he used to be. The man who was once the best left tackle in the NFL is now in the winter of his career. When healthy, he’s good. The problem is he’s never consistently healthy. Smith hasn’t played a full season since 2015 (7 years ago).
Over the past three seasons, Smith has missed a staggering 32 games. Last season alone he missed 13 games. While Smith is young on paper, he’s old in mileage. His 12 years of NFL experience make him the Dallas Cowboys most tenured player. And at a price tag of over $17 million against the cap in 2023, he’s also one of the most expensive.
Unlike the other two players on this list, Smith isn’t a free agent. But at his current cost, Smith also isn’t an option at his expected rate.
Smith sees the writing on the wall and may not have much desire to play somewhere else. There’s a good chance Smith only wants to play in Dallas and if Dallas cuts him, he’s just ride off into the sunset. If so, the Dallas Cowboys may be able to convince Tyron to tear up the old deal and play on a new contract heavily built on incentives.
Bargains for the Dallas Cowboys: Leighton Vander Esch, LB
After struggling in his second and third seasons, Leighton Vander Esch has quietly had two excellent seasons in Dallas. The former first round pick has digested Dan Quinn’s playbook and executed his assignments with expert precision.
Quinn’s heavy usage of big nickel personnel (one that uses an extra safety) makes linebacker a devalued position in Dallas. The Cowboys don’t need to dedicate loads of resources to build out the depth and are allowed to go shallow as long as good players populate the highest ranks.
Leighton Vander Esch can be that player.
LVE is one of the best linebackers in the game. The only problem is he has a troublesome preexisting neck injury that could snuff out a season, even a career, in a single play.
Late in the 2022, many feared the worst when LVE exited with what appeared to be neck injury. Later it was revealed it was pinched nerve/stinger in his shoulder and the star linebacker would be able to recover in a few weeks’ time. The situation served as reminder to all – things could end in an instant and even though LVE is extremely valuable, he’s also walking on thin ice.
While Leighton Vander Esch won’t come cheap, his well-known health situation ensure he’s come below what his market value otherwise should be. The Dallas Cowboys could use this in their bargaining and if they can protect themselves from a reoccurrence of serious injury, they could score a bargain.
Bargains for the Dallas Cowboys: Anthony Brown, CB
Anthony Brown is one of the most underrated players of the current Cowboys era. The former Day 3 pick was an immediate steal for Dallas. The slot CB with outside ability has spent a career bouncing inside and out. Paid like a nickel CB but often playing the boundary out of need, Brown has been a bargain every step of the way.
Yet, last season went horrifically for Brown. Not only was he having one of the worst seasons of his career but he tore his Achilles tendon on December 5th, ending his season and likely impacting his status for the 2023 season.
Recovery times vary but generally speaking it’s thought to be around 11 months. This makes him less-than desirable on the free agent market and could give Dallas ample leverage in striking a team-friendly deal.
The Cowboys can offer to bring him along uninterrupted in his rehab. The familiar confines of the Star and an understanding he doesn’t need to start in Week 1 could be attractive to the 29 year-old CB.
Brown isn’t an ideal starter on a championship roster but he’s a great veteran to have as a top-4 piece with inside-outside ability. If the Cowboys can sign him on a two-year deal near veteran’s minimum, they could have contender-quality depth and insurance in case the draft doesn’t go their way in 2023.
It would allow Brown to rehab at home and return to a familiar system mid-season, when healthy. It would also let him hit the market again at the age of 31, which is young enough to still cash in at least one more time as a player.
Should the Dallas Cowboys re-sign these three players? That’s a different subject by itself. Brown could be seen as progress stopper and crutch the front office leans on too often. Smith could be seen as too unreliable to be helpful. And LVE may be too expensive even with injury protections.
But all three have the potential to be important and all have enough red flags where they could be re-signed for bargain rates. And we know Stephen loves a bargain – even the risky ones.