With Super Bowl LVIII in the rearview, Dallas Cowboys fans can officially focus on the offseason.
The 2023 NFL season saw America's Team win their second NFC East title in three seasons, however, the fanbase was left wanting more as the Cowboys were eliminated by the Green Bay Packers in the Wild Card Round, extending the near-30-year Super Bowl drought in the process.
Team owner/general manager Jerry Jones has hyped up Dallas' potential offseason plans, but it remains to be seen what those entail. If the Cowboys do plan on going "all in" over the coming months, chances are that some familiar faces will be sent packing, whether it's because of an underperformance or they're asking for too much money as a free agent.
Either way, don't be surprised if these 12 Cowboys are no longer in the Lone Star State come September.
1. Tony Pollard, RB
Cowboys fans had high hopes for running back Tony Pollard in his first season as the starting running back. After all, the former Memphis rusher had a career year behind Ezekiel Elliott in 2022, amassing 1,378 scrimmage yards (1,007 rushing, 371 receiving) and 12 touchdowns across 232 touches (193 carries, 39 receptions).
Unfortunately, Pollard's production left much to be desired in 2023. Despite starting in a career-high 17 games and seeing 75 more touches than last year, the 26-year-old veteran only finished with 1,316 scrimmage yards and six TDs. Was it the worst performance ever? No, but it was disappointing given what he did with fewer opportunities one year ago.
Furthermore, he rushed for at least 80 yards just once in 2023 compared to seven times in 2022.
Fast forward a bit and Pollard is slated to hit free agency next month. While the Cowboys could wind up re-signing him, nothing suggests that they should. It's possible that Pollard might just not be a three-down RB and Dallas could end up going with a cheaper/younger option through the NFL Draft.
2. Tyron Smith, LT
All eyes are on the Cowboys to see how they handle Tyron Smith's free agency situation.
Smith has been an integral part of Dallas' offensive line for over a decade, starting 161 games since being drafted ninth overall in 2011. The former USC blocker has been one of the best tackles throughout his time in the league, being named All-Pro five times and to the Pro Bowl on eight occasions while even being named to the NFL 2010s All-Decade Team.
Having said that, Smith hits free agency in March and his future in Big D is unclear. While many would love to see him return (myself included), Jerry Jones & Co. could feel a different way. After all, Smith turns 34 later this year and hasn't played a full season since 2015. Despite how good he is, the Cowboys might not want to continue paying him big bucks — especially with their being an estimated $14.2 million over the salary cap, per Spotrac.
If Smith is willing to take a major pay cut, another season or two in Dallas isn't out of the question. If not, the Cowboys might attempt to replace him by using their first-round pick on a cheaper, younger option.
3. Cooper Rush, QB
With the Cowboys nearly $14 million over the cap, chances are that they're going to look at their current contracts for help freeing up space. With that in mind, it wouldn't be shocking if backup quarterback Cooper Rush is a cap casualty.
Rush joined the Cowboys as an undrafted free agent back in 2017, spending his entire career with the franchise aside from a five-month stint with the Giants in 2020. He's led Dallas to a 5-1 record across six starts in 26 appearances, completing 60.6% of passes for 1,619 yards, eight touchdowns, five interceptions, and an 83.6 passer rating.
It's clear that the Cowboys love having Rush as Dak Prescott's backup, but that run could be coming to an ending. According to Spotrac, Dallas can open $2.25 million in cap space if they trade or release the 30-year-old at any point this offseason.
Considering how important every penny is when building a championship contender, Rush could be sent packing if the Cowboys believe the sacrifice is worth it.
4. Neville Gallimore, DT
It's clear that Neville Gallimore hasn't been developing as the Cowboys hoped he would when they used the No. 82 pick in 2020 to draft him.
Gallimore was largely invisible throughout the campaign despite playing all 17 games. Playing a career-low 27% of defensive tackles, the Canadian defender only registered 16 tackles, one defended pass, and a sack. It's fairly disappointing given that it was also his first season where he didn't average two tackles per game.
Even though he'll occasionally make a play that grabs fans' attention, it's beginning to seem like Gallimore isn't meant to be an everyday starter. He just turned 27 in January, so chances are he is who he is at this point and likely won't live up to the Day 2 hype that surrounded him four years ago.
Other Cowboys defensive linemen are also hitting free agency this offseason and there's a good chance that they'll prioritize re-signing them over Gallimore.
5. Brandin Cooks, WR
The Cowboys made a big splash last April when they acquired veteran wideout Brandin Cooks from the Houston Texans in exchange for two future draft picks. With Michael Gallup plateauing, Dallas hoped that the six-time 1,000-yard receiver would make for an adequate WR2 behind CeeDee Lamb.
The 2023 campaign proved to be a mixed bag for the former Oregon State Beaver. On one hand, Cooks' eight receiving TDs were tied for the second-best mark of his career. On the other hand, he only recorded 657 yards — his fewest since 2019 — while his 41.1 receiving yards per contest was a new low.
For those hoping that he'll bounce back next season, I wouldn't hold my breath. Cooks has had a terrific career, but he's now had back-to-back campaigns with fewer than 700 yards — not exactly the type of production that warrants a $10 million cap hit in 2024. He also turns 31 shortly after the next season begins, which is around the age when wide receivers tend to fall off a cliff.
If the Cowboys want to get out of his contract, there are options. Dallas can either trade or release Cooks before June 1 to free up $4 million in cap space or wait until after that date to save $8 million. Either way, it looks like there's a good chance that the Stockton, CA native won't be around AT&T Stadium next season.
6. Rico Dowdle, RB
Pollard isn't the only free-agent running back that the Cowboys must address this offseason.
Third-year rusher Rico Dowdle is also gearing up to test the open market. The ex-South Carolina Gamecock joined the Cowboys as an undrafted free agent in 2020 but didn't see any real playing time until this past season, having spent the majority of the two previous campaigns on special teams.
Turns out Dowdle was waiting for the right time to show up because he made the most of his opportunities in 2023. Appearing in 16 games without a start, the 25-year-old turned 89 carries into 361 rushing yards and two touchdowns while adding 17 receptions for another 144 yards and a pair of scores.
Even though Cowboys fans wouldn't mind Dowdle as the RB2 in 2024, it might not happen. A potential suitor could believe that he's primed for a bigger role and offer him a contract that Dallas can't match. He did score a rushing TD in each of the two games where he saw 12 carries, so it isn't unfathomable to believe that he could do more with a bigger workload.
Dowdle is also a restricted free agent, meaning the Cowboys might not mind losing him due to the potential compensation they could receive.
7. Dorance Armstrong, DE
Dorance Armstrong's career in Dallas began slowly, but he's become a key part of the pass rush over the last three seasons. Since the beginning of the 2021 NFL season, only Micah Parsons has more sacks (40.5) in a Cowboys jersey than the former Kansas Jayhawk (21.0).
The 2023 campaign was another productive year for Armstrong as he racked up 20 solo tackles, seven lost yardage tackles, 7.5 sacks, and a defended pass across 17 games without a start. His production is seriously impressive given that his 42% share of defensive snaps is his lowest mark of the last three years.
What's also wild is that he doesn't even turn 27 until June despite already having six NFL seasons under his belt. There's a chance that his development might not be done and he could be more lethal next year.
Having said that, Armstrong's next campaign might not be in a Cowboys jersey. Teams are going to line up to strengthen their defensive lines this offseason and the 26-year-old will be a popular candidate to help. Unless Dallas frees up enough space to keep him in Texas, the fanbase may have already witnessed Armstrong's last game as a Cowboy.
8. Bryan Anger, P
Punters don't get a ton of attention, but Cowboys supporters should be interested to see what happens with Bryan Anger this offseason.
Anger, 35, was one of the best punters in the league last season. He racked up a career-high 51.4 yards on 44 punt attempts with 38.6% of them landing inside of the 20-yard line. The Camarillo, CA native's efforts were good enough to see him named All-Pro second-team and to the Pro Bowl for the second time since arriving at Dallas in 2021.
In any other offseason, I wouldn't imagine Anger leaving. After all, he still does have one season remaining on his three-year contract.
At the same time, the Cowboys' cap situation could see them looking for a replacement for the outside. Anger carries a $3.8 million cap hit in 2024 and while that won't break the bank, it's a lot for an aging punter. Dallas can, however, free up $3 million from that number whether they trade or waive him at any point this offseason.
Spotrac lists eight punters hitting free agency and with plenty of other options available through the draft, the Cowboys replacing Anger is a real possibility.
9. Jourdan Lewis, CB
The Cowboys had one of the best cornerback rooms in 2023. Unfortunately, Jourdan Lewis didn't exactly do much to contribute to that success.
The former 2017 third-rounder struggled in coverage throughout the year, surrendering 44 receptions for 464 yards and four TDs on 71 targets. His 62.0% completion rate allowed and 93.9 opposing passer rating played key reasons why PFF gave Lewis the third-worst coverage grade (39.5) out of 126 eligible CBs.
While the Cowboys could bring Lewis back, re-signing him is hardly a necessity. Fellow CBs DaRon Bland, Trevon Diggs, Nashon Wright, Israel Mukuamu, and Eric Scott Jr. are still under contract and Dallas still has to decide whether or not it wants to re-sign Stephon Gilmore. Even if the franchise wants Lewis to return, it just might not be a realistic scenario.
After being torched for 61 yards on two receptions by the Green Bay Packers in the Wild Card Round, there's a good chance that Lewis' time with the Cowboys is over.
10. Stephon Gilmore, CB
After just mentioning how the Cowboys might consider re-signing him, I have to acknowledge that there's a chance that Stephon Gilmore won't return next season, too.
Gilmore, a five-time Pro Bowl CB, arrived in Dallas on a one-year deal last offseason. While some players slow down when they reach his age (33), the former South Carolina Gamecock was still fairly effective. He clocked in as PFF's No. 35-graded cornerback (71.2) after allowing 53 receptions for 659 yards and four TDs on 95 targets.
It wasn't his best performance, but the Cowboys are grateful they had Gilmore after losing Diggs to a season-ending ACL tear. Dallas fans would now love to see what the Gilmore-Diggs-Bland trio could do with a full season of health, but they might not get the chance to witness that.
As mentioned before, Gilmore is a free agent and won't come cheap. Spotrac lists his market value at $11.1 million annually, which is worth it for the 2019 NFL Defensive Player of the Year. At the same time, it's a number the Cowboys won't be able to afford unless significantly more space is freed up.
Hell, there might not be any amount of money that could convince him to stay. Gilmore made it clear in 2022 that he wants to reunite with the New England Patriots before he retires. Given that he's approaching his mid-30s, he could opt to chase that dream as early as this offseason, much to the Cowboys' dismay.
11. Dante Fowler, DE
Dante Fowler joined the Cowboys in 2022 and made an immediate impact, registering 22 solo tackles, 6.0 sacks, two defended passes, and a pair of forced fumbles. Unfortunately, his follow-up campaign wasn't as impressive.
Despite playing the same number of games (17), Fowler's numbers were down, tallying only eight solo tackles and 4.0 sacks. He did swat three passes and even forced a fumble, but it wasn't enough to impress the fanbase. Even the coaching staff was down on the former 2015 third-overall pick, using him for only 270 defensive snaps compared to 343 last year.
If the Cowboys are dead-set on bringing back Armstrong, I don't see them shelling out the cash to keep Fowler, who is three years older than his counterpart. A return to Dallas is even less likely for Fowler seeing as how former defensive coordinator Dan Quinn — who coached him in three of the last four seasons — is no longer around.
Fowler is a decent defender and might still have some juice left in the tank, but he just isn't needed in Dallas anymore. The Cowboys have other D-linemen they have to take care of and re-signing the former Florida Gator shouldn't be a priority unless he's willing to take an extremely cheap deal.
12. Jayron Kearse, S
The 2023 campaign marked Jayron Kearse's third straight as a Cowboys starter. But even though he's become a mainstay on defense, his future in Dallas is uncertain following an underwhelming season.
Kearse struggled in coverage this year, giving up 25 receptions for 307 receiving yards on 38 targets. He allowed a career-worst 12.3 receiving yards per reception and received the fifth-worst coverage grade (43.6) among 96 eligible safeties on PFF. In fact, his overall grade of 44.9 was the second-worst mark at his position.
Considering how the Cowboys had one of the best pass defenses in the NFL, it isn't hard to imagine things improving by removing Kearse from the equation. Addition by subtraction, right? Besides, it shouldn't be tough for Dallas to find someone who can do his job but better, whether that's through the open market or draft.
After turning 30 on Super Bowl Sunday, Kearse is at the age where he won't get better than what he's shown. The Cowboys should cut their losses and move on while he attempts a turnaround with another organization.
More Dallas Cowboys news and analysis: