The first week of free agency is in the books and the Dallas Cowboys did, well, not a whole lot.
Outside of signing linebacker Erick Kendricks, the Cowboys haven't brought in any other outside help this offseason. It's been frustrating to watch the lack of moves given that owner Jerry Jones screamed to the heavens about going "all in" this offseason. Dallas still has over $8 million to spend (per Spotrac), so there's still time to turn the offseason around.
Some players likely aren't bothered by Dallas' lack of urgency when it comes to signing free agents. There are several Cowboys on thin ice following underwhelming 2023 campaigns, meaning they potentially see fewer new faces as a good thing when it comes to their 2024 job security.
Unfortunately for the underperformers in question, that might not be the case. Here's a look at three Cowboys who still aren't safe now that one week of free agency is in the books.
1. RB Deuce Vaughn
Cowboys fans were excited to see what Deuce Vaughn could do at the NFL level after being drafted 212th overall last April. The 5-foot-6, 176-pound is far from the biggest running back in the NFL, but his exciting speed and never-say-die attitude throughout training camp 2023 turned Dallas fans into believers.
The hype surrounding Vaughn grew even more during the preseason when he turned 13 carries into 64 rushing yards and a pair of touchdowns. Although a strong exhibition performance doesn't guarantee regular-season success, the former Kansas State rusher still seemingly proved that he has what it takes to play on a professional stage.
Unfortunately, Vaughn didn't do much during the regular season as Rico Dowdle usurped the diminutive rusher as the Cowboys' RB2. Unsurprisingly, the depth chart shift led to Vaughn being limited to 23 carries over seven games, tallying just 40 rushing yards without a touchdown.
Now, Vaughn finds himself atop the Cowboys' RB depth chart now that Dowdle is a free agent while Tony Pollard already signed with the Tennessee Titans. Having said that, it doesn't mean his job is safe.
Even though Dallas has yet to add another RB to the mix, there are still some veteran free-agent names available (Ezekiel Elliott, D'Onta Foreman, etc.). That's without mentioning how they could also look for a younger back with a higher upside at next month's NFL Draft. I just have a hard time imagining the Cowboys using Vaughn as the RB1 or 2 after barely touching the ball last season.
If the Cowboys are serious about ending the Super Bowl drought next February, they must consider upgrading Vaughn regardless of how he looks come training camp.
2. WR Martavis Bryant
It's easy to forget how promising Martavis Bryant looked early on during his NFL career. The former 2014 fourth-rounder racked up 1,314 receiving yards and 14 touchdowns in his first two seasons with the Pittsburgh Steelers before serving a year-long suspension for violating the league's substance abuse policy in 2016.
Unfortunately, Bryant became his worst enemy as the former Clemson Tiger violated the substance policy for a second time in 2018. The South Carolinian was subsequently kicked out of the league, resulting in his playing in the CFL, FCF, NAL, and XFL until he was reinstated by the league in November 2023 before signing with Dallas' practice squad one day later.
But even though the Cowboys brought Bryant back on a future contract this offseason, his spot on the roster is far from safe.
After all, Bryant just turned 32 in December and hasn't played an actual NFL game since 2018 — a year where he averaged a career-low 33.3 receiving yards per game with the then-Oakland Raiders. Even if you look at his 2023 XFL stats for hope, 154 yards without a touchdown on 14 catches across eight games isn't anything to get excited about.
The Cowboys' WR depth isn't anything exciting beyond CeeDee Lamb and Brandin Cooks, and I don't see Bryant being the solution to that issue. Dallas will likely draft a wideout at some point next month and it likely won't take much for the rookie to outperform Bryant in training camp, leaving the veteran pass-catcher needing to look elsewhere to continue his career.
3. DT Mazi Smith
If you paid close attention to the Cowboys last season, you know how disappointing it was to watch Mazi Smith. The 2023 draft's 26th-overall selection entered the NFL with a lot of fanfare due to his impressive physical attributes, making him the ideal piece of clay to mold into an impact defender for years to come.
Much to Cowboys fans' dismay, though, Smith looked like a fish out of water. The ex-Michigan defender finished his rookie year as the No. 113-graded defender out of 130 eligible players on Pro Football Focus. after only recording eight solo tackles and eight total pressures while playing 303 defensive snaps.
Dallas' staff also allegedly encouraged Smith to lose a ton of weight before the season began, which ultimately backfired. Without one of the things that made him an attractive prospect (his size), Smith struggled to stop opposing rushers, playing to a 31.8 run defense grade on PFF — the seventh-worst mark at his position.
The Cowboys haven't signed any new defensive linemen this offseason, but that doesn't mean Smith's outlook is promising. Whether it's putting the weight back on or adapting to his new size, the former Wolverine must find a way to contribute at the NFL level or risk getting replaced by a veteran free agent or a more promising rookie.
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