The NFL is a business and players leaving one franchise to join another is all a part of the game. The Dallas Cowboys learned that this offseason as several familiar faces walked out the door in free agency, leaving time to show if the grass truly is greener on the other side.
While changing scenery benefits some players, it can also be detrimental to others. The Cowboys have been far from perfect in recent years, but that doesn't change how they're still one of the league's best teams and excel at providing players with the best resources to excel.
With that in mind, here are three former Cowboys who will fail miserably with their new teams next season.
1. RB Tony Pollard
Tony Pollard was one of the bigger names to leave the Cowboys, joining the Tennessee Titans on a three-year, $21.75 million deal to begin free agency. The 26-year-old is replacing Derrick Henry, who was the Titans' lead back since the 2018 campaign.
Pollard is a solid rusher, no doubt, but the 2023 campaign proved that doesn't excel as the RB1. He finished his latest campaign with 1,316 scrimmage yards and six total touchdowns. While that doesn't seem that bad on paper, it's disappointing given that he tallied 1,378 yards and 12 TDs (with a Pro Bowl appearance) on 75 fewer touches while playing behind Ezekiel Elliott in 2022.
It's also hard to imagine Pollard properly filling Henry's shoes in Tennessee's backfield. The Titans have been able to have a solid run game due to Henry being one of the best RBs on the planet. He was also better suited for a workhorse role, which isn't the case for Pollard, who is three inches shorter and nearly 40 pounds lighter than his predecessor.
Considering how the Titans also owned the fifth-worst red-zone scoring percentage last season, I won't be shocked if Pollard's numbers take a huge hit with his new team.
2. LT Tyron Smith
After 13 productive seasons in Big D, left tackle Tyron Smith left the franchise to sign with the New York Jets on a one-year deal. Although most Cowboys fans only want the best for the 33-year-old veteran, finding success with the Jets is far from guaranteed.
First of all, the Jets are somewhat of an unknown commodity. Some experts viewed them as Super Bowl favorites last offseason, but we never got to see how valid that projection was since the season became a write-off the second that QB Aaron Rodgers tore his Achilles just four snaps into the campaign. Rodgers, 40, is now one year older and there's no telling if he can return to his pre-injury form.
Secondly, Smith isn't getting younger either. The former USC Trojan turns 34 in December and hasn't played a full season since 2015. Although he's earned two All-Pro nods and five Pro Bowl appearances since then, the fact that he's missed an average of about six games over the last eight seasons is concerning, to say the least.
It also doesn't help that Keith Carter is returning as New York's offensive line coordinator. Even though all of the shortcomings weren't his fault, the Jets had one of the worst O-lines in the league last season with Carter at the helm.
Again, I wish nothing but the best and a healthy season for Smith, but it's clear that joining the Jets could backfire.
3. DT Neville Gallimore
Like Pollard, Neville Gallimore is another ex-Cowboy who departed in hopes of a fresh start. The former 2020 third-round selection is continuing his career in South Beach, where he signed a one-year deal with the Miami Dolphins.
Gallimore is someone who just never hit his stride in Dallas and the 2023 campaign was the last straw. The veteran defensive tackle finished his fourth campaign with eight solo tackles and 12 pressures (10 hurries, 1 QB hit, 1 sack) across 17 games without a start. His underwhelming play led to him falling out of the coaching staff's favor, highlighted by his playing a career-low 27% of defensive snaps.
And even though he's only four years removed from his draft year, chances are that we've already seen the best that Gallimore has to offer. The Ottawa, ON native turned 27 in January, meaning that there likely isn't much room for improvement. Throw in the fact that he's joining a new system and it's even likelier that he struggles to get anything going in Miami.
At the end of the day, Gallimore is who he is and it's best for Dolphins fans to temper expectations if they want to avoid disappointment.
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