The Dallas Cowboys' 2024 free agency has been headlined by departures, instead of new arrivals. It's clear owner Jerry Jones isn't eager to break open his wallet for this team amid so much uncertainty, which has led to Dallas mostly sitting on the sidelines to this point.
However, the Cowboys still have Super Bowl expectations on them with a franchise quarterback under center and a talented defense. With that in mind, here are some free agents still on the market who could help that cause without breaking the bank.
1. Stephon Gilmore
Veteran cornerback Stephon Gilmore is one of the best FAs left on the board, ring or not.
The five-time Pro Bowler enjoyed a nice season in Dallas in 2023 despite turning 33 years old. He started all 17 games for the 'Boys while recording two interceptions and an impressive 13 passes defended.
It's quite a surprise Gilly Lock remains on the market. While his age is a factor surely bringing down his interest, he's still clearly an impactful player as his career continues into its latter stages.
Considering how well he played for the Cowboys, Jones and co. should absolutely explore a return. This secondary is anticipating the return of star Trevon Diggs after he missed most of the 2023 campaign, but there's also no telling right now when he'll be ready to go full speed again.
Plus, Dallas could be motivated to take the cautious approach with Diggs' return in order to protect its near-$100 million investment on the CB being part of the team's long-term future.
Re-signing Gilmore would immediately alleviate any pressure for Diggs to rush back. It'd also provide a steady presence for this defense and let DaRon Bland move to the slot when Diggs is ready, giving Mike Zimmer's unit legit playmakers all over the secondary.
2. Cam Akers / 3. Jerick McKinnon
The Cowboys' running back group continues to be a hot topic. Fans are, unsurprisingly, anxious about this unit given its current construction.
At the moment, Rico Dowdle is the lead back in Dallas, while Deuce Vaughn, Malik Davis, and Snoop Conner present the next man up. Those names don't instill fear in any opposing defense, making this position a legitimate liability that could bring the offense down.
While Jones considers adding the husk of Dalvin Cook or reuniting with an out-of-prime Ezekiel Elliott, he should instead look at other options available.
Cam Akers is one choice. Yes, he had a very forgettable 2023 campaign (60 carries, 167 yards, 2 TDs). However, he's also just one season removed from recording a career-high 786 rushing yards and 7 touchdowns in 2022. Over half (407) of those yards came after contact as well, showing Akers still has the ability to break big gains following his 2021 Achilles tear.
Jerick McKinnon is also coming off of a down 2023 season. Yet, his ability as a pass-catcher is undeniable. During his incredible 2022 showing, the veteran RB racked up 512 receiving yards and a whopping 9 TDs through the air as one of Patrick Mahomes' best targets when the team needed a score.
Neither back is maybe the most exciting, but Akers has shown he can be a solid RB1, while McKinnon is the perfect pass-catching RB to complement Dallas' bruisers and replace Tony Pollard's ability in that part of the gameplan.
4. Linval Joseph
Defensive tackle is one area of the roster Mike McCarthy and company need to address after Jonathan Hankins' departure. And it turns out McCarthy's latest coordinator hire, Mike Zimmer, has a history with one player who could help this unit.
Linval Joseph, who won a Super Bowl with the New York Giants all the way back in 2011, is one DT option for the Cowboys.
Zimmer is fully aware of what Joseph can do on a football field. The former second-round pick earned both of his career Pro Bowl nods under Zimmer while both were with the Minnesota Vikings, totaling 7.5 sacks, 10 tackles for loss, and three forced fumbles from 2016-17.
Now Joseph isn't that typer of player anymore. He's only posted 2.5 sacks over the last three seasons, and he'll be 36 in October. But he does provide an experienced (170 career starts), accomplished veteran who's familiar with Zimmer's scheme and could help as part of the defensive rotation.
5. Donovan Smith
Offensive tackle is another clear need for Dallas following the loss of stalwart LT Tyron Smith.
The Cowboys are still planning how to address Dak Prescott's blindside, with Tyler Smith seemingly sticking at guard for the time being. That leaves the draft as the primary avenue to add talent, but Donovan Smith is a possible signing to shore up this group as well.
Smith's been a career starter since entering the league in 2015 and has played a ton of high-level football recently, starting for two separate Super Bowl teams and going to the playoffs four times since 2020. That kind of experience makes him a nice plug-and-play veteran to replace Tyron Smith while a rookie learns the ropes behind him.
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