5 Most Important Cowboys Free Agent Targets in 2024

4. D.J. Wonnum

With Dorance Armstrong Jr. due for a significant pay raise and the Cowboys being over the cap, the team might have to dig deep to find some depth on the defensive line.

Wonnum, who is set to become an unrestricted free agent in March, is the perfect addition to the Cowboys’ defense, as he played under Zimmer in 2020 and 2021. The former fourth-round pick didn’t do much as a rookie in 2020.

However, he started to come into his own in Year 2 and make a name for himself. Wonnum had 47 combined tackles, 15 quarterback hits, seven tackles for loss, and eight sacks in 14 starts (17 games played).

Wonnum saw his playing time decrease in 2023 under first-year head coach Kevin O’Connell, as he only started in one game (16 games played). 

But the 6-foot-4 defensive end bounced back this season, posting similar numbers to what he did in 2021. Wonnum recorded 62 combined tackles, 15 quarterback hits, eight sacks, seven tackles for loss, and six pass deflections.

With Danielle Hunter being a free agent, the Minnesota Vikings might be inclined to re-sign the 26-year-old Wonnum. However, the appeal of playing with his former head coach and lining up alongside Micah Parsons might be enough to sway him to Dallas.