6 Free Agents the Cowboys Should Sign Before NFL Draft

5. Mason Cole, C

In addition to losing their starting left tackle, the Cowboys also lost Tyler Biadasz, who started at center. A fourth-round pick in 2020, Biadasz developed into a solid player in the middle of their line and wound up getting more in free agency than expected.

Like many of their departing free agents, Dallas lost Biadasz to Dan Quinn and the Washington Commanders. As good as he was in Big D, it still felt like he was overpaid at nearly $10 million per season. We can't fault Jerry and Stephen Jones for balking at that price tag but we can jump all over them for failing to replace him.

Dallas could potentially find a new starter in the draft but it would be very hard to find a starting center and a startling left tackle. If they somehow manage to do this, they will be sacrificing any depth elsewhere. They'll also be forcing themselves into a potential reach — as they did with Taco Charlton in 2017.

That's why they need potential starters on the roster and one option at center is Mason Cole.

A former third-round pick from Michigan, Cole has started 32 games for the Arizona Cardinals, seven for the Minnesota Vikings, and 34 for the Pittsburgh Steelers. He was the starter the past two years in Pittsburgh and would be an upgrade over Brock Huffman. He also wouldn't be too expensive to add and could feasibly be a reserve if someone such as Jackson Powers-Johnson or Zach Frazier were to land with the Cowboys.