At this point, it seems surprising that anyone is surprised by the early inactivity from the Dallas Cowboys during free agency. Jerry Jones can say he’s “all in” as many times as he would like but he’s been held at bay for several years now as Stephen Jones has been calling the shots. And he's one of the only decision-makers in the NFL who still believes the salary cap has no fluidity.
While we can argue that point all day long, it won't change their way of thinking. It’s also hard to convince the front office to change when they’ve won 36 games over the past three years. Instead, we should get used to their desire to bargain shop.
Thankfully, there are still some options out there that can help them in 2024. Here, we look at six such targets, all of whom play on the offensive line.
6. Nick Harris, C
Tyler Biadasz was one of several free agents to already leave Dallas as he signed with Dan Quinn and the Washington Commanders. Biadasz wound up being an excellent pick in Round 4 and developed to the point Dallas was unwilling to pay the salary he earned.
Thankfully, there's still one decent option out there in Nick Harris. Originally a fifth-round pick for the Cleveland Browns in 2020, Harris was supposed to start in 2022. That never happened since he was injured in the preseason opener and Ethan Pocic took his job.
Harris is now a free agent and while he has starting potential, he doesn't have the resume, which means he could be in the price range Dallas has set.
5. Isaiah Wynn, G/OT
Sometimes when you're playing the frugal game, you have to be willing to roll the dice on players who have shown they can get it done in the past. Even if they haven't been doing so lately.
Picked 23rd overall in 2018 out of Georgia, Isaiah Wynn spent the first three seasons of his career playing left tackle. He was a regular starter for New England and did enough for them to exercise the fifth-year option in his rookie deal.
During that final campaign in New England, he played right tackle, a move that came after Trent Brown took over on the left side.
While he played well overall, injuries were a major issue for Wynn. A torn Achilles cost him his rookie campaign and he managed just 18 games the next two years. He then played in 16 games in 2021 before a foot injury limited him to nine in 2022.
None of this makes him seem like an ideal candidate but he's a low-risk/high-reward player. Dallas could land someone capable of starting without spending much at all, which is worth the risk.
3. Cameron Fleming, OT
Sometimes, it helps to turn back to a familiar face. To help replace Tyron Smith, who is expected to sign elsewhere, the Cowboys could look to one of his former backups. Cameron Fleming was a fourth-round pick for the New England Patriots in 2014 and proved to be a solid swing tackle by starting 20 games while appearing in 47 during his first four seasons in the league.
As a free agent in 2018, Fleming signed a one-year deal with Dallas worth $3.5 million. The Cowboys had just gone through a tough 2017 campaign that included them watching backups Chaz Green and Byron Bell struggle mightily to fill in for Smith during a tough three-game stretch.
Fleming started three games that year in place of Smith and kept the offense on task. That led to a two-year, $7.5 million extension in the offseason. However, there was an option in that contract after the first season, which Dallas declined to pick up.
Since leaving, Fleming has played for the New York Giants and the Denver Broncos. He's had two full seasons as a starter and two as a swing tackle. Again on the open market, he's someone the Cowboys should sign as an emergency option. Should they have to go into Week 1 with him as the starter, they would have confidence they can compete. It would also prevent them from feeling pressured to reach in the upcoming 2024 NFL Draft out of pure necessity.
2. Jonah Williams, OT
Again, it's back to a former first-round draft pick who hasn't fully lived up to expectations. Jonah Williams was taken at No. 11 overall in 2019 by the Cincinnati Bengals. The Alabama offensive tackle was supposed to be a centerpiece of their offense as the left tackle and was known as a film junkie who was always prepared for his opponent.
Williams' career got off to a bad start as he injured his shoulder during offseason activities and missed his entire rookie campaign. In 2020, he again dealt with injuries early in the year and then finished the season on IR after making 10 starts in 12 games.
He finally started to stay healthy in 2021 and started 32 games over the next two seasons. He played well enough to keep a starting job but was moved to the right side after the Bengals signed Orlando Brown ahead of the 2023 campaign. Williams then started all 17 games for the first time in his career. It didn't seem likely he would do this with Cincinnati since the arrival of Brown originally led to a request for a trade but Williams eventually bought in and manned the right side.
Dallas could add him as a bridge player on the right side, or he could push Terence Teele on the right side. Having Tyler Smith on the roster gives them some flexibility since he can play left tackle. Perhaps the best move is Williams on the right, Smith on the left, and Steele at guard. Whatever they want to do, Williams can help them get five capable players out there.
1. Connor Williams, G/C
Another familiar face that could return to the Cowboys is former Texas standout Connor Williams. Seen as a steal in Round 2 of the 2018 NFL Draft, Williams moved from tackle to guard and wound up being the primary starter for Dallas throughout the next four seasons.
Williams hit free agency in 2022 and much like Tyler Biadasz, the Cowboys wanted him back. However, Miami outbid them and he landed a two-year deal with the Fins. Williams moved to center and is one of the former players Jerry Trotta of The Landry Hat would like to see return. He praises Williams as a pass blocker but does express caution due to a torn ACL suffered in Week 14.
"The Cowboys will obviously have to check on Williams' rehab, but he could make for a bargain-bin signing in light of the injury. Before going down, Williams' 90.5 run-blocking grade ranked first amongst interior linemen (centers and guards) and his 98.7 blocking efficiency placed fourth, per Pro Football Focus."
Adding Williams would open up all sorts of possibilities for Dallas. He's started at guard and center throughout his NFL career and was even an offensive tackle for the Longhorns. If he's healthy enough to play, he might be willing to return to his home state to prove he's healthy enough for a long-term contract in 2025.