Cowboys free agents: Evaluate the likely return of 14 players in 2024.
They have some significant gaps unless they can resign some of their own.
The Dallas Cowboys are still waiting to see what will happen to Dan Quinn. They can’t do anything about potential changes on the defensive side of the ball until his future is determined, and for the time being, it appears that they will stick with the offense and special teams staffs.
That shifts our focus to free agency. While the team will be unable to sign outside free agents until the legal tampering period begins, they can still sign their own free agents to new contracts. They may possibly have some players still under contract who they opted to release, but their new free agents are a far greater problem. The list is quite large. There are several 2023 starters and crucial role players on the roster. When you consider that the team is already over the cap for 2024, and certain trades are on the way to make room, this will be a hot topic for us.
Here are the names they must deal with. Remember, they must first pick who they want to keep, and then negotiate a contract that is mutually agreeable. There is no guarantee that every free agent will wish to return. Fresh starts and new prospects might be appealing. Dalton Schultz, for example, was released by the Cowboys last season. He had a lot of success down the road with the Houston Texans. Some of these players may be expecting a similar experience.
THE STARTERS
LT Tyron Smith
He has been a Dallas fixture for thirteen seasons and was playing at an elite level last year. Despite continuing to battle injuries, he started thirteen games and was named to his sixth All-Pro team.
There are few bigger voids to worry about than losing your left tackle. It would be a significant risk to not try to bring him back, forcing them to figure out what to do. Tyler Smith could still be moved to tackle, although he recently received his first All-Pro mention as a guard. Moving him is a dubious plan at best. Otherwise, they would have to choose between trying to replace him from inside, signing an outside and potentially more expensive free agent, or taking a gamble in the draft. Tyron could potentially choose to retire, throwing a major kink in the works.
