The tidal wave of change brought in by the hiring of head coach Mike McCarthy has engulfed the Dallas Cowboys franchise and once the waters recede and the situation calms, the team and the organization will likely have a very different look. The effect is already evident on the coaching staff, where it appears only a select few, including OC Kellen Moore, have survived the sweeping alterations.
Soon, the roster will undergo the same transformation once the 2020 league year starts as the front office will look towards getting the team’s top free agents inked to new deals. This activity will make for some tough decisions for both Jerry Jones and Stephen Jones, despite the club’s expected cap space of close to $90 million dollars.
The Cowboys have an incredible 24 unrestricted free agents and another five either restricted or exclusive rights players to mull over. They will not keep all and may not even keep many as the new staff may have its own outlook on the talent and where they want to start remodeling to flesh out their version of the team.
Here are 5 suggestions for the team to keep.
Some of the keepers are very easy to identify.
QB Dak Prescott and WR Amari Cooper are not going anywhere. Despite the anxiety that was created by the fact McCarthy had yet to speak to Prescott after a week on the job, he will be a Cowboy one way or another. Whether it is a blockbuster long-term deal or franchise tag, he will be leading the team into the season. Cooper is slightly less of a sure bet, but it is still very likely he gets a deal of some kind as well. The cost to acquire him for less than two seasons of production is simply too much to bear, especially given how weak the 2019 draft class was without a first round pick.
That leaves three more.
WR Randall Cobb
Cobb’s history and relationship with McCarthy will likely be a deciding factor. At a fairly modest price tag of $5-7 million and some juice still left in his legs, he could come back on a short term deal fitting a player of his age. His familiarity with the offensive design will be invaluable as the staff installs their scheme that will feel very different to many, including the quarterback.
OT Cameron Fleming
Capable swing tackles are a valuable commodity in this league for all teams, but more especially the Cowboys. With Tyron Smith sitting out three games per season over the past four campaigns, a veteran who can step in and not be a huge liability is priceless. Dallas has an option on his contract they can exercise and they would be wise to do so.
CB Anthony Brown
Bringing back Brown may not be the most glamorous commitment but it may be the most practical given the decisions that will have to be made. Brown will be rebounding from a triceps injury and should be relatively easy to sign back to return and provide a veteran buffer as the Cowboys go after youth at the position in April.
Other possibilities: DT Kerry Hyder, K Kai Forbath, LB Joe Thomas, CB C.J. Goodwin
You can chat with or follow C.C. on Twitter @boozeman811.
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