Every day brings the NFL one step closer to the two most important offseason resources; the draft and free agency. With over $70 million in cap space and numerous big-name free agents, it can be argued no team has a bigger offseason ahead of them than the Dallas Cowboys.
Tyrone Crawford is a candidate to be released, but defensive line needs some attention. With tons of mock drafts in the works, see what players the draft experts are most commonly selecting for the Cowboys. How is the Dak Prescott situation is similar to that of a former NFC East QB? All this and more, here in the News and Notes.
NFC cut candidates: David Johnson, Everson Griffen to the market? :: NFL.com
The Cowboys’ Tyrone Crawford, along with 15 other players, was listed as a strong candidate to be released this offseason.
Crawford, now on the wrong side of 30 years old, has been reliable and consistent for the majority of his tenure in Dallas. Last year injuries afforded Crawford only four games, the lowest number of his career. The main reason Dallas would move on from the once Cowboys’ captain would be financial, as cutting Crawford before the season starts would save the Cowboys around $8 million in cap space.
–AH
Cowboys roster breakdown: Work needed to keep defensive end from becoming a weakness :: Blogging The Boys
In Blogging The Boys’ latest installment of their roster breakdown they take a look defensive end and the possible changes the Cowboys could make at the position. The position group is headlined by Demarcus Lawrence, who fortunately for Dallas, was signed to a long term deal last offseason. After Lawrence, things start to fall off pretty quick at DE.
Robert Quinn, the starter at defensive end opposite of Lawrence, had an excellent year rushing the passer for the Cowboys, but he is an unrestricted free agent this offseason. Whether Quinn is re-signed or not, the Cowboys will have to fill in the roster at defensive end somehow. This breakdown lists possible free agent and draft options the Cowboys have at defensive end.
To view the other positional roster breakdowns for the Cowboys here are the links: linebackers, safety, cornerback.
–AH
Mock Draft Roundup: Early Favorites For No. 17 :: DallasCowboys.com
The NFL draft is getting closer and closer, meaning that speculation and projections are starting to heat up. DallasCowboys.com created a list of 15 expert’s projected selection for the Cowboys first round pick (#17). While it is impossible to know what exactly a team will do in free agency and what exactly their biggest needs will be, experts have gotten better and better at knowing who and what teams are looking for.
For Dallas, the biggest trends were that 13 of the 15 projections were defensive backs, while all 15 projected selections played their college ball in the SEC. Safeties Xavier Mckinney (pictured above) from Alabama and Grant Delpit from LSU were the most common, each appearing five times on the list. WR Henry Ruggs III, CB’s Krisitan Fulton and C.J. Henderson, and DT Javon Kinlaw rounded out the selections.
–AH
Dak Prescott situation turning into a Kirk Cousins standoff? :: Blogging The Boys
With the Dak Prescott contract negotiation still ongoing, the situation has started to remind people of former NFC East quarterback, Kirk Cousins’ contract with the Washington Redskins. Cousins and Washington both stood firm at the numbers each side wanted, and the result was Cousins playing two years on the franchise tag before ultimately leaving for the Minnesota Vikings. If the Cowboys believe Prescott is the long term answer they could look at the Cousins situation as a forewarning of franchise tagging their star QB.
–AH
Cowboys offseason guide 2020: Key free agents, team needs, targets, salary cap & draft pick :: Sporting News
This offseason has been, and will continue to be a very exciting one in Dallas. There are set to be tons of changes all over the field. While all this info is scattered on sites, this offseason guide from Sporting News does a good job providing all the offseason info one might need on one screen.
–AH
Five 2020 offseason moves for NFC teams: Bill Barnwell predicts trades, free agency, cuts :: ESPN
Barnwell examined every NFC team and listed five moves each should make, in his opinion. The Cowboys’ top priority, according to Barnwell, is to re-sign Dak Prescott. While the offseason isn’t always this cut and dry, Barnwell lays out a realistic plan for Dallas to reload their roster to continue the search for postseason success. A tag for Amari Cooper, help for Lawrence, replacements at safety and tight end round out the list.
–AH
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