The safety and defensive tackle positions also have their share of questions that need to be answered for the Dallas Cowboys. March could see quite a few faces at these positions leave the building and adjust how the Cowboys formulate their plan for 2020 when free agency starts.
Meanwhile, the NFL and NFLPA are working towards a new CBA and wrinkles of proposed changes could certainly impact Dallas and their players. Meanwhile, the Cowboys strength of schedule next season and potential free-agent bargains are covered in this edition of News and Notes.
According to 2019 records, Cowboys have third-easiest strength of schedule in 2020:: Blogging The Boys
While they await the NFL Combine, the beginning of free agency and the 2020 NFL Draft, the Cowboys can focus on something they already know; the 2020 opponents. The Cowboys will face the NFC West, the AFC North, the Atlanta Falcons, and the Minnesota Vikings.
Dallas finds itself with the third-easiest projected schedule just behind the Baltimore Ravens and Pittsburgh Steelers.
— DS
New CBA would give first-rounders a path to fifth-year franchise tag :: Pro Football Talk
The Cowboys didn’t have a first-round pick in 2019 . . . some say they didn’t have a second-round pick either, but we digress. They will have one this year, barring a trade down, and with a new CBA on the horizon, there may be more money down the line for whomever they draft, and also Leighton Vander Esch. According to sources (read: NFL leaks) the fifth-year option could become more lucrative. Currently, top 10 picks get the transition tag level of one-year extension for their team options. Those outside the top 10 receive a much smaller number, the average of No. 3 through No. 25 at their respective position.
For Vander Esch, potentially jumping from around $10 million for his option (if there’s no extension worked out) to around $17 million is a whole entire big deal.
— KD
New CBA would shrink annual marijuana testing window to two weeks :: Pro Football Talk
What the new CBA giveth, they also ruin by doing something hardly anyone would agree with. Maybe (likely) it’s all public negotiation, but this other section of the proposed labor agreement makes no sense. The momentum for the NFL to catch up with state laws on the curtailing of policing marijuana seems very strong. However the league may still be looking to roll up, their sleeves, that is.
According to PFT, there will not be an elimination of the marijuana policy, but rather a shrinking of the testing window and reduced penalties for those who are not habitual line steppers.
Then
Why
Test
For
It
At
All https://t.co/VGNHOrZOlr— Mike Tanier (@MikeTanier) February 16, 2020
For the Cowboys, Randy Gregory, who has been suspended for 46 games in five seasons (playing 28), he’d most likely fall into that category.
— KD
Cowboys roster breakdown: New direction coming at defensive tackle:: Blogging The Boys
Big decisions are to be made on Maliek Collins (UFA), Antwaun Woods (ERFA) and Daniel Ross (RFA). Blogging the Boys list big-name free agents to target along with drafting possibilities in order to get this very important piece of the depth chart solidified.
— DS
Biggest Potential Bargains in 2020 NFL Free Agency:: Bleacher Report
Bleacher Report does a little digging and finds some of the players that may fall under the radar and become a little bit more valuable without the bigger contract.
Dallas Cowboys cornerback Anthony Brown finds himself on this list. Coming off a season-ending injury, Brown has found more success when working in the nickel and could be looked at by NFL teams looking to improve their slot cornerback position.
— DS
Dallas Cowboys 2020 Offseason Preview: Safety:: Inside The Star
One position the Cowboys have been trying to figure out for some time is safety. They seemingly have their guy at free in Xavier Woods, who is coming off of his best season as a pro.
Jeff Heath has been the starter opposite him for the last few years. While solid mostly, he still hasn’t locked down the position as one would want. Now, he’s set to be an unrestricted free agent, leaving a hole to possibly fill. This piece discusses where the Cowboys safeties are as far as contracts go, depth at the position, and how new defensive coordinator Mike Nolan could bring a new philosophy to getting this area corrected.
— ML
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