Tag: 2021 Free Agency

VIDEO: 5 free-agent safeties Cowboys may show interest in

Will 2021 be the year the #Cowboys actually pay attention to their need at safety? We break down some candidates in free agency.

The Dallas Cowboys approach at the safety position needs to change heading into the 2021 off season. With only one safety under contract the team has a ton of confidence in as a starter, free agency could provide the other if the Cowboys decide to make a play. Xavier Woods is a free agent after starting several years for the club. Darian Thompson and second-year pro Reggie Robinson are in the mix, as is Steven Parker, but none come close to inspiring confidence like the one lock to be in the mix.

Donovan Wilson showed enough to solidify himself one of the starting safeties but what about the other spot? Dallas could elect to go into the draft and address it there or they could hit a pretty talented market in free agency. Here are 3 options that make sense in Dallas.

Tense in Numbers: Cowboys’ Prescott has a lot of company in 2021 QB derby

Just when you thought it was safe to go in the water. Dak Prescott isn’t the only big fish on the 2021 QB market. What a weekend.

The Dallas Cowboys were thought to have the biggest name on the quarterback market this offseason. While that still is probably the case due to his age and upward trajectory, this past weekend made the room a lot more crowded for one Rayne Dakota Prescott. Two pedigreed signals callers made it clear over the last several days that there is going to be a complete reshuffling of the deck around the league.

Last week, it became crystal clear that the other star QB in the state of Texas, Houston’ Deshaun Watson, wants out of the dumpster fire that organization finds themselves in. Pissed off over being ignored in the search for a new head coach after being promised input, that relationship seems beyond repair at this point. Now, two more relationships that may be fractured have come to the surface. Detriot Lions’ longtime steward Matthew Stafford has demanded out, and after elimination in Sunday’s NFC Championship game, Green Bay’s Aaron Rodgers made it clear his future in Wisconsin is anything but.

For Stafford, things are pretty obvious. The Lions are undergoing yet another regime change, hiring former tight end Dan Campbell to be their man and agreeing to an unprecedented six-year deal for a guy who has never called plays. Campbell had a throwback, caveman introductory press conference where he referenced biting off kneecaps of opponents. 36 hours later, Stafford was requesting a trade and the front office was publicly acknowledging they’d acquiesce.

As for Rodgers, the failure to reach another Super Bowl since winning his first attempt in the confines of the Cowboys’ AT&T Stadium seem frustrating. Not just that, but after finishing 13-3 in 2019, the club went out and drafted a quarterback, Utah’s Jordan Love, with their first-round pick and a running back in AJ Dillion who barely saw the field.

They got no one to help an aging QB at the end of his prime, and drafted his heir apparent. After the game, he made it clear that he is not sure of his future with Green Bay.

This shouldn’t be a shocker, last offseason, Cowboys Wire floated the possibility that Rodgers could be having his last days with the Packers due to his contract hit and even imagined a scenario where he replaces Prescott if Dallas makes the seemingly unwise decision not to work out a long-term agreement with their franchise guy.

Aaron Rodgers among 20 possibilities to be Cowboys QB by 2022

Don’t forget, the Atlanta Falcons could be looking to move on from Matt Ryan and the San Francisco 49ers have an easy out to escape from Jimmy Garoppolo’s deal. There’s a controversy in Philadelphia with Carson Wentz and Jalen Hurts, and the Rams’ Sean McVay is saying Jared Goff isn’t assured to be their starter.

So now a quarterback carousel already ripe with  draft possibilities of Trevor Lawrence, Zack Wilson, Justin Fields and Trey Lance, will have a plethora of established veteran QBs on the move. With Philip Rivers assuredly and possibly Ben Roesthlisberger and Drew Brees retiring, not to mention the possibility that Tom Brady might be one-and-done in Tampa Bay if they can pull off the Super Bowl victory in two weeks, things are about to get crazy in the NFL.

Dak Prescott might still be the biggest fish to catch and most still believe he’ll remain in Dallas, the market is about to be flooded with possibilities.

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Cowboys may hit FA market to improve DT position. Here’s who is available

The interior of the Cowboys defense needs work in 2021. Here’s a list of 10 free agents who could help.

For whatever reason, the Dallas Cowboys management has avoided investing substantial capital into the safety and defensive tackle positions over the last decade-plus. A year ago Dallas attempted to bandage their defensive interior issues with short-term contracts to veterans like Dontari Poe and Gerald McCoy, but for different reasons neither player was able to positively contribute on the field for the Cowboys.

The Cowboys were left with young, unproven, mid-round draft picks, or undrafted free agents to hold down the middle of their defense, and the results were, as previously mentioned, unacceptable.

The Dallas defense was toward the bottom of the league in many metrics in 2020, but against the run is where they were really exposed. The Cowboys gave up 2,541 rushing yards this year, which equates to a staggering 158.8 per game, second-worst in NFL ahead of only Houston.  The yards are nearly 1,000 more than Dallas has given up in any season over the last five years.

While Dallas’ end of season pass-rush numbers were adequate, it wasn’t because of the defensive tackles. The interior of the defensive line was never able to consistently generate a rush up the middle, and Cowboys tackles were only credited for 1.5 sacks in 2020 (Woods with 1.0, Gallimore with 0.5).

Obviously there are many contributing factors to the Cowboys poor defensive year, but improving the middle of the defensive line would also immediately make the jobs of the other nine defenders much easier.

Dallas will have to be extremely cap conscience with every signing they make this offseason. The Cowboys current cap situation, combined with their usual reluctance to sign high-profile free agents makes many of the names on this list seem like a pipe dream for Cowboys fans. However, if Dallas does choose to seriously address their defensive tackle needs, the following list contains potential players the Cowboys could consider.

The first five DT’s listed were pulled, in order, from PFF’s top 100 free agent rankings that were released earlier this year.

All Eyes on These 8 free agents for Championship Sunday as potential Cowboys targets

Picture them rollin’ with a more talented roster than in 2020. The draft will help, free agents will be needed to. The NFL’s Final Four features a playlist worthy of a team with Ambitionz of a Ridah in 2021.

Changes (coming). (2020 season caused) So Many Tears. (A return to the playoffs would be) Poetic Justice. OK, got those 2Pac references out the way.

And then there were four. The NFL tournament is down to its semifinal round and no, the Dallas Cowboys are still not involved. They’ll be watching though, just like the other 28 teams around the league, scouting future targets once the league year opens up in March.

Unlike previous years, there will not be an open season of politicking at the NFL scouting combine, when agents and front office personnel work the preliminary-interest discussions to the bone. The combine is cancelled and it impacts more than just the draft process. Still, teams will find a way to gauge mutual interest and the Cowboys will be one of those clubs, rest assured. Who might they target? Players from winning organizations always go over well with a fanbase. Here’s a collection of players involved in Sunday’s contests who will be looking to cash in.

We’re using Pro Football Focus’ Top 100 free agent rankings and the associated writeups. Hey Cowboys, if you sign any of these guys, I Ain’t Mad Atcha.

Cowboys News: Rolling over but not playing dead, Quinn’s base defense, new QB/President combo

Also, the Cowboys connection to Philip Rivers on his retirement, grading the Dallas cornerbacks, and searching for the bright spots of 2020.

The coaching carousel keeps spinning around the league, as Kellen Moore has had his chat with the Eagles brass and Cowboys Nation waits to hear what happened. In Dallas, the club has found its defensive line coach, bringing another of Dan Quinn’s former pupils onto the payroll.

In other news, we’re looking for bright spots in the 2020 season, breaking down the Xs and Os of Quinn’s preferred defensive scheme, sizing up the Cowboys cornerbacks about to hit free agency and talking cap space. There’s also big question marks all of a sudden regarding the draft given that there will be no scouting combine; how will that affect the Cowboys’ big board? With news of Philip Rivers retiring, we’ve also got a Cowboys connection to the prolific passer… as well as how the greatest quarterback in Dallas history is now part of the same trivia answer as newly-inaugurated US president Joe Biden. News and Notes, coming right up.

ESPN ranks Texans WR Will Fuller on 2021 free agency list

Houston Texans receiver Will Fuller is a free agent in the 2021 offseason. Where does ESPN rank him?

The Houston Texans will have to make a decision regarding receiver Will Fuller, and if he hits the open free agency market, so will the rest of the NFL.

The former 2016 first-round pick played out his rookie contract with the Texans, including his fifth-year option, to the tune of $10,162,000 against the salary cap in 2020. Fuller was poised to have his first 1,000-yard season of his career, but was suspended with five games to go due to violations of the NFL’s performance enhancing drug policy. Technically, the suspension is six games, which means whichever teams signs him will do so knowing he won’t be available Week 1.

ESPN’s Kevin Seifert ranked 50 of the NFL’s upcoming free agents, and the Texans’ No. 1 wideout came in at No. 30 overall.

“When on the field, however, Fuller has been one of the NFL’s top deep threats,” Seifert wrote. “His average of 9.3 yards gained per target ranks among the top 10 in the NFL among qualified receivers over the past five seasons.”

Quarterback Deshaun Watson produced four 300-yard passing games in the final five games without Fuller. Although the two were an explosive combination in 2020, and even throughout their time together since Watson’s rookie season in 2017, the three-time Pro Bowler has proven the ability to elevate receivers. If the Texans pass on Fuller, Watson can enhance the abilities of whoever they surround him with. Teams will have to determine how much of Fuller’s talent is his own and how much is amplified by being around an elite passer.

Cowboys DE Tyrone Crawford has surgery on brink of free agency

The eight-year veteran gave an update last week from his hospital bed; he’s set to hit free agency but is said to be considering retirement.

Another member of the Cowboys has undergone a surgical procedure to begin their offseason. After wideout Amari Cooper went under the knife for a minor ankle procedure and linebacker Jaylon Smith had his wrist operated on, word comes now that defensive end Tyrone Crawford has had some sort of leg surgery.

The eight-year veteran gave an update last Thursday via his Instagram account which shows him in a hospital bed “straight after post-surgery,” the 31-year-old says. “Got it done,” Crawford reports as he shows a shot of his right foot propped up in a plastic boot.

The Boise State alum played sparingly for Dallas in 2020, taking just 40% of the Cowboys’ defensive snaps. He was placed briefly on the Reserve/COVID-19 list in November after spending the first half of the season coming back from hip injuries and surgery that prematurely derailed his 2019 campaign. One of the locker room’s leaders, he served as one of the team’s on-the-field captains as recently as Week 16 versus Philadelphia.

Crawford is on the cusp of becoming a free agent, having signed a lucrative five-year contract back in 2015. Thought to be a cut candidate this past offseason (mainly a salary cap consideration), Crawford might have solidified his stock with a strong 2020; the versatile Canadian can play either end or tackle, and the Cowboys’ defensive line was in desperate need of a hero for much of the season. But the former third-round draft pick was in on just 14 tackles and two sacks this year.

Crawford was said to be considering retirement before the season came to an end. Rehabbing his leg/foot will now give him plenty of time to mull that possibility over in full.

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Top 15 Free Agents to Watch in Sunday’s playoff games

The Tampa Bay Bucs have the majority of Top 20 free agents of Sunday’s competitors. The Browns? They only check in once. Still, Day 2 of the divisional round presents 50% more top free agents than Saturday’s tilts.

The NFL Divisional Round continues on Sunday with two more games on tap. After victories by No. 1 NFC seed Green Bay and No. 2 AFC seed Buffalo, home teams prevailed to restore order to a funky road-team-rules 2020 campaign and align half of the NFL’s Final Four bracket.

Squaring off to finalize the affair will be defending champion Kansas City looking to fend off the upstart Cleveland Browns, with the New Orleans Saints hosting their division rivals, the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in the nightcap. While fans of these four organizations watch with bated breath, the rest of the league’s followers are hoping for good, competitive games. They also should be watching to see the performances of players who could make their way to the fans’ favorite team. The free agent market will once again be on display.

Here’s a guide as to which higher-profile players who will be unrestricted free agents come March and the new league year, are playing in the two Sunday contests. We’re using Pro Football Focus’ Top 100 free agents list to compile this collection and for the writeups. Some of these targets may even be of interest to the Cowboys.

Cowboys Free Agency: 9 available Falcons from Dan Quinn’s defense

Will the Cowboys tap into Quinn’s last flock to find some help for their defense? We look at each candidate.

The Dallas Cowboys are going to need reinforcements if they are going to step their defensive performance up from the pitiful 2020 version they trolled with. To lead that effort, the club has removed Mike Nolan and implemented Dan Quinn, who stewarded three different defenses to the Super Bowl.

Twice as DC of the Seattle Seahawks and once in his role as head coach of the Atlanta Falcons, Quinn has been able to command quality efforts that worked when the games counted most. Now, he’ll look to do that for Dallas. One standard rule when bringing in any coach who was recently with another team is that their former players may be interested in working for them again. If that’s the case with Quinn, a few free agents from the Falcons could be under consideration to wear the star in 2021.

Roy Robertson-Harris appears to be moving on from the Bears this offseason

DE Roy Robertson-Harris seems ready to pick a new team when free agency begins after 4 years with the Bears.

The Chicago Bears are only a few days into their offseason following their 21-9 loss to the New Orleans Saints in the wild-card playoffs, but it appears one player is already planning to move on when the new league year begins.

Defensive end Roy Robertson-Harris, an impending free agent after playing four years in the navy and orange, seems ready to pick a new team when free agency begins.

His wife, Krystal Robertson-Harris, recently made a post on Instagram with photos and videos of her husband in uniform, as well as backdrops of the city of Chicago. The caption reads:

“CHICAGO!!!!! Man ima miss you! So many memories. Such a bittersweet feeling. Thank you to all the bears fans ya’ll [expletive] rock! Ya’ll will be missed #beardown”

While she doesn’t come out and say it, the message seems pretty clear that Robertson-Harris will not be re-signing with the Bears this offseason.

The former UTEP Miner signed with the Bears as an undrafted free agent back in 2016, but didn’t see the field until 2017 due to ending up on the reserve/non-football injury list. In 2017, Robertson-Harris registered two sacks for the Bears in 13 games. He saw more playing time as the seasons passed, becoming a key member of the team’s defensive line rotation. While he was an exclusive-rights and restricted free agent following the 2018 and 2019 seasons respectively, he signed his tender to remain with the Bears each time.

He started six games and played in eight this past season, before he wound up needing shoulder surgery and landing on injured reserve. The 27-year old finished the season with 10 tackles, five quarterback hits, and no sacks.

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