Free agency is now a few weeks old and the Dallas Cowboys appear to have executed their offseason plans thus far. When the month of March rolled around, they needed to accomplish a few things; sign quarterback Dak Prescott to a long-term deal and improve the defense.
The Cowboys have checked off those boxes.
The first goal was completed when Prescott inked his mega deal. That was the biggest to-do for the team and it was finished before free agency opened. Having to tag Prescott again or exposing him to free agency would have been a nightmare scenario for the Cowboys, so they were wise to finish it before the madness ensued.
Dallas has also been successful in rebuilding the defense thus far, even though it hasn’t been with sexy names.
Followers of the team know the way free agency goes with the franchise, the Cowboys avoid the first wave of free agents when the price is too high to acquire, keep their own valued players and then join the rest of the league in signing outside free agents after a few days when the cost is more manageable.
The Cowboys desperately needed to upgrade their defense this offseason and they set out to do so. It isn’t the star power that many had hoped for, but both the volume and quality of the players Dallas has brought in should help.
With gaping holes on the defensive line, the Cowboys added three players, all on short deals and none are making significant money. None were considered elite players, but collectively, they will add depth to the defense. Carlos Watkins adds versatility and DE Tarell Basham should be a valuable rotational pass rusher.
However, defensive tackle Brent Urban’s signing might benefit the defense the most. While not an elite player, Urban was a major upgrade to the run defense, which finished next to last in the league in stopping the run last season.
New Cowboys DT Brent Urban had a 79.7 run defense @PFF grade in 2018 and 83.7 grade in 2020. Latter was third-highest run defense grade among all NFL interior linemen.
— Michael Gehlken (@GehlkenNFL) March 18, 2021
Safety was another position where the Cowboys finally addressed with solid additions. Signing a pair of former Atlanta Falcons safeties adds some legitimacy for the defense. Keanu Neal, who will also likely play some linebacker, brings some toughness, while Damontae Kazee finally brings a ballhawk to the secondary. Kazee’s not an elite player, but his 10 interceptions during the 2018 and 2019 seasons would be more than any Cowboys defender’s had in the past eight years combined.
Both players were added for a reasonable price in 2021 as was special teamer and reserve safety Jayron Kearse.
This is what the Cowboys have done in recent years in free agency. Stephen Jones has led the charge of paying their own free agents and spending minimal salary cap dollars on outside free agents. The organization signs middle-of-the-road talent to patch holes so when the draft comes along, the Cowboys aren’t drafting for need.
The team also tends to lean on familiar faces from coaching staff recommendations. Former defensive coordinator Rod Marinelli convinced management to bring in players he knew or had coached at previous stops. That is happening again with new defensive Dan Quinn helping to recruit Neal, Kazee, and possibly linebacker K.J. Wright, who the team is currently in a feeling out pattern with.
These are habits the Cowboys have developed in free agency over the past handful of years. They don’t spend on big names, they are patient in adding free agents, identify players they can sign for cheap to fill holes and bring in players they know well.
So far in free agency, nothing has changed with the Cowboys and there’s still good players available. The quality of players brought in this offseason might be better than in years past, but the philosophy remains the same.
The merits of how they go about improving are debatable, but it appears as though Dallas is executing their offseason plan perfectly right now; hopefully it’ll translate into more wins this fall.
You can chat with or follow Ben on twitter @BenGrimaldi
