Fixing the Dallas Cowboys Part 2: Free Agent Targets

I completed what I thought was a necessary evaluation and digging of the hard cold facts of the 2011 Dallas Cowboys roster position by position and how it translates to 2012.  What did we uncover ? 

I believe we uncovered an abyss of issues, problems and yet more questions as we dig deeper.  The conclusions in my estimation are that the target areas with this team are not isolated to just defense.  There are serious concerns regarding depth, starting positions and an overall upgrade of talent. 

The second part in my series of fixing the Dallas Cowboys focuses on targeting free-agent acquisitions.  I would like to view it more as a realistic approach to free agency, and my criteria is to target players who would represent an upgrade from the current roster—players who would address needs and productivity, age and salary cap ramifications. 

Let's get started.

As it stands right now, the Cowboys will have approximately $12.8 million (let's call it $13 million) to spend in free agency when things kick off on March 13th at 4:00 p.m. ET.  With some restructuring, releases and tweaks, the cap number can inflate to $20 million.  Keep that critical date circled on your calendars. 

What I wanted to outline in Part 1 of my series was a simple layout that clearly illustrates that the needs of this team are across the board and not just isolated to defense which is creating off the chart buzz.  I do realize that the defense was downright putrid, but based on the evaluation, there are issues on offense as well.  Now I know that you can't address all your needs in one offseason just due to the structure and climate of the NFL we live in today, but there are teams that have had success in such department. 

The key to this offseason is to maximize dollars, maximize value and minimize needs.  I will highlight the free agents they should target, but this does not necessarily indicate they will buy the whole crop.  The hope is that Jerry Jones and the powers that be view free agency the same way I would approach it. 

Free agency will be the first opportunity for this team to get better and let's face facts, this team needs to get better.  Jason Garrett preaches let's get better today, and that started last week at the East-West Shrine Game and continues this week at the Senior Bowl. However, March 13th is the real first chance for this team to take those steps at getting better right now. 

The free agents I plan on targeting, although they will have some impact on potential draft picks, shouldn't deter their plan to draft quality football players across the board.  How does the saying go... "good teams draft well but great teams have great drafts."  Based on that saying, where would you rank the Dallas Cowboys. 

On to the free agents:

Quarterback 

Kyle Orton, Jason Campbell, Brady Quinn, Chris Redman and Shaun Hill.  The Cowboys had a waiver claim in for Orton which came as no surprise to me.  That was a clear indication of the confidence they had in McGee.  He's not overly impressive but has great experience and can make throws and manage a game.  I put Campbell here because of his exposure to the NFC East. 

I don't see teams making a run at him to start, and he may have to accept being a backup in this league.  Good size, good arm and an upgrade over McGee.  Quinn is interesting because he was supposed to be a savior in Cleveland; he was caught up in Tebowmania, and now, I feel has something to prove.  You can never underestimate that.  Redman is the fall-back plan and kind of reminds me of Jason Garrett as a player.   

My pick of the bunch would be Orton or Quinn.  Both would be an upgrade and wouldn't break the bank.

Running back

As I stated in Part 1, with Murray and Jones injury-prone and Tanner a bit of an unknown, I feel bringing a veteran into the mix would help.  Ryan Grant, Mike Tolbert, Peyton Hillis and Michael Bush would be my targets here. 

Grant simply is not the answer in Green Bay as James Starks has emerged, and Alex Green waits in the wings.  Tolbert is a nice, versatile back who would really fit in well here with his powerful, compact running style.  Hillis is interesting due to his connection to Arkansas and being a former teammate of Felix Jones.  Jerry Jones gets enamored with the measurables of players at times, and with some familiarity to Hillis, that would be intriguing. 

Only problem is he wouldn't have a prominent role.  Bush would also be a nice fit with his contrasting style, and he would have to accept a role.  Eventually, Jerry Jones will be forced to either pay Felix or not, and 2012 will be a key year for him.  It might be time to start thinking about that right now.   

My pick would be Hillis or Tolbert.  Hillis would cost more, but he's only 27 and could be part of the long-term solution. 

Wide Receiver

Cowboy fans should want Laurent Robinson, and I totally back up the move.  The reality is what if another team completely overpays for him and ties Jerry's hands.  We need a Plan B.  If they should fail to sign Robinson, I would target Early Doucet, Robert Meachem, Tedd Ginn or Eddie Royal.  Anyone would like a crack at Manningham, DeSean Jackson (maybe) or Reggie Wayne, but the cap won't allow Dallas to do such. 

Jason Garrett was a fan of Doucet the year he was drafted, and he was productive in Arizona.  New Orleans needs to deal with the contracts of Brees and Colston so he's pretty much a victim of the cap.  Meachem would be a nice third option with upside to be a No. 2 should Austin get hurt. He's also been productive down in New Orleans and would fit in rather nicely.  Eddie Royal is in that Patrick Crayton mold, but think, young Crayton would be a nice addition if Robinson failed to come back. 

Tedd Ginn could be the kick returner the Cowboys covet, but what would it cost?  He's a former top-15 pick, and although I don't see the 49ers letting him go, he could be intriguing.  I think these options would be logical and fit within the cap for Dallas.  It's just a stretch to think they'd allocate a lot of money here in free agency.   

My pick of the bunch would be Robinson or Meachem.

Tight End

If they targeted anyone here, it would have to be Scott Chandler.  He has familiarity with the team and has now developed his game while in Buffalo. 

Offensive Line

The target here would have to be interior lineman.  The targets would be Carl Nicks (surprise), Benn Grubbs, Roberto Garza or Scott Wells.  Nicks is obviously been discussed heavily as being tied to Dallas because of Callahan.  However, he's a 27-year-old Pro Bowl guard who simply dominates his opponent—clearly a top-10 if not top-five free agent. 

Signing Nicks would eat up some significant cap space.  Grubbs is likely to stay a Raven, Garza would be a lower-cost guard, but the talent is there, and Wells would be an instant starter at Center.   

My pick and the consensus is Nicks.  They simply need to make this move in order to fix their secondary in the draft.  If they don't go the veteran route, they would need to consider DeCastro or Konz in the draft.

Defensive Line

Quite simply, they will not be able to sign Cliff Avril, Calais Campbell or even a Robert Mathis.  If Jerry Jones wanted to allocate money here, it would have to be for Antonio Garay, Brodrick Bunkley or Paul Solai. 

The goal would be to find a nose tackle who would allow Ratliff to move to end.  I don't see them going too hard at the defensive line in light of recent comments by Jerry Jones where he indicates he feels his current line is a strength of the team.  If you want to consider ends, you could target Dave Tollefson, Kroy Biermann or Red Bryant.  All are young and would cost money because of their age and potential.   

My pick here is, probably none due to Jerry's logic, Garay with an outside chance at Mathis.

Linebacker 

Not really a huge market for linebacker.  They won't go after Curtis Lofton or Mario Williams.  Something realistic here might be Anthony Spencer for the right price.  London Fletcher is too old, and EJ Henderson is on the wrong side of 30. 

This falls under the defensive line category.  You might see them target a D'Qwell Jackson due to his familiarity with Rob Ryan.  They will definitely do something in the draft to address linebacker.  Some other names I would target, if I had to, would be Stephen Tulloch or Stephen Cooper.   

My pick here would be Spencer for the right price or Tulloch. 

Defensive Backs

Since this is the biggest area of need on defense, we need to leave no stone unturned.  I would definitely target Cortland Finnegan, Brent Grimes, Carlos Rogers, Terrell Thomas and Rashean Mathis.  Finnegan is nasty and great in run support.  He would bring something that has been lacking.  Grimes, although smaller, is a very underrated player. 

Both players would have to come at the right price.  Rogers would be good on a on a two or three-year deal and was outstanding playing for the 49ers this year.  I believe Mathis will wind up with Jacksonville, but he's been a solid corner in this league.  Thomas is the dark horse because he's coming off injury and would be a bargain pickup.  Either way, they need to get one of these players.  An absolute must.   

My realistic pick would be Finnegan with the backup plan Rogers.  As far as safety I don't know that they can rule out Elam, but looking at the list of free agents, the pickings are slim.  Dashon Goldson, Steve Gregory or Thomas DeCoud could fit the bill here. Goldson was outstanding in the 49ers scheme, but what would it cost?  I still think Jerry Jones is reeling after the Ken Hamlin signing.   

My pick would be Goldson, but something tells me they want Barry Church to succeed in this role.  Expect a draft pick at safety.

I don't see them doing anything in the area of special teams so that would pretty much sum up my picks as targets for free agency.  Again, it's not realistic to think they would just go out and get the top of every list, but Jerry Jones vowed to be aggressive in free agency and use the cap.  Let's see what the outcome is or if it was just lip service. 

If they could even get half of my picks in free agency, it would be a significant upgrade heading into the April draft.  Coming away with Orton, Nicks, Robinson, Chandler, Finnegan and possibly a running back or another corner would be a success or some other similar combination.

Just remember to circle March 13th on your calendar as it represents the first day this team can focus on getting better immediately.