Dallas Cowboys: Why Signing Stanford Routt Is First Step in Smart Offseason

Since the Dallas Cowboys were eliminated from playoff contention, the talk around Big D has surrounded landing a big-name defensive back. Former Oakland Raider Stanford Routt is one possibility, and while he won't be the highest profile cornerback available, he would be a great under-the-radar signing for the Cowboys.

America's Team and their fanbase have grown accustomed to making splashes in the free agent market, from Deion Sanders to Eddie George and Terrell Owens. Dallas has a nice lump of owner Jerry Jones' cash to spend this year and guys like Corltand Finnegan and Brent Grimes are the talk of the town.

While those would certainly be great signings, Routt would be cheaper and almost as productive as Finnegan or Grimes.

All three are known to be players who can help your defense get interceptions, but the former Raider had more picks than the other two names combined this season. In fact, it's been two seasons since Finnegan posted more than two takeaways.

Oakland hasn't been in the NFL spotlight much up until this season, but that doesn't mean that Routt hasn't been consistently performing for them. Over the past two seasons, he's posted 104 tackles and six interceptions for the silver and black.

Dallas might also be able to get Routt on a hometown discount. After all, he played for defensive coordinator Rob Ryan during his Oakland days. He was also born in Austin, Texas and went to the University of Houston to play college ball.

ESPN Dallas writer Calvin Watkins has reported that the Cowboys have reached out to Routt's agent, Van McElroy. Big D isn't the only team in the mix for his services, however, as he's scheduled to meet the Bills and Titans in the coming weeks, with the Vikings and Chiefs also expressing interest.

Still, the Cowboys are in dire need of help in the secondary and don't think that Rob Ryan won't make a case to sign one of his former players. He brought safety Abram Elam to town last year, and having another defensive back who knows his scheme would help the Cowboys greatly in that department.

Routt just makes sense for the Cowboys right now. The team needs players who know the defensive system, and while the former second-round pick will want to be paid well, it won't be in the same ballpark as guys like Grimes and Finnegan.

Plus, Routt is a Texas guy, so there's a chance he takes a little less money to wear the star on his helmet.