Dallas Cowboys Free Agency: 5 Free Agents the 'Boys Are Likely to Sign

March 13 might be just an ordinary day to the average person, but to the Cowboys and their fans, it holds more symbolic weight.

March 13 marks the kickoff of free agency and the opportunity to right the wrongs of the 2011 season. 

For Cowboys fans, this day cannot come soon enough, and with the anticipation of whom the Cowboys will attempt to target, court and sign, the excitement is at a virtual climax. With the NFL salary cap set at $120.6 million each franchise now has the final piece of information to launch their plans of attack in free agency. 

Some teams are in good position to make their moves, while others are cutting players faster than a Food Network demonstration. It's the nature of the business and something that won't change anytime soon. 

The Cowboys have played a successful game of "tag" with Anthony Spencer to the tune of more than $8 million, and while they still have room left, it appears some restructurings and releases are imminent. So, that leaves us with one question: Who are the Cowboys likely to sign in free agency? 

Let me try to provide some of those answers.

Laurent Robinson, WR

Signing Robinson is more significant than you might think. His production of 858 yards and 11 touchdowns in 2011 cannot go ignored, and the chemistry he developed with Tony Romo would continue to make this a dangerous offense. 

The Cowboys want to bring him back, and Robinson has made his reciprocal intentions clear more than a few times. It's a good fit for both parties, and Robinson's role won't be limited to the No. 3 position. He proved to be a capable starter while Miles Austin battled injuries in 2011, and Robinson was sometimes a more reliable receiver than Dez Bryant. 

At only 26 years old, the journeyman receiver will likely find a permanent home in Dallas. But what will it cost the Cowboys? 

Well, there's always a team that can swoop in and offer him a king's ransom, but Robinson seems intent on returning as long as he's treated fairly. Sometimes the transition for wide receivers switching teams isn't as seamless as a pitcher switching teams in baseball. It has to be the right fit, and Robinson is the right fit for this team.

Brandon Carr, CB

With the entire football world knowing the Cowboys need to upgrade their secondary, what better player to handle the job than Brandon Carr? 

Carr is the best cornerback available, and Jerry Jones knows he has to deliver the goods. The time for playing games and failing to address the cornerback position is over, and this organization needs to sign Carr.

It will cost the Cowboys plenty, but the market value for a 25-year-old corner who is just entering the peak of his development is a valued commodity in football. Carr brings a tremendous skill set, especially in man coverage, and the Cowboys simply need to be able to cover receivers better in 2012. Adding Carr would allow the Cowboys greater flexibility on defense and in regards to their strategy heading into the draft next month. 

Not only is Carr a tremendous fit for this team but he would also move right into the starting lineup to become a major building block for the future. This simply needs to happen. Cortland Finnegan could be another option, but I believe the true intention is to land Carr. 

Jerry Jones, sign this man!!

Ben Grubbs, OG

After re-signing Laurent Robinson and spending a pretty penny to land Brandon Carr, it doesn't appear that the Cowboys are done making a splash in free agency. 

With it becoming more apparent that Ben Grubbs will not re-sign with the Baltimore Ravens, the Cowboys seem like a logical landing spot since Grubbs would cost them less than Carl Nicks would. If Jerry Jones is as passionate about winning as he says he is and is also determined to put a winner on the field, then I believe he addresses the interior line with the signing of Grubbs.

The rumors connecting Grubbs to the Cowboys have been surfacing more frequently. Signing him would solidify a major need along the offensive line and would also give the Cowboys flexibility going into the draft. If cornerback and guard are addressed in free agency, the Cowboys would allow themselves to simply draft the best available player, including someone like Dontari Poe, who is rising up the draft board at the nose tackle position.

At 6'3" and 310 pounds, Grubbs has been a rock for the Ravens since entering the league five years ago, and he is widely regarded around the NFL as one of the top interior linemen. In 2011, he missed six games with a toe injury, but prior to that he played in all 16 games each season since entering the NFL.  Grubbs is a strong, athletic and quick lineman who uses that quickness to get downfield and utilize his blocking. 

Grubbs could elevate this running attack into the upper echelon of the NFL. And still only 28 years old, he could be a key addition for years to come.

Abe Elam and Brodney Pool, S

Another position the Cowboys will need to address in free agency is safety. With Gerald Sensabaugh signed to an extension during the 2011 season, a void still remains at the other safety spot. Although it appears that Jerry Jones was still snake-bitten by the big contract he doled out to Ken Hamlin, he signed Sensabaugh after previously inking him to a pair of one-year deals. 

Will Jerry Jones use the same strategy this year with Abe Elam or Brodney Pool? 

It appears likely being that too much of the cap will be used at corner and interior line. Elam and  Pool, both Rob Ryan disciples, would each serve as a stop-gap solution for 2012. The Cowboys could also look to draft a safety prospect this year in the hopes of finding a long-term solution.

With Elam, the Cowboys know what they'd be getting—steady but not flashy play and a solid tackler with good fundamentals. If Elam is brought back, they need him to make more plays in the secondary.   

Pool is intriguing and was recently discussed on DallasCowboys.com as a possible target due to his ties with Rob Ryan.

I've watched several of his games, and Pool brings a few dimensions that Elam does not. At 6'2", Pool is not afraid to hit and play with an aggressive style. His exposure to Rex Ryan's brand of football would make his addition seamless. I also like the fact that he's younger than Elam, so he can play himself into a future with this club. 

Overall, this is an under-the-radar addition who could pay big dividends for the Cowboys while being cap-friendly. 

Shaun Hill, QB

Addressing backup quarterback is another area the Cowboys will likely target in free agency. Although they could always draft a prospect late in the draft, Dallas really needs to hedge its bets by adding a veteran. 

With Kyle Orton likely costing too much and with not enough money leftover on the salary cap, the Cowboys will likely look to the next tier of backup quarterbacks. Shaun Hill would be the perfect backup option at this point in terms of cap-friendliness, and he has the ability to push McGee for the No. 2 role. I would probably feel more comfortable with Hill entering the game if Romo were to go down with an injury, which is a scenario that would likely happen if the Cowboys don't strengthen their offensive line.

Dallas is very likely to be as aggressive as Jerry Jones has previously mentioned. How much or how little remains to be seen. I expect the Cowboys to make a splash and add some significant talent such as Carr and Grubbs, but I also expect them to look at some bargain free agents once the dust settles to fill in positions such as linebacker as well as another corner or defensive lineman. 

March 13 can't come soon enough.