Doug Free: Latest News, Rumors and Speculation Surrounding Cowboys OT

It's no secret that the Dallas Cowboys' success on offense in 2014 started with the offensive line. Veteran offensive tackle Doug Free was a part of that, and Dallas will be looking to get him a new deal before he hits free agency. 

Continue for updates. 

Free and Cowboys Reportedly Closing In on Deal

Friday, March 6

According to NFL.com's Ian Rapoport, Free and the Cowboys are approaching a deal:

Free is 31 years old and only started 11 games last season due to foot and ankle issues. The eight-year veteran missed Dallas' two playoff games, as well. 

As far as Free's future in Dallas is concerned, the Cowboys faced a difficult dilemma because Free's backup, Jermey Parnell, whose contract is also up, is three years younger than his teammate. 

Brandon George of The Dallas Morning News previously spoke to Cowboys executive vice president Stephen Jones about the team's impending decision: "I think Jermey played really well, and I think a lot of teams will throw on the tape and watch him play and probably a lot of people will consider him a starter. So we’ll have to make a tough decision there with Doug and Jermey. Hopefully we’ll at least keep one of them."

Free has spent his entire career with the Cowboys, being drafted in the fourth round of the 2007 draft. In addition to injury problems last year, he only appeared in one game in his first two seasons. Since that time, he's been a stable presence on the offensive line, starting every game from 2010-2013. 

However, that stability was only tied to being in the lineup. As noted by Tim MacMahon of ESPNDallas.com before the 2014 season, citing Pro Football Focus' rankings, Free's production was all over the map:

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For whatever reason, Free's four seasons as a full-time starter have been a roller coaster. He was very good in two of them and terrible in the other two. 

Just look at where Free ranked among offensive tackles in Pro Football Focus' grading system the last four seasons: tied for fifth in 2010, 51st in 2011, 68th in 2012 and 20th in 2013. 

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Should the Cowboys and Free fail to finalize a deal, the tackle should benefit from a market that is lacking in tackles being available this offseason. He can also tout being a key part of the group that turned running back DeMarco Murray into an MVP candidate in 2014. That's got to be worth something to a team.