Cowboys to see 14 players enter free agency in 2024
Cowboys to see 14 players enter free agency in 2024
Texas’s Frisco – Following the unexpected conclusion of the 2023 season,
the Dallas Cowboys are now focusing on the next offseason, as 14 players from the previous team,
including important players on all three phases of the team—will be available for free agency.
These are the 14 players who will be available for free when the market opens on March 13.
They will all be free agents without limitations.
Tyron Smith (13 seasons with DAL – As the offseason heats up, one of the more intriguing stories to watch
will be the upcoming free agency of starting left tackle Tyron Smith.
Although his outstanding on-field performance in 2023 was undoubtedly advantageous,
his off-field behaviour is where the risk resides. Is Smith well enough to be brought back, and is he available?
If yes, how much and for how long? Before deciding on the future Hall of Famer,
they are the questions that need to be addressed.
Tony Pollard (5 seasons with DAL) – This past season, the Cowboys made the decision to deploy
their franchise tag on Tony Pollard, who inked a $10.09 million contract.
The front office will now need to decide once more how to handle its starting running back.
They have two options: they may sign him to a short-term contract or attempt to
reapply the franchise tag for one more season.
If they decide to bring him back at all, that is. Pollard ran for 1,005 yards with six touchdowns in 2023,
but his average carry yardage was a career low of 4.0.
Stephon Gilmore (1 season with DAL)
After Trevon Diggs suffered a season-ending injury in week three,
Dallas gained a seasoned cornerback in Stephon Gilmore, who proved to be even more vital.
Gilmore may be seeking some stability in his last years of play after playing for
four different teams in the previous four seasons.
Though Diggs and first-team All-Pro DaRon Bland will return to the Cowboys for the upcoming campaign,
it remains to be seen who will be the odd man out among the three All-Pro boundary corners
who have just two spots on the pitch.
Jourdan Lewis (7 seasons with DAL) The same questions asked about Gilmore could be asked about
Jourdan Lewis who is also looking at potentially being the odd man out in a loaded cornerback room in 2024.
As a slot nickel, Lewis could be brought back with Diggs and Bland on the boundaries,
but it’s tough to imagine both Gilmore and Lewis on the team next season.
Dorance Armstrong (6 seasons with DAL) The second-leading sack-getter for
the Dallas Cowboys in 2023 is due to hit the free agent market as
Dorance Armstrong will look to pair his strong year on the field with a sizable contract this offseason.
As a pass-rusher that has shown consistency and reliability over the last two seasons,
Armstrong could be in line for a payday. In 2023, Armstrong accounted for 7.5 sacks and 38 tackles.
Jayron Kearse (3 seasons with DAL) An up-and-down 2023 season makes
the Jayron Kearse free agency interesting going into the offseason,
especially considering that the front office extended both Donovan Wilson and Malik Hooker before the season.
With a few intriguing safety options in the first two rounds of the draft,
could the Cowboys look to bring in a replacement for Kearse at a cheaper price?
Or do they bring him back to provide reliability in 2024?
Another potential factor in his free agency would be a potential Dan Quinn exit.
Dante Fowler Jr. (2 seasons with DAL) Speaking of Dan Quinn guys,
Dante Fowler Jr. is due for free agency this offseason after two years in Dallas followed up
two years spent in Atlanta including one of those with Quinn.
Fowler was mostly a rotational piece in the pass rush unit this past season and accounted for just four sacks ,
his lowest since 2020.
Noah Igbinoghene (1 season with DAL) After being traded for just days before the season began,
cornerback Noah Igbinoghene is set to hit free agency. Igbinoghene only saw late-game,
blowout action on defense early in the season and minimal special teams work throughout the year.
He became a frequently inactive player in the back half of the season.
Johnathan Hankins (2 seasons with DAL) The Cowboys tried to add more beef to
their defensive interior when they drafted Mazi Smith in the first round last April,
but after a rookie year that fell short of expectations,
having reliability at the defensive tackle position is one of the bigger offseason priorities.
Bringing back veteran Johnathan Hankins could provide short-term relief,
but could the team look for more long-term help instead?
That question will be the biggest determining factor towards what jersey Hankins wears next season.
Trent Sieg (1 season with DAL) One of the league’s most consistent long snappers from 2024 is due for
free agency as Trent Sieg will hit the market after one season with special teams coordinator John Fassel’s unit.
After building such a strong rapport with punter Bryan Anger and kicker Brandon Aubrey in 2023,
it’s hard to imagine he will be heading elsewhere next season.
Chuma Edoga (1 season with DAL) Having consistent offensive line depth is tough to find in the NFL,
and Chuma Edoga provided that early in 2023 before having a rough outing
against Miami on Christmas Eve that soured a previously decent first season in Dallas.
It’s expected that the Cowboys will attack offensive line options in the draft,
but they could still bring Edoga back to compete for a spot in training camp.
Neville Gallimore (4 seasons with DAL) The rookie deal for defensive tackle Neville Gallimore has expired,
and although he stayed mostly healthy in his four seasons and was available when needed,
the lack of success in the defensive interior is factored in when you look at Gallimore’s potential future in Dallas.
Rico Dowdle (4 seasons with DAL) Another expiring rookie deal will hit with running back Rico Dowdle,
who served as the complimentary back to Tony Pollard in 2023 and accounted for 505 total scrimmage yards and four touchdowns.
His health prior to this past season was the biggest concern ,
having only seven career touches prior to 2023 –,
but if the Cowboys could bring him back to continue to compete for a spot next season.
Tyler Biadasz (4 seasons with DAL) The starting center for the Dallas Cowboys next season
could be a whole betting game,
as Tyler Biadasz’s contract runs up on March 13 and intriguing center options sit ahead in the draft.
Additionally, a small handful of free agent names could be available as well. But when you look at what Biadasz contributed on paper,
he was a Pro Bowler in 2022 and has started in all but two games in the last three seasons.
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