When the clock strikes 4 p.m. on March 15, the Dallas Cowboys and the rest of the NFL can officially sign free agents and orchestrate trades if they choose to do. While NFL teams can legally tamper and contact free agents starting on March 13 at 12 p.m. ET – things can’t be official until the above date and time.
Heading into this year’s free agency, the Cowboys will have their hands full as they will have 22 players that they will need to decide on re-signing. Some notable names include Running Back Tony Pollard, Tackle Terrence Steele, Tight End Dalton Schultz, Cornerback Anthony Brown, and Linebackers Leighton Vander Esch and Anthony Barr.
While I’m not here to tell you which internal players they should keep, I wanted to discuss other matters. And that’s two external free agents they should sign. These two guys can help in key positions.
- Tight End
- Cornerback
So, without further ado, check them out below.
1. TE Mike Gesicki
One of the big storylines the Cowboys’ will have this season is whether it’s worth re-signing Tight End, Dalton Schultz. Last offseason, we saw the front office go through this obstacle, and they eventually franchise-tagged him as they couldn’t agree on a new contract.
Fast-forward to now, it’s shaping that the franchise will have to go through the same situation, but this time a franchise tag may not be an option.
If you look at Spotrac, you see that Schultz’s current market value is at $15.1M, which would project him as the 2nd-highest paid tight end in the NFL. Now is he worth that much money? Who knows.
However, if the front office feels strongly about moving on from him and diverting their money toward other free agents, this is where Tight End Mike Gesicki steps in.
A former second-round pick by the Miami Dolphins, Gesicki started his NFL career slow but exploded in 2020 and 2021 as he finished both years with 700-plus yards. He would go through the same situation that Schultz went through last offseason regarding a long-term extension, but he got franchise-tagged too.
Now a free agent, many expect him to be on a new team next year, so why not the Cowboys? First off, his current market value is only $8.1M. Second, although his stats dropped this past season (he was massively underutilized), he has shown that he can be an elite option in the passing game.
Adding Gesicki would provide a veteran option to the team if they moved on from Schultz, and you wouldn’t have to rely solely on rookie Tight Ends Jake Ferguson and Peyton Hendershot next season.
2. CB Marcus Peters
One of the team’s kryptonite this year was their cornerback room. From injuries galore to defensive backs getting exposed in coverage, it was a hot mess for the personnel group this year.
Now, as we enter free agency, we have Cornerback Anthony Brown potentially on his way out as he recovers from a torn Achilles, so who knows how he will look post-injury.
And the team’s other starting defensive back, Jourdan Lewis recovering from a Lisfranc injury. While he’s not a free agent, he may not get his spot back when he returns, as CB DaRon Bland showed the world that he could be their new starter.
So what do they do to improve their defensive back group? Hit up Cornerback Marcus Peters.
A former first-round pick, Peters was a guy who people labeled among the league’s best cornerbacks during the early part of his career. His production would fluctuate up and down, and some people saw him as a shell of his former self.
Add that he tore his ACL in 2021. Many people were writing him off. However, after returning and starting the year slow, Peters had a decent year, finishing with 47 tackles, one sack, six pass breakups, two forced fumbles, and one interception in the 13 games he played.
Now a free agent, his current market value is projected at $9.8M, according to Spotrac. While some people could argue that he’s not worth the money, my rebuttal is that he is because of his resume, and you can likely get him on a one-year prove-it contract.
Plus, having Peters as a number-two corner, who is known to be a ball-hawk, is a dangerous addition to go along with Cornerbacks Trevon Diggs and Bland.
Does the addition of Peters instantly solve the team’s cornerback issues? No. But you can bet the team would love to have a veteran in their lineup and someone who’s relatively healthy to start the season.
The team could chase after Cornerback Patrick Peterson even if he’s not your guy. Peterson has a $6.4M market value, according to Spotrac. He’s also ranked fifth in coverage among corners, according to PFF.
Or throw big money at Cornerback Jamel Dean, who has a market value of $16.5M and a combined coverage grade of 89.9, according to PFF.
Pick your poison, Cowboy fans. But if you’re on the bandwagon of riding into next season with the same personnel group, I would prepare for a long season.
