Mar 23, 2022

  • Todd ArcherESPN Staff Author

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    • Covered NFL since 1997, Cowboys since 2003
    • Previously covered Bengals and Dolphins
    • Lives in Dallas expanse with his wife and 2 children

NFL free bureau is well underway, and we're keeping rail of every major signing, trade and release of the 2022 offseason, with analysis from our NFL Nation reporters and grades from our experts. The starting time round of the 2022 NFL typhoon begins Apr 28 on ESPN.

The Dallas Cowboys enter free agency with plenty of needs (offensive line, defensive line, linebacker), but volition practise what has become an almanac rite: Practice their best to go on their own free agents while shopping on the auction rack.

They have not fabricated a major splash in gratuitous agency since Brandon Carr (five years, $fifty 1000000) in 2012, but they accept shown the ability to make quality signings on one-year deals. Last twelvemonth, the Cowboys added safety Jayron Kearse (their leading tackler), safety Damontae Kazee, defensive terminate Carlos Watkins, linebacker Keanu Neal and punter Bryan Anger on one-yr contracts.

The Cowboys are a draft-and-develop team these days and use free bureau to fill holes to give them a purer draft board come April.

Here'southward a breakup of every 2022 NFL gratis-agent signing past the Cowboys, and how each will affect the upcoming season:

Michael Gallup, WR

Gallup agreed to terms on a five-twelvemonth deal, $62.five million deal to remain in Dallas. The deal includes a $10 one thousand thousand signing bonus.

What information technology means: Information technology came down to Amari Cooper or Gallup. The Cowboys agreed to trade Cooper and his $20 million base salary that would accept become gully guaranteed on the 5th twenty-four hour period of the league yr to the Cleveland Browns and were able to go along Gallup before the market opened. Gallup has been a large-play receiver for the Cowboys since they drafted him in the 3rd round in 2018. He has one one,000-grand flavor to his credit but he can brand the contested catches and quarterback Dak Prescott isn't afraid to go his style. Gallup just turned 26 and the Cowboys believe his all-time football is ahead of him. The signing won't stop the Cowboys from looking for another receiver in gratuitous agency or early in the upcoming draft.

What'due south the risk: He suffered a torn anterior cruciate ligament in his left human knee in January and did not accept surgery until February. When volition he exist 100%? The Cowboys are confident he will be ready for game activeness in September. That is a quick turnaround, but Gallup has complete faith in managing director of rehabilitation Britt Chocolate-brown to get him right. The Cowboys are also taking a big-motion-picture show view here with a v-year deal. Once he is on the field, can Gallup become a consequent 1,000-yard receiver? Without Cooper, pressure ratchets up on Gallup and CeeDee Lamb equally they move up in the pecking guild offensively. The Cowboys believe both can do information technology.

Jake McQuaide, long-snapper

McQuaide agreed to a one-year, minimum-bacon benefit bargain.

What it means: The Cowboys might not know who their kicker volition be afterwards cutting Greg Zuerlein, and they might non know who their punter will be with Bryan Anger expected to get a bigger deal, but they know they have McQuaide dorsum. In his first yr replacing Fifty.P. Ladouceur and his 11th year in the league, he did non take a poor snap. The Cowboys may bring Zuerlein back at a lower price and perhaps Anger won't go top-cease punter coin, but at to the lowest degree they know they have a solid snapper in McQuaide.

What'south the risk? None. McQuade turns 35 in July but he is good for you and dependable, two things you want in a deep snapper. The contract will non make much of a dent in the cap.

DeMarcus Lawrence, DE

Lawrence agreed to a new three-year deal with $xxx million in guarantees, but more importantly the re-worked contract opens upwards much needed cap room this year.

What it ways: : The Cowboys have their defensive leader and if you want to say Micah Parsons is their all-time defender now, fine, then they have their second-best defender dorsum in the fold. The Cowboys would non have been a ameliorate defense force without Lawrence. While he has 14.5 sacks over the concluding 3 seasons, he ranks among the all-time pass-rushers in terms of pass blitz win rate. He is a stout run defender and can affect the passing game besides. His presence makes Parsons better.

What'south the gamble: It's purely medical. He missed 10 games final twelvemonth because of a broken foot that required surgery. He has had three back surgeries. But prior to last season he had gone four straight years without missing a game. He turns xxx in Apr, but the Cowboys believe he has plenty left in the tank. The Cowboys did not desire to lose Lawrence and they were able to effigy out a mode to go along him financially and make their defense improve.

Malik Hooker, S

Hooker agreed to a two-year bargain worth a maximum of $8 million, a source told ESPN'south Adam Schefter.

What it means: Probably more than people think for a guy who played simply 446 snaps terminal season. He projects into a starting role in 2022 with the Cowboys not expected to retain Damontae Kazee. Hooker played in 15 games terminal year afterward non joining the team until early in training army camp and was credited with 44 tackles, one tackle for loss, one interception and ii pass deflections. He has shown to be a natural playmaker when healthy with seven interceptions in his first three years in Indianapolis. Now, a 2nd year off a torn Achilles, he should be better, which is what the Cowboys are banking on with this deal.

What's the adventure? Financially it'southward not very much over a two-yr bargain. Generally the run a risk is medical. Hooker played in but two games in 2020 with the Colts because of the Achilles and dealt with knee and hip injuries that cost him equally well. Considering of the measured approach the Cowboys use in free agency, there are sometimes problems with the players they sign, like injuries, merely they don't put themselves in a fiscal demark most of the time with the contract.

Jeremy Sprinkle, TE

Sprinkle agreed to terms on a 1-year, minimum salary deal.

What it means: With Dalton Schultz on the franchise tag and Blake Jarwin released last week considering of a hip injury, the Cowboys are able to retain Sprinkle on a minimum-salary benefit contract for the second directly year. He played in all 17 games with 4 starts last year, communicable 3 passes for 31 yards. He is more of a blocker than laissez passer-catcher, but the Cowboys averaged a league-high 6.ane yards per play in two-TE sets. The Cowboys besides have Sean McKeon and Ian Bunting under contract for 2022 at the position.

What's the risk: Stop if this sounds familiar: none, really. There's not a financial risk, nor a physical run a risk. Sprinkle is a solid contributor and can help on special teams. And this signing does non prevent the Cowboys from calculation a tight end at whatsoever signal in the upcoming draft. What this does is requite them cover and then as they don't have to draft a tight end.

Dorance Armstrong, DE

Armstrong agreed to terms on a ii-yr deal, worth a maximum of $13 one thousand thousand with $6 meg guaranteed, according to source.

What it means: The Cowboys keep a potent slice to their defensive line rotation. He had 5 sacks last flavour, one fewer than DE Randy Gregory. He's stout against the run and is improving as a pass-rusher. He can assist on special teams. He turns simply 25 in June. It doesn't mean the Cowboys should be done looking for pass-rush help in free agency or the draft. With the mode coordinator Dan Quinn wants to apply his defensive line, Armstrong is a key figure since he tin play both sides. He can also play some as a standup linebacker.

What'due south the run a risk? It'south a two-year deal for a actor they believe is ascending. It'southward only a hazard if they don't add more pass-rushers to Armstrong, DE DeMarcus Lawrence, DE Chauncey Golston and whomever else. LB Micah Parsons will exist in the mix equally a laissez passer-rusher besides, but the team's preference is to continue to use him at linebacker and every bit a pass-rusher, every bit they did when he was a rookie.

Leighton Vander Esch, LB

Vander Esch agreed to terms on a one-year deal worth a max of $3 million, according to sources.

What information technology means: The Cowboys were able to retain a solid piece to their defense. In the last month-plus of 2021, Vander Esch'due south play improved quite a chip. The more he played, the more than he produced after they cutting back splitting time with Keanu Neal. It was the best he played since his rookie yr. He has a strong human relationship with Micah Parsons and helps keeping the excitable player grounded. If the Cowboys desire to utilise Parsons as a pass-rusher more in 2022, they know Vander Esch can do the job and he proved final year he can stay healthy. This likely signals the end of any pursuit of Bobby Wagner, although that did not seem like the highest of priorities.

What's the risk? Very lilliputian, specially financially. The signing does not accept the Cowboys out of the typhoon market at all and they still demand linebackers. Recall Jabril Cox is recovering from a torn ACL. Vander Esch has a gamble to prove his durability over again and hit the market again in 2023. The Cowboys have a motivated thespian wanting to evidence he is a departure-maker.

James Washington, WR

Washington agreed to terms on a one-year deal.

What it means: The Cowboys had a need for a No. 3 broad receiver with Cedrick Wilson joining the Miami Dolphins. Washington can fill this role, although the Cowboys will still exist able to add together a receiver early in the draft if demand exist. They re-signed Michael Gallup to a five-year deal, but there are no assurances that he will be gear up for the season opener, although the club's hope is he could exist back in September. Washington had 114 receptions for 1,629 yards and eleven touchdowns in 4 seasons with the Steelers subsequently being selected in the second round in 2018. He had just 24 receptions for 285 yards and two touchdowns in 15 games last flavor, simply the Cowboys believe he tin stride into their receiver group and produce.

What's the chance? If he doesn't show he tin help the club, the Cowboys are not heavily tied to him with a i-year deal. At this bespeak in gratis agency, in that location is minimal risk. While he did not pan out the way the Steelers would take wanted a 2nd-round pick to, the Cowboys are willing to give him some other adventure. He has some speed and versatility that offensive coordinator Kellen Moore volition like.

Dante Fowler Jr., DE

Fowler agreed to terms on a one-year deal.

What it means: The Cowboys needed to add pass-rush assist with the loss of Randy Gregory. After keeping Dorance Armstrong, they were able to agree to a deal with Fowler, the 2016 No. iii overall option in the draft with the Jacksonville Jaguars. They might non be done either, although information technology is more likely they will find additional help in the draft at defensive end. Fowler has 35 career sacks, including a career-loftier xi.5 in 2019 with the Los Angeles Rams. Dan Quinn was Atlanta'south head double-decker when Fowler signed in that location in 2020, while it ultimately did non work out for either (Quinn was fired, Fowler had just 7.5 sacks in two seasons), the reunion could be the best news for the Cowboys.

What's the risk? Finish me if you've heard me earlier, but non much. It's a one-yr bargain so the Cowboys have not fabricated a long-term delivery at a major cost of bacon-cap room. There has to be some concern that he is now on his 4th squad, but Quinn showed terminal yr he has a way of getting the best out of players.

Jayron Kearse, Southward

Kearse agreed to a two-twelvemonth deal worth $10 million but can max out at $xi million.

What it means: The Cowboys hold on to their leader in tackles concluding flavor, which is a adept affair. Kearse gets a 2nd year of working with coordinator Dan Quinn, which is another good affair. In his first season with the Cowboys, Kearse emerged equally a leader not just on the defense force but the unabridged roster. He also made plays when given his most extensive responsibilities yet of his career. He finished with 92 tackles, one sack, 7 tackles for loss, 10 quarterback pressures, a fumble recovery, two interceptions and 10 pass deflections. That far exceeded expectations later he signed a one-twelvemonth, minimum-bacon benefit deal a year agone. This new deal comes with greater expectations.

What's the risk? He's healthy and merely turned 28, only can he produce at the same level once more? The Cowboys believe so past bringing him back, merely he has to prove it. Quinn establish the best manner to apply Kearse, which was mostly near the line of scrimmage working in the run game and roofing tight ends.

Bryan Anger, P

Acrimony returns to the Cowboys on a three-twelvemonth deal worth $9 1000000, according to sources.

What information technology means: He'south a Pro Bowler and it's always good to bring back a Pro Bowler. He ready a team- and personal-best with a league-loftier 44.6-thousand internet boilerplate, which was tied for quaternary in NFL history. His 48.4-yard gross average was too the best in team history. He was able to flip field position with his leg strength and directional boot. With Jake McQuaide in the fold, the Cowboys take two of their iii specialists back in 2022 although kicker Greg Zuerlein'south return seems less likely. Given the money tied up in Anger, the Cowboys will probable go ultra-cheap at kicker with a rookie or less-than-seasoned veteran.

What'southward the risk? Tin can he practise it again? He doesn't need to be every bit good, simply he tin can't fall off the map, like he did in 2017 subsequently re-signing with Tampa Bay. His net boilerplate went from 42.7 yards to 39.5 yards. A yr later, he had a 38.ix-k cyberspace average. He turns 34 in October, but he's been durable. He's also a practiced holder, which will come in handy for a new kicker.

Carlos Watkins, DT

Watkins agreed to return to the Cowboys on a ane-twelvemonth deal.

What it means: They keep another player in identify on defense, like they accept done with Dorance Armstrong, Leighton Vander Esch, Malik Hooker and Jayron Kearse. That should help them in Dan Quinn'due south second year in running the defense. Watkins was something of a surprise to the public last year if non the scouting department or coaching staff. He started 14 of the xv games he played and returned an interception for a touchdown to continue with 32 tackles, a sack, two pressures, four tackles for loss, a fumble recovery and a pass deflection.

What's the risk? None. His signing does non preclude the Cowboys from looking for a big defensive tackle in the draft. It gives them some more encompass if DT Quinton Bohanna does not brand a big 2d-year jump. The price is correct. He is the type of player every defense needs: He can play both interior spots, will do a lot of the muddied work and won't cause a fuss.