Dallas Cowboys owner Jerry Jones said the team is all-in on 2024, suggesting this will be an active offseason for the team in the 2024 NFL Draft and free agency. While we don’t necessarily buy into Jones’ statement as an indicator that Dallas will spend a lot, there are a few Cowboys free agent targets who could help out.
Obviously, Dallas isn’t in a favorable salary-cap situation right now. However, there are plenty of ways to create financial flexibility, such as contract extensions for quarterback Dak Prescott and wide receiver CeeDee Lamb. Assuming the team creates the necessary cap room, we’re targeting reasonably affordable options available.
- Dallas Cowboys cap space 2024: -$10.603 million
Let’s dive into our Cowboys free agent targets for 2024.
Lavonte David, linebacker
Lavonte David is no longer playing at an All-Pro level, which shouldn’t be a surprise for a linebacker who just wrapped up his age-33 season. While he might want to finish his career with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, they have other priorities (Antoine Winfield Jr, Baker Mayfield and Mike Evans) which could open the door for Lavid to latch on with a Super Bowl contender.
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Off-ball linebacker remains a weakness for Dallas and it showed up against the run. Opponents averaged 114.8 rushing yards per game and 4.2 yards per carry against the Cowboys in the final 10 regular-season contests. David is reliable, still providing steady run defense and a football IQ that helps make the players around him better. Likely to only require a one-year contract, he’s a cost-effective starter for Dallas.
Robert Hunt, interior offensive lineman
With Tyron Smith evidently parting ways with Dallas before NFL free agency, it stands to reason that 2022 first-round pick Tyler Smith will move to left tackle. He played some great football on the interior last season, but the Cowboys seem prepared to let that 6-foot-6 offensive lineman kick outside to left tackle.
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Hunt, the 39th overall pick in the 2020 NFL Draft, may prove too expensive for the Dolphins to retain this year. He would likely play left guard in Dallas, but the 6-foot-6 offensive lineman has started nearly 20 games at right tackle in his NFL career, too. He’s a quality run blocker and surrendered just 5 pressures in 329 pass-blocking snaps (PFF) last season. It would take a multi-year deal, but the 27-year-old could be a very effective and versatile starter in Dallas for three years.
Grover Stewart, defensive tackle
Dallas Cowboys fans would highly prefer to see the team sign All-Pro defensive tackle Chris Jones, but the Kansas City Chiefs aren’t letting him get away. Miami Dolphins defensive lineman Christian Wilkins is poised to hit NFL free agency, but that bidding war will likely prove too expensive for Jones. Glovert Stewart is a cost-effective option.
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The 314-pound defensive lineman has been very consistent in recent years. While he did serve a six-game suspension in 2023 for violating the NFL’s performance-enhancing drug policy, the Colts had a top-12 run defense when Stewart was on the field last season. Dallas needs interior run stuffers and Stewart has consistently proven he can be that while coming at a fraction of the cost of the top defensive tackles.
Derrick Henry, running back
The best version of the Cowboys’ offense is when they have a punishing running back who can both be effective in short-yardage situations and create yards after first contact. Derrick Henry isn’t the best running back in the NFL anymore, but don’t let the fact that he’s entering his age-30 season fool you into writing him off.
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Running behind one of the worst offensive lines in the NFL last year, Henry still amassed 1,381 scrimmage yards with 12 touchdowns and averaged 4.2 yards per carry. The underlying numbers also prove he is still a highly effective punisher, as he averaged 3.32 yards after contact this past season. Dallas can still be a more pass-oriented team with Prescott under center, but Henry can be the true featured back who makes things happen with the football in short-yardage spots and he can handle more than Tony Pollard.