Dallas, TX
5 free agents the Dallas Cowboys could still sign
The Dallas Cowboys’ approach to free agency for fans is that itch you can’t scratch. You know it bothers you and want to do something about it, but the solution is just out of reach. Yearly, it’s understood that the Cowboys won’t be keen on signing big-name free agents to substantial contracts. Yet, you can’t help but be frustrated seeing division rivals make major additions to their roster within the first few days of free agency while the Cowboys’ focus lies elsewhere. However, rest assured the team will eventually agree to terms with external free agents and make some acquisitions. Here are five free agents the team could sign in free agency, and spoiler alert: there’s a common reason many of them could be in the Cowboy’s price range.
Connor Williams
Williams is a player who, while in Dallas, you can argue was playing out of position. He had difficulties with injuries and penalties that marred his time in Dallas. However, since leaving, Williams has transitioned to playing at center and started all 17 games for the Miami Dolphins in 2022 and nine in 2023.
The Cowboys lost their starting center to the Washington Commanders, and if they had to line up today it would be Brock Hoffman assuming starting duties in Dallas. Williams could be competition for Hoffman and an experienced player in the middle of the line. Williams has tinkered with center and guard and has played left tackle dating back to his time at Texas when he was an All-American.
Signing Williams should be inexpensive and fall nicely into the team’s budget, mainly because he is coming off an ACL injury that makes his status for the start of the season unsure.
Steven Nelson
Nelson would be a terrific supplement to the Cowboys’ roster. He has experience playing inside at the slot and as a boundary corner. With him in tow, the Cowboys protect themselves if something happens to their cornerbacks during the season. The Cowboys have yet to agree to a new contract with Stephon Gilmore, who was acquired via trade last offseason.
Cornerback is a significant need for the team in the interim, considering Gilmore’s status and Trevon Diggs recovering from an ACL injury. Nelson has been a model of durability, starting at least 15 games a season in his last six seasons. Last season for the Houston Texans, he matched a career-high with four interceptions. Nelson is coming off a two-year, $9M contract with the Texans. His market should be around that price point.
JK Dobbins
The Cowboys need a running back after parting with Tony Pollard and Ezekiel Elliott over the past two seasons. JK Dobbins would give the Cowboys a starting-caliber runner that will come at a significant discount because of an injury history. Dobbins has suffered season-ending injuries for the last three years, but there’s no denying his talent. Dobbins averaged six yards per carry during his rookie season and is only 25 years old.
Think back to 2015, when the Cowboys allowed starting running back DeMarco Murray to leave in free agency and replaced him with a talented but oft-injured runner in Darren McFadden. McFadden went on to lead the team in rushing. Dobbins could be another example of giving the right player the right opportunity and, more importantly, on a budget that protects the team from a risky investment. Assuming Dobbins is relatively inexpensive, it also permits the Cowboys to spend reasonable draft capital on a running back on day two of the draft.
Michael Thomas
Following the release of Michael Gallup, the Cowboys need a wide receiver. Since his ACL injury, Gallup has been a shell of his former self, and eventually, the team let the receiver go this week. Michael Thomas is arguably the most decorated veteran on this list, earning several league honors, such as a three-time Pro Bowler, two-time first-team All-Pro, and 2019 Offensive Player of the Year. We concede that this history likely means a larger payday than Dallas usually entertains at this stage, so we understand this one is more dream than reality.
A Thomas addition would see him join a tandem of Brandin Cooks and CeeDee Lamb, with young prospects Jalen Tolbert and Jalen Brooks behind them. Injuries have plagued the former New Orleans Saints receiver, who has played in just 20 games since 2020. Consider this more of a deep dive into Thomas in the later stages of the offseason. If Thomas doesn’t reach a deal with other suitors within the next few weeks, his demands and options should bring him closer to Dallas’ terms regarding price by then.
Calais Campbell
Calais Campbell is a player who, no matter where he goes, success soon follows along the defensive line. It’s no coincidence that his presence with the Atlanta Falcons helped turn around their defense. Campbell is a respected veteran who brings leadership, and the Cowboys need more in that department. The team has lost some of their defensive line depth this offseason, and Campbell could help with the rotation.
Campbell is versatile and can play in several alignments, including as defensive end or at times a 3-tech defensive tackle. The massive defender (6’8, 282 lbs.) has been a six-time Pro Bowler and accumulated 6.5 sacks last season despite his advanced age. Last season, he signed a one-year contract with the Falcons for $7M. Factoring in his skills, leadership, and impact, a contract similar to that for Campbell would fortify the defensive line.
First Shift 🏒
For the past four regular seasons, the Stars have the best road record in the NHL.
Through 164 games, Dallas tops the league with a .655 points percentage away from home. It also leads in goals per game at 3.40 and in GAA at 2.70. That spans two different head coaches and several different players, but there is a culture that the team hopes to tap into Wednesday when the best-of-seven playoff series moves to Minnesota for Game 3.
“You have to be able to play on the road,” said Stars coach Glen Gulutzan. “Since my time here, our guys feel really comfortable.”
The Stars were tied for second in road points percentage this season at .683, so an actual improvement over their previous average. They were third in GAA at 2.73 and sixth in scoring at 3.41, so the league has improved. That said, the new coaching staff has also embraced a sound road strategy.
Like Pete DeBoer before him, Gulutzan doesn’t worry too much about matching lines – at home or on the road. The road matching can create some real gymnastics, as the home team gets second change. But the fact that a team chooses not to chase that part of the game.
“That’s why you program your guys to play in those situations and not yank them off every time something happens,” Gulutzan said. “That way they have the confidence to play in all of those situations.”
The Stars coach did make some tweaks after a disappointing team performance in Game 1. Arttu Hyry jumped in for Adam Erne and played center on a line with Jamie Benn and Sam Steel. The right-handed Hyry was a solid complement to lefties Steel and Benn. That allowed Hryckowian to move up to the top line in place of Steel. The left-handed Hryckowian is good balance to right-handed center Johnston.
Again, when you have those options, you are comfortable with whatever line is on the ice.
“I like our combinations right now,” Gulutzan said. “One of the things you worry about is the hands of your centermen, and on each line we have a righty and a lefty that are more than capable. Plus, all of the guys know their systems and their jobs, and they’ve been doing it all year.”
The Stars have had several injuries this season to key players, and that means everyone has played everywhere with everyone else. That’s big this time of year.
“I definitely think that helps,” said Colin Blackwell. “It just makes everything flow. If the coaches shuffle things up, you usually land with someone you have played with before.”
And that means playing on the road isn’t as difficult. The biggest challenge might be fact that Minnesota will be fired up by its home crowd and will be looking to make a point about grievances they perceived in Game 2.
“I don’t know if we need a bulletin board,” Gulutzan said when asked about the Wild making “bulletin board” statements Monday. “We’re just going to keep doing what we’re doing and grind this thing to where we need it to go.”
The Dumb Zone hosts analyze the record-breaking contract extension for Cowboys kicker Brandon Aubrey, critiquing the team’s media narrative regarding the negotiations and debating the kicker’s value in a “fourth-down revolution” era.
Johnston gave the Stars a 1-0 lead at 8:58 of the first period. His slap shot from above the right face-off circle deflected off Wild forward Danila Yurov and then bounced off the end boards and in off Wallstedt’s left arm.
“I’ve had a goal like that go in on me, too, that’s a tough bounce,” Oettinger said. “Like I said in Game 1, we got some bad bounces. We got a nice bounce there. We had one where I was behind the net, and the guy was shooting it in the net and our (defense) stopped it, so we got some good bounces. The way we played the last 40 minutes of the game, I think, didn’t give up much, had a ton of good chances offensively. The power play, we got looks and our (penalty kill) was great. If we kind of build off the game that we played the last 40 minutes, I think we should feel very good for the next few games.”
Faber tied it 1-1 at 11:33. He took a pass from Hughes, skated around Robertson in the left circle and cut to the slot, where his wrist shot ramped up and in off Oettinger.
Duchene put the Stars back up 2-1 with a power-play goal at 4:02 of the second period. Mikko Rantanen gained the offensive zone along the right boards and sent a backhand pass to Duchene, who snapped the puck between Wallstedt’s pads from in front.
Robertson made it 3-1 at 7:09 of the third period when he tipped Lundkvist’s wrist shot from the blue line past the right pad of Wallstedt.
“I think we got to do a better job, I mean, the odd-man’s, right? I thought we played a really good game. Probably their best game, you know, meaningful game. And, yeah, we didn’t get fazed by it. Was really good by us. Just got to be smarter in some areas, and we get to go back home and in front of our crowd,” Minnesota forward Marcus Foligno said. “They want (penalties). I mean, they’re looking to play 5-on-4. I mean, that’s their game. They can’t hang with us 5-on-5. We got to just be smarter, and myself included. But it’s a heated game out there. You’re gonna have emotional swings and learn from it. We got a split series.”
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