This offseason, the Dallas Cowboys will go through some changes. Dallas is reportedly planning to bring in former defensive coordinator Mike Zimmer to take over for the departing defensive coordinator Dan Quinn, who was hired as the head coach of the Washington Commanders.
A number of important players, including Tyron Smith, Dorance Armstrong, Dante Fowler Jr., Jayron Kearse, Tony Pollard, and Stephon Gilmore, could also leave the Cowboys in free agency.
The Cowboys will need to create some additional salary space and carefully consider their free-agent options in light of their projected $14.3 million cap deficit.
In light of this, let’s look at three upcoming free agents that Dallas shouldn’t target in their 2024 draft.
When free agency officially opens on March 13, there’s a very good chance Dallas will be at wide receiver. Although the Cowboys now have some good depth, receivers Brandin Cooks and Michael Gallup could both lose their contracts due to cap issues.
There would be a $9.5 million cap space savings from Gallup’s release with a post-June 1 designation and a $8 million cap space savings from Cooks’ release.
Receivers Mike Evans of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers is coming off of his tenth straight season with 1,000 yards or more, and if Tampa allows him to do so, he should be among the biggest names in the market.
Evans, however, will also demand a high salary because he turns 31 in August. Dallas probably couldn’t afford his estimated $23.8 million yearly market value without a back-loaded deal.
Evans may only be a temporary solution at wide receiver, so it is not financially feasible to commit a significant portion of Evans’ future salary when CeeDee Lamb and Dak Prescott’s contracts are about to expire.
Even though Evans is still performing at a high level, older receivers are susceptible to the dreaded cliff.
