Dallas Cowboys Projected To Target Massive 6-foot-4 AFC Emerging Defensive Star In Free Agency

Most likely, Jones will attempt to persuade Prescott to take a team-friendly extension where he will get guaranteed money in the form of a signing bonus or later in his contract to free up room for the salary cap in 2024.

Prescott’s current contract is set to have a $59.4 million cap hit next season, an extension is likely on its way before the start of the March 13, 2024 business year. That’s always been the plan.

The next thing to consider are extensions for the other Dallas Cowboys two biggest stars, Micah Parsons and CeeDee Lamb who are both nearing the end of their rookie deals.

While it may take releasing notable names like Michael Gallup, Brandin Cooks and even DeMarcus Lawrence, the Cowboys will still find creative ways to land new talent through the NFL Draft and free agency.

While Dallas finished with the No.  5 defense in the league in 2023, the Cowboys weren’t great against the run and are almost certain to lose defensive coordinator Dan Quinn, who is expected to take a head coaching job for 2024.

Bleacher Report recently suggested a possible target for Jerry Jones and company to realistically pursue on the defensive side of the ball in free agency.

Dallas Cowboys Urged To Target Miami Dolphins Free Agent DL Christian Wilkins

Dallas’ defense ranked 16th in rushing yards and 15th in yards per attempt allowed. In the three aforementioned losses to those elite teams, the Cowboys allowed an average of 193 rushing yards per game. For perspective, the worst run defense in the NFL, the Arizona Cardinals, allowed 143.2 rushing yards per game.

In other words, yes, Cowboys run defense and lack of quality run-stoppers is their biggest problem entering the offseason. They have been attached to the premier DL available in 2024 by making a move for Chiefs All-Pro Chris Jones, but there may be a cheaper and more efficient option.

A recent article from Bleacher Report provided a viable solution for the Dallas Cowboys to make a major upgrade in stopping the run, which according to a deep dive into the numbers this season, would result in more wins. . In games in which the Cowboys held opponents below 100 yards rushing, they were 6-1. In 100-plus-yard rushing games, the Cowboys were just 6-5.

That includes the 143 yards Dallas allowed to Green Bay in the divisional playoff loss. The Cowboys were 0-4 when allowing more than 140 yards on the ground.

This is where the addition of Miami Dolphins 6-foot-4, 310-pound DT Christian Wilkins comes in. Here’s what B/R said about the Dallas Cowboys potentially targeting Wilkins this offseason.

Wilkins just turned 28 in December and has established himself as one of the league’s top run-stuffing defensive linemen. He’s also coming off a career year as a pass-rusher, one he finished with nine sacks, 65 tackles and 10 tackles for loss. He played a huge role in Miami ranking sixth in yards per carry allowed,” B/R wrote this week.

“Dallas needs to improve its run defense up front, and there’s no telling how big of a second-year jump Smith can make It’s also worth noting that defensive linemen Neville Gallimore, Dorance Armstrong and Dante Fowler Jr. are scheduled to hit the market in March.”

The Cowboys would have to hope the Dolphins decide not to use the franchise tag on Wilkins, which PFF projects they will do, keeping him in place for another year at $19.75 million. That’s a big boost from the $10.7 million that Wilkins made last season, the fifth-year option on his rookie contract. It is also right around Wilkins’ predicted market value, which Spotrac projects at $20.2 million per years (the site has Wilkins getting a four-year, $81 million new deal).

The Dallas Cowboys would have to cut some corners to make a deal like that happen and land Christian Wilkins, but there have already been a variety of projections on how Jerry Jones and the team’s brass can free up space to make a major move or two in free agency.