Dallas Cowboys owner Jerry Jones. Geoff Burke-USA TODAY Sports

Jerry Jones hints the Cowboys will be big players in free agency

By Michael Gallagher | Last updated 1/31/24

Instead of spending big during free agency last offseason, the Dallas Cowboys’ biggest offseason moves came on the trade front in acquiring receiver Brandin Cooks from the Houston Texans and cornerback Stephon Gilmore from the Indianapolis Colts.

According to team owner Jerry Jones, however, that won’t be the case this year as he expects to make a splash when free agency starts at the beginning of March.

“The plan would be…it would be disruptive to not do a free agent, as far as what we did last year,” Jones told reporters Tuesday at the Senior Bowl in Mobile, Alabama. “I think you could anticipate us having some influence here and being involved in some free agents, subject to if the right free agent, can we get under the right contract?”

Last offseason, the Cowboys re-signed 10 of their internal free agents and just three UFAs from other teams — offensive lineman Chuma Edoga, running back Ronald Jones and long snapper Trent Sieg.

This year may be different given the number of free agents Dallas has at key positions, including several starters. It’s possible the team could lose its starting running back (Tony Pollard), left tackle (Tyron Smith), center (Tyler Biadasz), cornerback (Gilmore) and safety (Jayron Kearse).

Cowboys key free agents this off-season: RB Tony Pollard, OT Tyron Smith, CB Stephon Gilmore, C Tyler Biadasz, DE Dorance Armstrong Jr., S Jayron Kearse, CB Jourdan Lewis, DT Johnathan Hankins, DT Neville Gallimore, DE Dante Fowler Jr., OT Chuma Edoga, CB Noah Igbinoghene, RB…
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) January 15, 2024

Additionally, the Cowboys have a few needs they have to address, including inside linebacker, defensive line, interior offensive line and running back depth with several premium free agents like Derrick Henry (RB), Austin Ekeler (RB), Connor Williams (C), Devin White (ILB), Patrick Queen (ILB), Fletcher Cox (DT) and D.J. Reader (DT) all expected to be available.

Per Spotrac, the Cowboys are projected to be approximately $14.29 million over the 2024 salary cap.

They do have multiple ways to clear some cap space, however. They could release Cooks ($8M), WR Michael Gallup ($9.5M), LB Leighton Vander Esch ($2.15M), QB Cooper Rush ($2.25M) and DT Osa Odighizuwa ($1.5M) post-June 1. They could also trade QB Trey Lance ($5.3M) or punter Bryan Anger ($3M) pre-June 1 or guard Zack Martin ($18M) and safety Donovan Wilson ($5.7M) post-June 1.

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