NFL Free Agency: 5 teams that should sign Jason Pierre-Paul

Dallas Cowboys

With the Dallas Cowboys having no intention to re-sign the uber-talented and equally-troubling Greg Hardy, the organization will be looking to fill a void at the defensive end position.

Why not replace the 6-foot-5, 280-pound pass rusher with a player that is seemingly a mirror image of him on the field without the drawbacks of an abundance of baggage of of it?

Both players entered the NFL in 2010 and have since earned a spot among the most talented defensive ends in the league. Hardy has 40 career sacks, Pierre-Paul has 43. Both players stand 6-foot-5 tall, with Hardy edging out Pierre-Paul on the scales by two pounds.

The playing styles of the two are quite similar, with each using a combination of speed and strength to outmatch offensive lines and hound opposing quarterbacks, giving Dallas an opportunity to make a seamless transition at the position.

Even without Hardy’s pending departure, improving the pass rush was an area that the Cowboys needed to attack this offseason. They ranked 25th in the NFL with 33 sacks last season, and with a pass defense that ranked among the top-five in the league, adding a pass rusher like Pierre-Paul at defensive end could be a vital part in making a turnaround in 2016.

One thing that could prevent the Cowboys from pursuing Pierre-Paul in free agency is the possibility of being able to select Ohio State standout Joey Bosa to fill the void at defensive end with the No. 4 overall pick in the NFL Draft. But with Bosa being heralded as arguably the top player of the 2016 class, it is far from a guarantee that he will be available at that slot.

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