NFL free agency grades: How did each team do?

Dallas Cowboys

The Dallas Cowboys usually have an eventful free agent period, and they deserve high praise for keeping their two most important players. Amari Cooper changed Dallas’ fortunes immediately when he joined the team from the Raiders in 2018, and while the deal was initially criticized, Cooper has been worth more than a first-round pick. He is one of the best receivers in the league and will be worth every penny of the five-year, $100 million deal.

As for Prescott, there is little doubt he’s the right man to lead the Cowboys into the future. Prescott is a composed quarterback with great leadership skills, and when the skill position players are clicking, he can make the Cowboys offense look like one of the league’s most dangerous units. Dallas had no option but to pay him.

The Cowboys made three nice moves in the defensive backfield, re-signing high-upside cornerback Anthony Brown and upgrading Jeff Heath with Ha Ha Clinton-Dix. Although Clinton-Dix is significantly better, he will only cost the Cowboys $500,000 more this season than Heath. Finally, cornerback Maurice Canady should push for a starting job and was a nice buy-low defensive back on another one-year deal.

Significant investments in Blake Jarwin and Gerald McCoy could come back to bite the Cowboys, but McCoy can be an elite player and Jarwin has breakout potential at tight end. Prescott will come to love using the tight end next season, and Jarwin is easily better than Jason Witten at this stage.

Grade: B