3 free agents Cowboys are most at risk of losing
By John Buhler
The Dallas Cowboys need to get their cap in order if they want to take part in free agency.
Only the Green Bay Packers and the New Orleans Saints are in worse cap situations for 2022 than the Dallas Cowboys.
America’s Team finds itself roughly $21 million over the cap entering NFL free agency. While Dallas has time to get its cap in order, the Cowboys need to act quickly to take advantage of where they stand in their competitive life cycle. The Cowboys are the heavy favorite to win the NFC East again next year and could potentially get to Super Bowl 57 if everything does go according to plan.
If they do not act swiftly, it could cost them any of these marquee players in their free agencies.
Dallas Cowboys: 3 free agents they could lose this offseason
Scouting Report. Pick Analysis. Dallas Cowboys. 3. OLB. Randy Gregory. player. 123
Randy Gregory could stay, but somebody in need of a pass rusher may pay more
When he is on the field, Randy Gregory is an excellent situational pass rusher. He had all the talent coming out of Nebraska, but has had a hard time staying on the field for a myriad of reasons. Though he has spent his entire NFL career with the Cowboys, there is a chance some team in dire need of a pass rusher will pay premium for a player with some serious boom-or-bust potential.
Gregory may be a homegrown talent, but the Cowboys are not in a position presently to pay out the wazoo for risky player and somewhat of a luxury item. Of course, it remains to be seen what type of market he will command this offseason. It could be higher than expected with him playing a major position of need. If may also be depressed given his history of off-the-field issues as well.
Ultimately, the Cowboys will have to pay Gregory more than what he made on his last contract in order to keep him. It really comes down to if The Joneses think he is a cornerstone on Dan Quinn’s defense. Talented pass rushers are hard to find and the Cowboys clearly have one in Gregory. All things equal, other Dallas players will get paid ahead of him, given the team’s salary cap situation.
The combination of him being a risky investment and Dallas’ lack of cap space makes this hard.