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3 pending 2024 free agents Cowboys fans should worry about losing, 1 who can walk

By Cody Williams

NASHVILLE, TENNESSEE - DECEMBER 29: Tyron Smith #77 of the Dallas Cowboys jogs to the locker room before a game against the Tennessee Titans at Nissan Stadium on December 29, 2022 in Nashville, Tennessee. The Cowboys defeated the Titans 27-13. (Photo by Wesley Hitt/Getty Images)
NASHVILLE, TENNESSEE - DECEMBER 29: Tyron Smith #77 of the Dallas Cowboys jogs to the locker room before a game against the Tennessee Titans at Nissan Stadium on December 29, 2022 in Nashville, Tennessee. The Cowboys defeated the Titans 27-13. (Photo by Wesley Hitt/Getty Images) /
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Dallas Cowboys, Terence Steele
Dallas Cowboys, Terence Steele. (Photo by Cooper Neill/Getty Images) /

These three Cowboys players will be free agents in 2024 and the team should be worried about losing them, but one other is fine to leave.

Famous last words, on paper, the Dallas Cowboys should be a Super Bowl contender.

Though blowhards would like to have you believe that Dak Prescott should be working in the kitchen of a Denny’s instead of playing in the NFL, he’s a Top 10 quarterback in the league, at minimum. Meanwhile, the defense has been top-tier under Dan Quinn and with the influx of life that Micah Parsons has brought, the offense is loaded with a good offensive line and a litany of weapons, not the least of which is newcomer Brandin Cooks.

That’s for the 2023 season, though. And while Cowboys fans are certainly hoping that, for once, America’s Team can have a season not end in disappointment for the first time in three decades, there is still the future to consider. Namely, there are several notable Cowboys standouts who are going to be free agents going into the 2024 season.

Three of these pending Cowboys free agents look like players that Dallas simply can’t let walk out of the building. One big name, however, is someone who it’s probably time to let leave. Let’s take a look at these four players and the looming decisions for the franchise.

Cowboys Rumors: 3 pending 2024 free agents who Dallas can’t lose, 1 they can

4. Cowboys should be scared to lose OT Terence Steele

When Terence Steele was forced into action as a rookie in the 2020 season, I’ll be the first to admit that I was hoping that the Cowboys would never have to rely on him along the offensive line. He was, even in kind terms, well below average coming out of Texas Tech and didn’t seem like a piece for the future of the offense.

Fast-forward to this 2023 offseason, though, and Steele has progressed in a dream manor. He improved to being a passable player at tackle in the 2021 season and, in last year’s campaign, PFF (subscription required) graded him out as the 23rd-best qualifying player at the position in the 2022 season.

Where things get a bit more complicated for Steele, however, is how he’s coming into his contract year with Dallas.

The right tackle suffered a torn ACL and MCL this past December and, as of June, his availability for Week 1 as he recovers from the injuries reamins highly in question. It’s perhaps one of the worst times for a player to not be healthy, but it’s what Steele will be tested with working past and still proving himself.

All of that being said, Steele looks the part of a solid right tackle who can really solidify the offensive line in Dallas as we start to transistion somewhat from the former group that once dominated the NFL. That’s especially true if Steele can keep developing too. So if the Cowboys don’t want to play with fire with an O-line that has indeed proven itself, then re-signing Steele should be an absolute priority.

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