Isaiah J. Downing-Imagn Images There are some low-cost free agents who the Cowboys should keep an eye on. On Wednesday, it was announced that the NFL salary cap would increase from $255.4M to somewhere between $277.5 and $281.5 million. That’s a significant jump that shows how much the game grew financially. Usually, that would spark interest amongst most NFL fans and excitement with free agency fast approaching. However, the Dallas Cowboys don’t operate like everyone else. They won’t chase the top-of-the-market free agents. That’s how they’ve conducted business for the better part of the last decade. However, there is value should a few free agents hit the market that would fall nicely in an affordable price point for the Cowboys. With free agency less than a month away, now would be a good time to look at some free agents the Cowboys should have their eyes on. Elijah Mitchell Running back is a big need for the Cowboys this offseason. Although Rico Dowdle performed well, he’s set for unrestricted free agency and may seek a bigger contract elsewhere. Dallas is linked to running back prospects in the draft, but it would be wise to supplement their position depth early rather than picking running backs out of desperation. Elijah Mitchell would be a solid addition for the Cowboys, allowing them veteran experience and not preventing them from spending draft capital on a running back. Mitchell is a 1-cut runner with good speed in the open field and enough physicality to finish runs inside the red zone. Injuries have been a factor in his career, as he missed all of 2024, but that’s precisely why he should come at a very low cost. In his rookie season, Mitchell ran for 963 yards on 267 carries and has averaged 4.7 yards per carry for his career, proving that he is an efficient runner. Adding Mitchell means that he has to be part of an ensemble at running back, and that’s a role he’s already comfortable with. Javonte Williams Another running back on this list. Williams is a talented runner who has a lot to offer when healthy. However, his health and intermittent inconsistency led to Williams falling out of favor with Denver Broncos head coach Sean Payton. Williams lost carries to Seth McLaughlin and rookie Auric Estime last season, and the Broncos are going in a different direction regarding running back. Yet, when healthy and at his best, Williams is an elusive runner that shakes defenders out of would-be tackles. At 5’10”, 210 pounds, Williams has a sturdy frame to take on volume carries. Williams had 31 broken tackles on just over 200 attempts as a rookie. That number has since dwindled, but after another year of recovery and getting fully healthy, he could recover that magic with the Cowboys. Williams has workhorse potential and is still 24 years old. Like Mitchell, his injuries lower his cost, and that’s exactly what the frugal Cowboys are looking for. Jameis Winston By adding Jameis Winston, Dallas can upgrade their backup quarterback position. The Trey Lance experiment didn’t work mainly because trading a fourth-round draft pick for a quarterback third on the depth chart had little chance to offer a return on the investment. Then, when he did play, he didn’t provide anything to inspire hope in his performance. Cooper Rush has had his moments, but his physical limitations taper down the offense’s potential when he plays. With Winston, you have to take the good with the bad, but at least with him, you know he’s going to drive the ball downfield and look to make explosive plays, even if they sometimes favor the other team. The good news is the Dallas offense looks to focus more on running the football; therefore, Winston’s passing chances will be limited, and they will look to mirror the passing game to make action more effective for Dallas. If Dak Prescott misses time, at least you have somebody with the upside to score points. Last season, Winston had three games with over 300 yards passing, including a game where he had 497 yards passing against Denver. Dallas can do better at backup quarterback than Cooper Rush and Trey Lance. Winston would be that upgrade. Will Hernandez The Cowboys should be very familiar with Will Hernandez. Before being drafted by the New York Giants in 2018, Hernandez met with Dallas, and some felt he would be another productive offensive lineman for the Cowboys. Since then, Hernandez spent the last two seasons with the Arizona Cardinals, starting 22 games. New Cowboys offensive coordinator Klayton Adams has worked closely alongside Hernandez the previous two seasons, and a reunion with the Cowboys makes a lot of sense. In speaking with the media this month, Hernandez gave effusive praise for his former offensive line coach, and the feeling could be mutual if Dallas looks into adding Hernandez. Hernandez is coming off a modest deal and shouldn’t cost the Cowboys much for an interior offensive lineman with his type of experience. With Zack Martin retiring, this becomes a more urgent need. Calais Campbell It doesn’t matter how old Calais Campbell is; he still holds great value as more than just an individual contributor. However, he did have a relatively good year. Last year, he had five sacks and played in all 17 games. Campbell can provide a presence as a mentor to the younger players on defense. The Walter Payton Man of the Year award winner is a veteran leader with great character on and off the field. Imagine his presence next to Mazi Smith as he enters a defining season for his career and how he could tutor his development. Having someone around like Campbell would suit the Cowboys in several aspects. Once again, Campbell’s contract should be cheap, but it might take more to uproot him out of Miami, where he played college football and last season for the Dolphins.

Geoff Burke-Imagn Images The latest news from around the division. Insider report on offseason plans is exactly what Commanders fans want to hear – Dean Jones, RiggosRag.com The expected salary cap increase will only help Washington’s cause. Excitement couldn’t be higher for the Washington Commanders entering the offseason. They are coming off an incredible campaign where they reached the NFC Championship game against all odds. Adam Peters is well-positioned to build on this newfound positivity in the coming months. The Commanders have the third-most available salary-cap space currently. This increased after the league confirmed another huge hike, which is only going to help Peters’ cause. Washington has seven selections in the 2025 NFL Draft. They are also an attractive destination after restoring their reputation. Peters isn’t going to be reckless. There’s a need for aggressiveness and calculated risks if the right opportunities present themselves. However, the general manager has a long-term plan in place and won’t jeopardize this with rash decision-making. Fans are eagerly anticipating what comes next with free agency on the immediate horizon. One respected insider provided some clues about what the Commanders could prioritize when the recruitment period commences. […] “Adam Peters and Dan Quinn had to kind of piece it together as best they could. Did an admirable job, but I expect reinforcements. Yes, I know Washington fans desperately want that number-two receiver opposite Terry McLaurin. I do think they’ll address that in some form, but they could allocate more resources to their offensive line and their pass rush if they lose Dante Fowler in free agency. Also, they have a ton of good players who just played out one-year deals that they could bring back. Bobby Wagner played great. Zach Ertz was a really good target for Jayden Daniels. Safety Jeremy Chinn, you’ll see some of those pieces back most likely.” New York Giants free agency primer: 5 defensive linemen to consider – Nick Falato, BigBlueView.com Sure, New York’s offense needs a ton of work, but their defense needs some help too. The New York Giants need help on their defensive line. Dexter Lawrence is one of the top players at his position, but the Giants failed to surround him with a solid complement and depth in 2024. New York traded Leonard Williams to the Seahawks, and A’Shawn Robinson signed with the Carolina Panthers, leaving Rakeem Nunez-Roches as the only proven player — other than Lawrence — in Andre Patterson’s defensive line room. The room is full of late-day three picks and undrafted free agents: Elijah Chatman, Elijah Garcia, Jordon Riley, D.J. Davidson, Cory Durden, and Armon Watts, who suffered a devastating knee injury at the end of the season. Perhaps the lack of proven depth behind Lawrence is a testament to Patterson’s coaching ability for depth in other areas of the roster was necessary; still, it was clear that the defensive line was an issue heading into the 2024 season. The 2025 defensive line class is deep. GM Joe Schoen and the Giants will likely make investments into the position through the draft, but a veteran free agent also makes sense. Here are five names to consider. […] Milton Williams, PHI Williams blew up the 2021 NFL Scouting Combine, and Howie Roseman selected him at pick 73 in the third round: Williams played more than 400 snaps in each of his first four seasons. He wasn’t a starter but a core rotational player with penetration skills and a relentless nature. His pressure numbers through his first three seasons were 19 in 2021, 16 in 2022, and 25 in 2023. He then went OFF for 54 pressures in 2024, with the highest pass-rushing grade in Pro Football Focus. He finished in the top 10 in pressures in 2024 with the fourth-highest PRP (A formula that combines sacks, hits, and hurries relative to how many times they rush the passer) and the sixth-best pass-rush win rate. He struck while the iron was hot and is now a free agent at 25 years old. Eagles’ Cam Jurgens undergoes back procedure, expected to return in time for camp – Nick Shook, NFL.com Philadelphia’s starting center undergoes back operation, expected back for training camp. Cam Jurgens’ journey to a triumph in Super Bowl LIX didn’t come without challenge. The center played through nerve pain and recently underwent a back procedure to alleviate the issue, NFL Network Insider Mike Garafolo reported on Thursday. Jurgens is expected to fully recover from the operation in time for training camp in July, per Garafolo. ESPN first reported the news. Jurgens was unable to play in the first half of the Eagles’ NFC Championship Game victory over the Commanders, but when teammate Landon Dickerson suffered an injury that limited his basic mobility, the center found the strength to fight through his own discomfort and replace Dickerson in the lineup in the second half of Philadelphia’s romp over Washington. Given two weeks to recuperate, Jurgens made the start at center in Super Bowl LIX, playing 91 percent of offensive snaps in the Eagles’ runaway win over the Kansas City Chiefs. A second-round pick out of Nebraska, Jurgens saw his first significant action at guard in 2023, making 11 starts alongside longtime center Jason Kelce, who advised the Eagles to target Jurgens in the 2022 draft. When Kelce retired after the 2023 season, it was officially time for Jurgens to take over at center, making 16 regular-season starts in 2024 and earning a 16th-place grade among all centers, per Pro Football Focus.

Photo by Cooper Neill/Getty Images This would be a great replacement for the future Hall of Famer. The 2025 season was always up in the air for nine time All-Pro Zack Martin. After 11 seasons, it was clear that the wear and tear of the NFL grind were starting to get to him, and he even had to be shut down with a season-ending ankle injury. On Thursday, the inevitable finally happened when Martin informed the team of his retirement from the NFL. The Cowboys have some internal options like Brock Hoffman and T.J. Bass to replace him at right guard. However, they could add a different player in free agency. Veteran guard Will Hernandez is a former first-round pick of the New York Giants. After four years in the Big Apple, Hernandez has spent the last three seasons with the Arizona Cardinals, and he’s now an unrestricted free agent. With a market value projected at $4.3 million, Hernandez is a cheap option that fits the Cowboys free agency mode. He is coming off a torn ACL, which limited him to five games in 2024, and he also missed four games in 2022 with a pectoral injury. This is why he can be signed for so cheap, which again goes right in line with how Dallas does business. The Cowboys have a strong tie to Hernandez. Their new offensive coordinator, Klayton Adams, was the offensive line coach for the Cardinals for the previous two seasons and worked with Hernandez directly. Together, they completely flipped the Cardinals offensive line around and turned it into one of the more respectable units in the NFL. So, Hernandez already knows how Adams likes to get things done and what his philosophy is. Once the Cowboys brought Adams in, Hernandez praised the move, calling him the right guy. Had a great conversation with Arizona OL Will Hernandez — a free agent this offseason — about Klayton Adams. I’ll share the full interview tomorrow, but first here’s a teaser: “I’m telling you: you got the right guy.” https://t.co/tIj6DZUQYA pic.twitter.com/auKJql7nPK — Joseph Hoyt (@JoeJHoyt) February 4, 2025 Hernandez plays with the toughness and tenacity that the Cowboys desperately need in the trenches. He’s been a steady performer with 91 starts in 97 career games. If Dallas made this move, Hernandez would be an immediate starter at right guard that would solidify the interior of the Cowboys offensive line with Cooper Beebe at center and Tyler Smith at left guard. It would also allow the Cowboys to pick up another tackle earlier in April’s NFL draft if they choose to. There are plenty of dots that connect Hernandez to the Cowboys, and he’ll certainly be a name to watch for them once the free agency frenzy begins.

Photo by Sam Hodde/Getty Images The careers of so many Cowboys would look different if there was more success in the playoffs. Father time is cruel and eventually comes for us all. After it was reported that Dallas Cowboys‘ longtime right guard, Zack Martin, would be retiring, there was no debate on social media about whether he was a Hall of Fame player—it is simply a fact that he will be. The unfortunate part about Martin and many other Cowboys greats of this era is that they never got close to reaching the Super Bowl. With Washington reaching the NFC Championship this year, Dallas officially has the title of longest drought for reaching the championship game for an NFC team. With 30 years passing, many cornerstone players have dawned The Star in Dallas but never had the opportunity to place their name in the lore of the National Football League. #Cowboys legacy players of this era to never make a Super Bowl with Dallas: – Tony Romo– Jason Witten– Zack Martin– DeMarcus Ware– Tyron Smith– Dez Bryant– Sean Lee– Travis Frederick– Ezekiel Elliott Legacies could have been different. pic.twitter.com/gYan4spSL8 — Brandon Loree (@Brandoniswrite) February 20, 2025 This list could grow depending on the Cowboys’ success under Brian Schottenheimer. DeMarcus Lawrence is a free agent, so if the team decides not to re-sign him this offseason, he could be listed after Martin’s. Dak Prescott and CeeDee Lamb are in their prime and under contract for four more seasons. Could this be their last ride in Dallas before they move on to another team or retire? There is never enough discussion about the team that walks away from the Super Bowl empty-handed and on the other side of the win column. You never know when your team will make it back. That game and moment could have been their only shot at the Lombardi Trophy. Look at the Joe Burrow-led Cincinnati Bengals. They might have one of the league’s top three quarterbacks and have not returned to the big game since 2021 after losing to the Los Angeles Rams. Zack Martin’s best shot at an NFC Championship game, let alone a Super Bowl, came during his rookie season (2014), and two years later, Prescott and Ezekiel Elliott led the charge as rookie sensations. That was it. Dallas had three consecutive 12-win seasons under Mike McCarthy from 2021-2023, but Dallas lost two Wild Card games at home and on the road in the Divisional Round to the San Francisco 49ers. To restore hope for the Cowboys fanbase, Micah Parsons is making it known that Martin will be the last cornerstone player of his era to not make a run at the Super Bowl. That list is coming to an end!!! https://t.co/cBMiShz75M — Micah Parsons (@MicahhParsons11) February 20, 2025 Since joining the Cowboys, Parsons has believed he can be the best and make a deep run in the postseason every year. Parsons has been vocal this offseason about the team’s need to spend in free agency and about trying to trade for Myles Garrett. It will be a step in the right direction if the Cowboys do anything more than the bare minimum, as they did in 2023. When a defense has an elite pass rusher like Parsons on the roster, there should be Super Bowl expectations every season. When an offensive line is the strength of a team centered around a player like Martin, Super Bowl expectations should follow. Unfortunately for Martin, he will now sit on the couch at home with his family if Parsons helps Dallas change the narrative in 2025 or beyond.

Photo by Timothy Nwachukwu/Getty Images Cowboys have several internal options to replace Zack Martin. Many changes are coming for the Dallas Cowboys and changing of the guards, quite literally, is now one of them. Zack Martin, a future Hall of Famer, has informed the team of his retirement from the NFL. This news isn’t all that surprising considering he’s reached the age where father time starts to catch up to professional athletes, and is also currently rehabbing from a season-ending ankle injury that required surgery. Now that we know Zack Martin won’t return to Dallas, it leaves a vacancy that will need to be filled on the Cowboys offensive line at right guard. While free agency and the 2025 NFL Draft could possibly provide his replacement, there are some internal options Dallas could choose to turn to. Today, we’re going to take a look at those options. Brock Hoffman (6’4″, 302) Considering he stepped in for Zack Martin when he finally shut it down due to his ankle injury, Brock Hoffman seems to be the favorite to retain the job heading into 2025. He played a total of 387 snaps at RG last year as well as 109 at C and 19 at LG. He played admirably when he was needed a season ago, and without a better option, he gets the nod for now. Cooper Beebe (6’4″, 335) In his first year ever playing center, Cooper Beebe not only performed well above expectations, but was also Dallas’ most consistent offensive lineman last year other than Tyler Smith. Kicking him over to replace Zack Martin could be what’s best for him long-term, however, that would then open up a vacancy at C. The only way this happens is if the Cowboys believe Beebe is better at RG and they have a C worthy of replacing him. T.J. Bass (6’4″, 325) T.J. Bass could be considered in a neck-and-neck race with Brock Hoffman to step in as Zack Martin’s replacement in 2025. He played a total of 127 snaps at RG and 188 at LG last year in a reserve role, but has yet to really prove he can be depended on as a full-time starter. He’s a much better run blocker then he is as a pass protector, which could possibly work in his favor if Brian Schottenheimer and his staff actually does commit to the running game. Asim Richards (6’4″, 307) In his two years with the Cowboys Asim Richards has seen playing time at both left and right guard and left tackle. He primarily played LT last year rotating in and out of the lineup due to Tyler Guyton’s struggles as a rookie, but given the opportunity he could potentially challenge for the job to become Zack Martin’s replacement at RG. He’s probably a long shot though, however, his position flex at the very least could put him into contention. Nathan Thomas (6’4″, 331) Nathan Thomas was a seventh-round pick in 2024 by the Cowboys and pretty much had a red-shirt season with the organization last year. He’s a complete wildcard right now considering we don’t really know what he brings to the table or what his best position might be in the NFL. He was a left tackle during his time at Louisiana, but many believe kicking inside to guard would be in his best interest. His skill set at least gives him a chance.

Mark J. Rebilas-Imagn Images The latest news surrounding the Dallas Cowboys is here. What will new DC Matt Eberflus bring to Cowboys’ defense? – Todd Archer, ESPN The new DC in Dallas wants the defense to get back to creating lots of turnovers in 2025. “Yeah, pretty simple: We take the ball away,” he said when asked what the hallmark of his defense is. “That’s what we do. We stop the run. And we want to make exciting plays for our football team. That’s really what we do.” In his first year as the Colts’ coordinator in 2018, Indianapolis went from No. 30 in points and yards allowed to No. 10 and 11, respectively. The run defense went from 26th to eighth, and the Colts did not allow a 100-yard rusher. Only once in the past seven years has an Eberflus-led defense or team finished outside the top 10 in takeaways. And in 2023, the Bears tied for the NFL lead with 22 interceptions. It helps Eberflus that he will have Parsons. Since 1982, Parsons and Hall of Famer Reggie White are the only players to record at least 12 sacks in each of his first four NFL seasons. League rules prevent them from talking much about football at this time of year. One of Eberflus’ first talks with Parsons came when the pass rusher was enjoying Disney World with his kids while in Orlando, Florida, for the Pro Bowl. “Micah’s a premier pass rusher. We’re going to use him that way certainly,” Eberflus said. “And he’s a heckuva athlete and can do a lot of different things for us on defense. When you have a guy like that you want to be able to utilize his skill set, and as we’re around him more, we’ll be able to see what that skill set is and really take advantage of that.” It also helps Eberflus that he has defensive assistants from his time in Chicago, such as pass game coordinator Andre Curtis, linebackers coach Dave Borgonzi, cornerbacks coach David Overstreet and assistant defensive line coach Bryan Bing. Ken Dorsey explains how he’ll assist Brian Schottenheimer in building Cowboys’ offense – Tommy Yarrish, DallasCowboys.com The Cowboys’ new passing game coordinator, Ken Dorsey, wants to ensure that the running game is utilized in supporting the passing attack. Dorsey spent last season as the offensive coordinator for the Cleveland Browns and was previously in the same role for two seasons with the Buffalo Bills. In this role, he’ll focus more on constructing the offense as a whole and chip in with help wherever he can. “I’m helping out with the offense in general, I’ll be able to go where needed in terms of helping out position groups and things like that,” Dorsey explained. “I’m going to be able to help a lot with tying the pass game with the run game and some off the pass concepts and things like that, but it’s I think more of a big picture role more so than a specific one lane type deal.” When it comes to what the offense will look like schematically, Dorsey echoed the same sentiments that Schottenheimer and the rest of the staff have as well – the Cowboys are focused on using the ground game to set up everything else. “We’re going to be a team that’s going to run the football and be able to utilize that as a strength for us and then utilize our guys and be able to adjust our system based off of our guys’ strengths.” Dorsey said. One of the key pieces of the puzzle will be maximizing Dak Prescott when he returns for the 2025 season and beyond. Dorsey has coached high level quarterbacks like 2024 NFL MVP Josh Allen in the past, and was complimentary of what Prescott has been able to do in his nine NFL seasons. “He’s got a tremendous skill set, he can make all the throws that you can ask for…” Dorsey said of Prescott. “He’s got tremendous experience in this league. For a quarterback position, the more reps you get in a game, the more you’re reacting instead of thinking, it’s just a natural reaction, you can play faster and faster and faster.” Zack Martin appreciation section. Zack Martin has decided to retire after 11 years with the Dallas Cowboys, according to multiple sources. He had a meeting with Jerry Jones on Thursday to inform the owner/GM of his decision. Nine-time Pro Bowler. Seven-time All-Pro. — Todd Archer (@toddarcher) February 20, 2025 Zack Martin joins Larry Allen as one of the greatest guards in NFL history. He was a seven-time All-Pro, a nine-time Pro Bowler and a member of the Pro Football Hall of Fame’s 2010s all-decade team. Martin, like Allen, should be a first-ballot Hall of Famer. — Charean Williams (@NFLCharean) February 21, 2025 the best player I played with or against. 1st ballot in a world with any justice. https://t.co/gFIrWHykZI — Mike Golic Jr (@mikegolicjr) February 20, 2025 Nobody in Cowboys’ history has more first-team All-Pro selections than Zack Martin. His seven are tied with Bob Lilly and Randy White. Only Lilly (11), Jason Witten (11), Larry Allen (10) and Mel Renfro (10) have more Pro Bowl selections as a Cowboy. — Todd Archer (@toddarcher) February 20, 2025 Why should Cowboys’ upgrades start at defensive line? Look at Super Bowl-winning Eagles – Calvin Watkins, Dallas Morning News The Cowboys will need to bolster their defensive line if they want to play with the top contenders in the NFC. In the Super Bowl, the Eagles played eight different defensive linemen, four were first-round picks. The starters featured a pair of first rounders. As the Cowboys’ personnel staff descends at the NFL Scouting Combine starting Monday in Indianapolis, upgrading the talent along the defensive line should rank high on the to-do list… …Knowing which players are on your roster, and which are leaving, brings you to the draft. The Cowboys pick No. 12 overall in the first