The Dallas Cowboys are making a much bigger impact early in the stages of free agency than last season.

Only a year after seeing a number of their own leave in free agency such as Randy Gregory and Cedrick Wilson, trading away then-WR1 Amari Cooper and releasing La’el Collins, only to stay comfortable with only five free agent signings. Highlighted by Edge Dante Fowler and WR James Washington.

Despite an overachieving Cowboys team, the front office is being much more proactive in their approach.

So far this off-season, Dallas has re-signed their two highest priority defensive free agents, LB Leighton Vander Esch and DB Donovan Wilson, backup QB Cooper Rush, franchise-tagged Pro Bowl RB Tony Pollard and completed a pair of trades only five days apart from each other.

Acquiring CB Stephon Gilmore and WR Brandin Cooks. All for just a combined two fifth-round picks and a sixth in 2024.

the Dallas Cowboys are shifting their focus in free agency

Dallas Cowboys CB Stephon Gilmore (5) – Cooper Neill/Getty Images

The Dallas Cowboys Shift Their Focus for the Offseason

But what now?

There is still more than a month until the NFL Draft and the Dallas Cowboys have just under $20 million in cap space at their disposal.

How they use their cap space is going to be subjective to a number of factors: what the market dictates, what the players think is their price tag and what the front office is willing to pay them.

Currently, the front office’s attention is on returning a pair of defensive free agents who factor into their defensive line. The aforementioned Fowler and NT Johnathan Hankins.

Hankins, a midseason trade acquisition finished as the Cowboys best run defender. Primarily in the middle of the field, locking the A-gap and helping the defense allow almost three yards per carry less when on the field as opposed to off.

Fowler, a former Dan Quinn product, finished tied for third on the defense in sacks (6) and tied for second in pressure rate, while playing primarily as a rotational player, primarily as an outside pass rusher from both two and three-point stances.

According to Spotrac, their combined market value would only be around $8 million. Much of which can be earned from incentives.

Accounting for signing the rookie draft class (around $6 million), the Dallas Cowboys still would have enough in cap space for a handful of reliable signings. Players who can come in comfortably as veterans to compete for snaps and fill roles, but wouldn’t necessarily be locks to make the final 53-man roster following training camp.

The Dallas Cowboys still need to add another running back, defensive tackle, and linebacker for better depth without needing to fully rely on the draft. Including a new long snapper and kicker, of which they have none but are in no immediate rush to need to sign.

While Tony Pollard will be the feature back in Dallas, the Cowboys have learned and are gearing toward a multiple-back usage to alleviate the pressure. Even with second-year RB Malik Davis coming back, the Cowboys are likely to approach the position similar to the receivers by signing and drafting one of each.

Hankins returning is a real possibility and adding another former face such as Carlos Watkins for his third straight year would make sense. As well as recently released DT Al Woods from Seattle or Derrick Nnadi the former Kansas City Chief. All of them have the ability to play as an interior nose or as a run-stuffing tackle from the 3-technique position as well.

Finally, at linebacker. Just from the outside, the position has potential. Micah Parsons is an All-Pro but the Dallas Cowboys are likely to continue flexing him as an edge rusher and inside linebacker. Vander Esch is the team’s starting MIKE linebacker and one of their premiere run defenders.

Jabril Cox, Damone Clark and Devin Harper are all young players who’ve had moments to make an impact. Harper as a special teams player prior to a season-ending injury. Cox, who came in as a coveted rookie, has since become an afterthought. Clark is by far the most surprising. Not for skill, as he was one of the highest-graded athletes at the position in the 2022 NFL Draft.

However, injuries and inexperience call for the Cowboys to look into adding more depth. They have already taken interest and met with the likes of both Bobby Wagner and Travin Howard, either of whom would give the Cowboys defense more experienced depth. However, money talks.

The Dallas Cowboys still have money to play with but are in a comfortable position to add more valuable veteran depth. However, they may be content to simply go from here to the draft.

In any case, the front office has taken the franchise from a ‘catch-up’ position to a place up front.