Cowboys Free Agency blog Part 4 of 5: Defensive Tackle

I hope everyone had a great Valentine’s Day, but it’s time to get back into the football mindset. We’ve looked at possible free agents for the Dallas Cowboys at Defensive End, Offensive Tackle and Cornerback. Here’s three Defensive Tackles for the Cowboys to take a look at.

Jared Odrick 6-5 304

29 tackles 1.0 sacks

Jared started 15 of 16 games for the Dolphins this past season. Good pass-rusher who has played 3-4 End and 4-3 Tackle. Depspite just one sack in 2014, grades out as a top pass-rusher as a DT. Would give the Cowboys size and more pass rush next to Tyrone Crawford. Ranked as a top-19 DT by Pro Football Focus.

Tyson Alualu 6-3 295

30 tackles 2.0 sacks 

Has played Nose Tackle in a 3-4 and Run Stopping End in a 4-3 with the Jaguars. Started for four years before being replaced by Red Bryant last year. Has never lived up to expectations with Jaguars. A change of scenery/coaching could re-invigorate Alualu. Had microfracture knee surgery prior to 2013 season. Not a big name, but could be a good rotational player.

Nick Fairley 6-4 304

14 tackles 1.0 sacks (8 games) 

Inconsistency with his weight was one of Fairley’s problems with the Lions. Has had off the field troubles as well. He still is one of the better pass rushing Defensive Tackles in the free agency class. Rod Marinelli could turn Fairley into a Pro-Bowl Defensive Tackle overnight. Could be a bidding war for his services, which could leave the Cowboys out.

Fairley and Odrick still both have huge potential. Alualu could be a cheaper alternative and would play 400 snaps as a rotational player. Odrick is my pick based on Fairley being a bigger name. The Cowboys may be content just bringing back Nick Hayden to play the 1-technique and look for DT’s in the draft instead.

@geoffrey_craig

Cowboys Free Agency blog Part 1 of 5: Defensive Ends

Welcome back everyone! Now that we have looked at possible draft scenarios for the Dallas Cowboys, let’s look at possible Free Agents they may pursue. Depending on if they land any of these players greatly changes whomever they may use their top pick (#27) on. I’m going to look at five positions over the next few days with my top 3 fits for the ‘Boys.

With little money to spend I don’t think the Cowboys will be making a big splash this off-season. Their biggest needs are to re-sign Dez Bryant and/or DeMarco Murray, then restructure the contracts of Tony Romo, Brandon Carr, and Tyron Smith to make room to pursue any Free Agents. I’ll be looking at positions in no particular order or price tag, just players and positions of need.

Here we go. Part 1: Defensive Ends

Anthony Spencer’s career with the Dallas Cowboys appears to be over and he definitely wasn’t worth $12.6 million for last two years of 0.5 sacks and 1 fumble recovery. George Selvie is serviceable and rookie DeMarcus Lawrence was hurt most of the year and really never at full speed. Jerry Jones is known for going after high risk/reward players and these three fit the mold.

Brian Orakpo  6-4 257 

24 tackles, 0.5 sacks in 7 games

Yet another torn pectoral muscle (missed most of ’12) limited orakpo to just 7 games in 2014. When healthy he is a very productive pass rusher with 39.5 sacks in 64 games. Played 3-4 OLB with Redskins but should have no problem adding 5-10 pounds of muscle to be 4-3 DE. Played at 263 pounds in college at Texas.

Jerry Hughes 6-2 254

53 tackles, 9.5 sacks, 3 FF 

It took a couple of years and a change of scenery for Jerry Hughes to blossom into the push rushing threat the Indianapolis Colts drafted out of TCU. In two years with Buffalo, Jerry averaged 50 tackles and 9.5 sacks per season. A great speed rusher, he would be the perfect compliment to DeMarcus Lawrence. The problem will be money with Hughes. As previously noted, he is coming off of back-to-back

 Career years and the Buffalo Bills love him. His price tag may not be what Dallas can afford.

Da’Quan Bowers 6-4 288

21 tackles, 1.5 sacks 

Off the field issues and injuries have hampered Bowers throughout his career. Some thought he could be the #1 overall pick in 2011 draft but fell after having off-season knee surgery and questions about a degenerative knee. He suffered a torn ACL in 2012 and was suspended 2 games for PED’s in 2014. At 6-4 288 pounds, he is still a freak of an athlete. He can be used as a DE on 1st and 2nd downs moved inside to DT on 3rd. After seeing what Rod Marinelli can do with defensive lineman, I would like to see him brought in on a favorable contract. It may help that his favorite team growing up was the Dallas Cowboys.

Stay tuned for tomorrow’s blog about the ‘Boys: Offensive Tackle

@geoffrey_craig