For any well-run team in the NFL, player contracts need to be carefully assessed well in
advance. Performance, potential draft opportunities, and salary are all points to consider,
and it’s never an easy job for general managers. The Cowboys have multiple players set to
become unrestricted free agents this offseason, giving the owner and general manager Jerry
Jones a lot of work to do.
In total, 19 of the Cowboys’ current roster will hit free agency once the season is over. Of
these, around three will be major decisions, while the rest are mostly relatively
straightforward. Currently, Dallas has a cap of $6.3 million which will likely roll over to next
season. With not much cap space, it’s likely that a lot of these players will be left to become
free agents with no new contracts offered.
Right now, most fans will be concentrating on the season and how the Cowboys play in their upcoming games. You can enjoy betting on all of this season’s action at Betway, with all the latest odds on NFL games. The Cowboys are currently second in the NFC East on a three-game winning streak when they take on the Texans on Sunday.
Tony Pollard
Tony Pollard is a running back for the Cowboys, and his contract is set to expire in March 2023. Right now, he looks set to become one of the most coveted free agents in the league, as he’s been performing to high standards for the Cowboys. While he’s been tearing it up, his salary is only at $956,000, much lower than fellow Cowboys RB Ezekiel Elliott, who’s currently on $15 million.
Compared to Elliott, Pollard has been the much better player this season, recently completing six catches for 109 yards and two receiving touchdowns, along with an average of 5.3 yards per carry. He doesn’t get much game time due to being ranked behind Elliott, but he could be a major contributor if he’s given a bigger role in the team.
Pollard might not have the name value as some other free agents, but his production stats show that he could be a worthwhile investment for any team in the league. Some metrics suggest he could sign a three-year deal worth up to $23 million, but it’s unlikely that the Cowboys would be willing to pay that much. While the Cowboys should keep hold of him if possible, it might be difficult while still paying big money to Elliott.
Donavon Wilson
Wilson is a versatile safety who has recently become a major part of this Cowboys’ defense. The former 6th round draft pick has fit in extremely well on Dan Quinn’s defense and has helped to solidify a safety position that has historically been a weak point for Dallas. He’s now leading the team for tackles with 85, and he’s also added four sacks at four. In fact, if Wilson makes one more sack this season, he’ll tie the franchise record for the most sacks in a single season by a defensive back with Bill Bates. As a clearly important part of the team, it’s vital that Jones works to ensure Wilson resigns for the Cowboys. He’s currently on $965,000 a year and shouldn’t be too expensive to agree to a new contract.
Dalton Schultz
Schultz is a tight end for the Cowboys and undoubtedly a good player. His production has been high while playing for the Cowboys, but there are some questions about whether he should be resigned or be allowed to become a free agent.Shultz has been one of the most productive Tight Ends in the league over the past two seasons, but part of this is not because of his own skill but simply down to the overall quality of the offensive line. By letting him go, the Cowboys can save space for other players while dealing with the constraint of the cap. In addition, players such as Jake Ferguson and Payton Hendershot could replace him.
*Photo by Joe Glorioso https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/2.0/legalcode
