The Dallas Cowboys don’t have the best cap space available this offseason, but it might not stop them from making a huge move.
In a recent piece covering this year’s free agency class, ESPN’s Bill Barnwell suggested that Dallas could make a run at All-Pro safety Tyrann Mathieu. “Find a long-term solution at safety,” Barnwell wrote when talking about the Cowboys’ top needs. “The Cowboys would love a safety such as Tyrann Mathieu.”
However, Barness does not anticipate a deal coming together.
“While most of the focus will inevitably fall on offensive free agents Dalton Schultz and Michael Gallup, the Cowboys need to come away from this offseason with replacements at safety,” Barnwell wrote on February 24. “Their top three players at the position from a year ago are all free agents. It’s unclear whether Jayron Kearse, Damontae Kazee or Malik Hooker will be back in 2022. Keanu Neal, whom they converted from safety to linebacker, is also a free agent.
“Dallas didn’t spend much at safety last offseason, and with running back Ezekiel Elliott’s contract still virtually unmovable before 2023, I don’t anticipate the organization making too many splashy additions in free agency. The Cowboys would love a safety such as Tyrann Mathieu, but this is probably a position they will address in bulk.”
The All-Pro safety finished the 2021 season with 76 total tackles, three interceptions, three fumble recoveries and a sack. The 29-year-old, who entered the NFL as a 2013 third-round choice of the Arizona Cardinals, has notched 76 pass deflections, 26 interceptions, and three defensive touchdowns across 129 career games.
If not Tyrann, the Cowboys could very well keep it in-house and re-sign Jayron Kearse, Malik Hooker and Damontae Kazee.
“I wouldn’t be surprised if they brought back one of their safeties, added a low-cost option in free agency and used one of their top three picks in the draft to find a future starter,” he wrote.
