Cowboys gain cap space with opt outs, could go after one of these free agent players on defense

When we last looked at the Dallas Cowboys cap space, they were hovering around $9 million before the agreement involving players opting out because of COVID-19. The Cowboys have been pretty fortunate so far with players deciding to stay and play with only three players, Stephen Guidry, Maurice Canady, and Jamize Olawale, deciding to opt out. Now with the new agreement in place the Cowboys are going to gain close to $1.5 million in cap space.

With this extra money coming in should the Cowboys use it, or hold off until they have an injury in training camp, or go after a player that is cut by another team? Right now it seems like they are going to stand pat but that doesn’t mean they won’t be keeping track of free agents and the waiver wire for a player they feel can come in and immediately help his team win. But what if they weren’t to take a chance on a free agent who’s left on the market that can actually make a difference and would be a cheap addition to the team.

If they really needed to take a look at a position of need it would have to be the defensive line with two possible starters in Tyrone Crawford and Dontari Poe both on PUP as they are recovering from injuries. So defensive ends and defensive tackles could be high on their list. Xavier Williams, Marcell Dareus, Timmy Jernigan, and Vinny Curry all come to mind and they could be low-risk, high-upside signings if the Cowboys do actually decide to use their remaining cap space to sign a defensive lineman.

Each would give the Cowboys another big body in the middle of the defense to help stop the run, and Curry would be able to provide veteran depth at the defensive end position if Crawford’s hips keep him from seeing the field early this season. Only time will tell if the Cowboys are willing to pull the trigger and make a move, but again, they aren’t the only team collecting money from players opting out. Other teams are going to start using that money to sign players they believe can help them as well.