Cowboys expect to take familiar approach to free agency

The Dallas Cowboys haven’t made big splashes in free agency in recent years. The biggest additions last off-season weren’t even on the roster by the end of the season – cornerback Nolan Carroll and defensive tackle Stephen Paea.

Expect a similar approach this off-season as the organization focuses more on keeping their own players than pursuing outside talent.

“I think that’s kind of our case,” executive vice president Stephen Jones said from Senior Bowl practices this week. “Right now, we’re fortunate to have some really solid football players, great football players. Our goals are to keep our players.”

The Cowboys have a couple of cornerstone players they’d like to lock up this off-season in right guard Zack Martin and defensive end DeMarcus Lawrence.

Jones said he’d like to get Martin “signed and done” as soon as possible. Martin is expected to become the highest-paid guard in football and the two sides had discussions leading into last season before tabling talks to avoid any possible in-season distraction.

Lawrence, meanwhile, is a little more complex because the Cowboys do have the option of using the franchise tag on him for about $17 million next season. Jones said a long-term deal with Lawrence is the club’s preference, but Lawrence’s injury history is a factor when it comes to guaranteed money.

Then there is defensive tackle David Irving, who is a restricted free agent. The Cowboys will likely put a second-round tender on him, which will cost around $3 million. Jones did not sound optimistic about signing Irving to a long-term deal because the organization would like to see Irving perform and stay on the field for a full season.

Irving missed the first four games last season serving a performance-enhancing drug suspension and the past four with a concussion.

Another free agent the Cowboys would like to retain is linebacker Anthony Hitchens, but he might find a more lucrative offer elsewhere.

“When you start to look at DeMarcus Lawrence and you look at Zack Martin and then you look at a guy like Anthony Hitchens and David Irving, that’s a handful just to keep your own — much less go shopping for something else,” Jones said. “We just really need to focus on this draft, do well in the draft, and then work the edges and work the opportunities we may see come our way that would improve our football team.”

“Work the edges” of free agency means they aren’t expecting to make a splash. It’s been that way in recent years with the most recent significant free agent signing being the $50 million contract they handed Brandon Carr in 2012.

But “work the opportunities” is open for interpretation, including possible trades.

Dez repeat

Stephen Jones had no interest in clarifying or walking back comments he made on a team podcast about wide receiver Dez Bryant being a distraction earlier in the week.

He reiterated his criticism of Bryant, who has been known for his animated outbursts on the sidelines.

“Well, Dez is an emotional guy. He plays with emotion. That’s part of his game,” Jones said. “We work with him constantly on trying to really channel his energy in positive ways. I just think when he has those type of emotional roller coasters, I think at the end of the day he needs to understand that it does affect more than just Dez.

“I think he needs to understand that it’s not something that’s just affecting him. It does affect his teammates.”

Bryant’s $16.5 million cap hit next season is third in the NFL behind Antonio Brown and Larry Fitzgerald. That is a hefty price tag to pay a player who hasn’t produced at a high level.

Garrett analysis

Jason Garrett has the full support of the Cowboys’ ownership. That much has become clear at the Senior Bowl.

A day after owner Jerry Jones said Garrett is not “on my hot seat,” Stephen Jones echoed similar support.

Some fans and even former players would have liked to see the Cowboys make a coaching change this off-season after Garrett missed the playoffs for the fifth time in seven full years.

But the Cowboys brass sees no reason to part ways with Garrett, who has a 67-53 career mark in regular-season games.

“Jason has had a lot of success here,” Stephen Jones said. “At times when we have had an off season, there’s been some extenuating circumstances. I just think Jason is a great head football coach. He was coach of the year of last year. This is a tough business now, when one year you’re coach of the year and the next people are asking questions like this.

“I understand it. I understand that’s the nature of our business and do understand it, but we just really believe Jason is the right man for the job.”

Garrett has two years left on a five-year, $30 million extension he signed after the 2014 season.

This story was originally published January 25, 2018 at 11:08 AM with the headline "Cowboys expect to take familiar approach to free agency."