As free agency begins, look for the Dallas Cowboys to continue to focus on their own
The 2022 NFL league year begins on Wednesday at 3 p.m., which marks the official opening of free agency.
However, the league launched soft opening at 11 a.m. on Monday with what is known as the legal tampering period, when teams can contract agents and discuss contracts with free agents from other teams.
For the Cowboys — who have had a busy last week with a franchise tag for tight end Dalton Schultz, the release of kicker Greg Zuerlein, trading wide receiver Amari Cooper to the Cleveland Browns and signing wide receiver Michael Gallup to a five-year, $62.5 million contract — it will be more of the status quo.
They will focus on their own, while continuing to navigate trade talks for right tackle La’el Collins.
The difference now is that the exclusivity is gone. They will have competition for their whopping 16 free agents, though defensive ends Randy Gregory and Dorance Armstrong and safeties Jayron Kearse, Malik Hooker and Damontae Kazee are considered the top priorities.
The Cowboys got things started with a one-year deal for deep snapper Jake McQuaide.
The team gave Collins permission to seek a trade over the weekend but there is a good chance the Cowboys might release him.
With a trade, the Cowboys would open up $1.3 million in salary-cap space. The question is what they might get in return. So far, the offerings have not been to their liking.
If the Cowboys cut Collins, they could gain $10 million in cap room.
According to overthecap.com, the Cowboys had a little more than $19 million cap space after trading Cooper on Saturday before coming to terms with Gallup on a relatively team-friendly deal.
In addition to a $10 million signing bonus, Gallup will receive base salaries of $2 million in 2022, $11 million in 2023, $8.5 million in 2024, $10.5 million in 2025 and $10.5 million in 2026.
His $4.5 million cap number in 2022 gives the Cowboys roughly $15 million in cap room and it’s far cry from the $22 million Cooper was going to count against the cap before the trade.
The Cowboys will now have to decide how do spread the money around to retain their free agents, who are looking to maximize their potential earnings on the market.
The Cowboys lost receiver Cedrick Wilson, who got a three-year $22.8 million deal with $12.75 million guaranteed from the Miami Dolphins.
Wilson had a career year in 2021, catching 45 passes for 602 yards and six touchdowns.
He has 67 career receptions for 837 yards and eight touchdowns.
Gregory is already drawing interest on the market with the Denver Broncos among the teams making a push.
There is a feeling that Gregory would lean towards remaining with the Cowboys because they stood by him during his numerous suspensions for violating the substance abuse policy.
But this is also his first and possibly last chance of getting top dollar as a free agent.
Gregory, who will be 30 in November, is coming of postseason knee surgery, and that’s sure to play a role in the negotiations.
This story was originally published March 14, 2022 at 1:49 PM.
