These three Cowboys players will be free agents in 2024 and the team should be worried about losing them, but one other is fine to leave.
Famous last words, on paper, the Dallas Cowboys should be a Super Bowl contender.
Though blowhards would like to have you believe that Dak Prescott should be working in the kitchen of a Denny's instead of playing in the NFL, he's a Top 10 quarterback in the league, at minimum. Meanwhile, the defense has been top-tier under Dan Quinn and with the influx of life that Micah Parsons has brought, the offense is loaded with a good offensive line and a litany of weapons, not the least of which is newcomer Brandin Cooks.
That's for the 2023 season, though. And while Cowboys fans are certainly hoping that, for once, America's Team can have a season not end in disappointment for the first time in three decades, there is still the future to consider. Namely, there are several notable Cowboys standouts who are going to be free agents going into the 2024 season.
Three of these pending Cowboys free agents look like players that Dallas simply can't let walk out of the building. One big name, however, is someone who it's probably time to let leave. Let's take a look at these four players and the looming decisions for the franchise.
Cowboys Rumors: 3 pending 2024 free agents who Dallas can't lose, 1 they can
4. Cowboys should be scared to lose OT Terence Steele
When Terence Steele was forced into action as a rookie in the 2020 season, I'll be the first to admit that I was hoping that the Cowboys would never have to rely on him along the offensive line. He was, even in kind terms, well below average coming out of Texas Tech and didn't seem like a piece for the future of the offense.
Fast-forward to this 2023 offseason, though, and Steele has progressed in a dream manor. He improved to being a passable player at tackle in the 2021 season and, in last year's campaign, PFF (subscription required) graded him out as the 23rd-best qualifying player at the position in the 2022 season.
Where things get a bit more complicated for Steele, however, is how he's coming into his contract year with Dallas.
The right tackle suffered a torn ACL and MCL this past December and, as of June, his availability for Week 1 as he recovers from the injuries reamins highly in question. It's perhaps one of the worst times for a player to not be healthy, but it's what Steele will be tested with working past and still proving himself.
All of that being said, Steele looks the part of a solid right tackle who can really solidify the offensive line in Dallas as we start to transistion somewhat from the former group that once dominated the NFL. That's especially true if Steele can keep developing too. So if the Cowboys don't want to play with fire with an O-line that has indeed proven itself, then re-signing Steele should be an absolute priority.
3. Cowboys should be scared to lose CB Trevon Diggs
If there's on thing you can't argue with, it's the production of Trevon Diggs since he joined the Dallas Cowboys as a second-round pick from the 2020 draft out of Alabama.
As a rookie in just 12 games and 11 starts, the cornerback still came up with three interceptions and 14 passes defended. But as the full-time starter in the 2021 campaign, Diggs was a monster with 11 interceptions (two pick-sixes), and 21 pass defenses on the year. Those numbers were obviously not sustainable, but he returned in the 2022 season with a solid three picks and 14 pass defenses for the year.
Diggs, however, is one of the most divisive players in the league. It's routine that there will be clips circulating on social media of the corner getting burned trying to jump a route or make a play on the ball, leaving his assignment wide-open. Without question, the optics of that aren't always the best.
However, the big key to realize with that is that Diggs is operating exactly as Dan Quinn wants him to in that defense. While he's overall capable in coverage, the cornerback is simply better when he's asked to be a playmaker, as his numbers will show you. As such, Quinn asks him to be that aggressive style of coverage player, which is a high-risk, high-reward type of proposition.
Even if it gets him roasted on social media, though, that makes Diggs a vital part of this defense that has elevated itself in recent years. And while he's projected by Spotrac to get a contract in the range of $15.4 million per year. That's hefty, but for a team that is lacking overall cornerback depth and has an established CB1, they can't let Diggs go.
2. Cowboys should be scared to lose RB Tony Pollard
There are still a handful of days that the Dallas Cowboys could get an extension done with running back Tony Pollard before he's ultimately playing the 2023 season on the franchise tag, which would make him a free agent again next offseason. And really, it would be great to get that done and avoid any future headaches.
But there's a good reason that the front office made the decision to place the tag on the former fourth-round pick (2019).
Playing the RB2 role behind Ezekiel Elliott, Pollard emerged as one of the most productive per-touch running backs in the NFL, if not the most productive. Though he's averaged just 10.4 carries per game over the past two seasons, he's put up 5.3 yards per attempt over that span with 11 touchdowns to his credit. Then you throw in the fact that he has 78 receptions for 708 yards and three scores over that span as well, and you see how dangerous he's been.
Zeke's gone now, though, making Pollard the unquestioned leader of the backfield. And with the way he affects the rushing and passing attacks, in addition to showing impressive improvement as a pass blocker in recent years as well, he's going to be a stud in a bigger role.
It's crucial, however, for the Cowboys to ensure that's not just a one year thing for Pollard. Yes, handing out long-term contracts to running backs can be extremely tricky business in the modern NFL, a lesson Dallas hopefully learned with Elliott. With that said, if they can find a suitable and reasonable number to re-sign Pollard at, his importance to the offense dictates making that a priority.
1. Cowboys have reached the time to part ways with Tyron Smith
Tyron Smith has been everything that the Dalls Cowboys could've hoped he'd be since they drafted the left tackle out of USC with the ninth overall pick in 2011. He's an eight-time Pro Bowler, two-time First-Team All-Pro selection, and a member of the Pro Football Hall of Fame All-2010s team. He's been the absolute goods for Jerry Jones' team.
Injuries, however, have become quite a major problem for Smith as he enters his mid-30s. He hasn't played more than 13 games in a season since 2015, to begin with. But more recently, he's played in just two, 11 and four games over the past three years with Dallas, respectively.
Even with those injuries, it's been remarkable how well that Tyron Smith has played when he has been available and on the field. It's just become a hard position for the Cowboys that he quite clearly can't be relied upon to play an entire season.
Now, Smith is set to become a free agent after this season. Yes, by letting him go, Dallas would be taking on a $6 million dead cap hit for 2024 due to restructures. While that's not ideal, the fact of the matter is that Smith has struggled to stay healthy combined with drafting Tyler Smith in the first round in 2022 and needing to lock up Terence Steele, Smith just isn't a priority.
Without question, it's not an exaggeration to call Tyron Smith a franchise legend. He was one of the stalwarts and leaders for an offensive line that was one of the best in the NFL for an extended run in the 2010s. But this is still a business and, in that cutthroat manner, keeping the left tackle beyond the 2023 season just isn't a smart move for the future.
