Draft Nuggets Blog fot TheTicket.com

Draft Nuggets 2013: Entry #2

Free Agency

As Jerry continues his effort to make Valley Ranch “uncomfortable” and the Cowboys transition to the “Tampa 2” 4-3 under new DC Monte Kiffin, let’s take a very preliminary look at what might be available on the Free Agent market that begins on March 12^th. The following is a list of the potential free agents scheduled to hit the open market this spring. Not included on this list are restricted free agents (as they take draft pick compensation and almost always stay with their current club) or the players that will be released due to salary cap considerations. As with most things in the NFL off-season, this list is fluid and constantly changing, but taking a snapshot can show some of the options the Cowboys organization may be weighing.  (Note: Some of the significant free agents highlighted in blue)

Quarterbacks: Luke McCown – ATL Joe Flacco – BAL Tarvaris Jackson – BUF Tyler Thigpen – BUF Derek Anderson – CAR Jason Campbell – CHI Josh McCown – CHI Bruce Gradkowski – CIN Drew Stanton – IND Brady Quinn – KC Matt Moore – MIA Chase Daniel – NO David Carr – NYG Matt Leinart – OAK Charlie Batch – PIT Byron Leftwich – PIT Kellen Clemens – STL Rex Grossman – WAS	Running Backs: La’Rod Stephens-Howling – ARI Mike Cox – ATL Tashard Choice – BUF Corey McIntyre – BUF Brian Leonard – CIN Bernard Scott – CIN Brandon Jackson – CLE Felix Jones – DAL Jerome Harrison – DET Stefan Logan – DET Kevin Smith – DET Cedric Benson – GB James Casey – HOU Justin Forsett – HOU Rashad Jennings – JAC Greg Jones – JAC Jalen Parmele – JAC Peyton Hillis – KC Reggie Bush – MIA Jerome Felton – MIN Danny Woodhead – NE Kahlil Bell – NYJ Shonn Greene – NYJ Lex Hilliard – NYJ Mike Goodson – OAK Owen Schmitt – OAK Rashard Mendenhall –PIT Jackie Battle – SD Ronnie Brown – SD Brandon Jacobs – SF Steven Jackson – STL Brit Miller – STL Quinn Johnson – TEN Darius Reynaud – TEN Javon Ringer – TEN	Wide Receivers: Ruvell Martin – BUF Louis Murphy – CAR Johnny Knox – CHI) Brandon Tate – CIN Josh Cribbs – CLE Mohamed Massaquoi – CLE Kevin Ogletree – DAL Brandon Stokley – DEN Kassim Osgood – DET Donald Driver – GB Greg Jennings – GB Donnie Avery – IND Austin Collie – IND Micheal Spurlock – JAC Dwayne Bowe – KC Jabar Gaffney – MIA Brian Hartline – MIA Devin Aromashodu – MIN Jerome Simpson – MIN Deion Branch – NE Julian Edelman – NE Wes Welker – NE Greg Camarillo – NO Devery Henderson – NO Courtney Roby – NO Ramses Barden – NYG Domenik Hixon – NYG Jason Hill – NYJ Chaz Schilens – NYJ Derek Hagan – OAK Mike Wallace – PIT Braylon Edwards – SEA Ted Ginn – SF Randy Moss – SF Danny Amendola – STL Brandon Gibson – STL Steve Smith – STL Roscoe Parrish – TB Sammie Stroughter – TB	Tight Ends: Todd Heap – ARI Tony Gonzalez – ATL Billy Bajema – BAL Gary Barnidge – CAR Ben Hartsock – CAR Clark Harris – CIN Richard Quinn – CIN Alex Smith – CLE Ben Watson – CLE John Phillips – DAL Will Heller – DET Maurice Stovall – JAC Jake O’Connell – KC Martin Rucker – KC) Anthony Fasano – MIA Visanthe Shiancoe – NE Travis Beckum – NYG Martellus Bennett –NYG Dustin Keller – NYJ Brandon Myers – OAK Leonard Pope – PIT Dante Rosario – SD Evan Moore – SEA Cameron Morrah – SEA Delanie Walker – SF Dallas Clark – TB Jared Cook – TEN Chris Cooley – WAS Fred Davis – WAS
Offensive Tackles: D’Anthony Batiste –ARI Pat McQuistan – ARI Sam Baker – ATL Will Svitek – ATL Bryant McKinnie – BAL Jeremy Bridges – CAR Patrick Mannelly – CHI Jonathan Scott – CHI Dennis Roland – CIN Andre Smith – CIN Ryan Clady – DEN Gosder Cherilus – DET Corey Hilliard – DET Rashad Butler – HOU Ryan Harris – HOU Winston Justice – IND Eben Britton – JAC Branden Albert – KC Jake Long – MIA Phil Loadholt – MIN Geoff Schwartz – MIN Sebastian Vollmer – NE Jermon Bushrod – NO Will Beatty – NYG Sean Locklear – NYG Jason Smith – NYJ Khalif Barnes – OAK King Dunlap – PHI Max Starks – PIT Frank Omiyale – SEA Barry Richardson – STL Robert Turner – STL Jeremy Trueblood – TB Jordan Black – WAS Tyler Polumbus – WAS	Guards: Rich Ohrnberger – ARI Garrett Reynolds – ATL Andy Levitre – BUF Mike Pollak – CAR Lance Louis – CHI Chilo Rachal – CHI Derrick Dockery – DAL Evan Dietrich-Smith – GB Antoine Caldwell – HOU Tony Hills – IND Steve Vallos – JAC Russ Hochstein – KC Nate Garner – MIA Jamey Richard – NE Donald Thomas – NE Kevin Boothe – NYG Brandon Moore – NYJ Matt Slauson – NYJ Cooper Carlisle – OAK Ramon Foster – PIT Doug Legursky – PIT Tyronne Green – SD Rex Hadnot – SD Louis Vasquez – SD Leonard Davis – SF Chris Williams – STL Kyle DeVan – TEN Leroy Harris – TEN Deuce Lutui – TEN Kory Lichtensteiger – WAS	Centers: Todd McClure – ATL Chris Spencer – CHI Jeff Faine – CIN Dan Koppen – DEN Dylan Gandy – DET Don Muhlbach – DET Brad Meester – JAC Thomas Gafford – KC Joe Berger – MIN Jon Dorenbos – PHI Greg Warren – PIT Andrew Economos – TB Fernando Velasco – TEN	Defensive Lineman: Nick Eason – ARI Vonnie Holliday – ARI Lawrence Sidbury – ATL Vance Walker – ATL Maake Kemoeatu – BAL Ryan McBean – BAL Spencer Johnson – BUF Shawne Merriman – BUF Kyle Moore – BUF Antwan Applewhite – CAR Dwan Edwards – CAR Israel Idonije – CHI Henry Melton – CHI Amobi Okoye – CHI Robert Geathers – CIN Wallace Gilberry – CIN Michael Johnson – CIN Pat Sims – CIN Juqua Parker – CLE Kenyon Coleman – DAL L.P. Ladouceur – DAL Justin Bannan – DEN Jason Hunter – DEN Kevin Vickerson – DEN Ty Warren – DEN Cliff Avril – DET Sammie Lee Hill – DET Lawrence Jackson – DET Corey Williams – DET Shaun Cody – HOU Dwight Freeney – IND Antonio Johnson – IND Fili Moala – IND Terrance Knighton – JAC Glenn Dorsey – KC Shaun Smith – KC Tony McDaniel – MIA Randy Starks – MIA Ron Brace – NE Trevor Scott – NE Sedrick Ellis – NO Turk McBride – NO Rocky Bernard – NYG Shaun Rogers – NYG Osi Umenyiora – NYG Mike DeVito – NYJ Desmond Bryant – OAK Andre Carter – OAK Matt Shaughnessy – OAK Derek Landri – PHI Darryl Tapp – PHI Casey Hampton – PIT Aubrayo Franklin – SD Vaughn Martin – SD Alan Branch – SEA Jason Jones – SEA Ricky Jean-Francois – SF Isaac Sopoaga – SF William Hayes – STL Trevor Laws – STL Michael Bennett – TB Roy Miller – TB Dave Ball – TEN Keyunta Dawson – TEN Leger Douzable – TEN SenDerrick Marks – TEN Jarius Wynn – TEN Kentwan Balmer – WAS Kedric Golston – WAS
Linebackers: Quentin Groves – ARI Paris Lenon – ARI Jamaal Westerman – ARI Mike Peterson – ATL Ricky Brown – BAL Dannell Ellerbe – BAL Paul Kruger – BAL Bryan Scott – BUF Jordan Senn – CAR Geno Hayes – CHI Nick Roach – CHI Brian Urlacher – CHI Thomas Howard – CIN Manny Lawson – CIN Rey Maualuga – CIN Dan Skuta – CIN Scott Fujita – CLE Kaluka Maiava – CLE Victor Butler – DAL Ernie Sims – DAL Anthony Spencer – DAL Keith Brooking – DEN Justin Durant – DET DeAndre Levy – DET Ashlee Palmer – DET Brad Jones – GB Erik Walden – GB Connor Barwin – HOU Tim Dobbins – HOU Keyaron Fox – HOU Bradie James – HOU Jesse Nading – HOU Barrett Ruud – HOU A.J. Edds – IND – (Ex) Moise Fokou – IND Daryl Smith – JAC Jovan Belcher – KC Edgar Jones – KC Bryan Kehl – KC Brandon Siler – KC Jason Trusnik – MIA Jasper Brinkley – MIN Erin Henderson – MIN Marvin Mitchell – MIN Niko Koutouvides – NE Tracy White – NE Jonathan Casillas – NO Ramon Humber – NO Scott Shanle – NO Chase Blackburn – NYG Keith Rivers – NYG Bryan Thomas – NYJ Omar Gaither – OAK Philip Wheeler – OAK Akeem Jordan – PHI Larry Foote – PIT Brandon Johnson – PIT Antwan Barnes – SD Shaun Phillips – SD Leroy Hill – SEA Tavares Gooden – SF Larry Grant – SF Clark Haggans – SF Mario Haggan – STL Rocky McIntosh – STL Xavier Adibi – TEN Zac Diles – TEN Gerald McRath – TEN Will Witherspoon – TEN Lorenzo Alexander – WAS Rob Jackson – WAS Chris Wilson – WAS	Defensive Backs: Michael Adams – ARI Rashad Johnson – ARI James Sanders – ARI Greg Toler – ARI Brent Grimes – ATL Chris Hope – ATL William Moore – ATL Chris Owens – ATL Sean Considine – BAL James Ihedigbo – BAL Chris Johnson – BAL Cary Williams – BAL Jairus Byrd – BUF Leodis McKelvin – BUF Sherrod Martin – CAR Captain Munnerlyn – CAR Zackary Bowman – CHI Kelvin Hayden – CHI D.J. Moore – CHI Nate Clements – CIN Chris Crocker – CIN Pacman Jones – CIN Terence Newman – CIN Sheldon Brown – CLE Raymond Ventrone – CLE Eric Frampton – DAL Mike Jenkins – DAL Charlie Peprah – DAL David Bruton – DEN Tony Carter – DEN Jim Leonhard – DEN Tracy Porter – DEN Erik Coleman – DET Louis Delmas – DET Drayton Florence – DET Chris Houston – DET Jacob Lacey – DET Pat Lee – DET Alan Ball – HOU Quintin Demps – HOU Brice McCain – HOU Glover Quin – HOU Darius Butler – IND Jerraud Powers – IND Derek Cox – JAC Chris Harris – JAC Rashean Mathis – JAC William Middleton – JAC Travis Daniels – KC Abram Elam – KC Chris Clemons – MIA Sean Smith – MIA Jamarca Sanford – MIN Will Allen – NE Kyle Arrington – NE Josh Barrett – NE Pat Chung – NE Marquice Cole – NE Derrick Martin – NE Aqib Talib – NE Elbert Mack – NO Michael Coe – NYG Justin Tryon – NYG Brian Witherspoon – NYG Yeremiah Bell – NYJ LaRon Landry – NYJ Matt Giordano – OAK Joselio Hanson – OAK Michael Mitchell – OAK Shawntae Spencer – OAK Ronald Bartell – OAK Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie – PHI Will Allen – PIT Keenan Lewis – PIT Ryan Mundy – PIT Chris Carr – SD Antoine Cason – SD Quentin Jammer – SD Corey Lynch – SD Marcus Trufant – SEA Dashon Goldson – SF Darcel McBath – SF Craig Dahl – STL Bradley Fletcher – STL Ronde Barber – TB E.J. Biggers – TB Ryan Mouton – TEN Cedric Griffin – WAS Tanard Jackson – WAS Madieu Williams – WAS	Kickers: Mike Nugent – CIN Phil Dawson – CLE Jason Hanson – DET Shayne Graham – HOU Lawrence Tynes – NYG Nick Folk – NYJ Nick Novak – SD Steven Hauschka – SEA Rob Bironas – TEN	Punters: Kevin Huber – CIN Reggie Hodges – CLE Brian Moorman – DAL Nick Harris – DET Donnie Jones – HOU Pat McAfee – IND Dustin Colquitt – KC Shane Lechler – OAK Jeremy Kapinos – PIT Saverio Rocca – WAS

 

 

Analysis:

As they should be pretty tight to the salary cap going into 2013, the Cowboys free agent shopping should be focused on just a few critical areas. Clearly quarterback, kicker and punter should not be on the agenda. But just about every other position could be targeted.

Running Back – With Felix Jones reaching the open market and the fragility of Murray, the depth at RB is in question. Tanner and Dunbar are serviceable back-ups, but probably not potential starters. Look for the Cowboys to add a cheap option to the fold, whether that is a Day 3 draft pick or a cheap free agent (maybe even bringing back Felix Jones)

Wide Receiver – Most of this question here lies with the fate of Miles Austin. If he is retained, then the Cowboys would be set with him, Dez and the emerging Dwayne Harris as starters and merely be looking for depth. If Austin is cut for salary cap purposes, Dallas would be in the market for a solid #2 option. Given the illegally acquired cap-friendly contract of Miles, expect he will return and this will not be an area addressed in free agency.

Tight End – With John Phillips hitting his free agent year off of a somewhat disappointing season, the backup TE job could be an area to upgrade this off-season. Rookie James Hanna came on late last season as a receiving threat, but his blocking skills still need work. A solid blocking tight end would be a nice and inexpensive addition to assist the rushing attack for next season.

Offensive Tackle – The fate of Doug Free is clearly in doubt. With a hefty price tag, Free fell into a rotation with Parnell at RT and may be released. If that is the case, right tackle jumps to the top of the needs for next season. However, starting tackles in free agency are a big ticket items and Dallas may not have the resources to get into a bidding war. Either Free will be retained or this position could be targeted in the draft.

Offensive Guard – The additions of Livings and Bernadeau last year were less than spectacular. While Livings proved serviceable at left guard, Bernadeau was far less than adequate and must be upgraded. Guards generally don’t carry the same price tag as tackles in free agency and a quick and pointed pursuit of a quality talent could be in order. Andy Levitre of Buffalo would be a fantastic choice as a stable, healthy and younger run-blocker to add to this O-Line.

Offensive Center – With Costa battling injuries all year, Ryan Cook was pressed into battle and served fairly well in that capacity. But going into next year with them as your only options at center seems a bit dangerous. This is a position that may be addressed in the draft (with any luck) as the free agent market for centers is quite thin.

Defensive Line – Changing to the 4-3 brings this position to the forefront much more than anticipated a week ago. Question #1 will be Anthony Spencer and whether he will adapt well to the new scheme, what role he might play in it and whether he’s worth the large payday coming to him. Question #2 is how well the rest of the roster adapts to new roles in the 4-3 and finding what holes remain. Rumors abound that Dallas may be a big player in the Defensive Tackle market, looking for a Warren Sapp-type impact pass rusher. Henry Melton and Randy Starks are all players who could fill that bill. Also, a defensive end opposite Ware could be targeted, such as Michael Johnson of Cincinnati or Jason Jones of Seattle.

Linebackers – Though coming off injury-shortened season, Sean Lee and Bruce Carter are certain locks in the new 3 LB alignment. Carter should excel as the weak-side linebacker and Lee will man the middle. The strong-side spot is a bit of a question mark. Alex Albright might be slotted there, as could veteran Dan Connor or Kyle Wilbur. But depth at the position could be addressed, via free agency or the draft.

Defensive Backs – With Mike Jenkins leaving for greener pastures, the role of nickel CB falls to Scandrick. The depth behind him, however, is suspect and should be injected with some youth. Safety, however, is a different problem. Sensabaugh and the healthy-again Barry Church are penciled in as starters. But given the nature of the new Tampa-2 defense, Dallas might be in need of upgrading. A true ball-hawking safety would be a welcome addition to the secondary, though might be a bit too expensive a price tag in free agency.