NFL NEWS

Cowboys’ free agency, draft shopping list

The Sports Xchange

February 20, 2017 at 12:08 pm.

Dec 26, 2016; Arlington, TX, USA; Detroit Lions fullback Zach Zenner (34) is chased by Dallas Cowboys strong safety Barry Church (42) during the game at AT&T Stadium. Photo Credit: Kevin Jairaj-USA TODAY Sports

Dec 26, 2016; Arlington, TX, USA; Detroit Lions fullback Zach Zenner (34) is chased by Dallas Cowboys strong safety Barry Church (42) during the game at AT&T Stadium. Photo Credit: Kevin Jairaj-USA TODAY Sports

As they wade through free agency and prepare to evaluate draft prospects at the Indianapolis Scouting Combine (March 1-6), the Dallas Cowboys must decide which players to keep as they seek to improve their 13-3 record from last season.

The Sports Xchange and NFLDraftScout.com evaluated the Cowboys’ roster and created a shopping list to use in free agency and reference during the Combine.

The Cowboys are set on offense with one of the best lines in the league, dynamic running back Ezekiel Elliott and standout young quarterback Dak Prescott. However, a wide receiver is on their wish list, and defense must be a priority need. A difference-making pass rusher heads the list along with a strong cover corner.

Meantime, the Cowboys have at least three of their own free agents who are keepers — guard Ronald Leary and defensive backs Barry Church and Morris Claiborne.

THE BREAKDOWN
2016 finish: 1st in NFC East (13-3)

2016 STATISTICS
TOTAL OFFENSE: 376.7 (5th)
RUSHING: 149.8 (2nd)
PASSING: 226.9 (23rd)
TOTAL DEFENSE: 343.9 (14th)
RUSHING: 83.5 (1st)
PASSING: 260.4 (26th)

NEEDS, SHOPPING LIST
&=Released

TOP THREE NEEDS
DEFENSIVE END

Benson Mayowa led the Cowboys with six sacks. Randy Gregory is serving a one-year suspension. DeMarcus Lawrence needs back surgery for the second consecutive offseason.

UFA TARGETS (Age, previous contract’s average annual salary)
Jason Pierre-Paul, N.Y. Giants (28, $10M)
Calais Campbell, Arizona (DT; 31 in September, $11M)
Jabaal Sheard, New England (28 in May, $5.5M)
Mario Williams, Miami (32, $8.5M)

DRAFT TARGETS (Rating pos/overall, Player, School, Ht., Wt., Proj. Rd.)
1/1 Myles Garrett, Texas AM, 6-4, 268, 1 (underclassman)
2/3 Solomon Thomas, Stanford, 6-2, 275, 1 (underclassman)
3/17 Derek Barnett, Tennessee, 6-3, 265, 1 (underclassman)
4/28 Taco Charlton, Michigan, 6-5, 272, 1
5/32 Charles Harris, Missouri, 6-3, 255, 4.74, 1-2 (underclassman)

WIDE RECEIVER

Terrance Williams and Brice Butler are free agents. What Williams will command is more than Dallas will pay. The Cowboys want upgrades.

UFA TARGETS (Age, previous contract’s average annual salary)
DeSean Jackson, Washington (31, $6M)
Alshon Jeffery, Chicago (27, $14.6M)
Pierre Garcon, Washington (31 in August, $8.5M)
Terrelle Pryor, Cleveland (28 in June, $1.67M)
Anquan Boldin, Detroit (37 in October, $2.75M)

DRAFT TARGETS (Rating pos/overall, Player, School, Ht, Wt., Proj. Rd.)
1/8 Mike Williams, Clemson, 6-3, 225, 1 (underclassman)
2/16 Corey Davis, Western Michigan, 6-3, 213, 1
3/19 John Ross, Washington, 5-11, 190, 1 (underclassman)
4/37 Curtis Samuel, Ohio State, 5-11, 200, 1-2 (underclassman)
5/42 Dede Westbrook, Oklahoma, 5-11, 175, 2

CORNERBACK

Morris Claiborne and Brandon Carr are both coming off their best seasons, but both are free agents. Claiborne remains injury-prone. Carr makes few plays.

POTENTIAL UFA TARGETS (Age, previous contract’s average annual salary)
A.J. Bouye, Houston (26 in August, $1.67M)
Trumaine Johnson, L.A. Rams (27, $13.95M)
Logan Ryan, New England (26, $693K)
Stephon Gilmore, Buffalo (27 in September, $3.02M)
Brandon Carr, Dallas (31 in May, $10M)

DRAFT TARGETS (Rating pos/overall, Player, School, Ht, Wt., Proj. Rd.)
1/10 Marshon Lattimore, Ohio State, 6-0, 195, 1 (underclassman)
2/15 Teez Tabor, Florida, 6-0, 201, 1 (underclassman)
3/21 Marlon Humphrey, Alabama, 6-1, 196, 1 (underclassman)
4/23 Sidney Jones, Washington, 6-0, 181, 1 (underclassman)
5/34 Desmond King, Iowa, 5-11, 206, 1-2

UFA KEEPERS
S Barry Church (29, $2.207M)
G Ronald Leary (28 in April, $2.553M)
CB Morris Claiborne (27, $3M)

ROSTER REVIEW:

DEPTH CHART

Starters and backups are listed according to their status at the end of the season, but players who were starters before being injured are included.

*Indicates player who ended 2016 season on a reserve list.

QUARTERBACKS: Starter — Dak Prescott. Backups — Tony Romo, Mark Sanchez (UFA), *Kellen Moore (UFA).

RUNNING BACKS: Starters — Ezekiel Elliott, FB Keith Smith. Backups — Darren McFadden (UFA), Lance Dunbar (UFA), Alfred Morris.

TIGHT ENDS: Starter — Jason Witten. Backups — Gavin Escobar (UFA), *TE Geoff Swaim, *James Hanna.

WIDE RECEIVERS: Starters — Dez Bryant, Terrance Williams (UFA). Backups — Cole Beasley, Brice Butler (UFA), Lucky Whitehead.

OFFENSIVE LINEMEN: Starters — LT Tyron Smith, *G La’el Collins, C Travis Frederick, RG Zack Martin, RT Doug Free. Backups — LG Ronald Leary (UFA), G Joe Looney, T Emmett Cleary, G Jonathan Cooper (UFA), T Chaz Green.

DEFENSIVE LINEMEN: Starters — DLE Tyrone Crawford, DLT Maliek Collins, NT Terrell McClain (UFA), DRE DeMarcus Lawrence. Backups — DE Benson Mayowa, DE Jack Crawford (UFA), DE David Irving, DE Richard Ash, Cedric Thornton, *DE Randy Gregory, *DE Charles Tapper.

LINEBACKERS: Starters — WLB Sean Lee, MLB Anthony Hitchens, SLB Damien Wilson. Backups — SLB Kyle Wilber, LB Justin Durant (UFA), LB Andrew Gachkar (UFA), LB Mark Nzeocha, *Rolando McClain, *Jaylon Smith.

DEFENSIVE BACKS: Starters — LCB Brandon Carr (UFA), RCB Orlando Scandrick, SS Barry Church (UFA), FS Byron Jones. Backups — CB Morris Claiborne (UFA), CB Anthony Brown, S Jeff Heath, S J.J. Wilcox (UFA), *CB Josh Thomas (UFA), S Kavon Frazier, CB Leon McFadden.

SPECIAL TEAMS: K Dan Bailey, P Chris Jones, LS L.P. Ladouceur, KOR Lucky Whitehead, PR Cole Beasley.

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