The Dallas Cowboys are in a dire situation with the salary cap, but once the offseason begins, other teams could benefit from cutting salaries to get under the cap before free agency begins.
Dallas' secondary could be vulnerable to the vertical passing game, as Jordan Love and the Green Bay Packers showed in their big win over the Cowboys in the NFC Wild Card Round.
Jordan Poyer, recently released as a cap casual by the Buffalo Bills, could be just the player the Cowboys need to solidify their secondary, according to CBS Sports.
“Poyer will be looking for a new home in the NFL for the first time since 2017,” Jordan Dajani wrote. “And with him turning 33 in April, he should attract interest from prospects. In 2023, he totaled 100 tackles, one sack, and four passes defensed. In 2021, he had five interceptions. He tied a career high, was named first team All-Pro, and was selected to his first Pro Bowl the following year in 2022. He is a defensive leader on the back end and can still play.”
Poyer could be the ideal veteran presence for new defensive coordinator Mike Zimmer to not only rely on on the field, but also to help teach younger players new schemes.
Through his first 12 seasons, Poyer totaled 806 tackles with 24 interceptions, nine forced fumbles, and seven fumble recoveries.
Remaining one of the top players at the position, Pro Football Focus holds Poyer to just 10.1 yards per reception when targeted by opposing wide receivers, with a coverage grade of 74.4 and an overall mark of 73. It points out that it did.
What is Jordan Poyer's market value?
Poyer is unlikely to spend a lot of money considering the state of the safety market, with several top players at the position being released before free agency begins.
The Cowboys are currently only $8.8 million under the cap, so Dallas will likely be looking for bargains near the bottom of the free agent market. Poyer could be one of the ultimate boom-bust signings across the league this offseason.
Signing Poyer means adding a player who will likely be on a one- or two-year deal, but who has exceeded 90 tackles in all but one season since 2017. That level of consistency gives Poyer the potential to significantly improve the Cowboys' secondary.
Why the Cowboys aren't aggressive in free agency
Everything the Cowboys do this offseason is predicated on finding a way to lower quarterback Dak Prescott's cap number, whether it's a new contract extension or a restructuring of his current contract.
ESPN suggests Dallas could be one of the quieter teams in free agency.
“The Cowboys are at a critical inflection point and have ample cap resources to extend their star roster of QB Dak Prescott, WR CeeDee Lamb and LB Micah Parsons into next year,” former NFL GM Mike Tannenbaum wrote. There is. “But that would leave them with little room to sign outside free agents. But they will decide whether to re-sign Tyron Smith (unlikely to return) Tony Pollard and Stephon Gilmore. There is a need to.”
Dallas has a number of high-priced veterans whose long-term retention is a concern, and the Cowboys' strategy could shift upwards in the coming weeks to look for bargains in free agency.
