Dallas Cowboys pick ideal spot for running back Josh Jacobs, Chiefs pick Tyron Smith

NFL free agency is less than a month away, which means there's a lot of free time. “Walking around” is valuable as it can be a useful exercise. By considering this or that possibility, you can (ideally) arrive at the best course of action. You need to consider all possible strategies and choose the one you think is best for your team.

Given where we are on the calendar, world leaders have decided to dive deep into the pool of pontificate. On Tuesday, ESPN announced its top 50 free agent “best fits,” and the Dallas Cowboys were involved in a variety of ways.

Is Tyron Smith going to the Kansas City Chiefs?

It is worth mentioning that on Monday, a report surfaced. dallas morning news Tyron Smith says he wants to play in 2024 and hopes to play for the Dallas Cowboys. If next season truly is an all-in proposition for the Cowboys, turning to Smith once again would seem like a legitimate idea.

As far as this particular evaluation is concerned, the best home base for Smith is not Dallas, but the Kansas City Chiefs. They arguably offer him the best chance to add a Super Bowl title to his Pro Football Hall of Fame career.

20. Tyron Smith, OT

Optimal team fit: kansas city chiefs

Concerns about Smith's availability are real, as he has missed 33 games over the past four seasons. But when healthy, Smith is a sensitive technician and has the physical demeanor to win at the last minute. And he would definitely upgrade the Chiefs' left tackle position, limiting pass rushers and keeping quarterback Patrick Mahomes' pitching platform clean.

The Chiefs have few holes to keep them out, considering they managed to come back through in perhaps the most difficult situation they've faced in the Patrick Mahomes era, but Taillon could help. There's no room for doubt. they.

It's definitely true (we know this better than anyone) that Smith can't be trusted from a health standpoint to play every game.But when he's on, he's on upon, Then again, if Dallas is serious about competing for a title this season, bringing him back is a much better idea than not bringing him back.

Dallas Cowboys listed as best fit for Las Vegas Raiders RB Josh Jacobs

Recently here on BTB, the great OCC provided nine past lessons the Cowboys should learn regarding free agency. The first, literally number one, was to avoid a highly paid veteran running back.

I'm not saying ESPN doesn't seem to be paying attention to this, but they list running back Josh Jacobs as the best fit for America's Team.

35. Josh Jacobs, RB

Optimal team fit: dallas cowboys

With Tony Pollard not expected to return to Dallas, the Cowboys could pivot to Jacobs. He is a volume grinder with a low pad level to finish the run and the quickness to make defenders miss. Jacobs, who led the NFL in rushing in the 2022 season, could also be used as a receiving option for Dak Prescott on swings, screens and under.

The Cowboys are learning a lesson from paying Ezekiel Elliott. Last year was a difficult situation in need of an explosive playmaker, so it seemed possible to place the franchise tag on Tony Pollard in parallel with Zeke's release. But as this team moves further and further away from the days of paying running backs big bucks, the choice to pay big bucks to a completely different team seems questionable at best.

Jacobs is kind of opting out of playing on the franchise tag himself. The Raiders tagged him, he sat out the entire offseason program (unlike Pollard), and the two sides ultimately came to terms on a one-year contract for the 2023 season.

It's certainly possible that Dallas signs a veteran to pair with the player they draft, but the idea that it's a player likely to expect a big paycheck seems questionable at best. felt.

Tony Pollard as Washington Commander!

It's very likely that former Dallas Cowboys defensive coordinator and current Washington Commanders head coach Dan Quinn will bring some players to his new home, as well as several members of his staff. .

As a former defensive guru, it stands to reason that they will be defensive players, but obviously anything is possible. ESPN suggested Quinn's group sign running back Tony Pollard.

46. ​​Tony Pollard, RB

Optimal team fit: commander of washington

With Antonio Gibson set to become a free agent, the managers could target a player like Pollard on a short-term contract to form a backfield rotation with Brian Robinson Jr. I like that combination. That way, Washington could reduce Pollard's workload while maximizing his dual-threat ability. In five professional seasons with the Cowboys, Pollard had 179 receptions and had two consecutive seasons with over 1,000 yards rushing.

Pollard's production dipped last year (another requirement for veteran running backs in free agency), but defensively he was recovering from a fractured fibula suffered in the divisional round after the 2022 season. He said he didn't feel completely himself until the Cowboys played the Carolina Panthers recently. It makes sense considering his age.

Interestingly, Pollard's comments are tracked pretty well. His production from that point in the season was much better than what came before.

Perhaps this is a gamble Dan Quinn and the managers are willing to take, or maybe the Cowboys can bring Pollard back at a lower value (which feels questionable) to be a veteran to pair with a young back. .