It's an important offseason for the Dallas Cowboys as both free agency and the NFL Draft will give Jerry Jones an opportunity to improve the roster.
FRISCO - It's an important offseason for the Dallas Cowboys, though ...
Aren't they all?
After parting ways with offensive coordinator Kellen Moore and replacing him with Brian Schottenheimer, coach Mike McCarthy is now his own play-caller as he installs his West Coast Offense.
Good. It's now time to put those expensive offensive toys to work while improving the team.
Over the next several weeks a big part of adding players will be free agency, and the Cowboys have some huge decisions to make with regard to those players who find themselves without a contract.
CBS Sports projected every team's most significant needs and salary cap space while listing every free agent on the roster.
There are no surprises for the Cowboys:
Unrestricted free agents:
Dalton Schultz (TE), Anthony Brown (CB), Dante Fowler Jr. (EDGE), T.Y. Hilton (WR), Anthony Barr (LB), Leighton Vander Esch (LB), Jason Peters (LT), C.J. Goodwin (CB), Johnathan Hankins (DT), Noah Brown (WR), Jake McQuaide (LS), Matt Overton (LS), Luke Gifford (LB), Carlos Watkins (DT), Cooper Rush (QB), Brett Maher (K), Connor McGovern (LG), Aviante Collins (LG), Tony Pollard (RB), Donovan Wilson (S)
Projected cap space:
-$7,008,743
Team needs:
OG, DT, LB
Pollard should be the top priority to resign in Dallas, as the Cowboys have a decision to make on Ezekiel Elliott now that he doesn't have any guaranteed money left on his contract. Dallas could also use some help on the interior of the offensive and defensive line. The Cowboys typically aren't big spenders in free agency.
The mention of Tony Pollard as the top priority is curious as his contract value per Spotrac is listed as three years, $27 million. That's around $9 million per year, and a lot to pay for a running back. Dallas might've learned its lesson after the Ezekiel Elliott monster . ...
But our Mike Fisher reports that Pollard is indeed No. 1 on Dallas' "sign our own'' wish list. You can see Fish's top five, featuring linebacker Leighton Vander Esch and others, here.
There are also outside-the-building scenarios that could be in play. How about Rams corner Jalen Ramsey becoming a Cowboy, for instance?
But that's going to take some cap-juggling, which Dallas can do - to the tune of carving out $50 million in room if it wishes.
The Cowboys made strides last season, beating Tom Brady for the first time and making it to the Divisional round of the playoffs, where they won a postseason road game for the first time since the 1992 season.
The next step is an NFC Championship Game appearance, and for the Joneses, that journey begins this offseason.
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