The Cowboys have the ammunition to be players in free agency, but who is one player that will allow Jerry Jones to prove he is more than just talk?
The Dallas Cowboys will have a chance this offseason to prove to the fanbase that they can follow through on what has been said.
We know that the Cowboys' trade of Micah Parsons was a big deal at the time, but we were told that, by not paying Parsons, Dallas could then afford to get more players.
With the ability to have well over $100 million in cap space to go free agency shopping (some of which will be used on George Pickens), how aggressive Dallas will be will tell us a lot about the franchise's mentality.
Now, we aren't saying go out and blow the budget on two players, but instead of getting bargain players like a Kenneth Murray last offseason, go get proper starting-caliber additions for the roster.
But who?
We've named several options, like Devin Bush and Alex Singleton, and we're aware of the Maxx Crosby links.
For CBS Sports' Jared Dubin, one player the Cowboys should prioritize is Trey Hendrickson.
"Dallas needs pass rush help in the worst way and Hendrickson is the best available edge rusher on the market," Dubin wrote. "He's going to cost a lot on a likely short-term deal, but Jerry Jones' whole rationale for trading Micah Parsons was that the Cowboys could afford more players by not paying him. He should prove it here."
One thing we know about Hendrickson is that he won't be cheap.
Spotrac.com lists his market value at $25.4 million APY, and it's unlikely Trey will accept a one-year deal.
So would a two-year, say $50 million deal be something the Cowboys could entertain?
Color me skeptical on that. But there's no denying that even at 31, Hendrickson is still a menace, totaling 39 sacks in his last three seasons. Granted, he played only seven games last year due to injury, and prior to that, he had back-to-back years of 17.5 sacks.
So the production is there.
With Crosby also rumored as an option, Hendrickson is the cheaper option, and yes, he is older, which might put Dallas off.
But if Jerry is staying true to his word and stating that by not paying Micah, Dallas can afford other players. Well, the time has come to put your salary cap money where your mouth is.
Is Hendrickson the ideal signing? No. But it would hint at a shift in how Dallas approaches free agency.
And give Christian Parker a stud pass rusher in the process.