The Dallas Cowboys were one of the biggest surprises during the 2015 season, and not for good reasons, as they went from first to worst in the NFC East, although injuries clearly played a major factor in their 4-12 record. Cowboys owner Jerry Jones is looking to fill multiple holes on his team this offseason and could be looking to make some moves with players already on the roster.
The Cowboys struggled on both sides of the ball this past season, as they lost their starting quarterback Tony Romo twice with a broken collarbone, and their defense gave up the 16th most points in the league. The Cowboys were inconsistent in creating a pass rush, and they are expected to make moves both on their defensive line and their secondary, as Jones is looking to build their defense into a strength next season.
The Cowboys are reportedly done with defensive end Greg Hardy, and the team is expected to release cornerback Brandon Carr. The Cowboys corner is heading into his ninth season in the league, and Dallas' front office is reportedly looking to clear some cap space, as Carr's contract is a $13.8 million cap hit against the franchise. There is no doubt that the former fifth round draft pick is still a talent in the league, but Jones and Dallas' front office have likely decided that the money could be better spent on filling other holes on their roster and in finding a potential replacement at his position.
Cincinnati Bengals soon to be free agent Adam Jones reportedly could be a potential replacement for Carr in Dallas, and the Cowboys front office could look to bring the former Cowboy back to Dallas. Despite off field issues earlier in his career the Bengals corner has developed into a top-tier player in this league, and has record three interceptions in each of the past three seasons.
The Bengals have multiple players in their secondary scheduled to become free agents this offseason, and while their front office may be looking to keep Jones it's unknown if the team will be able to retain him. "We'll see how it goes," Jones said following the season. "I truly love it here in Cincinnati and want to be here. The Browns have done a lot for me and my family. Coach (Marvin) Lewis also. I'm a pretty loyal person when it comes to stuff like that. But I've got to take care of my family first foremost. We'll go through the process and see how it go."
It will be interesting to watch this story as it gets closer to the free agency period, which opens on March 9 next week. The Cowboys are looking to clear cap space by moving on from Carr this offseason and could be making a heavy push to fill a hole in their secondary with one of their former players in Jones.
