The Dallas Cowboys have not been the busiest in the NFC East this offseason, but they are quietly filling the holes on their roster and protecting themselves from having to take a player because of a specific need in the NFL Draft. The Cowboys have made another move this week, as they have signed offensive lineman Joe Looney during NFL free agency.
Looney was with the Tennessee Titans in 2015 and began his career with the San Francisco 49ers in 2012. The 25-year-old lineman has been a solid depth contributor to both franchises, and the Cowboys are hoping that he can take the next step as he learns from their talented and experienced offensive line.
This addition is likely because they lost Mackenzy Bernadeau in free agency to the Jacksonville Jaguars. Bernadeau was one of the better backup offensive linemen in the league and always contributed to this offense. With him gone, the Cowboys are hoping that Looney can step up and fill his role.
The Cowboys also targeted a cornerback in free agency in Patrick Robinson, but that deal fell apart, causing them to head into the 2016 NFL Draft with a glaring need at the defensive back position. Dallas re-signed both cornerback Joshua Thomas and Morris Claiborne to one-year deals, as they must solidify the depth at the cornerback position.
Dallas will see the return of star cornerback Orlando Scandrick as he returns to action after tearing his ACL. The Cowboys also managed to sign running back Alfred Morris to a two-year $3.5 million deal. Morris could effectively replace Robert Turbin, who left for the Indianapolis Colts in free agency.
Morris still seems a bit too old to carry this offense effectively, so the Cowboys may revisit the running back position during the draft. The Cowboys also managed to re-sign injured running back Lance Dunbar after he suffered an ACL/MCL tear during the 2015 regular season. Dallas lured away another starter from a divisional foe when they signed starting defensive end from the Philadelphia Eagles, Cedric Thornton, to a four-year $17 million contract.
This helps bolster the defensive line while he can act as somewhat of a replacement for the departing Greg Hardy. The Cowboys still have over $9 million in cap space left and could potentially make more room. However, they should be solidly focused on the upcoming NFL draft.
