What's the connection between an old lady crossing the street and the Dallas Cowboys' pass-rush? They both need help! Heyoo, roll snare drum.
But seriously, Dallas finished 28th in sacks last season with 28. As a result, the team's pass defense struggled and allowed the sixth most yards through the air per game at 251.9. You could make the argument that aside from the big blown call, Dallas' playoff loss to the Green Bay Packers was in part due to the lack of a consistent pass rush in the second half.
Jerry Jones may not be opening his wallet that often in free agency this year, but that doesn't mean that the Cowboys are going to bypass the opportunity to add talent completely. Jon Machota of The Dallas Morning News suggests one pass-rusher that might be on Dallas' roster this offseason.
"Greg Hardy, DE. As I wrote about Ray Rice when listing five offensive players the Cowboys could target in free agency, Hardy would not be a popular pick by many Cowboys fans," Machota wrote. "Last year, he was found guilty of domestic violence, but the charges were dismissed in February. Hardy played in only one game last season after being placed on the Exempt/Commissioner's Permission List. It'll be tough for an NFL franchise to look past the off-the-field red flags and the possibility of a further suspension. But a total of 25 sacks over the 2013 and 2012 seasons is one reason why an NFL franchise will probably give the Pro Bowler a second chance."
Hardy, 26, is young and talented enough to help a team on the field for years to come. However, as Machota notes, the off-field concerns with him are well warranted. The Cowboys will have to weigh Hardy's production with his past transgression when considering him in free agency.
