Notable Free Agents: Greg Hardy, Morris Claiborne, Rolando McClain, Matt Cassel, Jeremy Mincey, Lance Dunbar, Robert Turbin, Ronald Leary

Primary candidates for Release or Re-Structure: Brandon Carr, Doug Free

Outlook-

The Cowboys are in the black with almost $9M in projected cap space for 2016. However, that still ranks in the league’s bottom quartile.

Tony Romo and Dez Bryant account for only about 4% of the active roster, but approximately 20% of the cap in 2016. When they aren’t healthy, it’s a mega-blow on the field – and on the books. Romo is always a candidate for restructure if the team is in a pinch for a few million bucks.

If push really came to shove, Romo’s favorite teammate Jason Witten is also an outside candidate for front-office heat. Although, we believe he is sitting pretty in the last two seasons of his contract at a $7M price tag that is on the very highest end of palatable to the Cowboys. With $4M in dead money over the next two seasons, he’s a near-lock to be on the roster in 2016. The team could look at an extension this offseason, but it’s hard to believe they are currently foaming at the mouth to kick more of Witten’s money down the line, or put the screws to their long-time stalwart. Likely, his performance this year will dictate his future in 2017 and beyond. Witten can be cut next offseason for significant cap relief.

RT Doug Free is entering an uncertain phase of his contract / time with the Cowboys. After June 1st, he’s going to be fair game for Stephen Jones. The same will be true immediately after the 2016 season. With OG Ronald Leary almost certainly gone in free agency, and OC Travis Frederick entering a contract year – these are interesting times for this extremely talented unit that currently operates at a bargain.

RG Zack Martin has two years left on his contract, and LG La’El Collins is only in the second year of a sweetheart deal. Here’s the thing, though, both have OT versatility. With Tyron Smith locked in at LT, logic dictates either Martin or Collins is the heir apparent to Doug Free at RT. You have to believe the Jones’ are looking at this thinking they should consider going ahead and locking up Zack Martin long-term this offseason at guard money before he kicks to tackle – a position that demands a premium.

With all of the accolades Dallas has received for cultivating this young and talented unit, it’s almost counter-intuitive that the OL is any sort of priority this offseason. Most Cowboys fans will go out of their way to tell you the same thing. However, we assert the aforementioned circumstances make the OL a higher priority for some front-office tending than many may believe.

Our most maniacal, and cockamamie 2016 NFL Draft hypothesis (to date) is that the Cowboys will sniff around Notre Dame OC/OG prospect Nick Martin- who just happens to be Zack’s little brother – and a player they just coached at the 2016 Senior Bowl, where it was evident Jason Garrrett held him in high regard.

If you consider the departure of OG Ronald Leary, and the likely departure of RT Doug Free this year or next, the OG position suddenly becomes a position of need once Collins or Martin kick out. Nick Martin’s OG/OC versatility would also provide much needed insurance as Travis Frederick’s long-term situation gets ironed out. The only way to maintain the type of youthful prowess the team has developed along the line, is to continue with the philosophy they have implemented in the draft in recent years- because they will never be able to pay / retain them all on big second contracts.

The running back position that has benefited so greatly from the investment up front, is a big area of need this offseason as tooth-pick-legged Darren McFadden is the only relevant player locked up for 2016. He’s far past due to get hurt. There’s a decent crop of free agent RBs about to hit the market, but all of them are guys we’d be scared as hell to overpay. And, based on what the Cowboys did last year with DeMarco, showing they’ll opt for value as opposed to throwing around free-agent money, we don’t think they will. Look for the Cowboys to target the RB position in the draft. The idea of Derrick Henry early in RD2, is all of a sudden interesting.

On the defensive side of the ball, CB will likely be an area of focus. Byron Jones was an absolute rookie treasure in 2015, and has a big-time future. Dallas may want to double down on another player of that ilk this offseason with Brandon Carr and Morris Claiborne seemingly on the precipice of fading.

Additional Notes:

Cole Beasley is not going anywhere
Terrance Williams is going into contract year
We doubt anything happens with Sean Lee this offseason