Dallas Cowboys: Projected 2015 Statistics for Greg Hardy

The Dallas Cowboys finally made big news in free agency in 2015 with the controversial signing of defensive end Greg Hardy last week.

Hardy, who played just one game for the Carolina Panthers due to his off-field legal issues in 2014, was signed to a contract (terms via Spotrac.com) that is fairly low risk for the Cowboys as it gives Hardy a low base salary and would only pay out big money to Hardy if he plays the majority of the season and has a decent year statistically. Greg Hardy‘s legal issues are well chronicled in the courtroom, but what will he do in 2015 on the field? Let’s take a look at his past performance and try to predict 2015’s result.

Sep 7, 2014; Tampa, FL, USA; Carolina Panthers defensive end Greg Hardy (76) during the first half against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers at Raymond James Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Kim Klement-USA TODAY Sports

Hardy started fairly slow in Carolina when he was drafted by the Panthers in 2010, and as a second year player in 2011. Even though he appeared in almost all the games those two seasons, he only produced seven sacks and 58 tackles. These are not bad statistics for a young player by any stretch, but Hardy seemed to be showing why he was drafted in the sixth round and not earlier. The light switch flipped on big time, however, in 2012. He recorded double-digit sacks (11.0) for the first time in his career, then followed that up with 15.0 sacks and a Pro Bowl in 2013.

More from Dallas Cowboys

As we know, 2013 was such a great year for Hardy that the Panthers franchised him for the 2014 season, a season that became a nightmare for him in terms of legal woes. After the dust settled, he was gone from Carolina and looking for a job as an unrestricted free agent who was still on the commissioner’s exempt list. But the fact remains that when it comes to on-the-field production and performance, Hardy seemed to be on the rise and at the right time in his career. 15 plus sacks might be a lot to ask as a 1st year player in Dallas, especially considering what Hardy is going through in his personal life. But it won’t be surprising to see him play well if he gets 16 games under his belt.

Hardy knows that the spot light is on him in 2015 for many reasons. One, he still faces potential suspension for up to 6 games if the NFL’s internal investigation proves him guilty of domestic violence offenses via Peter King of SI.com. On top of that, he will again be an unrestricted free agent in 2016 unless the Cowboys sign him to an extension, as part of his contract guarantees the Cowboys will not franchise him. That means the pressure is on to perform on the field, and try to avoid anymore off-the-field distractions. To be sure, Hardy has a lot on his plate over the next seven months.

Nov 27, 2014; Arlington, TX, USA; Dallas Cowboys defensive end Jeremy Mincey (92) motions to get the crowd loader against the Philadelphia Eagles at AT&T Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Matthew Emmons-USA TODAY Sports

Adding to all of this is the simple fact that the Cowboys don’t have a lot of established talent on their defensive line to take pressure off of Hardy. The only other player that has seen any real quantifiable success is Jeremy Mincey, a guy the Cowboys brought in last year from the Broncos, who registered 6 sacks from the defensive end position in 2014. That means if Hardy plays he will likely get the majority of double teams up front, and that could result in a slow start for him. Defensive coordinator Rod Marinelli will need to be creative to put Hardy in the right position to maximize his abilities.

If Hardy plays 16 games, and that might be a big “if” considering the internal investigation mentioned earlier, a realistic expectation for him is a double-digit sack total and a total tackles number in the neighborhood of 40-50. If he ends up suspended for any period of time, those numbers most likely will drop off dramatically. The risk is low for Dallas, and the payoff could be high for them and Hardy if things work out well.

2015 season prediction: 48 tackles, 10.5 sacks, 2 forced fumbles.

More from NFL Spin Zone

Home/Dallas Cowboys