Dallas Cowboys Need to Bring Back Jeremy Mincey

The Dallas Cowboys are dangerously thin at defensive end and could use the veteran leadership Jeremy Mincey brought to the team.

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In 2014 defensive end Jeremy Mincey led the Dallas Cowboys with six sacks. The numbers weren’t huge, but he provided some stability at the position and was a veteran leader on a defense that helped the team to a 12-4 record.

In 2015, Mincey recorded no sacks in what was primarily a backup role. Part of the reason for his ineffectiveness was an elbow issue which required offseason surgery. Still, Mincey showed his value as he did start six games, and had 15 quarterback pressures according to his coaches.

The 32-year-old also gained some respect from several fans of the team when he became the first person in Dallas to really call out his former teammate Greg Hardy (via Darin Gantt of Pro Football Talk) for being the cancer he was to the team, saying it would be hard for the team to bring Hardy back after a tumultuous one-year stint.

Of course the Cowboys decided to move on from Hardy and as of yet Mincey hasn’t been in their plans for 2016. Instead it looks like the team planned to go with youth at the position.

Fast forward to July and that plan looks to have hit a huge snag. Both projected starters Randy Gregory and DeMarcus Lawrence are suspended for the first four games of the season. Outside of that, the talent is questionable.

It appears that the team will have to turn to Benson Mayowa and possibly rookie fourth round pick Charles Tapper as starters. They could also move Jack Crawford or David Irving to the end position from their tackle spots, but even doing that leaves them incredibly stretched for experienced players.

This is why Dallas needs to bring in Mincey on a team-friendly one-year deal. Sure, he’s 32 and probably doesn’t have much in the tank, but at least with Mincey you get a guy who knows the system and has the respect of his teammates.

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Plus, if the offseason shoulder surgery allows Mincey full use of his arm again, he could very well provide something similar to what he offered in 2016. If not, at least for the first four games they can start someone who has experience there without draining the depth along the interior of their line.