Dallas Cowboys: Evaluating Friday’s Free Agent Signings
Evaluating the Dallas Cowboys’ signings of Nolan Carroll and Stephen Paea to the defense, and re-signing wide receiver Terrance Williams.
Looking at the three moves made by the Dallas Cowboys on Friday, one might think they are staying pat on offense, while on defense they are taking chances and working to improve a unit that had some ups and downs in a season where they went 13-3 in the regular season.
Tom Pelissero of the USA Today reported the deal of former Philadelphia Eagles cornerback Nolan Carroll to a three-year contract for $10 million on Friday evening:
#Cowboys are signing cornerback Nolan Carroll to a 3-year, $10 million deal with $4M in the first year, source said.
— Tom Pelissero (@TomPelissero) March 11, 2017
Ian Rapoport of NFL.com earlier reported the re-signing of wide receiver Terrance Williams for four years at $17 million on Twitter:
The #Cowboys re-signed WR Terrance Williams to a 4-year deal worth $17M, source said.
— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) March 10, 2017
The Cowboys also signed defensive tackle Stephen Paea, formerly of the Cleveland Browns, last season as reported by Todd Archer of ESPN.
The Cowboys have agreed to a deal with defensive tackle Stephen Paea, according to a source. The seven-year... https://t.co/ea7bPg9B2V
— Todd Archer (@toddarcher) March 10, 2017
In what was a very busy day for the Cowboys, the question, as with every signing and move the five-time Super Bowl champion franchise makes, is this: Did the Cowboys improve their roster with the moves?
First, the move of re-signing Williams has some positives, but also some negatives as well. Williams has shown he’ll never be the top wide receiver on the Cowboys roster, and at times, as the second wide receiver during his tenure, that he’s not the most productive player when needed. That said, the positives he brings are he knows the system, he worked with quarterback Dak Prescott for a season and he does have four seasons of NFL experience.
Last season wasn’t the best for Williams. He totaled 44 receptions on 61 targets for 594 yards and four touchdowns. According to Pro Football-Reference, Williams had a positive catch percentage at 72.1 percent, but averaged under three receptions per game at 2.8.
More from Dallas Cowboys
- Dallas Cowboys made the trade everyone else should have made
- Zack is back, good news for Dak and the Cowboys
- Dallas Cowboys: Are Dak’s interceptions cause for concern?
- Cowboys: Micah Parsons will be even more impactful in 2023
- 2023 NFL Season: It’s now or never for the Dallas Cowboys
NFL free agency saw NFC East rivals all adding receivers via free agency this week, while the Cowboys stayed with who they are already comfortable with.
The Cowboys did make some solid moves for their defense on Friday with the signings of Carroll at cornerback and Paea at defensive tackle. These two signings replace those lost in free agency, and looking at the signing of Paea, he brings veteran experience to the interior defensive line.
Paea will be a part of a defensive line rotation, and he’ll help replace Jack Crawford and Terrell McClain, who left the Cowboys via free agency. Paea played in 13 games last season with the Browns and has been in the NFL since the 2011 season.
Last year, Paea totaled only 12 tackles and 0.5 sacks, but has produced solid numbers as recently as two seasons ago. In 2014 with the Chicago Bears, Paea totaled 33 tackles, six sacks and two forced fumbles.
Todd Archer of ESPN.com wrote this of the new Cowboys defensive tackle rotation:
"The Cowboys hope Paea can help stop the run up the middle with Cedric Thornton, the Cowboys’ biggest free-agent signing a year ago at four years, $17 million, and Maliek Collins."
Though the defensive tackle rotation will have a bit of a different look compared to last year, this group has strong potential to become a very solid unit in 2017.
Now for the main event in the signing of Carroll to help an ailing defensive backfield. Not only is this a three-year deal, but the Cowboys gained a former rival to join their side in the battle for the NFC East. Carroll has played seven seasons in the NFL, the past three with the Eagles. Last season he totaled 55 tackles, 11 passes defensed and one interception.
Against the Cowboys in two games this past season, he totaled six tackles and one pass defensed. Either way, it is better for the Cowboys to have Carroll on their side of the defense rather than having to face him twice a year. He brings a lot of game experience and will be an upgrade to the defense of the Cowboys, as it seems the franchise might pass on re-signing Morris Claiborne and Brandon Carr.
Next: Cowboys: Brice Butler Brings Potential to Receiving Corps
The moves made by the Cowboys on defense will have an impact compared to last season, and with Williams, time will tell if the Cowboys have enough at wide receiver to have even more success than last season.