Dallas Cowboys: 7 Early free agency targets at defensive tackle in 2020

By Randy Gurzi | Dec 23, 2019

GLENDALE, ARIZONA - DECEMBER 08: Kyler Murray #1 of the Arizona Cardinals attempts to avoid a tackle by Javon Hargrave #79 of the Pittsburgh Steelers during the second half at State Farm Stadium on December 08, 2019 in Glendale, Arizona. Pittsburgh won 23-17. (Photo by Norm Hall/Getty Images) /

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PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA – NOVEMBER 17: Danny Shelton #71 of the New England Patriots celebrates a turnover during the first half against the Philadelphia Eagles at Lincoln Financial Field on November 17, 2019 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Elsa/Getty Images) /

4. Danny Shelton

Another former high draft pick comes up here as New England Patriots nose tackle Danny Shelton is prepared to hit the open market for the second season in a row. In 2015, Shelton was one of two first-round picks for the Cleveland Browns as they tried to shore up both lines of scrimmage.

Shelton was a massive nose tackle from Washington and they also landed Cam Erving, a do-it-all offensive lineman from Florida State. By 2018, neither were on the team anymore.

Erving was traded to the Kansas City Chiefs in 2017 and Shelton ended up being shipped off the following season and fans weren’t happy about that. Shelton is a two-down player but he does his job incredibly well.

Shelton is a great defender against the run and helped the Patriots as they won their sixth Super Bowl last season — but they still weren’t in a huge hurry to re-sign him. He stayed on the market until late May and agreed to just a one-year deal. He’s responded by playing his best football as a pro.

After 14 games played, Shelton has 52 tackles, which is just seven shy of his career-high from 2016. He also doubled up his career sack total with three — after registering just 1.5 in his first four seasons.

Adding a 345-pound nose tackle such as Shelton would give Dallas a player capable of slowing down the opposing run. He won’t offer a lot against the pass but Dallas has players capable of coming in and providing an interior rush on known passing plays. What they don’t have is a guy capable of overpowering the opposing offensive line as consistently as Shelton can.

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