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

1. Javon Hargrave

The No. 1 free agent defensive tackle that the Dallas Cowboys need to consider is a player who doesn’t have the biggest name recognition but has incredible talent. Javon Hargrave currently plays defensive end for the Pittsburgh Steelers in their 3-4 defense, but at 6-foot-2 and 305-pounds he could easily slide inside and play as a three-technique defensive tackle.

Hargrave came from a small school as he was a third-round pick from South Carolina State in 2016 and was a starter early in his career. As a rookie, he had 13 starts in 15 games and recorded 27 tackles, two sacks, and ran a fumble back for a touchdown.

Since then, he’s been a fixture in their defense and has improved every season in the NFL. According to Pro Football Focus (subscription required), Hargrave is No. 8 at his position and has a career-best 84.6 rating for the Steelers.

Heading into Week 16, he has 49 tackles, which ties his career-high from a season ago. He also has four sacks, which is just 2.5 less than he had in 2018 as well.

It probably won’t be easy to land Harhrave considering he should have some serious suitors — that is if the Steelers do allow him to hit the open market.

But that doesn’t mean the Cowboys shouldn’t make a pitch to him. Hargrave would be worth every penny and would improve the play of the entire defense due to his ability to defend the run and generate an interior pass rush.