4 Free agent targets as Dallas Cowboys start training camp

1. Everson Griffen, EDGE

Dallas really wanted to retain Robert Quinn after he led them in sacks last season with 11.5. That became unrealistic for them when the Chicago Bears came in and gave him a five-year, $70 million contract. With him gone, the idea was they could look to the draft, and K’Lavon Chaisson seemed to be an ideal fit.

The problem was, once they were on the clock at No. 17, they found someone available they rated higher than Chaisson. Oklahoma wide receiver CeeDee Lamb was the sixth-highest player on the Cowboys draft board and they gladly took him. The problem was, skipping on Chaisson meant they would be thin at right defensive end.

Currently, they’re set to start Tyrone Crawford and the primary backups could be Dorance Armstrong and Aldon Smith. Armstrong is unproven and Smith, who was amazing when he first entered the NFL, hasn’t played in more than four years.

For that reason, the Cowboys could decide to add another veteran capable of starting and one perfect fit is Everson Griffen. A 10-year veteran, Griffen was released by the Minnesota Vikings this past season despite him making the Pro Bowl following a 41 tackle and eight sack season.

Dallas doesn’t have a lot of wiggle room to play with when it comes to the salary cap but they could find a way to give Griffen a one-year contract that would buy them time to draft their next young stud to play opposite DeMarcus Lawrence.

Griffen landing in Dallas would be very similar to the situation they had last year with Quinn, which would be very beneficial for them. And as we saw with Quinn, it could be even more beneficial for the player.