3 Free agents Dallas Cowboys can sign after Week 1

2. Earl Thomas, Safety

This one is something that’s going to keep being talked about until either Earl Thomas signs with the Dallas Cowboys or signs with someone else (but even then we might still get the trade rumors). The former Seattle Seahawks and Baltimore Ravens safety is still available, and looking for his new home after being cut following an incident that involved him punching one of his teammates.

For that reason, I have been against signing Thomas, since he has been somewhat of a malcontent in recent years — look not only to him punching a teammate but also the flipping of the bird in Seattle and begging Dallas to get him while still in his Seahawks uniform. However, after watching the Cowboys defense against the Rams it’s hard to argue against adding somebody with game-changing ability. And Thomas definitely has that.

Xavier Woods and Darian Thompson weren’t necessarily bad for the Cowboys but neither one of them made any impact plays. For years, this has been the case with safeties in Dallas as players such as Jeff Heath have been there simply doing their jobs — but never making the plays that turn things around for the defense.

Thomas might have his skeletons and that could still be enough to keep Dallas from kicking the tires. However, their loss of Leighton Vander Esch could prompt them to look for a new playmaker, and it’s hard to argue that Earl Thomas isn’t the best available at this point.