Which sleepers on the defensive side of the ball should the Dallas Cowboys sign in 2021 NFL free agency?
Now that the Dallas Cowboys finally signed Dak Prescott, they can get to work filling the remaining holes on their roster. Of course, there will be those who say the team is in terrible shape now that they paid him so much, but they really aren’t.
Dallas will actually pay Prescott less this season than they did in 2020 and while the salary will increase, so too will the cap over the next few seasons. However, we are only looking at 2021 NFL free agency and as of now, the Cowboys aren’t in any kind of cap trouble thanks in large part to the roughly $25 million in carryover from 2020.
With that being the case, don’t be surprised if they once again look to add a few players to the defensive side of the ball to try and improve that unit. As is often the case, they also might not go with big-name players but instead could be targeting some sleepers, such as these three free agents.
3. Damien Wilson, Linebacker
A familiar name in Dallas, Damien Wilson was drafted by the Cowboys in the fourth round of the 2015 NFL Draft. He spent four seasons in Dallas and had 22 starts in 64 games before signing with the Kansas City Chiefs ahead of the 2019 season.
Wilson has since started 29 games over the past two seasons with the Chiefs and has 154 tackles in that span. He also racked up 33 tackles in six playoff games while appearing in the Super Bowl twice — with one ring.
Now set to hit the open market, Wilson could provide the Cowboys something they desperately need — a linebacker who doesn’t miss many games. Wilson did sit out three contests in 2020 but those are the only misses in his six-year career.
He’s not a Pro Bowl type of player, but he’s a sure tackler who understands his role and isn’t usually caught out of position. Again, that’s something this team needs at linebacker.
2. Kevin King, Cornerback
The last time we saw Kevin King on the field, it wasn’t pretty. He was being torched by Tom Brady and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and that’s led to Green Bay Packers fans being ready to watch him exit. But it shouldn’t mean his career is over.
King has two things you can’t teach — size and speed. He’s 6-3 and ran a 4.43-second 40-yard dash which is something you don’t come across very often at the cornerback position. Of course, he was probably slightly over-drafted because of this — and it could have been worse.
The 33rd overall pick in the 2017 NFL Draft, King was a player that Dallas was rumored to be interested in. While he would have been given the dreaded bust label had they made the selection, he still was much more effective than the guy the Cowboys did take, Taco Charlton.
Having said that, King is a player who could use a change of scenery. He struggled with injuries during his first two seasons, which were under Mike McCarthy, but then had a strong 2019 campaign. He finished with 66 tackles and five interceptions but then had more struggles in 2020.
King wouldn’t be a No. 1 cornerback in Dallas but he could help add some depth and it’s never a bad idea to have a guy with his size and ball skills in the secondary.
1. Shelby Harris, Defensive Tackle
Another player who has some history in Big D is Shelby Harris, although he had nothing more than a cup of coffee with them. Originally a seventh-round pick of the Oakland Raiders back in 2014, Harris spent two seasons there and had 14 tackles and a sack before being released.
He was then with the New York Jets before the Cowboys signed him to their practice squad in December of 2016. He lasted less than a month but then found his new home with the Denver Broncos.
Harris spent the past four seasons with Denver and developed into a formidable three-technique. He started every game he played the past two seasons, with his best campaign coming in 2019. That year, Harris had 49 tackles and six sacks.
Overall, he has appeared in 59 games for the Broncos and has 154 tackles with 15.5 sacks. Despite his effectiveness, he’s not getting the love he deserves in free agency and some of that could be his age.
Harris will turn 30 before the regular season kicks off, so teams might be scared off — especially if he’s wanting a multi-year deal.
Should Dallas be able to convince him to come back to them on a one-year deal, it could be a reunion that truly helps this team improve on the defensive line.