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3 free agents the Dallas Cowboys could still pursue

By Russell S. Baxter

TAMPA, FLORIDA - NOVEMBER 22: Jason Pierre-Paul #90 of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers looks on during the first half of the game against the New York Giants at Raymond James Stadium on November 22, 2021 in Tampa, Florida. (Photo by Mike Ehrmann/Getty Images)
TAMPA, FLORIDA - NOVEMBER 22: Jason Pierre-Paul #90 of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers looks on during the first half of the game against the New York Giants at Raymond James Stadium on November 22, 2021 in Tampa, Florida. (Photo by Mike Ehrmann/Getty Images) /
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Dallas Cowboys
TAMPA, FLORIDA – JANUARY 23: Jason Pierre-Paul #90 of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers reacts in the fourth quarter of the game against the Los Angeles Rams in the NFC Divisional Playoff game at Raymond James Stadium on January 23, 2022 in Tampa, Florida. (Photo by Mike Ehrmann/Getty Images) /

1. DE Jason Pierre-Paul (Tampa Bay Buccaneers)

The aforementioned Micah Parsons had quite the debut campaign for the eventual NFC East champions.

The 2021 NFL Defensive Rookie of the Year played and started 16 regular-season contests. He finished second on the club with 84 tackles, led the Dallas Cowboys with 13 sacks, forced three fumbles, and knocked down three passes.

The former Penn State product earned Pro Bowl and All-Pro honors as well as five votes for NFL Defensive Player of the Year.

Parsons was the catalyst for an improved pass rush. Dallas finished with 31 sacks during their 6-10 season in 2020. This past year, defensive coordinator Dan Quinn’s unit got to opposing passers 41 times in 17 outings.

Parsons accounted for nearly one-third of those sacks, followed by Randy Gregory (6). But the latter is now a member of the Denver Broncos. And two-time Pro Bowl defensive end Demarcus Lawrence played in a total of eight games this past season, including the playoff loss to the 49ers.

Veteran Jason Pierre-Paul has been part of some good defensive units. He won a Super Bowl ring with the Giants in 2011 and the Buccaneers in 2020. But he comes off a season in which he was limited to just 12 games and came up with just 2.5 sacks.

He was a factor (one-half sack and a fumble recovery) in the club’s playoff loss to the Rams and could be a savvy addition for Mike McCarthy’s squad.

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