10 under-the-radar free agents the Cowboys should try adding in 2023

The Dallas Cowboys’ evaluation of the free agency market along with their team makeup is still ongoing. Still, with the free agency tampering period beginning on Monday, the time has come to start making moves. Cowboys fans always have lists of free agency they would love to see on the roster in 2023 but they never come to fruition. Instead, Dallas is of the mind to bring in value-free agents that help add talent to the roster and aren’t going to hurt their cap.

So instead of looking and hoping the Cowboys take a swing at a big-name free agent let’s take a look at some of the more under-the-radar players they could have an interest in bringing in. They aren’t going to be the biggest names but they are names that if added to the roster will be able to help this team fill holes in order to take the best players available in the draft.

Let’s begin with the offense and see which players would be the more likely additions for the Cowboys in free agency.

Offensive Under-The-Radar Free Agents for the Dallas Cowboys

1. Jamison Crowder, Wide Receiver

The Cowboys need to figure out a way to shore up their wide receiver group, outside of CeeDee Lamb the rest of the group showed flashes but more often than not disappeared at crucial moments for this team. We know this team is looking for players at the position that are going to help make things easier for quarterback Dak Prescott, well there isn’t a more quarterback-friendly receiver in free agency than Jamison Crowder. His ability to get open quickly off the line of scrimmage would be a major upgrade for this receiving group and would fit perfectly with what head coach and now offensive play-caller Mike McCarthy wants to do this upcoming season.

Crowder’s age and injury in 2022 could cause teams to have some concerns but the veteran receiver when healthy has shown he still has juice and playmaking ability.

2. Derek Watt, Fullback

There’s one position on this roster that the Cowboys may want to sign this offseason and that’s a fullback. We’ve seen in the past just how effective Mike McCarthy has been at utilizing his fullbacks in the running and passing games. Just take a look at what he was able to do with John Kuhn during his time with the Packers. If McCarthy wants to bring that back to Dallas then adding Derek Watt would be a good start.

Watt is a good player that has been effective in opening up holes in the running game and is solid in pass blocking. He’s also a solid special teams player. The Cowboys could lure him away from the Steelers thanks to McCarthy’s ability to use his fullbacks.

3. Benny Snell Jr., Running Back

Sticking with the Steelers, the Cowboys are in a bit of a pickle at running back having franchise-tagged Tony Pollard and still having Ezekiel Elliott under contract and taking up a lot of cap space and nothing to show for it in terms of output from Elliott. Many believe that Dallas is going to cut Elliott and if they do Pollard who’s coming off an ankle/leg injury isn’t going to handle all the heavy lifting in 2023, they need to sign or draft a running back. Benny Snell Jr. is a player that the Cowboys may want to kick the tires on in free agency.

Snell has the ability to make plays in both the running game and passing game and would give the Cowboys a nice veteran they can add to the locker room and allow them to move on from Elliott.

4. Trayveon Williams, Running Back

If the Cowboys decide that Snell Jr. isn’t the guy for them another running back that has shown flashes and has special teams experience would be Trayveon Williams. The Cowboys are going to need whoever will be the third running back on this roster to be able to play special teams and Williams would give them that. He would also give them a running back that just like Snell Jr. can make plays in the running game and passing game but with more speed, something the Cowboys are also in search of this offseason.

This move would also allow the Cowboys to take the best running back available or whenever they see fit.

5. Will Hernandez, Guard

Looking for a physical and serviceable guard that was on an upward trajectory before an injury knocked him out for the majority of the 2022 season then Will Hernandez is your guy. Hernandez improved his on-the-field play in 2022 before his injury and looks to have turned a corner in that department. Pairing him and his physicality alongside either Tyron Smith or Tyler Smith would give the Cowboys a massive boost in their run blocking on the left side of that offensive line.

The move would also give the Cowboys more flexibility in the draft while adding a veteran starter to this offensive line.

Under-the-radar Defensive Free Agents for the Dallas Cowboys

6. Carl Davis, Defensive Tackle

The Cowboys need help on the interior of their defensive line and adding a player the size of Carl Davis would help them clog up running lanes and the length to disrupt passing lanes. The insertion of Johnathan Hankins last season proved the Cowboys need to do more to ensure they have a solid group of defensive tackles in the building. Davis who’s been a reserve defensive tackle for the Patriots if given more playing time has the potential to be a major factor in the running game.

If the Cowboys don’t do anything in free agency to add talent at this position they will be setting themselves up for another season where we could see the opposing team’s running game wearing down this defense.

7. Deadrin Senat, Defensive Tackle

Davis isn’t the only defensive tackle that could be on the Cowboys’ radar, defensive coordinator Dan Quinn has a former draft pick hitting free agency and he may want to try and reunite with said player. That player is Deadrin Senat who was most recently with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in 2022, he would be a nice rotational piece for the Cowboys who already has experience playing in a Dan Quinn defensive system.

Senat has his best season with Quinn and could look to get back with his former head coach in order to return to form and extend his NFL career.

8. E.J. Speed, Linebacker

We still need to see what the Cowboys decide to do with free agent linebackers Leighton Vander Esch, Luke Gifford, and Anthony Barr but one thing is for sure they all aren’t going to be coming back and the Cowboys need to find some players that can help them. The Cowboys got to see E.J. Speed up close and personal so they will most likely have a feel for the player and we know the coaches love speed at linebacker. They also will be looking to find linebackers that can drop back into coverage and make plays and Speed has that ability.

Adding Speed would give the Cowboys another linebacker with starting experience, though it may not be as much as you want, he has shown he can make plays in the league, and adding something like that is always a plus.

9. Fabian Moreau, cornerback

If the Cowboys decided not to go big in free agency and look to just find an experienced cornerback that can come in and help then Moreau could be your guy. He has the starting experience you like to see when you’re bringing in a cornerback and he wouldn’t necessarily mess with their starting cornerbacks. He would be able to come in and play in the slot where he looks to be more comfortable and also plays on the outside if you need him to.

You can never have too many cornerbacks, something the Cowboys found out the hard way last season after the injuries to Anthony Brown and Jourdan Lewis.

10. Rodney McLeod, safety

McLeod is another player the Cowboys were able to get a look at up close when they played the Colts last season along with his time with the Eagles. McLeod is a tough player that can come in and replace Donovan Wilson if Dallas is unable to re-sign him. His experience on the back end would be a nice addition playing alongside Malik Hooker and Jayron Kearse and give them another reliable safety that can rotate in for the Cowboys in order to keep their safeties rested.

Depending on how things go with Wilson, the Cowboys would be making a smart move in signing McLeod and at the same time making sure he doesn’t return to the Eagles.