Dallas Cowboys hoping to boost defensive tackle position before the 2023 NFL Draft
Dallas Cowboys owner and general manager Jerry Jones is hopeful that the team’s next free agency moves will allow them even more flexibility in this year’s draft. The Cowboys have selections in each of the seven rounds, starting with the No. 26 overall pick in round one.
One of the team’s biggest needs currently is at the defensive tackle spot. Dallas still has two players at the position on the free agency market – Johnathan Hankins and Carlos Watkins.
Jones told reporters on Monday at the NFL team owners meetings that the team’s plan is to re-sign both for 2023. He said there’s been progress on that front with Hankins. Watkins, a sixth-year veteran, re-signed with the Cowboys last year to the tune of $1.187 million.
If Dallas can re-sign their own players at defensive tackle, then they can focus on other areas of need. Despite the pickup of free agent Chuma Edoga, the Cowboys could still use another immediate impact player at guard.
After getting a big boost already early in the free agency window, Jones is feeling confident about the upcoming draft.
“We’ve got ourselves in real good shape to get us some picks that can play immediately,” Jones said. “And that’s the goal here. If you get yourself in a position where you can draft some players you can put on the field, and be a position selective a little bit, you’re doing it (right). Now you never want to pass on the guy you ought to be taking, but still be position selective. And that’s, I think, where we are. I feel good that we can take any position there.”
More on the 2023 NFL offseason, free agency
The NFL 2023 calendar year began at 4 p.m. ET on March 15. At that time, contracts running through 2022 officially ran out, making those players free agents.
Prior to the beginning of free agency, teams had a chance to designate one franchise or transition tag player, starting on Feb. 21 at 4 p.m. ET and ending on March 7. The Cowboys used their franchise tag this year on Tony Pollard.
The legal negotiation period spanned from March 13 through March 15. The new year marked the beginning of all trades going official per the league office. April 21 marks the deadline to sign restricted free agents to offer sheets. On April 26, the deadline for teams to match restricted free agent offers sheets hits.
There were 722 players due to hit free agency in 2023, including 20 unrestricted free agents for Dallas. Follow all the Cowboys free agency news with the offseason tracker.