Cowboys 2020 Free Agent Power Rankings: Quinn rising fast behind Dak, Amari

Grading where the Cowboys' Top 10 impending free agents fall through 8 games

Eight games into the season the Dallas Cowboys are 5-3 as they prepare for Sunday night’s game with the Minnesota Vikings. 

With each game we start to get a clearer picture of free agency priorities going into the 2020 season. I published our first two Cowboys Free Agency Power Rankings before the season and after Game 4, respectively. It’s time to check back in now that we’re halfway through the season.

1. QB Dak Prescott (final year of rookie contract, now paid $2.03 mil in 2019; No. 1 in preseason and Game 4 power rankings).

Everything still makes sense here when it comes to keeping Prescott long-term. Based on reporting by our Mike Fisher and others, it sounds like Prescott and his agent may be comfortable with a $32-$33 million contract per year (even though some of you may not be comfortable with that number). I find the dynamic right now interesting from a 2020 perspective. I think few doubt that Prescott and the No. 2 player on this list are going to remain in Dallas long-term. But the Cowboys have to sign at least ONE of them to that long-term deal because it keeps the franchise tag on the table for the other. Prescott, to me, feels like the more likely long-term deal to come first because the Cowboys will want to lock in Prescott’s cost and then fill in the other.

As for Prescott’s play, well you weren’t happy about it during the three-game losing streak, undoubtedly. But for the season he’s thrown for 2,380 yards, completed nearly 70 percent of his passes, thrown 15 touchdowns against 8 interceptions (you’d like to see that ratio better) and rushed for 175 yards and three scores. I think with we’ve learned that Prescott’s biggest weakness may be that he’s just streaky at times, and when he gets into a rough streak it lasts for a bit longer than fans would like.

And, I always make this point. What’s the backup plan if you let him go? Seriously, what is it?

Dallas Cowboys wide receiver Amari Cooper :: Robert Deutsch/USA Today Sports

2. WR Amari Cooper (final year of rookie contract, paid $13.9 mil in 2019; No. 2 in preseason and Game 4 power rankings).

Here were Cooper’s numbers through his first 16 games with the Cowboys — 91 receptions, 1,346 yards and 11 touchdowns. He’s transformed this Cowboys passing game in ways that have made this team an NFC contender. Dallas has expressed its desire to keep him. Cooper has expressed his desire to stay. And, when it comes to long-term success, keeping Cooper is vital. He’s a highly-productive receiver ready to enter the prime of his career. The long-term extension Atlanta’s Julio Jones snagged earlier this season helped set the market for Cooper (Jones’ extension was for three years, $66 million with $64 million guaranteed). I don’t believe Cooper will get nearly as much guaranteed money, I don’t think. But the Cowboys won’t let him go anywhere, and if that means franchising him, so be it. He’s THAT important to the Cowboys offense.

3. DE Robert Quinn (last year of contract, paid $8 million in 2019; No. 7 our preseason power rankings and No. 5 in Game 4 power rankings).

Quinn is averaging just more than a sack per game (6.5 sacks this season). He’s hit the quarterback in every game but one (that would be the Green Bay game). He’s even batted down three passes. He’s become the perfect complement to DeMarcus Lawrence (who, by the way, has 4.5 sacks). So this is when we start getting into what’s important in the NFL. Of paramount importance is getting to the quarterback. Quinn is able to do that in this scheme. He’s already matched the sacks he had in Miami last year, and this deal is looking worse and worse for the Dolphins. There are two questions worth considering, even as Quinn soars up this list. First, it’s his age — 30. Second, it’s the commitment the Cowboys would make versus the commitment Quinn wants. Thirty is a red line age for NFL teams to hand out new, long-term deals. Quinn wants some safety. The Cowboys may only be willing to give a year, maybe two. But there’s no doubt Quinn is now a much higher priority to keep than he was at the start of this season.

4. CB Byron Jones (final year of rookie contract, paid $6.2 mil in 2019; No. 3 in preseason power rankings and No. 3 in Game 4 power rankings).

I don’t think anyone who watches the Cowboys on a regular basis would question Jones’ importance to the defense. But creating turnovers is a primary responsibility for a corner and in that area Jones has not produced. In his four-plus year career he has just two interceptions and two forced fumbles. Are those numbers enough to keep Jones in Dallas? The competition for his job may already be on the roster in the form of Jourdan Lewis. In two fewer seasons Lewis has produced more interceptions (3) and done so in fewer starts than Jones (just nine). Now, there’s something to be said for the fact that Lewis has just two starts the last two seasons. Clearly there’s a separation between Lewis the current starters, which includes Jones. But when it comes time to hand out deals next offseason, how much will the Cowboys look at the cost savings of making Lewis a full-time starter and allow Jones to test the market? That’s a consideration the Cowboys will have to make, because there is a market for a player of Jones’ skill. If he hits free agency, he is unlikely to return to Dallas.

5. DT Antwaun Woods (last year of contract, paid $570,000 in 2019; No. 4 our preseason power rankings and No. 4 in Game 4 power rankings).

Woods has now played in and started five games, and while he only has seven combined tackles that’s not necessarily the bottom line of his value to the Cowboys. As I’ve indicated before, he’s a snug fit for the scheme that the Cowboys play up front. He’s flexible enough as a player to work both defensive tackle techniques. Plus, because he’s an exclusive rights free agent, the Cowboys would basically have to release Woods for him to become a free agent. That’s unlikely to happen because ERFA’s can usually be kept for cheap. The Cowboys keep him because he’s valuable, cheap depth. Don’t sweat the late meeting. This guy’s solid.

6. DT Maliek Collins (last year of rookie contract, paid $2.02 mil in 2019; No. 5 our preseason power rankings and No. 5 in Game 4 power rankings).

Collins drops a bit, but only because Quinn moved up this time around. Collins is having a nice, solid season inside and there’s no reason to believe the Cowboys won’t be interested in keeping him around next season at a reasonable cost. But Collins does have a bit of leverage developing. The inability of rookie defensive tackle Trysten Hill to do anything resembling threatening Collins’ job means the Cowboys don’t know what to expect from Hill next season. Unless Hill surges here in the second half, Collins and his agent can walk into the offseason knowing the Cowboys have some uncertainty if they let Collins walk.

7. LB Sean Lee (last year of contract, paid $3.5 million in 2019; No. 6 our preseason power rankings and No. 7 in Game 4 power rankings).

Lee has played in all eight games this year and started five, so there’s something to be said for lessening his role in the defense. He has 33 tackles and has defended two passes. But his performance against the Giants, in place of the inactive Leighton Vander Esch, underscores why you keep Lee around. He had 12 tackles, a tackle for loss and a pass defended. He tied Jaylon Smith for the team lead in tackles. If Lee returns to Dallas next season, he won’t make as much as he did this season. But he’ll be just as valuable.

8. SS Jeff Heath (last year of contract, paid $2.5 million in 2019; No. 8 in preseason power rankings and No. 8 in Game 4 power rankings).

The Cowboys teased us yet again with another move at safety (Jets safety Jamal Adams). But the Cowboys were smart to turn away from that deal. The Jets were asking for too much. But it just shows the Cowboys aren’t satisfied with the safety position. Heath is on pace for another nice, solid season. One bit of value he brings to the table is interceptions. He has eight for his career, but none this season. If the Cowboys are going to spend big on the open market next season it’s at safety. And if they choose to do that Heath won’t be back next season. I’m not sure he’s back either way.

9. TE Blake Jarwin (last year of rookie contract, paid $645,000 million in 2019; No. 10 in preseason power rankings and No. 10 in Game 4 power rankings).

Jason Witten has more than doubled Jarwin’s production, but there’s one area where Jarwin has been a bit better for Dallas, and that’s in the end zone. Jarwin has three touchdown catches to Witten’s two. In the long-term analysis, keeping Jarwin in 2020 looks smart. As an ERFA, it’s almost a given. And Dalton Schultz can’t get much of a chance to shine as Witten and Jarwin have the job on lock-down.

10. WR Randall Cobb (last year of contract, paid $5 million in 2019; No. 9 in preseason power rankings and No. 9 in Game 4 power rankings).

I thought about dropping Cobb out of here entirely, but I really have no idea who I would slot at the No. 10 spot at this point. The point is that Cobb has had a nice season (25 catches, 274 yards, 1 touchdown). But second-year pro Michael Gallup — who has played one less game than Cobb to this point — has produced just as well (29 catches, 454 yards, 2 touchdowns). In other words, keeping Cobb in 2020 feels superfluous at this point.

Dropped out

None

Why not …

TE Jason Witten: Witten has been is productive self. If he stays for 2020 it’s up to him. The Cowboys will find a way to pay him. That’s the main reason I don’t include him in the Top 10. He’s a lead-pipe lock to be a Cowboy until he doesn’t want to be.

WR Tavon Austin: Like Gallup with Cobb, the presence of Tony Pollard gives off the feeling that Austin won’t be back next year.

LS L.P. Ladouceur: Veteran long snappers don’t need to be in power rankings, though if we had NFL long snapper power rankings he would clearly be in the Top 5. Ladouceur would make $1 million if he comes back in 2020. That’s around the veteran minimum for a player of his experience.

T Cameron Fleming: Fleming did nice work in place of Tyron Smith. But it wasn’t enough to vault him into the Top 10.

DE Michael Bennett: At 34, the Cowboys are treating this like a rental. Plus, Bennett has played just one game to this point. But he did have a sack.

Other expected Cowboys free agents in 2020 (unrestricted free agent unless otherwise noted): DT Christian Covington, ILB Joe Thomas, RB Alfred Morris, DT Kerry Hyder, G Xavier Su’a-Filo, OLB Justin March, FS Darian Thompson, S C.J. Goodwin, S Kavon Frazier (injured reserve), DT Daniel Ross (Restricted free agent, on injured reserve), CB Anthony Brown, TE Blake Jarwin (RFS), QB Cooper Rush (RFA), G Adam Redmond (RFA), K Brett Maher (ERFA).

Our next Free Agent Power Rankings will appear after Game 12.

Want to talk more Cowboys? Connect with our staff on Twitter — @PostinsPostcard.