Cowboys Offseason Moves Get 'Average' Grade? How Can 'Aggressive' Be Bad?

The Dallas Cowboys' offseason has been busy with the trades, but where do they stack in overall free agency?

Following a Divisional Round loss to the San Francisco 49ers, the Dallas Cowboys have been of the biggest buyers in the NFL offseason - and they've bought aggressively and affordably? So how can their offseason grade be low?

By trading for five-time Pro Bowl cornerback Stephon Gilmore and wide receiver Brandin Cooks, the front office has added proven playmakers.  

But outside of signing former New York Jets offensive guard Chuma Edoga to a one-year $1.3 million deal, the Cowboys have not made much noise in "outside-the-building'' free agency.

Sports Illustrated released its 2023 Free Agency grades up to this points, awarding Dallas a "C" for its signing of Edoga and departures of tight end Dalton Schultz, running back Ezekiel Elliott and guard Connor McGovern. 

"It was a relatively quiet free agency for Dallas, which allowed Schultz to leave and released Elliott," SI writes. "The only real addition is Edoga, who will help fortify the offensive line."

SI also did not include the re-signings of running back Tony Pollard, safety Donovan Wilson, offensive tackle Terence Steele, linebacker Leighton Vander Esch and defensive end Dante Fowler, which all earned "A" grades in CBS Sports recent Free Agency article. 

"That said, the grade for free agency is much different than the offseason grade, which is bolstered by the acquisitions of corner Stephon Gilmore and receiver Brandin Cooks," SI writes.

Whether or not the Cowboys make more noise between now and the end of free agency ultimately falls in the hands of the front office. 

However, there is no denying that Dallas has done its job bringing back a balance of familiar faces and new ones to a team that won 12 games a season ago. ... and that in our eyes, overall, the Cowboys have earned a positive grade based in large part on our belief that the roster is better today that it was a month, two months, three months ago.

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You can find Riley Sheppard on Twitter @RileyDSheppard

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