Cowboys Sign DE Yannick Ngakoue vs. Dante Fowler in NFL Free Agency?

Free agent Yannick Ngakoue hasn't lived up to expectations of previous contracts, but he's also never had a season in the NFL with fewer than eight sacks. Could he continue his career with the Dallas Cowboys?

FRISCO - As free agency in the NFL continues, the Dallas Cowboys are still seeking to fill out areas of their roster. In most of those cases, they're looking for an improvement at a specific position. 

I'm not sure this situation falls under that category. But free agent defensive end Yannick Ngakoue would make the Cowboys' defensive front better.

There is this question: Would he make Dallas better than fellow free agent Cowboys pass-rusher Dante Fowler Jr.?

Ngakoue, the former Jaguars, Vikings, Ravens, Raiders, and Colts pass-rusher has holes in his game. But thankfully, Dallas only needs him to excel at his specialty: pass rush.

Ngakoue, a former third-round pick, will never be an effective run-stopper. He's known as a professional pass-rusher, and that's not a bad thing. The best fit for him is to go to a team where he can be used in situational downs in a rotation.

Enter the Dallas Cowboys. Pro Football Network thinks Ngakoue is a good fit in Dallas - in fact, they use the term "outstanding'' for his fit. That may be a bit hyperbolic; Micah Parsons and DeMarcus Lawrence are the top guys, and Dorance Armstrong and Sam Williams are already behind them as what I'll call "good'' fits.

"Outstanding''? No. But in comparison to Fowler, 29 and a former high first-rounder, a Dan Quinn guy who absolutely was a "good'' fit in Dallas on his cheap ($3 million) one-year contract?

Ngakoue, 28, was a $13 million salary cap his last season in Indianapolis, and maybe hasn't lived up to the expectations of previous contracts. That's good for the Cowboys or whoever signs him. But he's also never had a season in the NFL with fewer than eight sacks. That's also good.

If Dallas is looking at depth along the defensive line, taking a long, hard look at Ngakoue isn't the worst idea. ... especially as Dallas tries to figure out just how much it wants to pay Fowler. ... or if a Robert Quinn reunion might be in the offing.

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