IRVING, Texas — The Dallas Cowboys said they would not be major players early in free agency and they kept their word.
They shopped and filled needs at the recycle bin with bargain-basement signings and the return of many of their own free agents.
Yet owner Jerry Jones contends the team is already better than they were at the end of last season’s 4-12 campaign.
“Yes. Both, to answer the question. Yes,” Jones said at the NFL league meetings last month. “We’re addressing specific areas that we need — I’m hesitant to use depth, we just need contributions. We’re certainly going to play a lot of guys, and where we’ve brought some of these guys in — whether it be at running back, whether it be defensive line — we need some numbers. And we’re getting them.”
The in-house signings have included the likes of linebacker Rolando McClain, cornerback Morris Claiborne, defensive end Jack Crawford, running Lance Dunbar, linebacker Kyle Wilber and tight end James Hanna.
Only McClain is penciled in as a starter to open the season.
The outside free agents they signed to modest contracts are defensive end Benson Mayowa, running back Alfred Morris, center/guard Joe Looney and defensive tackle Cedric Thornton.
Of those signings, only Thornton can be considered a walk-in starter and definite upgrade from what they played with last year.
The Cowboys have actually had more failures than signings in free agency if you consider the players who have turned them down — cornerbacks Nolan Carroll, Leon Hall and Patrick Robinson, free safety Eric Weddle and defensive end Chris Long.
So how are the Cowboys better?
Because quarterback Tony Romo, receiver Dez Bryant and cornerback Orlando Scandrick — who all played big roles in 2014 when the Cowboys went 12-4 but missed a combined 35 games last season because of injuries — should be healthy and ready to go in 2016.
That combined with the rookie draft haul is what Jones is banking for a bounce-back season.
“I think our biggest improvement — and I’m not trying to be trite — will be a healthy Romo and a healthy Bryant. And having Scandrick,” Jones said. “That’ll be our biggest improvement. Then I would say probably draft, as far as an impact.”
Ah, the draft.
Defensive end/pass rusher remains the team’s biggest need heading into the 2016 draft, set for April 28-30. The Cowboys have the fourth overall pick.
Quarterback and running back are huge needs as well.
“I don’t want to get that succinct on four — but it really doesn’t rule anything out,” Jones said. “The facts are that four is a different kind of decision. That four pick, that’d be a pretty extraordinary decision.
“Now we might have issues as best players or position preference. You could have some position preference in the draft. Well you might say it looks to me like you are trying to fill a need right now too. Well those position preferences are probably areas of quarterback, pressure player and corner. Well you might go a position preference over one that’s higher on the board. You might do that.”
The Cowboys will also listen to trade offers for the fourth overall pick in hopes of moving down to pick up extra picks to fill a litany of needs.