Cowboys ‘Superb Spring’: Johnathan Hankins Signing Final ‘Puzzle Piece’?
Dallas Cowboys did everything they needed to do during free agency is an understatement as the last piece of the puzzle has been finalized as Johnathan Hankins has signed a one-year contract.
The last “puzzle piece” for now, that is.
The Cowboys knew what moves they needed to make this offseason, and inside the first week of free agency, most of them were done. Dallas traded for Stephon Gilmore and receiver Brandin Cooks (Dallas restructured his contract too), thus filling a need for the team and putting two veterans into the starting lineup.With Ezekiel Elliott cut, Dallas needed a running back to play behind Tony Pollard. Dallas brought in two-time Super Bowl winner Ronald Jones - another tick.
Mixed in to the moves was to try and keep as many players as possible. Dallas did that too. .. most on team-friendly deals as well.Tony Pollard, Donovan Wilson, Leighton Vander Esch, Cooper Rush, Rico Dowdle, C.J. Goodwin, Dante Fowler, Takk McKinley, and lastly, Hankins were all re-signed as the Cowboys load up to go again next season.
That is a good business, but when you factor in the contract restructures of Tyron Smith, DeMarcus Lawrence, Dak Prescott, Zack Martin, and Michael Gallup, all of which freed up $45 million in cap space. … Then factoring in Elliott's post-June 1 savings, the good moves kept coming.
The need for a defensive run-stopping nose tackle was high on the list, and with Hankins signing on, the final piece of Dallas' free agency puzzle has nestled in nicely.(We say this with respect toward Carlos Watkins, who is a tier down but likely re-upping as well.)
Such has been the work done by the Cowboys' front office, the franchise is in a good position ahead of the NFL Draft with no specific position seen as a "need" to draft for.
That opens up the Cowboys' draft board to take the best player available and someone who can be a Week 1 starter.
For Cowboy Nation, entering the free agency period with a sense of dread over what could unfold, there can't be too many complaints over the dealings that have taken place.
