This Dallas Cowboys season has unraveled even before turkeys are carved on Thanksgiving dinner tables across the country.
After owner Jerry Jones vowed that the Cowboys would be “all-in” on the 2024 season before free agency began last spring, Dallas’ marquee offseason addition wound up being running back Ezekiel Elliott. Now 10 games into the regular season, Elliott has been benched and Rico Dowdle is the Cowboys’ starting running back.
Likewise, amid a flurry of injuries, the Cowboys’ defense has struggled mightily, while ranking 26th in total defense.
Meanwhile, quarterback Dak Prescott‘s season is over, after landing on injured reserve due to a hamstring injury that required season-ending surgery.
Given that the Cowboys committed to Prescott last offseason, Jones may have the opportunity to add a major weapon to the quarterback’s arsenal this upcoming offseason.
Could the Dallas Cowboys Add a Dynamic Playmaker for Dak Prescott?
The Cowboys, even prior to Prescott’s injury, spent much of the 2024 season looking for a consistent playmaker to emerge as a secondary option opposite wide receiver CeeDee Lamb. That could change in a big way this upcoming offseason.
One NFL scout tells me that the Dallas Cowboys are the best fit for Cincinnati Bengals wide receiver Tee Higgins, ahead of him hitting free agency this offseason.
Higgins, 25, is set to become an unrestricted free agent and has caught 38 passes for 489 yards with four touchdowns so far this season.
One hurdle standing between the Cowboys and signing Higgins is the fact that Dallas is projected to have just $25.54 million in cap space next offseason, while Higgins is expected to have a robust market as one of the most coveted players available at the position.
“I don’t think the Bengals can afford to pay Tee and Chase,” an agent familiar with the WR market tells me, on the condition of anonymity to speak freely. “Chase is WR 1, there’s no question about that and he has to be paid first.
“The Bengals can tag Tee again next year, I’m not sure Tee is a WR1 on any team other than Cincinnati where he’d be the No. 2. If he stays in Cincinnati, you’re talking about a $20-25 million per season guy. If he hits the open market, I think he can command much more as a free agent.”
With 295 career catches for 4,173 yards and 28 touchdowns, there is little question that Higgins would add tremendous value and upside for Prescott and the Cowboys’ passing game. Whether Dallas has the resources to sign him will be one of the bigger questions facing the Cowboys when the offseason gets underway.
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