Which Cowboys players definitely WON’T be back with the team in 2024?
The Dallas Cowboys again find themselves at home and out of the playoffs. Going into next year, the team is surely going to try to get their roster over the edge. An embarrassing Wild Card loss to the youngest playoff team in NFL history again puts the Cowboys on the couch. The joke with teams who get bounced out of the NFL playoffs is that they will now head to Cancun.
5 Cowboys players who definitely won’t be back next season
1. Tony Pollard, RB
I don’t think it’s looking good for Tony Pollard continuing his career with the Dallas Cowboys in 2023. He was playing on the franchise tag and amassed just 1,005 yards on 252 carries, which is 4.0 yards per tote. That is way down from 2021 and 2022, when he averaged 5.5 and 5.2 yards per carry as a complimentary back. Pollard not being able to adequately hold the workload at RB is not a good sign for him.
I don’t think the Cowboys are going to jump at the chance to re-sign a running back, especially when as of now, they have negative cap space. I’d not be surprised to see them draft a RB in the 2024 NFL Draft and potentially add a low-cost player in free agency.
2. Stephon Gilmore, CB
Stephon Gilmore was a 2023 offseason addition by the Cowboys, and he started all 17 games for Dallas in 2023. He racked up 13 passes defended and two interceptions. Even though Gilmore is still proving to be a quality player in his 30s, I think Dallas turns their attention to other players in the secondary. Gilmore is 33 years old, and the emergence of Da’Ron Bland in 2023 makes Gilmore expendable.
Dallas also has Jourdan Lewis and Noah Igbinoghene at CB who are set to hit the open market. Lewis is 28 and Igbinoghene is 24, so they each may have a better chance at sticking with the Cowboys in 2024 and beyond. Gilmore was probably only going to be a one-year addition anyway, and again, with Dallas’ lack of cap space, they might prefer to add to this position in the 2024 NFL Draft and with lower cost players.
3. DeMarcus Lawrence, DE
DeMarcus Lawrence’s best days are behind him, and with the Cowboys being able to save $10 million on their 2024 cap number, Lawrence is an obvious cap casualty. He stared all 17 games this year and managed just four sacks, 10 tackles for loss, and eight QB hits. Lawrence has no more guaranteed money left on his deal, so he could be vulnerable to be cut in the offseason.
4. Tyron Smith, LT
Another player who may want to ring chase is their long-time left tackle, Tyron Smith. Smith is 33 years old and is likely entering the final stages of his Hall of Fame career. In 2023, Smith started in 13 games, earning a second-team All-Pro award. He played in 847 snaps on offense and was called for just three penalties this year, according to Pro Football Reference.
Tyron Smith has been a brick wall for the Dallas Cowboys, but injuries have limited him in recent seasons. Smith is going to be in the Hall of Fame one day, but one thing he does not have is a Super Bowl ring. He’s a free agent in 2024 and does not owe the Cowboys anything, so I think he’ll look in a different direction.
5. Michael Gallup, WR
The Dallas Cowboys are not going to have Michael Gallup on the roster in 2024, mark my words. Gallup’s cap hit in 2024 is nearly $14 million, and this is someone who has caught just 73 passes for 842 yards and six touchdowns over the last two seasons. He broke out in 2019 with 1,107 yards and eight touchdowns, but has not been able to replicate that production, or even come close, since then.
Dallas can save $9.5 million on their 2024 cap number by cutting Gallup, and I don’t think they hesitate to do so when the new league year begins. The Cowboys also do need to get a bit more consistent at wide receiver outside of CeeDee Lamb, so I think the Cowboys will try to add to this unit in the 2024 NFL Draft and perhaps make some low-cost free agent additions with this group as well.
