The Dallas Cowboys have major free agent concerns with Dez Bryant and DeMarco Murray hitting the market and if Jerry Jones can only sign Bryant, the team may look at options like Frank Gore, Marshawn Lynch, Mark Ingram or Ryan Mathews as well as Adrian Peterson, as they will have to replace the production of Murray, who had a historic season in 2014.
Bryant appears to be the priority for the Dallas Cowboys, as he is coming off of another strong season and plays at the wide receiver position, which is valued more than running backs these days. According to ESPN Dallas, Jerry Jones has acknowledged that signing both Bryant and Murray will be tough and that the team may have to get "creative" to get it done. Tony Romo may restructure his contract, while Brandon Carr may need to take a pay cut. According to NFL.com, Murray has already rejected a four year, $16 million contract from the Cowboys.
Jones has said that the team would use the franchise tag on Bryant if they can't get a deal done and that means he is likely staying. Murray is the one to watch, as he is coming off of his best season and may demand a ton of money for a new contract. If that happens he could be allowed to leave and it comes after he had a huge season, touching the ball over 400 times on offense. That high number is concerning to the Cowboys moving forward and that could affect how they handle negotiations.
The team could have a number of other options on the market if they let Murray go, as a crop of running backs of different ages and styles is hitting the market (or could hit the market). CJ Spiller is a free agent along with Mark Ingram Ryan Mathews and Justin Forsett, while Marshawn Lynch could end up on the market if he is released by the Seahawks, which is a move some in the NFL expect to happen. Frank Gore is also hitting the market and it looks like the Niners are going to let him go after drafting Carlos Hyde.
Lynch and Adrian Peterson are two veteran players that could get released by their teams and if they do, the Cowboys will be interested. Lynch is as durable a back as anyone in the league and he once again was over 1200 yards for the Seahawks. The two sides have had issues with money and off the field stuff in the past and that could lead to his release. Peterson has been given the go by head coach Mike Zimmer and GM Rick Spielman to return, as they have said he is welcome, but that won't happen until April at the earliest.
Jones has expressed his interest in Peterson in the past and the fact that he is from Texas could be a huge draw if Murray leaves. The Cowboys have to debate how much Murray and a player at the RB position it worth, especially after he handled the ball over 400 times this season. While Murray is young, running backs have a tendency to fall off when they carry the ball that much, as ESPN.com pointed out with other players that have had over 400 touches in a season.
