Dallas Cowboys make two shocking waiver decisions
The Dallas Cowboys have been as busy as anybody early in the offseason, making roster decisions so far. Between working the free-agent market to restructuring contracts of Dak Prescott and Zack Martin, the 2022 roster will look a lot different than this previous season’s.
On Friday, the decisions continued to pour in, with two shocking roster moves being made.
According to Nick Eatman of DallasCowboys.com, Dallas decided to release kicker Greg Zuerlein and waiving tight end Blake Jarwin. The latter spent most of the 2021 season injured, while Zuerlein was not consistent for the team over a 17 game stretch.
Jarwin appeared in eight games for the Cowboys, getting a start in six of them. Splitting time with recently franchise-tagged Dalton Schultz, Jarwin did not live up to the level of his contract extension. He finished this season with just 11 receptions on 17 targets, going for 96 yards and two touchdowns.
As for Zuerlein, the kicker was in his second season with the franchise, following special teams coach John Fossil from the Los Angeles Rams. Attempting 35 fields goal, Zuerlein was only able to make 29 of them for a 82.5% success rate. Extra points were an issue too, connecting on less than 90% of his point-after attempts.
Dallas will now have to find a new kicker and could look for a fresh face through the NFL Draft undrafted free agent route. Signing one through practice squads may be a possibility as well, with Fossil being one of the most in-depth special teams coaches in the country.
Dallas Cowboys put offensive lineman on trade block
The Dallas Cowboys still have their eyes set on a Lombardi Trophy, but due to issues with the salary cap with so much talent eating up massive chunks of cash, Jerry and Stephen Jones are going to have to make difficult decisions in order to free up space, while still ensuring their core is intact for another run in 2022.
On Thursday, NFL Insider Ian Rapoport reported the Dallas brass is entertaining moving on from one of the anchors of the offensive line. Offensive tackle La’el Collins could be headed out of Dallas.
The 28-year-old Collins, who has played his entire career with the Dallas Cowboys, is set to count $15.25 million against the Cowboys’ salary cap this season, but the Cowboys can save $13.95 million of that by cutting or trading him.
Last year Collins played in 12 games, starting 10, but the Cowboys didn’t miss him much when he was out of the lineup, and it’s unsurprising that they’re not sure he’s worth the cap space they’re devoting to him.