3 McCarthy linked free agents that could alter Cowboys 2020 NFL Draft plans

By Randy Gurzi | Jan 17, 2020

CHICAGO, IL - DECEMBER 18: Ha Ha Clinton-Dix #21 of the Green Bay Packers carries the football after intercepting for the second time against the Chicago Bears in the third quarter at Soldier Field on December 18, 2016 in Chicago, Illinois. (Photo by Jonathan Daniel/Getty Images) /

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GREEN BAY, WI – DECEMBER 11: Mike Daniels #76 of the Green Bay Packers celebrates after making a tackle during the game against the Seattle Seahawks at Lambeau Field on December 11, 2016 in Green Bay, Wisconsin. (Photo by Stacy Revere/Getty Images)

GREEN BAY, WI – DECEMBER 11: Mike Daniels #76 of the Green Bay Packers celebrates after making a tackle during the game against the Seattle Seahawks at Lambeau Field on December 11, 2016 in Green Bay, Wisconsin. (Photo by Stacy Revere/Getty Images) /

2. Mike Daniels, DL

Another player who was with Mike McCarthy in Green Bay that could help the Cowboys is Mike Daniels. A fourth-round pick from Iowa in 2012, Daniels ended up developing into one of the better defensive linemen in the NFL. The 310-pounder was used as both a defensive tackle as well as an end in the Packers’ 3-4 defense and by his third season in the league, he was their full-time starter (although he still recorded 6.5 sacks in his second season despite recording just one start).

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Like Randall Cobb, who was in Dallas in 2019, Daniels only played for McCarthy up until this past season. In 2018, McCarthy’s final year, Daniels ended the season on the IR with a foot injury. Then after McCarthy was gone, Daniels was released. He would end up on the Detroit Lions but played just nine games before again heading to the injured reserve.

Now a free agent once again, Daniels will be looking to redeem himself with a new team and it would make sense for him to meet back up with his former coach. And it would be a great move for the Cowboys as well.

Daniels could play the 3-technique defensive tackle spot which is a question in Big D right now. Maliek Collins is the player they want in that role — but he has often had to move to the 1-tech due to necessity. Now, Collins is a free agent and might demand more than they can pay. Another option is Tyrone Crawford, but he has been too valuable at defensive end.

There’s also Trysten Hill, who they selected in the second round of the 2019 NFL Draft, but he wasn’t playing like a guy they can turn things over to just yet. Adding Daniels would be a win for both parties as he could try and earn more money in 2021 by signing a prove-it deal and Dallas could let Hill ease into the lineup behind the veteran. More importantly, they won’t feel the need to over-draft defensive tackles this season — as they did in 2019.

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