For the time being, at least, the Dallas Cowboys roster is set. That will likely remain the case at least for the next few weeks, as they begin to get closer looks at players in OTAs and next month’s mandatory minicamp.
After that, as they head toward training camp in Oxnard in July, the Cowboys could start to entertain the possibility of adding a veteran a player to the mix. We’ve already seen them bring in free-agent corner Adoree’ Jackson for a visit, and he could yet sign. We’ve also seen plenty of chatter about linebacker trades, and the persistent hope that veteran Bobby Wagner joins the fray.
But one area where the Cowboys could potentially go for some beefing up: on the edge, where the team added Rashan Gary but could still use a situational rusher whose job is to get after the quarterback on passing downs.
And there is one guy who is, notably, still on the market as a veteran free agent and grew up in DeSoto as a Cowboys fan and went to Texas A&M: two-time Super Bowl champion Von Miller.
Von Miller A Cowboys Fan
Miller remains unsigned despite an effective year as a situational player in Washington last season. There is some question as to how he would fit in with the Cowboys, who appear to be taking a more holistic view of the pass-rush, with consistent pressure being the goal rather than sacks being the be-all, end-all. Remember, after hiring defensive coordinator Christian Parker, the Cowboys quickly lost interest in re-signing Jadeveon Clowney.
But Miller has some interest in the Cowboys.
During a chat with the live-streamer N3on, Miller recalled his childhood fondness for the Cowboys. “It was The Star on the TV,” Miller said. “I didn’t even know about the field. I just saw The Star. I saw people going crazy, I saw my dad going crazy. … That is like a core memory for me. Like I saw my dad scream like that. I was like, man, I want to make my dad scream like that.”
When N3on mentioned that Miller has not played for the Cowboys yet, Miller said, “Nah.”
N3on then suggested the Cowboys should change that. Said Miller: “Hey, you never know. You never know though.”
Von Miller a Former Super Bowl MVP
Coincidentally, or perhaps not, the Cowboys have increasingly been seen connected to Miller as a potential late free-agent signing. It’s sheer speculation at this point–Miller’s livestreamed interest in the Cowboys is the most solid notion that he could play in Dallas–but it has gained steam among the team’s observers.
Miller played 17 games last year and finished with 9.0 sacks, and six tackles for a loss. That’s a pretty good ratio of big plays made on his 26 total tackles, and more generally, the 37-year-old Miller has quite a resume–two Super Bowl wins, the MVP of Super Bowl 50, seven All-Pro selections and 138.5 career sacks, most among active players.
Would Cowboys Add a Pass-Rusher?
Miller was a topic of discussion on the popular Cowboys podcast “Love of The Star” and host Zach Wolchuk said that after initial skepticism, the logic for a Miller move was there.
Said Wolchuk: “I was blown away, Von Miller had nine sacks last year. It kind of felt like Von Miller was—didn’t talk about him, he was an afterthought. Maybe that was a product of Washington just having a down year and wasn’t a team we really highlighted. But Von Miller was a guy, he only started three games last year, but in a rotational role, which is what he would have here in Dallas, he had a sack against the Rams, he had a sack against the Chargers, the last two games of the season, a sack against Dallas, a sack against Philly. He kind of spread it out nicely throughout the season. Clearly, that is a guy who could be productive for you.
“Nine sacks from a guy who can come in and be a pass-rush specialist who is a veteran guy, that’s got a championship pedigree. You know what? I am in on that. He is a local guy, maybe he wants to play his last season with the Cowboys.”
