FRISCO – At this early stage – a month ahead of the March 12 opening of NFL free agency – sleuths are looking for bread crumbs. Which team is a match for which player? Or, in the case of the Dallas Cowboys, which coach is a match for which player? The Cowboys’ new head coach is Brian Schottenheimer. His new offensive coordinator is Klayton Adams, formerly the Arizona Cardinals offensive line coach. And now working under them is another new hire, Kansas State ex Conor Riley taking on the job as offensive line coach.

Who is “Schotty” connected to? Who fits? That’s part of the game. What about Riley? That one is easy, as he coached both Cooper Beebe and Deuce Vaughn in his time with the Wildcats. And what about Adams? The Cardinals are concerned that they might lose one of their top offensive linemen in this year’s free agency cycle in the form of starting right guard Will Hernandez. Hernandez, a New York Giants’ second-round pick in the 2018 NFL Draft, signed with Arizona two years ago for just $9 million. Spotrac now projects him to get a similar deal going forward, viewing him as being worth just $4.5 million per year.

Hernandez played just five games last year due to a knee injury; maybe that’s why the projected number is so affordable. But now he is scheduled to become an unrestricted free agent this offseason, and while he is saying he “would love” to re-sign with the Cardinals – which is no doubt true … Those breadcrumbs.

Hernandez was a solid starter in New York. He’s massive at 6-3, 330. He can play the same position that could be vacated of future Hall of Fame guard Zack Martin opts to retire. He’s a Texas native, from El Paso. We recall the Cowboys thinking highly of him back during his draft … And there is the Klayton Connection. … meaning the bread crumbs are there for the sleuths to see.