CBSSports.com's Pete Prisco has released his list of the top 50 NFL free agents to-be and potential targets for the Cowboys abound. Thanks to some cap hits taken last summer by releasing the likes of Leonard Davis, Igor Olshansky and Andre Gurode, Dallas will actually have a decent amount of cap space this offseason. They have serious needs to match, and there are several possible solutions on Prisco's list.
Jerry Jones and his staff have stayed away from high profile free agents most years, with only a few exceptions like Deion Sanders and Leonard Davis in the nearly 20 years of true unrestricted free agency. The Cowboys badly need upgrades in their defensive backfield and interior offensive line, and - whether or not they're willing to admit it - they need something more at defensive end. Available free agents at those spots could entice:
2. Brandon Carr, CB, Kansas City Chiefs: How often do good man-cover players in their primes hit the market? This kid is about to get paid. He is this high because he plays a premium position well. He turns 26 in May.
3. Carl Nicks, G, New Orleans Saints: I consider him to be the best guard in the NFL. He is a nasty player who can block for the run or the pass. He turns 27 in May.
8. Brent Grimes, CB, Atlanta Falcons: He is a feisty corner who can play man or zone. He is small, but he has great athletic ability. The Falcons missed him late when he was injured. He turns 29 in August.
10. Red Bryant, DT, Seattle Seahawks: He had eight starts in his first three seasons, but started 16 in 2011 and was a force on the Seattle defense. He is a perfect 3-4 end, which is where he played last season. He is this year's Ray McDonald. He turns 28 in April.
14. Cortland Finnegan, CB, Tennessee Titans: He just turned 28 this month and will be a hot commodity on the open market. It doesn't appear he's coming back to Tennessee. The Lions would seem to be a team that will make a push.
20. Tracy Porter, CB, New Orleans Saints: He is a good, solid starting corner, and those guys get paid. The Saints probably won't be able to keep him. He turns 26 in August.
29. Ben Grubbs, G, Baltimore Ravens: He missed six games with a toe injury this season, but started 48 straight from 2008-10. He is the other guard on the Ravens line to Marshall Yanda, but he's still a good player. He turns 28 in March.
36. Scott Wells, C, Green Bay Packers: He is the anchor of the Green Bay line and played well this season. He is a tough guy who battles. He just turned 31 in January.
40. Dwight Lowery, DB, Jacksonville Jaguars: This former corner made a nice home at free safety for the Jaguars last season. He played above the level of expectations. The Jaguars want him back, but in a league where safety talent is at a minimum this former Jets player will get a nice deal. He just turned 26 in January.
43. Reggie Nelson, S, Cincinnati Bengals: He was a disappointment in Jacksonville, but has turned his career around with the Bengals. He's a rangy safety who has improved his tackling. He turns 29 in September.
That's a pretty long list of interesting names, and there are more possibilities. Most of these guys will be very expensive, but most are also still in their 20's, which will likely be important to the Cowboys after their experience with Davis, Gurode and Terence Newman.
Outside linebacker will also be a position of interest for Dallas. Anthony Spencer hasn't given them enough opposite of DeMarcus Ware, but he enters free agency at No. 25 on this list. They won't improve the spot through free agency, but if Spencer gets expensive they have potential options in the draft. Laurant Robinson didn't make the list.
This spring won't feature the chaotic frenzy of last summer's post-lockout free agency sprint, but it could actually be more interesting for Cowboys fans as Dallas looks to fill a handful of critical positions.
Check out Prisco's entire list along with comments on each player on CBSSports.com.