The Dallas Cowboys are a team that entered the NFL offseason with a substantial amount of roster holes. Plenty of which are on the defensive side of the ball. That has persisted but they are not without options. Could they look to NFL free agency for a veteran like Casey Hayward?
Bleacher Report’s Maurice Moton evaluated the best landing spot for each available NFL free agent, the Cowboys were designated for veteran cornerback Casey Hayward.
A couple of days before the start of the legal tampering period (March 15), the Los Angeles Chargers released Casey Hayward. According to NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport, the 31-year-old cover man didn’t fit new head coach Brandon Staley’s system.
Hayward assembled a solid 2020 campaign, allowing a 49.4 percent completion rate and a 93.6 passer rating. He recorded eight pass breakups and an interception.
On the boundary, Hayward can start for a cornerback-needy team. He’s a good fit for the Dallas Cowboys, who must shore up the secondary opposite second-year pro Trevon Diggs.
With the 10th pick, the Cowboys can select the first cornerback in the 2021 draft, whether it’s Alabama’s Patrick Surtain II or South Carolina’s Jaycee Horn. On the other hand, Dallas could add a known commodity for immediate improvement in coverage.
Hayward can reunite with Mike McCarthy, his former Green Bay Packers head coach, and play in defensive coordinator Dan Quinn’s system, which is similar to ex-Chargers play-caller Gus Bradley’s scheme. The two coordinators have roots in Seattle under lead skipper Pete Carroll.
In Dallas, Hayward will see a familiar face, fits the system, and most importantly, fills a need.
Best Fit: Dallas Cowboys
It remains to be seen what the Cowboys will look to do in the 2021 NFL Draft with the No. 10 pick. Dallas could look to use the selection on a cornerback, but regardless, they could use a veteran like Casey Hayward to provide immediate help.
While Casey Hayward may not be as dynamic as he once was, he is still more than capable of providing a boost to the Dallas Cowboys’ secondary. Trevon Diggs showed intriguing flashes of potential during his rookie campaign but Dallas needs more help alongside him.
