Without the ability the make any big moves in free agency due to their salary cap limitations, the Dallas Cowboys are still looking for ways to get better, obviously, and targeting Cullen Jenkins, recently released from the Philadelphia Eagles, might be one of the names to join the team in 2013.
Jenkins signed a five year, $25 million contract with the Eagles in 2011 after seven seasons with the Green Bay Packers. While he posted decent numbers for the Eagles during his two years there (9.5 sacks, playing all 32 games), the win count and the problems from top to bottom with the franchise doomed him to be replaceable and he was cut from the team despite restructuring his deal in 2012 to make it easier for the Eagles to bring in more players.
The Dallas Cowboys are switching to a 4-3 defense this season, and Jenkins, who can operate well both as a DE in a 3-4 system or as a 3-technique DT in the four-man front is someone Monte Kiffin (the new DC) would really like to get his hands on. The only problem? The Cowboys need to sort out all of their contract issues first – Anthony Spencer is a player they would like to keep; Jay Ratliff and Miles Austin might be cut, while the Tony Romo deal needs to be worked out. All that will affect their ability to compete for even not-so-high-paid free agents like Jenkins.
Some rumors were floating around regarding Jenkins returning to the Green Bay Packers, his team from 2004-2010, winning the Super Bowl with them as well, but up until this point, no blurb or rumor has come out of Wisconsin regarding an impending reunion between the two sides. There’s a better chance Jenkins remains in the NFC East, going to the Cowboys, but that will be decided by the way the Cowboys manage to clear some space from their wage bill.