The Dallas Cowboys have done more in the first week of free agency than what Cowboys fans are used to.

But will they go even further? Dallas has money to play with from restructured contracts, and there are still some big-name free agents available.

The question is whether Jerry Jones is interested in making a “splash” signing, a multi-year contract that would contain more yearly money than they are accustomed to giving. There are still some positions of need that need bolstering, especially at wide receiver and cornerback.

If Jones and the front office are thinking about doing any splash signings this year, here are some candidates that might make sense.

1. Asante Samuel Jr (Cornerback): Samuel is causing quite the stir at the moment as a number of teams seem to be in the squabble for his skills. Dallas has added Kaiir Elam to the team which slightly lowers the need for cornerback, but you can never have enough depth in the secondary and Elam is a massive dart throw at this stage.

Samuel Jr. is very different to Elam and has demonstrated proficiency in various coverage schemes, making him adaptable to the Cowboys’ defensive strategies, whatever those may be. His ability to play both man and zone coverage would provide flexibility to the defensive scheme making him very intriguing.

Samuel Jr. has nine interceptions and 30 pass breakups in his career, but he is coming off a season where he only played in four games. It turns out this was due to an ongoing shoulder issue that he’s had to deal with since birth.

That puts a question mark around his status, and given the fact the Los Angeles Chargers’ coaches kept him on the sideline for the season adds further apprehension.

Samuel Jr. will be looking for a contract that projects to being in the region of a three-year deal that’s approximately $36 million.

The question on this move is whether the price tag is worth of the risk. This one would come down to the medical situation and the risk management associated with Samuel. But he would fill a huge void in the secondary that currently remains a massive weakness on this defense.

2. Mike Hilton (Cornerback): Sticking with the cornerback position another interesting splash buy Dallas could go for is Mike Hilton from Cincinnati. Hilton brings a wealth of experience, having played pivotal roles in both the Pittsburgh Steelers and Cincinnati Bengals defenses.

The key feature that Hilton would bring to the defense is his ability to play from the slot, an area that needs retooling after Jourdan Lewis’ departure. Hilton is still productive, if somewhat on the decline, but his leadership and mentorship would be a huge boost for this young Cowboys secondary.

He will look for a contact that averages somewhere between $10 million and $12 million, so he’s not for cheap, but it would be an interesting splash to really sure up the cornerback position,

3. Keenan Allen (Wide Receiver): Dallas is still shorthanded at wide receiver and Cooper Kupp, who was a fan favorite, is now off the board after signing with Seattle.

Allen is one of the best route runners in the NFL, consistently creating separation and making life easier for quarterbacks. For Dak Prescott, that’s ideal as he loves finding and throwing to his open receivers. The other bonus with Allen is within the redzone, an area the Cowboys with last year.

With Allen’s size (6’2” and 211 pounds), and the fact he’s a great catcher on short passes, he creates a great target on those shortened fields and helping with productivity in an area that was lacking.

If Dallas lands him on a short-term deal, he could provide a strong boost without long-term salary cap concerns.

The main reasons Allen would need to be a short-term solution is down to his age. Allen will be 33 when the season starts and he’s been in the wars as his career has continued which has meant he’s missed plenty of time due to injury. Allen is coming off a contract with the Chargers that paid him $20 million per year.

But given his circumstance you would expect Allen to take a pay cut and take a contract that hovers between $11 and $15 million per year. Overall though, Allen would be a great short-term addition for Dallas, giving Prescott a veteran playmaker, but concerns over his price, injuries, and age make him a calculated risk. If the Cowboys can sign him at a reasonable price, he’d be a strong WR2 upgrade, but they would need to be mindful of their long-term financial commitments.

4. Stefon Diggs (Wide Receiver): Cowboys could finally get the Diggs brother together after all these years of speculation on that happening. This pick-up comes with a lot of risk however. In the 2024 season, Diggs was limited to eight games due to a torn ACL, recording 47 receptions for 496 yards and three touchdowns before the injury.

What Diggs brings to the table is a career that has consistently demonstrated elite route-running and reliable hands. Apart from last season, Diggs has gone over 1,000-yards receiving every year since 2017.

Diggs may command a short-term contract with a base salary in the range of $8 to $12 million per year, but given his recent season ending injury Dallas could load the contract with incentives to cover themselves if Diggs cannot find his last form.

A strategically structured contract that aligns with the team’s salary cap and performance expectations would be pivotal in making this acquisition beneficial for both parties.

5. Azeez Ojulari (Edge): Ojulari blew up the combine back in the day and was a big name coming out the 2021 draft class. Since joining the New York Giants he has amassed 22 sacks over four seasons, including six in 2024.

His ability to pressure quarterbacks is outstanding and at only 24 years old, he still has plenty of football in him.

Unfortunately, throughout his tenure with the Giants, Ojulari has faced multiple injuries that limited his availability. In 2022, he was placed on injured reserve due to a calf injury.

Similarly, in 2023, he was again placed on injured reserve which forced the Giants to find other players to hold his position.

The Cowboys have recently brought Dante Fowler back into mix and that fills the designated pass rusher position, but you can never have enough pass rushers, and last year’s issues with injury is a good testament to that statement. Ojulari would be the cheapest option on this list at around $8 million average salary, but Dallas could probably get away with less making this a splash buy, just not as much as the others.