The Dallas Cowboys lost four key pieces of their 2016 defensive backfield when they let cornerbacks Brandon Carr, Morris Claiborne and safeties Barry Church and J.J. Wilcox walk in free agency. All four players received contracts from other teams that the Cowboys were unwilling to match.
While seeing so many leave was disturbing, it was a justifiable move from The Cowboys perspective. None of these former players were “difference makers.”
With only the signing of free agents like cornerback Nolan Carroll and safety Robert Blanton to restock the defensive backfield, the Cowboys entered the 2017 draft with a definite eye towards both positions, as they used four of their nine selections on defensive backs.