Cowboys executive VP Stephen Jones mentioned that they have a tough decision to make regarding impending free agents Doug Free and Jermey Parnell this offseason.
“That’s another decision we have to make,” Jones said, via the Fort Worth Star-Telegram. “Jermey played really well and I think a lot of teams will throw on the tape and watch him play and probably a lot of people will consider him a starter.”
Both players are scheduled to be unrestricted free agents in the coming months and have proven to be solid right tackles in recent years.
“We’ll have to make a tough decision there with Doug and Jermey. Hopefully we’ll at least keep one of them.”
This year’s crop of free agents doesn’t offer much in terms of offensive tackle depth, which could help Free and Parnell in negotiations with prospective teams.
Free, 31, signed a four-year, $32 million deal that included $17 million guaranteed with the Cowboys back in 2011. There has a lot of talk shortly after he signed the contract that he could be a cap casualty, but Free reworked his contract last year to remain with the team.
Pro Football Focus has him rated as the No. 21 offensive tackle in the league last season, which includes positive ratings in both run and pass-protection.
Parnell, 28, has played out his four-year, $4.63 million rookie contract and is now in line for a sizable raise for the 2015 season.
Interestingly enough, Pro Football Focus has him rated just one spot above Free at No. 21 overall in terms of offensive tackles.
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