NFL Rumors: Chris Long Leaving Los Angeles Rams For Dallas Cowboys

NFL rumors have swirled around the Dallas Cowboys looking to upgrade their defensive line. While some still believe that a backup quarterback is the biggest priority, many believe that Cowboys owner Jerry Jones is more concerned about upgrading his pass rushing. According to ESPN, Dallas could be on the verge of signing Chris Long. The veteran defensive end was recently released by the Los Angeles Rams in a salary cap purge.

When the Denver Broncos dominated the Carolina Panthers in the Super Bowl, Jerry Jones and Dallas Cowboys head coach Jason Garrett witnessed DeMarcus Ware terrorizing Cam Newton to the point where the usually confident and sometimes arrogant quarterback was no longer a weapon. The Cowboys haven’t had a pass rusher like that since Ware left town. Jones and Garrett are hoping to remedy that pretty soon because they know it’s a key ingredient to being successful in the NFL.

The Dallas Cowboys were hoping that Greg Hardy could have provided that feared pass rush last season. They took quite a risk in bringing him in because of all the luggage that he brings with him. Hardy played decently, but he wasn’t worth all the headaches that he caused Jason Garrett and the coaching staff. There’s a very good chance that the Cowboys cut ties completely with Hardy and allow him to walk away in free agency, where he might not find a lot of interest from other NFL teams.

Randy Gregory was another guy that was supposed to solve the push rush problem for the Dallas Cowboys. He was a first-round talent that dropped to the second round because NFL teams were concerned about his passion for marijuana. Jerry Jones took a chance on Gregory, and he was rewarded with multiple failed drug tests. Randy is serving a four-game suspension to start the next season, so his future in the National Football League is murky.

Demarcus Lawrence finally started to reach his potential last season. Unfortunately for the Dallas Cowboys, it took a toll on his back. Lawrence had back surgery after the season ended, and there’s no telling how well he will recover from the ordeal. If Demarcus can make a complete recovery, then the Cowboys only need to worry about the other defensive end position because Lawrence should be able to hold his position for years to come.

As we get closer and closer to the upcoming NFL Draft, the Dallas Cowboys are being linked more frequently to Ohio State Buckeyes star Joey Bosa. Some are saying that the Cowboys will choose Bosa with the fourth overall pick. Interestingly enough, there are those in the National Football League that feel that Joey has character issues. Jerry Jones has shown repeatedly that he is not afraid to sign troubled players.

Chris Long is unlikely to be the savior for the Dallas Cowboys. He’s getting up there in age, and injuries have taken a toll on his body. Long is more of a stopgap option. His contract won’t be all that high. There’s even a chance that Chris plays a backup role, rotating with whatever rookie the Cowboys select in the upcoming NFL Draft. Long can also be used as a mentor, both on the field and off of it.

Free agency isn’t always about making a big splash. Sometimes, the lesser heralded signing can help a team patch up their roster. The New York Giants made a big splash by signing Olivier Vernon, Damon Harrison, and Janoris Jenkins this week. However, there’s no guarantee that those signings will enable them to beat the Dallas Cowboys for the NFC East division crown.

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