The Cowboys have named unrestricted free agent Flozell Adams as their first franchise player, guaranteeing him a one-year deal equal to the average of the five highest-paid offensive linemen - $4.92 million.
Adams, 6-foot-7, 335-pounds, is in the process of changing agents, so the move will give him time to settle on his agent and will give both parties time to get a long-term deal completed.
The move gives the Cowboys the right to match any offer by another team if an offer more than the franchise amount comes in. Once the free agency period begins on March 1, Adams can negotiate with other NFL teams.
If that offer comes in and the Cowboys decline to match, they will receive two first-round picks in return.
The Cowboys will watch the progress of rookie Charron Dorsey and third-year tackle Solomon Page during the upcoming season. If both look good, the Cowboys may forgo giving Adams a long-term contract and go with the two youngsters. The other side is that Page will be an unrestricted free agent next year and this could all happen again.
The size of the offensive line has been a point of discussion as of late. Cowboys’ owner Jerry Jones has expressed an interest in installing a West Coast style into their passing offense while keeping a strong running game. New offensive coordinator Bruce Coslet was hired to do just that.
The West Coast offense uses small, quick linemen since the quarterback gets rid of the ball quickly. In contract, the power running game has been a staple for the Cowboys with their large, athletic linemen such as Adams and Larry Allen.
The important point here should be the athleticism. If the linemen are mobile, regardless of size, they should be able to handle both styles.
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