The One Contract Holding Back the Dallas Cowboys

Outside of failing to ink quarterback Dak Prescott to a contract extension, the Dallas Cowboys have enjoyed a solid offseason. They locked up star wide receiver Amari Cooper to five-year deal, and bolstered their defense by signing pass rushers Gerald McCoy and Dontari Poe, as well as safety HaHa Clinton-Dix.

Though these were needed additions, they have put Dallas up against the cap as the franchise only has $7.5 million to work with in cap space.

There are a plethora of players on the Cowboys' payroll eating up a chunk of that, but this problem can be traced back to the egregious and expensive contract of defensive lineman Tyrone Crawford.

We seriously have no idea what Crawford is still doing being rostered by Dallas. The 30-year-old vet accounts for the sixth-highest cap hit ($9.1 million) on the team. That's ridiculous when you consider the star power on the Cowboys' roster.

Crawford did hardly anything to justify receiving a five-year, $45 million contract back in 2015. For his career, the Boise State product has never compiled more than 5.5 sacks, 14 quarterback hits, or one forced fumble in a single season. He also hasn't played more than 62% of the defensive snaps since 2015.

The former third-round pick is entering the final year of his contract, and cutting him would save Dallas $8 million. He's hardly a must-hold, and the Cowboys would subsequently flaunt the flexibility to make a move for a player like Everson Griffin, whose floor is higher than Crawford's ceiling, if they were to release him.

Dallas will be freed of Crawford's contract after this upcoming season, but there's no doubting that it's the one deal holding back the organization from making further upgrades.