The Cowboys Probably Shouldn't Waste Their Time With Sean Lee in Free Agency

The Dallas Cowboys are facing several franchise-defining decisions when the new league year starts on March 18, and somehow the future of fan-favorite linebacker Sean Lee is buried deep on an extensive to-do list.

While Lee is coming off a career season, having appeared in all 16 games for the first time ever, the Cowboys can't fall for it. Lee overcoming his injury bug in 2020 will only make him less affordable this offseason. Meanwhile Dak Prescott and Amari Cooper are franchise tentpoles with looming contracts that will likely set or come close to league records, and leave no room for the 33-year-old Lee in Big D.

Let's also not forget about Byron Jones, who the team could also re-sign.

Lee signed a one-year deal to stay with Dallas last March, and while he put together a good season, the team has Leighton Vander Esch and Jaylon Smith patrolling the linebacking corps. Lee only got all of that playing time because Vander Esch was injured.

On top of that, the Cowboys defense ended up faltering, especially against top opponents like the Vikings, Bills, Bears and Packers. The team's defensive woes don't all fall on Lee, but the value of an aging linebacker that didn't necessarily make an indelible impact doesn't compare to the importance of Dallas' two offensive free agent juggernauts.

If the Cowboys are going to get back to the playoffs in 2020 under new head coach Mike McCarthy, it will depend on their offense and the retention of Prescott and Cooper, both of whom spearheaded the No. 1 offense in the NFL in 2019.

The keys to fixing the Cowboys defense are not on the 2019 roster, and the organization needs to look elsewhere. With just about all their cap space likely going to offense this offseason, the organization will have to find the keys to fixing the defense in Las Vegas this April.