IRVING, Texas -- Free agency in 2015 has not yet started, but is it too early to look at 2016?
The Dallas Cowboys are going to. While the main salary-cap focus for just about everybody else is 2015, the Cowboys take a multi-year look at how things could shake out with their free agents so one year will not adversely affect another.
The Cowboys want to re-sign as many of their own free agents as possible this year, but they also know they need to have room for Dez Bryant -- if he doesn't sign a long-term deal -- and defensive tackle Tyrone Crawford, who will become a free agent after this season.
The Cowboys have four restricted free agents this year that could become unrestricted free agents in 2016 if they choose to tender Sterling Moore, Lance Dunbar, Chris Jones and Cole Beasley's contracts. Of the four, Beasley stands the best chance of signing soon, with the team talking with his agent about a four-year deal.
If Moore, Dunbar and Jones are not tendered, they will be free to sign elsewhere.
In addition to Bryant and Tyrone Crawford, the Cowboys are scheduled to have eight other players his unrestricted free agency in 2016: Jack Crawford, Mackenzy Bernadeau, James Hanna, Jeremy Mincey, Amobi Okoye, Brandon Weeden and Kyle Wilber.
Bryant was given the franchise tag Monday and could be a candidate for it again in 2016 if the Cowboys are unable to sign him to a long-term deal. If they tag him again in 2016, the Cowboys would be on the hook for $15.38 million.
Tyrone Crawford has the looks of a cornerstone defensive piece based off his production in 2014: 37 tackles, three sacks, four tackles for loss and 29 quarterback hurries.
In the past the Cowboys have worked hard on keeping their core players off the open market by signing them before they can hit free agency. They did it with Sean Lee in 2013 and Tyron Smith in 2014. But they were unable -- or unwilling -- to do it with Bryant and DeMarco Murray.
After Bryant and Crawford, the Cowboys don’t have a big ticket player up for free agency in 2016 at the moment.
Mincey led the Cowboys in sacks in 2014 with six, but he will be 32 by the time he hits free agency again. Hanna is a valuable piece as a second tight end and has been able to fend off Gavin Escobar for playing time. Wilber is a core special teamer but can play linebacker and defensive end. Jack Crawford showed flashes of potential last season before a broken thumb ended his season. Bernadeau is a valuable backup who can play all three interior offensive line spots.
Weeden will be given the chance to win the backup job again but the Cowboys have made it clear they are looking for competition at that position.