The Dallas Cowboys have 16 players set to become unrestricted free agents in March. In this series, we determine why a player should or should not return in 2016 and beyond.
Position: Cornerback
Age: 26
NFL experience: Five years
2015 salary: $745,000
2015 statistics: He joined the Cowboys the final week of the regular season and was active against the Washington Redskins but did not play.
Why he will be back: Raise your hand if you knew he was on the team. The old adage in the NFL is you can never have enough corners. Thomas has experience and he won't cost much. The Cowboys are unsettled at the corner spot entering free agency with Morris Claiborne about to hit the market, Brandon Carr figuring to count $13 million against the cap and Orlando Scandrick coming back from knee surgery. At the very least, the Cowboys need numbers at the position.
Why he will not be back: Perhaps it is too cynical to say part of the reason why the Cowboys signed Thomas the final week of the season had to do with proximity. He lives in the area. After a three-year run with the Carolina Panthers from 2011-13, he has bounced around to six other teams. With injuries to Claiborne and Barry Church for the season finale, the Cowboys added Thomas as an emergency fill-in only. If the Cowboys thought they could have a future with Thomas for 2016, they would have signed him to a two-year deal.
Chance to return: Low. Like a lot of the Cowboys' free agents, if it is a one-year, veteran minimum salary contract with an invitation to training camp, then there's a chance but it's highly doubtful.
The series:
Kyle Wilber can fill multiple roles
Mackenzy Bernadeau has versatility
Robert Turbin provided relief
Charles Brown filled role but is not needed in 2016