The Dallas Cowboys have released kicker Greg Zuerlein and tight end Blake Jarwin, freeing up around $5 million and putting them under the salary cap before the start of the league year next week.
When the market opens, the Cowboys won't be in a position to retain key players or add free agents. Dallas would need to create more room if they decided to trade or release wide receiver Amari Cooper or right tackle La'el Collins. Sources said that the Cowboys had trade discussions on both players.
At the beginning of the week, the Cowboys restructured the contracts of quarterback and right guard to increase their salary-cap room.
The Cowboys will need a kicker to replace Zuerlein. He missed six field goal attempts and six point-after tries, which ranked in the bottom third of the NFL.
Zuerlein missed a field goal in losses to the Las Vegas Raiders and ArizonaCardinals, but he made a game winning kick against the Los Angeles Clippers and a tying kick against the New England Pats, which led to a Dallas win in overtime.
In his first year with the Cowboys, Zuerlein went 34 of 41 on field goal attempts and 36 of 36 on PATs. His 34 field goals were a team record.
Special-teams coach John Fassel defended Zuerlein, who he coached with the Los Angeles Rams, many times during the season, saying he believed the lack of offseason work because of back surgery contributed to the kicker's inconsistency. Zuerlein missed one game last year while on the COVID-19 list, and his replacement, Lirim Hajrullahu, made all five extra points in a win over the Atlanta Falcons.
Chris Naggar was signed by the Cowboys after the season, but he only played one game for the Cleveland Browns.
Jarwin had surgery on his hip last month and there is uncertainty as to whether or not he will be able to play in the regular season. Jarwin had the chance to make the money back in incentives if he took a cut in his salary.
He signed a four-year deal worth as much as $22 million in 2020 but has been hurt in each of the past two years. He caught 11 passes for 96 yards in eight games last season.
The Cowboys would have to pay $2 million in cash and $1.2 million in cap space for Jarwin to file an injury protection claim.
Ito Smith, Reggie Robinson, and Robert Foster were released by the Cowboys. Robinson missed last season with a toe injury.
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