Vernon Off Market; Cowboys Next DE Target Mario Williams?

DALLAS (105.3 The Fan) - The Cowboys can create $48 million of cap room this spring if they wish, will be saying goodbye to Greg Hardy and are always hungry for pass-rush help.

Miami's Olivier Vernon will not be available via free agency as the Dolphins on Tuesday hit Vernon with the transition tag of $12.734 million. Dallas (and other clubs) can still bid, but Miami can match and retain — and can wait seven days to do so, putting that other bidding team in a sort of "freeze.''

So the Cowboys will move on, armed with a lack of desire to retain free-agent Hardy, knowing Randy Gregory will miss the first month of the season due to a drug suspension, and also aware that on average, a rookie pass-rusher records just three sacks in his first season — meaning that help in the April Draft isn't always immediate.