ESPN

IRVING, Texas -- Brandon Carr did not know Rob Ryan before the Dallas Cowboys defensive coordinator got off Jerry Jones’ private plane in Kansas City the day free agency began, but he quickly liked what he heard.

“His bread and butter is go rush the quarterback, put pressure on them and put your cornerback on an island,” Carr said.

Carr does not mind the island life. At 6-0, 207 pounds, Carr likes to play physically on the outside.

“It’s a challenge and I’m all about challenges,” Carr said. “With me signing that contract, I knew even before it was going to be a big challenge playing for the Cowboys and getting the attention they get. I know pretty much every game, I’ve got to bring my A game.”

Coach Jason Garrett said what attracted the Cowboys to Carr was how he fared against some of the top receivers in the game, like Detroit’s Calvin Johnson and San Diego’s Vincent Jackson while playing against the Chiefs

Johnson had two touchdown catches vs. the Chiefs last year but had just three catches in the game for 29 yards. Jackson had eight catches for 112 yards in two games vs. the Chiefs for San Diego. Green Bay’s Greg Jennings did not play against Kansas City in the Packers’ only regular-season loss of the year, but Jordy Nelson was limited to two catches for 29 yards and Donald Driver had two for seven yards. Aaron Rodgers threw for a season-low 235 yards.

“Those games you don’t need any kind of motivation,” Carr said. “You know what’s ahead of you when you’re playing against receives that are big playmakers. You have to go out there and really trust in your training and coaching and believe in yourself to make plays, that this is a guy you’re going to shut down. I’m up for all of those challenges and I know going to the NFC East there’s some great offenses that put up points and can move up and down the field. That’s a big challenge. I’m going to keep working hard and try to perfect my craft.”

IRVING, Texas -- Terence Newman had been the Dallas Cowboys' starter at left cornerback since 2003, but his replacement, Brandon Carr, is not necessarily moving to that spot.

Executive vice president Stephen Jones said the decision will ultimately be Jason Garrett’s to make but said the team will play Carr and Jenkins on both sides in training camp and make a final call on who plays what side best.

Carr was a right cornerback for Kansas City, where Jenkins has played the last four seasons. Jenkins is not likely to be able to take part in the organized team activities and June mini-camp because of offseason shoulder surgery but should be ready for training camp.

Garrett called Carr one of the best cornerbacks in the game and cited Carr’s work vs. Calvin Johnson and Vincent Jackson last year as one of the reasons the Cowboys were attracted to him

Johnson had two touchdown catches vs. the Chiefs last year but had just three catches in the game for 29 yards. Jackson had eight catches for 112 yards in two games vs. the Chiefs for San Diego.

“We think he’s an outstanding cover corner,” Garrett said. “He excels in press coverage. He’s big. He has long arms. He’s a very good press cover corner. We think he’s the right kind of guy. He plays tough. He plays the right way. He does a lot of things we aspire to do on defense, which is play that hard, press, physical kind of man-to-man coverage that he’s played throughout his entire career there with Kansas City.”

Officially, the trade that will send three first-round draft picks and a second-rounder from the Washington Redskins to the St. Louis Rams in exchange for this year's No. 2 pick can't be announced or finalized until the new league year opens Tuesday. But it has been agreed upon several days early, and there are some good reasons for that from the Redskins' standpoint.

With that pick, and assuming the Colts draft Stanford quarterback Andrew Luck at No. 1, the Redskins are expected to draft Baylor quarterback and Heisman Trophy winner Robert Griffin III. And the fact that the rest of the NFL knows or assumes that is vital to the Redskins as they begin their plans for free agency.

The Redskins have upwards of $40 million in projected salary-cap room, so they'll be able to make very competitive offers for high-profile free agents. But with this deal done before any of those, they'll also be able to answer a lot of the questions those prospective free agents were going to be asking them. Chief among those questions is "Who's your quarterback?"

Coach Mike Shanahan wants to go out and get a No. 1 wide receiver -- someone like Vincent Jackson of the Chargers. And while a big pile of money surely would have been an enticement, the Redskins are not the only team that's going to be offering Jackson a big pile of money. Now they can go to him with the money and the promise of Griffin -- a player who generates a great deal of positive buzz. Not only do the Redskins have their answer at quarterback, they have an answer that's liable to get prospective free agents excited.

The Redskins also have been trying to re-sign veteran linebacker London Fletcher. They consider him a top priority and would love to get him signed before the free-agent market opens Tuesday. Fletcher likes it in Washington but was probably justifiably curious about what the team was doing at quarterback for next season. This deal is an easy one to sell to Fletcher. He's about to turn 37. He doesn't care about the Redskins' 2013 and 2014 draft. He's thinking about the 2012 season, and this deal makes it look a lot brighter for Washington than it did 24 hours ago. Maybe this is the kind of thing, along with some of that big money, that helps bring back this vital veteran piece.

Washington needs to do a lot yet to build around Griffin, for now and for the future. But it has the means with which to do that. If the Redskins hadn't done this deal when they did it, every free-agent signing (heck, every draft pick) they made would have been accompanied by cries of "Yeah, great, but who's the quarterback?" Having done this when they did it, they no longer have to worry about that. They have solved their greatest need early in their offseason, and they still have plenty of money with which to play in the market.

» AFC Free-Agency Primer: East | West | North | South » NFC: East | West | North | South

Free agency begins Tuesday at 4 p.m. ET

Dallas Cowboys

Key free agents: WR Laurent Robinson, S Abram Elam, LB Keith Brooking, LB Anthony Spencer (franchise)

Where they stand: Dallas needs serious help in the secondary and will have to decide whether it wants Elam back at safety while it pursues at least one cornerback. The Cowboys are expected to release Terence Newman, and they could look to add depth at that position and a new starter. Franchising Spencer indicates that while they would like to improve their pass rush, they won't be players in the Mario Williams market. Expect their free-agent focus to be on defensive backs and possibly some upgrades on the interior of the offensive line. They would like Robinson back as their No. 3 receiver, but if he's going to get No. 2 receiver-type offers, they'll likely let him walk.

What to expect: The top two cornerback targets are likely Kansas City's Brandon Carr and Tennessee's Cortland Finnegan. You can't rule out Dallas making a play for Saints guard Carl Nicks, who'd be a huge help to their offensive line. But someone like Baltimore's Ben Grubbs is likely to be more attainable financially. What the Cowboys really need on the line is a center, but it's not a great market for those unless they can get their hands on Houston's Chris Myers. The Cowboys likely will hunt for some second-tier safeties and inside linebackers to add depth, then target defensive back again early in the draft.

New York Giants

Key free agents: WR Mario Manningham, OT Kareem McKenzie, CB Aaron Ross, CB Terrell Thomas, LB Jonathan Goff, P Steve Weatherford (franchise).

Where they stand: The Super Bowl champs must get their own cap situation in order first, as they project to be about $7.25 million over the projected cap. That may mean tough cuts of people like Brandon Jacobs or David Diehl, or it may just mean some contract restructuring (like the big one they apparently just did with Eli Manning). Regardless, don't expect the Giants to spend big to keep Manningham or Ross. They're likely to bring back Thomas on a team-favorable deal as a result of the knee injury that cost him the entire 2011 season, and they'll probably let McKenzie walk and try to replace him internally (which favors Diehl's chances of sticking around).

What to expect: Just like last year, don't expect the Giants to be big-game hunters. They like to grow their own replacements. If Manningham leaves, they won't go after the top wide receivers but might try to find a bargain or two to supplement the young players from whom they're expecting more production next season. They could find a midlevel safety if they don't bring back Deon Grant, and if Jacobs leaves they'll probably bring in a veteran running back or two to compete in training camp with their youngsters. They liked Ronnie Brown last year as a possible Ahmad Bradshaw replacement when Bradshaw was a pending free agent, so there's a name to watch for if you want one.

Philadelphia Eagles

Key free agents: G Evan Mathis, DT Trevor Laws, DT Antonio Dixon (restricted), WR DeSean Jackson (franchise), QB Vince Young

Where they stand: Other than Mathis, whom they're working to try and re-sign before he his the market, the Eagles don't have many internal free-agent issues to worry about. They franchised Jackson because they're not ready to give him a long-term deal just yet. He's a candidate for a trade, but it would have to be a very nice offer. If they traded him, they'd hunt for a wide receiver, but they may do so anyway -- just at a lower level (think Plaxico Burress). The interior of the defensive line is in fairly good hands with Cullen Jenkins and Mike Patterson as starters, but they could stand to add depth to that rotation. And while they signed Trent Edwards a couple of weeks ago, they'll keep looking for a better veteran backup quarterback option with Young sure to be gone.

What to expect: Do not -- I repeat, do not -- expect the Eagles to be the same kind of player they were in free agency a year ago. Andy Reid made it very clear several times during the 2011 offseason and season that last year was unique, and the Eagles don't like to do business that way in general. They do need linebackers, and they have the cap room to play on guys like Stephen Tulloch or Curtis Lofton or even, if they wanted to get really nutty, London Fletcher. But while you can expect them to add a veteran or two at the position, don't be surprised if they sit out the higher-priced auctions this time around.

Washington Redskins

Key free agents: S LaRon Landry, LB London Fletcher, DE Adam Carriker, TE Fred Davis (franchise), QB Rex Grossman

Where they stand: Mike Shanahan said in December that Fletcher was a priority, but he remains unsigned with less than a week to go before free agency. Presumably, they'd still like to lock him up before he hits the market. If they can't, they'll have to replace a major on-field and off-field presence. Carriker is likely to be back, but the Fletcher situation has to be settled first. Landry likely is gone unless he wants to take a low-base, high-incentive deal to stay. The Redskins are sick of not knowing whether he'll be able to take the field from week to week. Grossman could return, but only as a backup to whatever quarterback upgrade they find.

What to expect: The Redskins could have more than $40 million in cap room with which to maneuver in free agency, and they're going to need it. They need a quarterback, of course, and if they can't make the trade with the Rams to move up to No. 2 in the draft and pick Robert Griffin III, they'll look at Peyton Manning and Kyle Orton and possibly Matt Flynn, though he doesn't appear to be high on their list. What Shanahan really wants is a true playmaking No. 1 wide receiver, which is why the Redskins have their eyes on Vincent Jackson and Marques Colston, who are at the very top end of that market. They'll be able to outbid almost anyone for those guys if they want to, but they may have to get quarterback figured out first if they want to persuade one of them to take their offer over similar ones. They'll also hunt for help on the offensive line and in the secondary, as they need depth in both places.

This is the third in a 12-part series on the Cowboys roster.

Players: Miles Austin (signed through 2016), Dez Bryant (signed through 2014), Laurent Robinson (unrestricted free agent), Kevin Ogletree (restricted free agent), Dwayne Harris (signed through 2014), Andre Holmes (signed through 2013), Raymond Radway (signed through 2013), Teddy Williams (reserves/future contract)

Top free agents: Wes Welker, New England Patriots; Marques Colston, New Orleans Saints; DeSean Jackson, Philadelphia Eagles; Vincent Jackson, San Diego Chargers; Dwayne Bowe, Kansas City Chiefs.

Top draft prospects: Justin Blackmon, Oklahoma State; Michael Floyd, Notre Dame; Kendall Wright, Baylor; Alshon Jeffrey, South Carolina; Mohamed Sanu, Rutgers.

2011 review: Robinson, who was signed in early September after being cut by the Chargers, ended up being the Cowboys’ most effective receiver. It took an injury to Austin and ineffectiveness by Ogletree for Robinson to get a significant role, but he led the Cowboys with 11 touchdown catches and was second among the team’s wideouts in catches (54) and receiving yards (858). Bryant didn’t have a 100-yard game all season, but he made significant progress, finishing his second year with 63 catches for 928 yards and nine touchdowns. Austin was a disappointment in the second year of a $54 million contract. He missed six games due to two hamstring strains, finishing the season with only 43 catches for 579 yards and seven touchdowns.

Offseason preview: The Cowboys’ biggest decision regarding the receiving corps will be whether to re-sign Robinson. He’s made it clear that he wants to return to Valley Ranch and has indicated that the Cowboys wouldn’t necessarily have to be the top bidders to keep him. What the Cowboys would be willing to pay for a No. 3 receiver who has proven he can be a quality fill-in starter isn’t clear. If the Cowboys don’t re-sign Robinson, they’ll need to find another third receiver, whether it’s in the draft or another free-agency bargain.

Bryan Broaddus’ Scout’s Eye: The Cowboys will be set at starters with Austin and Bryant. The biggest question will be if the club makes the effort to try and re-sign Robinson or if it allows him to leave via free agency. I would not be surprised if the front office allows Robinson to walk. If that is the case, then his numbers will need to be replaced. Let's be honest, Ogletree can't do the job as the third receiver. Ogletree has been given every opportunity to step up and take that job, but he can't do it. If not Robinson or Ogletree, there is Holley, Harris, Radway and Holmes. Holley had some productive snaps but mainly on special teams. Harris was off and on the practice squad. Radway is an interesting player because if he didn't get injured on the last play of the preseason game against the Dolphins, there was a great chance he was going to make the roster. The plan will be to try and find another Robinson in free agency with the available receivers. I don't see them using a high pick on a receiver but taking the approach of looking at a height-weight-speed player later.

Need meter (0-5): 2

If there is a good thing about the preseason, it is when teams can come together and work for two or three practices before a game and give coaches and scouts the opportunity to really evaluate their squad.

It’s a reality check. When you practice for two or three weeks with only your players, you are put into a false sense of security. The ills of the team aren’t exposed as much when you practice with yourself, but when you play games, those faults are put front and center.

The Cowboys and Chargers had two productive days of work before lining up last Sunday night. The Chargers have always been one of my favorite teams to follow because I have always respected the way they built their football team, so the fact that Jason Garrett and Norv Turner were able to put this together was positive for both clubs.

*Defensively for the Cowboys, Chargers quarterback Philip Rivers was going to put a great deal of pressure on this defense. He gets rid of the football quickly and he is accurate in doing it. Vincent Jackson and Malcolm Floyd were going to also challenge Orlando Scandrick, Alan Ball and Bryan McCann on the outside.

In the Friday practice, Scandrick was at his best in the way he was able to defend Jackson in the one-on-one drills and team periods. Scandrick was able to use his quickness to stay with Jackson and fight him for the ball in the air, which is tough to do because of Jackson’s height and his ability to use his body to shield the defenders.

In the game, Scandrick got put in a tough situation where he drew Jackson in the slot. Rob Ryan dials up a blitz, leaving his secondary in man coverage. As the play develops, Scandrick turns his body sideways in an effort to keep Jackson from running inside on him, thus taking away the chance of Rivers trying to work the ball inside on the “hot.” Jackson goes vertical with Scandrick, who now is in a sideways pedal, trying to run with him. Jackson has separation on Scandrick, who realizes what is happening to him in the route. Jackson has now taken his route up and across the field and with no help, Scandrick is trying to cover as much ground as he can as fast as he can. As the Ryan blitz develops, Rivers, his backs and offensive line have picked it up across the board. Rivers floats a perfect pass to Jackson, who is slightly ahead of the scrambling Scandrick for a big play.

There is a reason I break this play down. There will be times where Ryan will lock his secondary up in man coverage and gamble that he will be able to get his rush home before the quarterback will be able to get rid of the football. There could be some real struggles for this Cowboys defense when Ryan doesn’t blitz and has to rely on pressure just from his front.

DeMarcus Ware is an outstanding player and was able to get a sack when the coverage downfield was solid and he beat Randy McMichael, but there were times in this game where Ware was single blocked by backup tackle Brandyn Dombrowski and didn’t get any type of pressure. Ryan will have to move Ware around to help him, because if he doesn’t, teams will scheme him all day.

The best pressure the Cowboys were able to get on the Chargers was when they brought the extra rushers. How Ryan creates pressure without blitzing will go a long way to shaping how this defense plays this season.

*Much has been made about the left guard situation for the Cowboys. I am going to be honest here and say that the time that Montrae Holland has missed might have been a blessing for this club.

With Holland out, the club has managed to rotate a group of young players through that position. The latest to start at left guard was Bill Nagy. This was an interesting position me to watch because I thought that Nagy did a solid job at center. Nagy looked more than comfortable playing fill-in wherever he was needed.

Nagy played well. Technique-wise his pulls were good, stayed on his feet, hit the target and able to secure his man. There was a play where Jason Garrett called a stretch play going left and Nagy was able to shove the end down to Doug Free, helping him secure his block, then work up inside to handle the linebacker.

In pass protection, I only saw one time where Nagy struggled. He was driven into Tony Romo’s lap when he wasn’t able to anchor down and be stout in the front of the pocket. In offensive line play, guards are responsible for the depth of the pocket while the tackles handle the width. Guards have to keep the front of the pocket clean so the quarterback has the ability to step forward.

Backing up Nagy in this game was last week’s starter against the Broncos, David Arkin. This game was not as easy or clean for Arkin, but it was not a total bust either.

Arkin will always play with the effort and intensity, but he just doesn’t have the upper or lower body strength when defenders take him down inside on the rush. Needs to be tighter on his pull, was too aggressive trying to help Costa secure his block and not able to work outside to prevent a sack.

On the final play of the game, Arkin gave up a pressure on a spin move, which caused Stephen McGee to have to back pedal and make an off-balance throw. Arkin did do a job on sorting out a twist stunt and there were times in the running game where he was able to secure his man.

Looking ahead, I feel like that Holland will be the starter when he is healthy enough because the club knows what they have in him. I don’t agree with it at all, because it limits what Garrett can do with this scheme. Holland’s lack of mobility is a liability. Garrett is trying to use his offensive line by pulling, down blocks and getting them to the edge -- all things that Holland struggles with.

The Cowboys are running the ball better because the athletic ability of this line with the combination of the blocking of the tight ends. Felix Jones is hitting the holes quicker because this line is doing a better job of getting hats on hats. Holland can play with power, but he just doesn’t have the movement of Phil Costa, Nagy and Arkin.

ARLINGTON, Texas -- The Cowboys and Chargers concluded two days of practice with four successful two-minute drills by the offense.

Tony Romo hit Jesse Holley for a touchdown on the Cowboys’ final play for the first team’s two-minute work vs. the Chargers. Romo went 6-of-11 on the drive and was victimized by one drop. Holley was active on the drive with three catches, including a diving grab near the sideline.

Philip Rivers found Vincent Jackson in the back of the end zone while rolling out to his right for the Chargers.

“It’s been a good few days,” Romo said. “I think for our team a lot of it is just execution play to play … Did you block the guy? Did you move? Did you run it well? Did you get through your reads fast? Did it get out on time? I thought we did that and it was a really good day. I think this team is continuing to get better as each week goes by, and today was an example of that.”

Coach Jason Garrett was pleased with the work and the temperaments of both teams. There were only a few shoving matches during the special teams portion of the work Friday.

“We’ve all seen practices and work against another team turn into a fist fight after the play, not handling it well. I thought each team was well-schooled and understood what we were trying to get out of it,” Garrett said. “We practiced hard with good intensity and it was competitive, but it didn’t cross that line where it becomes unproductive.”

When the 2010 season ended, Miles Austin was 25th in catches (69), 14th in yards (1,041) and 21st in touchdowns (seven). He was also tied for 10th with 17 catches of 20 or more yards.

Austin was not the dominant receiver numbers-wise in 2010 like he was in 2009.

Yet, Austin is still an excellent receiver that threatens defenses with his run-after-catch ability. If there was one negative to Austin's game last year it was the career-high 10 drops.

Well in rankings among the ESPN NFL bloggers, they don't think much of Austin's game.

He's not even ranked among the Top 10 receivers in the NFL and only one of the voter, James Walker of the AFC North, gave him a vote.

You probably don't have a problem seeing Andre Johnson, Larry Fitzgerald, Roddy White, Calvin Johnson and Reggie Wayne in the Top 5. Greg Jennings and DeSean Jackson are most likely Top 10 receivers and are ranked there.

After that it's pretty subjective.

Our offseason Cowboys Position Series continues with a look at the wide receivers.

Players:Roy Williams (signed through 2013), Sam Hurd (free agent), Manuel Johnson (free agent), Miles Austin (signed through 2016), Jesse Holley (free agent), Dez Bryant (signed through 2014), Kevin Ogletree (signed through 2011), Troy Bergeron (free agent)

Top free agents:Braylon Edwards, New York Jets; Malcom Floyd, San Diego Chargers; Santonio Holmes, New York Jets; Vincent Jackson, San Diego Chargers; Sidney Rice, Minnesota Vikings

Top draft prospects: A.J. Green Georgia; Julio Jones, Alabama; Randall Cobb, Kentucky; Torrey Smith, Maryland; Tandon Doss, IndianaAJ

2010 review:This was a talented group. It has speed in Miles Austin and Dez Bryant along with the big play ability of Roy Williams. Williams scored five touchdowns the first five weeks of the season then disappeared. Austin had over 1,000 receiving yards and earned another Pro Bowl berth. What was telling for Austin was his 10 droops, fifth most in the NFL and he was tied for 28th in fourth quarter receiving with 18 catches for 255 yards. What can you say about Bryant? He was fantastic. He had more third down catches than Williams and more fourth quarter touchdowns than Austin. Once he masters the playbook he could be an unstoppable force. A lack of playing time hurt Sam Hurd and Kevin Ogletree last year. Hurd is a free agent and he could play for another team. Ogletree will get a chance to emerge as a receiving threat.

Offseason preview: It might be time to cut Roy Williams, but it appears he’s going to be here in 2011. The lack of a No. 3 receiver if he should go, gives him the security. But the Cowboys need to make him productive for an entire season. Bryant has to master the playbook, something he didn’t do last year and Austin was a steady threat in the passing game. Ogletree was a good route runner now he has to get more chances to do it in games. If so, he could move past Williams up the depth chart. Drafting a wide receiver isn’t out of the question, but you wonder if Jesse Holley will get opportunities to play on offense in 2011.

Need meter (1-5): 2

The period to franchise players ends Feb. 25 and a few teams have already placed tags on several players.

Vincent Jackson, Michael Vick, David Akers, Logan Mankins and David Harris have been franchised.

The Cowboys have one player who could be franchised in left tackle Doug Free, but indications from team officials say he won't be. For that matter, at least for now, the Cowboys won't do it to any of their 13 free agents.

Free, who finished his fourth season in 2010, could make as much at $10 million if he were franchised by the Cowboys. It's doubtful the team would do this for a player, who was considered their best offensive linemen in 2010, who became a full-time starter at left tackle for the first time in his career. However, if Free is a restricted free agent, and that won't be determined until the new collective bargaining agreement is completed, the Cowboys would place a first-and-third round tender on him.

It was something they did with wide receiver Miles Austin before working out a long-term deal with him. Austin missed the first few days of offseason workouts last spring and didn't sign his tender until just before the deadline hoping a new contract would be worked out.

Free's agent, Jimmy Sexton, hasn't heard from the Cowboys on what might happen down the line.

The Cowboys, like most teams, would like to know the financial landscape in the NFL before making any significant moves. We all know the Cowboys want Free to be their left tackle for years, but the price they have to pay hasn't been determined.

What also complicates matters is the union and the league have opposing views on the franchise tag. The league says teams can do it, and they are, but the union says that's not possible without a new CBA.

ARLINGTON, Texas -- Linebacker Keith Brooking pinpointed the Dallas defense's biggest problem against the Chargers: The Cowboys couldn't stop San Diego on third-and-long.

Actually, the Cowboys kept the Chargers from moving the chains on four of seven third-and-long plays. But that's not nearly good enough, especially when the three conversions were big plays that led to points.

The three big plays were all essentially jump balls, pitting the Chargers' 6-5 receivers against the sub-6-0 Cowboys cornerbacks. Phillips Rivers hit Malcolm Floyd for a 24-yard gain on San Diego's first touchdown drive, Vincent Jackson for 33 yards en route to a field goal in the second quarter and Jackson again for 39 yards to set up the go-ahead touchdown.

"That just can't take place," Brooking said. "That's the pass rush; that's coverage. It goes hand in hand. We felt like the recipe for success in this game was being really good on first and second down and creating those third-and-longs. We got in those situations and didn't make the plays to get them off the field."