Dallas had probably the league's very best offensive line in 2016, helping Ezekiel Elliott and Dak Prescott put together breakout rookie campaigns. It's not certain it will be worse in 2017, but it will definitely be different.

Ronald Leary started all season at left guard, and Doug Free was a mainstay at right tackle. But Leary signed a free-agent contract with Denver last week, while Free announced his retirement. Suddenly Dallas has a couple of new faces -- maybe questions.

The team drafted La'el Collins a year ago and will likely plug him in at left guard. Collins was a first-round talent who slipped out of the draft due to a murder investigation (he was ultimately cleared). Not a given the team will be any worse there.

Free has started almost every game for Dallas since 2010, before retiring at age 33. He was not, however, at his best last season, so maybe he can be adequately replaced, as well. Current options include 2014 third-rounder Chaz Green. Green has battled injuries and seen only spot duty when healthy his first three seasons.

But Dallas apparently views him as the favorite, and they'll have the entire offseason to get him ready -- or find somebody else. Probably a draft pick will contend for the role.

For now, this might still be the league's best offensive line. We'll see.

--Andy Richardson