Wasted Free Agency: Cowboys projected to have just 5th-most comp pick value in 2025
The Dallas Cowboys let a lot of talent walk out the door in 2024. Not only dd defensive coordinator Dan Quinn leave to become the head coach of the Washington Commanders, but the team lost significant free agents as well.
Dallas didn’t try to replace them with much either, meaning that they will likely receive the maximum number of compensatory picks in April’s draft. But just because they maxed out on picks, doesn’t mean they made the right decision. Dallas didn’t seem to get a ton of value, compared to the holes that were left on their roster.
In exchange for allowing OT Tyron Smith, DE Dorance Armstrong, DE Dante Fowler, center Tyler Biadasz and RB Tony Pollard walk in free agency, OverTheCap is predicting Dallas will receive four compensatory draft picks in 2025.
And while Dallas is tied with Baltimore for the most projected picks, they only rank fifth among 14 teams in terms of comp pick value. They are set to receive just three fifth-round picks and one sixth-round pick.
Those picks, projected to be No. 171, No. 173, No. 175 and No. 212, total 73.2 points on the trade value chart.
That’s less than half the value of league-leading Miami (147), and trailing Minnesota (112), Baltimore (83.5) and San Francisco (73.5).
73.2 is almost the exact value of the Cowboys’ missing fourth rounder, sent to Carolina in exchange for WR Jonathan Mingo. Pick No. 112 is worth 70 points on the value chart.
Comp picks are awarded based on a formula centered around how many qualifying free agents a team loses, cancelled by ones they sign, and adjusted for contract value. The Cowboys, like the Ravens, pay special attention to their comp-pick ledger each season, so it’s more than likely they knew what the value of their incoming picks would look like when they traded for Mingo.