Cowboys news: KaVontae Turpin hungry for more with new contract

The latest news surrounding America’s Team.

KaVontae Turpin ‘blessed’ to land Cowboys’ extension, hungry for more: ‘I’m a weapon’ – Patrik Walker, DallasCowboys.com

The Cowboys paid KaVontae Turpin to continue his playmaking ways.

“It’s a blessing come true, man,” said Turpin shortly after officially putting pen to paper. “Being in all the leagues I’ve been through in five years, it’s just a blessing come true, and I wanna thank God for the blessing.”

The journey to this point has been an arduous one for Turpin, to say the least.

From his days at TCU, he has worked to climb into the favor of any NFL team that would give him a chance — dominating in the USFL and being named MVP before the Cowboys’ front office saw all they needed to before adding him to the roster in 2022. He’d literally have no time to recover and rest between transferring leagues, but he was still able to earn Pro Bowl honors in his first year as Cowboys’ returner.

And before his stint in the USFL, Turpin grinded it out in an attempt to make a name for himself with the now defunct Frisco Fighters, the Glacier Boyz of the also now-defunct Fan Controlled Football league, and even took his chances in Poland as a part of Panthers Worlcaw in 2021.

Yes, Poland, because dedication demands action.

Having overcome so much to achieve two Pro Bowl honors and one as a First-Team All-Pro in 2024, a year in which he also led the league in kickoff return yards, and one that featured his now legendary spin move return for a touchdown that helped deliver a massive upset against the Washington Commanders in Week 12, Turpin has a message for anyone fighting to prove themselves in any facet of their life.

“Keep faith in God and keep faith in yourself, like I did,” he said. “It’s always been a blessing just to bet on yourself. Go out there and do what you can do.”

Cowboys awarded four compensatory picks, now have 10 picks total in 2025 NFL Draft – RJ Ochoa, Blogging the Boys

The Dallas Cowboys can also use their comp picks as trade bait for other players.

As the league settles into a new year they are doing so with all of their ducks in a row. On Tuesday afternoon the NFL set the final bit of pieces in motion for the upcoming 2025 NFL Draft and announced compensatory picks for clubs.

The Dallas Cowboys picked up four compensatory picks, three in the fifth round and one in the sixth.

The Cowboys began Tuesday with six draft picks to their name so now have a total of 10. Even with compensatory picks added in they still do not have a fourth-round selection.

1st

2nd

3rd

5th

5th (comp pick)

5th (comp pick)

5th (comp pick)

6th

6th (comp pick)

7th (from Carolina Panthers)

In case you forgot, the Cowboys sent their original seventh-round pick to the Detroit Lions during the first round of last year’s draft when they moved down; however, they did get one back from Carolina in the Jonathan Mingo trade (that’s where Dallas’ fourth-round pick went).

Cowboys have been active in free agency’s soft opening. Does that equate to productivity? – David Moore, Dallas Morning News

The front office has spent more than last season on outside free agents, but is that enough?

A fan base yearning for the Cowboys to adopt a different offseason approach, a following convinced things would turn around if only management spent more money in free agency to sign a big name or two, won’t be appeased by what’s taken place.

Voids, to borrow a word owner Jerry Jones threw out last week, still exist. The most notable is in the secondary.

But there’s a difference. Nine free agents have been retained, meaning the liquidation sale held at The Star one year ago is no longer active. The club has agreed to contracts with four free agents outside of the organization, doubling the number of players Dallas signed in this phase last offseason.

Does this mean the Cowboys have been twice as productive? That remains to be seen.

But as the soft opening to free agency comes to a close and these moves go on the books Wednesday, the Cowboys have been more active than usual.

Again, no big names here. The only starter signed in this flurry could be defensive tackle Osa Odighizuwa, along with Pro Bowl return man KaVontae Turpin.

But some quality depth has been retained or added. The Cowboys can approach the No. 12 pick in the first round of next month’s draft the way it prefers — insurance at enough positions that it’s not forced to elevate need over talent.

Dallas Cowboys add 2 former first-round picks in free agency, but they’ll need more talent – Nick Harris, Fort Worth Star-Telegram

The Cowboys are patching some depth needs, but more work is still needed.

On Tuesday, Dallas added former New York Jets defensive tackle Solomon Thomas on a two-year deal and former New Orleans Saints defensive end Payton Turner on a one-year deal, both former first-round picks in 2017 and 2021, respectively.

While adding outside talent is definitely necessary for a team with many holes entering the offseason, these additions are seen more as depth additions rather than starting caliber additions. Williams most likely factors in as the backup running back to whoever Dallas drafts in April at the position. Jones will serve as competition against guys like Brock Hoffman and T.J. Bass. Thomas will be a rotational interior defensive line body that will play behind Osa Odighizuwa and Mazi Smith, while Turner will be a rotational pass rusher that can provide a big frame off the edge at 6-foot-5, 270 pounds.

Depth is needed, especially after a 2024 season that saw the lack of depth get exposed when injuries mounted on both sides of the ball. But for the Cowboys to compete in 2025, it will take adding starters from the open market that can make an immediate impact.

Positions of need include cornerback, linebacker, wide receiver and defensive end as the early days of the new league year dawn. At cornerback, a major problem could be fixed with a veteran addition such as Asante Samuel Jr. or Rasul Douglas well before the team gets to the first round of the draft where it may become necessary to force a pick at the position. Big names at receiver are still available such as Stefon Diggs, Mike Williams and Keenan Allen. Cooper Kupp is also expected to hit free agency on Wednesday.