Some Cowboys free agents haven’t found new teams yet. Could this lead to their return to Dallas?
After about a week of 2025 free agency, some of last year’s Cowboys have yet to find new teams. But as Dallas has already added 10 new players on top of re-signing others, the chances that certain unsigned veterans could return may be slim to none. Let’s check in on these guys and see how things stand.
LBs Eric Kendricks & Nick Vigil
Despite leading the Cowboys in tackles and forced fumbles last year, the 33-year-old Kendricks is still on the market. But with Mike Zimmer gone, it’s not surprising if Kendricks future isn’t in Dallas. They’ve already brought in two linebackers by trading for Kenneth Murray Jr. and signing Jack Sanborn, who followed Matt Eberflus from Chicago. Marist Liufau and Damone Clark are still here as young prospects, and of course they’re hoping to get DeMarvion Overshown back at some point in 2025. So while he did everything right in his one year in Dallas, it doesn’t seem like Kendricks will get another.
Nick Vigil was another Zimmer guy, playing for him in Minnesota in 2021. He was also connected to former assistant Paul Guenther from their time in Cincinnati, but Guenther has followed Zimmer out the door. Turing 32 this August, Vigil has likely been replaced by the aforementioned moves and whatever’s still to come in the draft.
WR Brandin Cooks
Another veteran with age concerns, Cooks is one of several thirty-something receivers still looking for employment. Dallas has done a little work at WR by re-signing KaVontae Turpin and just adding Parris Campbell, but these aren’t moves that preclude them from bringing in someone else who could compete for the other starting job. It wouldn’t be shocking to see Cooks re-signed after testing the market, but it could just as easily be a different veteran like Keenan Allen, Stefon Diggs, or Amari Cooper as well. Alternatively, the Cowboys could just be focused on the draft for CeeDee Lamb’s next wingman.
QBs Cooper Rush & Trey Lance
Both of last year’s reserve passers are still unsigned in an increasingly thinning pool. While Jameis Winston remains the premier backup QB out there, unless Aaron Rodgers or Russell Wilson accept stunning demotions, Rush is not far behind and Lance is still just 24 years old with potential intrigue. Dallas only has Will Grier right now behind Dak Prescott, so it’d be no surprise if they eventually bring back one of them. But it’s also possible that the Cowboys are waiting to see what comes in the draft, as there are usually veteran backups available in May.
DE Carl Lawson
Lawson had a strong year in Dallas’ pass-rushing rotation. But now that the Cowboys have signed Dante Fowler and expect Sam Williams back from injury, it feels like Lawson will have to try to parlay his 2024 performance into a contract with a new team. While Dallas does need more DE talent to replace DeMarcus Lawrence and Chauncey Golston, they’re likely focused on run-stoppers.
DTs Linval Joseph & Carlos Watkins
Like the linebackers mentioned before, Joseph was also connected to Mike Zimmer from the Vikings. While Dallas has re-signed Osa Odighizuwa and added Solomon Thomas, they could still use another true nose tackle for run defense. But Joseph turns 37 this October, so it’s hard to say how the team sees him or if he’s even still looking to continue his career.
Watkins could still be appealing as a cheap backup, at least for camp, but is hardly the level of player that Dallas should be concerned about right now. The Cowboys will likely see what they come out of the draft with before filling out the rest of their 90-man roster, which is where we could see Watkins return.
CB Amani Oruwariye
Dallas’ rough year with CB injuries forced them to play Oruwariye off the practice squad far more than they would’ve liked. He’s best known for a blunder on a blocked punt that played a huge role in a loss to the Bengals. At 29 years old, Oruwariye probably wasn’t coming back anyway but was made even more expendable after Dallas traded for Kaiir Elam and re-signed Israel Mukuamu.
