It’s been a busy couple of weeks for the Cowboys, but how much have they improved the team in your opinion?
Believe it or not, the Dallas Cowboys have done some stuff. It’s different from past offseasons where they patiently wait for better deals. This year, they have been active early and addressing several areas of their roster. How are things looking after these recent moves? Today, we’ll run through each position group and examine how this Cowboys team looks after the first two weeks of free agency.
QUARTERBACK
Need: A backup QB
Initial prediction: Re-sign Cooper Rush and draft a late-round rookie
They say you don’t appreciate someone until they’re gone and that could ring true for Cooper Rush as he signed with Baltimore, leaving a huge hole at the backup QB position. With no remaining desirable free agent, this puts a lot of pressure on finding a quarterback late in the draft or else they’ll be putting all their faith into Will Grier.
RUNNING BACK
Need: A starter and backup RB
Initial prediction: Re-sign Rico Dowdle and select a RB within the first two days of the draft
Rico Dowdle turned out to be too expensive for the Cowboys so they instead went with a couple of low-cost former second-round picks in Javonte Wiliams and Miles Sanders. Both players are coming off underwhelming seasons where they averaged just 3.7 yards per carry, but they are fine choices with the caveat that the Cowboys will select a RB within the first three rounds of the draft, which feels like a foregone conclusion.
WIDE RECEIVER
Need: Find a WR2 to complement CeeDee Lamb
Initial prediction: Select a wide receiver within the first two days of the draft
Like the running back position, this will be judged based on what the team does in next month’s draft. Some big-name free agents were floating around, but the team instead chose to re-sign KaVonta Turpin and then sign Parris Campbell. Nothing the team has done at wide receiver makes us feel any better. If they draft a receiver early, they’ll earn a strong grade, but it also has a chance to blow up in their face if they disappoint us next month.
TIGHT END
Need: A blocking TE to join Jake Ferguson and Luke Schoonmaker
Initial prediction: Late-round draft pick or priority free agent
The Cowboys haven’t done anything at the tight end position and that’s fine. There won’t be anything splashy happening at any point. Ferguson is in the last year of his rookie deal so the team could surprise us and unexpectedly draft a tight end if they’re looking ahead. A more likely outcome is finding a new, young in-line blocker that meets the standards of new offensive coordinator Klayton Adams.
OFFENSIVE LINE
Need: Add offensive line depth
Initial prediction: Sign a low-cost lineman who has position flexibility
There wasn’t a lot expected here. Terence Steele’s name was brought up a lot as an “all but certain” cap casualty but his 2025 salary became fully guaranteed last Sunday, we can finally put that to rest. The Cowboys retained Brock Hoffman who was an exclusive rights free agent. They also went out and signed free agent Robert Jones who is 26 years old and has 30 NFL starts under his belt. His cost is low and he can play either guard position, so this signing is right on brand for them.
DEFENSIVE END
Need: Add edge-rushing depth
Initial prediction: Re-sign Carl Lawson
Maybe it was a pipe dream to think DeMarcus Lawrence would return on a team-friendly deal. With Tank leaving for more money, the Cowboys pivoted and brought Dante Fowler back on a one-year incentive-based deal. Fowler had 10.5 sacks last year and adds reinforcements to the edge group. The team also added former first-round pick Payton Turner. With Sam Williams returning and joining forces with Micah Parsons and Marshawn Kneeland, the Cowboys are in good shape for the upcoming season.
DEFENSIVE TACKLE
Need: Add more resources at both 3-tech & 1-tech spots
Initial prediction: Sign a low-cost veteran for depth
They started great by re-signing Osa Odighizuwa which we predicted they would do a year ago. Better late than never. They followed that by signing former third overall pick Solomon Thomas to a two-year, $6 million deal. As far as 3-tech defensive tackles go, the Cowboys are in good shape. They still lack depth at nose tackle as it’s just Mazi Smith and not much else. They aren’t likely done here as we could see them look to the draft or another one of their late-summer veteran adds they have grown accustomed to doing.
LINEBACKER
Need: Any and all linebacker depth they can get
Initial prediction: Mid-level free agent signing and draft a linebacker on Day 3
With Marist Liufau and Damone Clark being the only linebackers on the roster, this area needed lots of attention. Fortunately, the Cowboys have been active and made a concerted effort to get better. First, they signed former Bears linebacker Jack Sanborn to a low-cost deal. The 24-year-old has made 19 starts over his three seasons in the league. Then, they swapped late-round draft picks to pick up the last year of Kenneth Murray’s two-year deal with the Titans. It’s not a stout group by any means, and they certainly will miss DeMarvion Overshown while he’s recovering from his injury, but at least they now have a fighting chance in the middle of the defense.
CORNERBACK
Need: Get help now, get help later
Initial prediction: Re-sign Jourdan Lewis and draft a top collegiate corner by round two
The Cowboys cornerback room is a big enigma that got more puzzling after Lewis left in free agency. Lewis’ price tag was a bit steep, so the front office was smart to let him walk, but it still left them with questions. The team acquired former first-round pick Kaiir Elam from Buffalo, but we’ve seen them trade for underachieving corners before (Noah Igbinoghene and Andrew Booth), so expectations are tempered. The Cowboys still have some depth as players like Caelen Carson and Josh Butler are on the team, but they should look for young talent in next month’s draft.
SAFETY
Need: Add depth
Initial prediction: Release Donovan Wilson and draft his replacement on Day 3
The team solidified their depth by re-signing both Juanyeh Thomas and Markquese Bell to new deals. On top of that, potential cap casualty Donovan Wilson is still hanging around. Wilson didn’t accrue any additional guaranteed money by the start of the new season, so his release is still an option for the Cowboys, but it appears they are taking the “wait and see” approach.
