Cowboys sign a pair of free agent defenders

The Dallas Cowboys have a couple of new players.

The Dallas Cowboys have made two moves to bolster their depth, signing two free agents on Wednesday at two of their perceived biggest needs on defense. Cornerback Robert Rochell and defensive tackle Perrion Winfrey are now both Cowboys.

Rochell most recently played with the Packers, where he was teammates with Jaire Alexander, a popular target of Cowboys fans who signed with Baltimore earlier on Wednesday. Rochell was a fourth-round pick out of Central Arkansas back in 2021.

Drafted by the Rams, Rochell was pushed into a starting role down the stretch, but an injury ended his season and subsequently limited his availability the following year as well. Rochell was part of the Rams’ preseason cuts ahead of the 2023 season, and he eventually ended up in Green Bay, though he rarely played.

Winfrey, on the other hand, was a standout defensive tackle from Oklahoma who was drafted in the fourth round of the 2022 NFL Draft by the Cleveland Browns. He played minimally as a rookie, but was ultimately released the next summer for an off-the-field incident.

Winfrey spent some time on the Jets practice squad, where current Cowboys defensive line coach Aaron Whitecotton worked at the time, before eventually joining the Birmingham Stallions of the UFL. This past year, Winfrey was named to the All-UFL for his efforts.

The Cowboys were considered to be a bit thin at both positions, with several cornerbacks dealing with injuries and the defensive tackle spot lacking proven depth behind Osa Odighizuwa, Mazi Smith and Solomon Thomas. Both Rochell and Winfrey have some experience under their belts, and should be able to offer improved depth in Dallas.