FRISCO, Texas — Whether you look at your watch, the clock on the microwave or the Grandfather clock holding on for dear life in the corner of your memaw's den, it's officially time for the Dallas Cowboys to dive headfirst into a slew of exceedingly difficult decisions.
And far, far more than recent years past.
Not only must they make a decision on head coach Mike McCarthy, and he a decision on them, but the same applies to defensive coordinator Mike Zimmer, the roster of assistant and position coaches and, oddly quiet as it's kept, the future of scouting director and draft guru Will McClay.
They've already been vocal about retaining McClay, but he'll once again have options this spring and, after all, free agency is always a two-way street, but put a pin in that for now.
In addition to all of the above, they'll enter this spring with a list of free agent players that rivals a CVS receipt with added holiday coupons attached, though the Cowboys may or may not be able to cash in any discounts from those on the list.
Also, as an aside, the compensatory formula comes into play here as well, but I'll get into that another time, as the month of March nears, though I will touch on the topic briefly with certain FA designations below.
Pull up a chair and grab a beverage.
There is much to discuss.
[Note: projections are via Overthecap.com]
Lion Science
Quickly, it's best to do away with any notions of a franchise tag candidate for 2025 because, positionally- and financially-speaking, it wouldn't benefit the Cowboys to swim in those waters next season — seeing as the most viable candidates would be defensive lineman Osa Odighizuwa and running back Rico Dowdle.
The cost is prohibitive on both, however, with Odighizuwa commanding a projected franchise tag amount of $23.46 million, and Dowdle's franchise tag number landing at $13.62 million, but don't go tying Micah Parsons' money into this argument in 2025, seeing as he's still under contract and, as such, any extension agreed to would likely lower his looming $21.32 million cap hit on his fifth-year option; and that would free up more cap to use in free agency, not create less of it.
Current Cap Space:
- $17 million (100% can rollover into 2025)
Projected 2025 Salary Cap:
- $275 million (+7.67% over 2024)
Hence why Parsons continually says he "doesn't want to be in the way" and wouldn't mind getting his deal done sooner than later, seeing as a new deal signed in 2026 would indeed require a large chunk of cap space for that respective season.
In layman's terms, and in the immortal words of Arnold Schwarzenegger from a movie that is so apropos to the salary cap discussion in Dallas that I need not name the title:
"Do it. Do it now."
All of that having been said, the likelihood of the Cowboys using a franchise tag this time around is not much greater than when they waved it off one year ago and, with that, let's take a look at the free agents and how their type of expiring contract impacts what might happen next for them.
Notable Practice Squad Expirations
- Dalvin Cook, RB
- Malik Davis, RB
- Kelvin Harmon, WR
- Jalen Cropper, WR
It's safe to say the experiment with Cook never left the Bunsen Burner, so it's difficult to believe they'd be willing to give it another shot after Cook wasn't elevated for the regular season finale in the wake of Ezekiel Elliott being released — a seemingly damning grade by the coaching staff.
Davis has also tried unsuccessfully to crack the active rotation, and for far longer than has Cook, but both qualify for futures/reserves deals effective one week following the conclusion of Sunday's matchup against the Washington Commanders.
Harmon and Cropper were two who went head-to-head in training camp and preseason, but both were relegated to the practice squad for the entirety of the season, though I'd imagine one or both land futures deals to the coming 90-man roster, if only for insurance going into the draft and summer offseason program(s).
Exclusive Rights Free Agents
- Brock Hoffman, OL
- Tyrus Wheat, DL
- Juanyeh Thomas, S
This is where you discover not all free agents on the active roster are created equally.
ERFAs don't have nearly the freedom to negotiate with other teams as do restricted free agents (RFAs) and the grail of the open market, unrestricted free agents (UFAs), so Hoffman, Wheat and Thomas don't have a lot of options, if any, should the Cowboys opt to keep them around.
An ERFA can not, under any circumstances, negotiate with another organization.
Seeing as Hoffman, Wheat and Thomas have all accrued less than two seasons in the NFL — accrual being determined by how many games they've spent on the active roster of a team — their rights are owned, yes, exclusively by the Cowboys.
That's if the front office provides a one-year tender/offer equal to the league minimum for that position. In other words, if they want all three of these players, just pay them the minimum and it's mission accomplished for the Cowboys.
As far as negotiating goes, there's virtually none here.
It's either the Cowboys want the player, or they don't, and it's safe to say they want all three of the aforementioned, Wheat having proved himself a more-than-solid special teamer while Hoffman and Thomas both have a shot at being future starters; and it would make zero sense to send them packing over a few pennies on the dollar that, in all, would be negligible against the salary cap.
Not happening, hoss.
Restricted Free Agents
- KaVontae Turpin, WR
- Markquese Bell, S
A little more freedom and wiggle room for negotiation exists for Turpin and Bell, but a quick bookkeeping note for those who might be wondering why Bell, a player who was also undrafted and added to the Cowboys' roster the same year as Thomas, isn't also ERFA.
It's due to Bell having been active for five games in 2022, as a rookie, when Thomas was fully and solely attached to the practice squad with no elevations that season.
Turpin and Bell have three accrued seasons a piece, and that's enough to make them RFAs heading into 2025. They are allowed to negotiate with other teams, but can be assigned a draft tender by the Cowboys that gives Dallas the Right of First Refusal — a first-, second- or original-round tender each carrying a different level of cost.
Projected Tender Amounts:
- First-round tender - $7.279 million
- Second-round tender - $5.217 million
- Original-round tender - $3.185 million
The caveat lies in the original-round tender and the Right of First Refusal, because if a player went undrafted there is no draft compensation that can be attached, by default, making those two labels basically one in the same.
The Cowboys must be strategic in how they label each, because the higher the tender, the higher the salary if the player is retained (ex: the second-round tender on David Irving in 2018).
But if the player is allowed to leave because Dallas doesn't want to match the largest offer they might receive elsewhere, for the first- and second-round tenders, they'll receive that specific draft-round pick in the draft that immediately follows the loss of the player.
Example: If the Cowboys put a first-round tender on Turpin and he is allowed to leave for an offer from Team Z, then Team Z would have to cough up a first-round pick in April 2025.
The Cowboys would have only five days to match an offer once one is received.
Take a breath, though. I was simply using Turpin as an example. The odds of the Cowboys letting the two-time Pro Bowl returner, the best in the league, no less, walk for anything short of a bathroom sink (only Micah Parsons qualifies for the kitchen sink reference here) would be unfathomable.
But, for the sake of offering up an explainer, also note that RFAs can be traded in a deal that potentially costs the acquiring team a lower pick, but that is exceedingly rare.
Don't bank on it happening.
Unrestricted Free Agents
Ah, the holy grail for players in any sport: unrestricted free agency.
This designation needs no explanation whatsoever, other than to remind you that these are players who have accrued at least four seasons in the NFL and, barring an extension landing before the new league year opens in mid-March, can negotiate freely with whomever they so choose — their phone lines being open to all 32 teams and with the Cowboys having no rights to them whatsoever without securing them on a new deal before the first day of free agency arrives.
With 22 players in Dallas set to hit free agency, and the Cowboys realistically preparing to say goodbye to some of them, as is the case annually, it'll be interesting to see who gets an offer to stick around and, subsequently, who accepts the offer versus leaving for other pastures.
Specialists:
- C.J. Goodwin, CB
- Bryan Anger, P
- Trent Sieg, LS
Things are a bit straightforward on special teams, at least much more so than on offense and defense. This is as simple as being grateful all-world kicker Brandon Aubrey doesn't hit free agency until 2026 and, even then, he'll do so as a restricted free agent whose rights are controlled by the Cowboys, as opposed to the unrestricted variety.
It gives Dallas' front office more less of a financial *penalty* if they choose to wait and extend him next year over getting that deal done right now, unlike Parsons.
Anger is still a Pro Bowl-level punter and the fact you've never heard Sieg's name in a game since he's joined the Cowboys tells you all you need to know about how elite and perfect he's been as a long snapper.
As for Goodwin, as seen against the Commanders, he remains one of the best special teamers on the roster, and has reinserted himself into the "re-sign me" conversations.
Quarterbacks:
- Trey Lance, QB
- Cooper Rush, QB
Running backs:
- Rico Dowdle, RB
Wide receivers:
- Brandin Cooks, WR
Offensive Line:
- Chuma Edoga, OL
- Zack Martin, OL
The offense isn't being ravaged as much in free agency as the other side of the ball, but the fact a future first-ballot Hall of Famer, namely Zack Martin, is in this discussion creates a massive potential void at right guard going forward. Martin was shut down in December due to injury that required surgery to repair and there is no promise he'll stave off retirement for another year.
The perennial All-Pro has said he'll take some time to heal and then have the conversation with the team and his family, but this all makes retaining Hoffman that much more important and, hey, the good news is keeping Hoffman is light lifting, because he's an ERFA.
Dowdle has an inside track at remaining in Dallas, a place he's spent the entirety of his career trying to prove himself a starter before ultimately bucking the odds in 2024 and producing the franchise's first-ever 1,000-yard rushing season from an undrafted running back.
He'll likely get offers, but will he choose to leave having now secured the RB1 gig for the team he's wanted it from for so long?
At quarterback, it's the battle to be Dak Prescott's understudy, seeing as Prescott landed a new multi-year deal in 2024. Rush had another strong push once the All-Pro went down with a season-ending hamstring injury, but Lance put plenty of good on film in his one and only start with the Cowboys.
Lance wants "an opportunity", a direct quote from the young QB, as he slowly begins to move from reflection and his thankfulness for his time with the Cowboys to what new chapter his future might hold; but if he wants an opportunity to compete for starter, that's not gonna happen in North Texas.
As for Rush, it seems one stint away from the Cowboys was enough to solidify how he never wants to leave again — content to continue being one of the better backups in the league behind his longtime friend and in a city and organization he's extremely comfortable with.
But will any quarterback in Dallas get another chance to throw to Brandin Cooks? It feels as if the trade for Jonathan Mingo may have answered that question prematurely, but don't rule out a possible return of one of the biggest mentors for both CeeDee Lamb and Jalen Tolbert.
By the way, if you haven't noticed, there are no tight ends heading into free agency this year, which feels odd, but that is good news for now at the position.
They will have to contend with Pro Bowl tight end Jake Ferguson one year from now as an unrestricted free agent, unless they want to get his deal done now and out of the way, which wouldn't be a bad idea seeing as, and stop me if you've heard this before, the sooner an extension is done, the more money it frees up toward that year's salary cap.
Ferguson, a 2022 draft pick, is officially eligible to negotiate an extension in 2025.
P.S. His price might also be lower right now than one year from now, unless he's hellbent on betting on himself next season, and that could be a thing.
Defensive Line:
- DeMarcus Lawrence, DE
- Carl Lawson, DE
- Osa Odighizuwa, DL
- Chauncey Golston, DL
- Linval Joseph, DL
- Carlos Watkins, DL
Linebackers:
- Darius Harris, LB
- Eric Kendricks, LB
- Nick Vigil, LB
Cornerbacks:
- Andrew Booth, CB
- Jourdan Lewis, CB
- Israel Mukuamu, CB
- Amani Oruwariye, CB
OUCH.
Look at the names on the defensive side of this list: DeMarcus Lawrence, Osa Odighizuwa, Eric Kendricks, Jourdan Lewis and Chauncey Golston for starters. That is a ton of firepower that could be lost, and at all three levels of the defense.
Lawrence is a Cowboys' lifer that was a Pro Bowler as recently as 2023 (four nods in all), and I wouldn't be so quick to dismiss him following a season that shattered depth at defensive end. Yes, former second-round pick Marshawn Kneeland could be viewed as Lawrence's successor, but Kneeland missed games as well in 2024, and Sam Williams is still working his way back from a torn ACL — so how long before he reaches prime form again?
Carl Lawson was spectacular in helping to salve the wounds at defensive end, though his stock is now fully rebuilt and that means he could very well have priced himself out of Dallas, though time will tell if that's the case.
And then there's Odighizuwa, one of the best defensive tackles the Cowboys have fielded in a very long time. Even in a statistically down season, Odighizuwa was a menace that any defensive coordinator would drool over, and I can think of a couple right off the top of my head.
He's the heart of the interior of the defensive line, much like Lewis is to the secondary unit.
Scoreboard
- Total of ERFAs: 3
- Total of RFAs: 2
- Total of UFAs: 22
It was a Pro Bowl caliber season for Lewis this season, and his leadership both on the field and in the locker room took the already valuable but oft-underrated cornerback to new heights of "find a way to keep this guy around" vibes.
His reup was a one-year deal last go-round, and betting on himself, while also opting to not follow the exodus to the Commanders last season, could very well earn him a multi-year offer to stay put — having also proved himself coordinator-proof throughout his eight-year career that's featured four different defensive maestros.
Kendricks was effectively poached in last year's free agency from the San Francisco 49ers, and he's interested in remaining in Dallas but, hey, money and job security talks.
He did everything he promised to do though, in that he played at a high level on the field, helped stabilize a previously devoid linebackers' corps and mentored rookies Marist Liufau and DeMarvion Overshown in the process.
And let's not overlook the contributions of Israel Mukuamu, long trapped in the safety role before recently and often reminding the Cowboys he can be a contributor at cornerback, where he spent his collegiate career at South Carolina.
So, again, whether you look at your watch, the clock on the microwave or the Grandfather clock holding on for dear life in the corner of your memaw's den, the time has come for tough decisions.
A lot of them.
