FRISCO, Texas – One of the Cowboys' two All-Pro players is returning to the team and avoiding free agency.
KaVontae Turpin, who was slated to be a restricted free agent and likely to receive a second-round tender to protect the Cowboys' rights, has now agreed to an extension that keeps him with the team for at least three more years.
Turpin, the only player in the NFL with both a kickoff and punt return for a touchdown in 2024, is expected to land a three-year contract worth up to $18 million. That would make Turpin, not only the highest special teams player in the league, but in NFL history.
This is exactly what the Cowboys did with Markquese Bell, another expected restricted free agent who got a three-year deal instead, that could be worth up to $12 million, depending on his incentives.
Turpin's contract is similar although putting those in place for him isn't as easy, considering they must exceed his previous accomplishments, which include two Pro Bowls and two All-Pro selections, not to mention two returns for touchdowns last year.
But what makes Turpin even more valuable is the offensive production he showed last year. Turpin caught 31 passes for 420 yards this past season.
Over the last two years, Turpin is the only NFL player to have at least 500 receiving yards and 1,000 kickoff return yards.
Turpin will have a new special teams coordinator for the first time as Nick Sorensen takes over for the departed John Fassel, who is now in Tennessee. The Titans figured to be a team of interest for Turpin but if the Cowboys had placed a second-round tender on him, they would be awarded this year's second-round pick for any team that signed him away. For the Titans, who own the No. 1 overall pick, they also have the first pick in the second round (33rd) and likely wouldn't want to part ways with that.
Turpin's story continues to improve as he was a long-shot to make the team back in 2022 after he enjoyed an MVP season with the USFL. He quickly made his mark in one preseason game with the Chargers when he had two kickoff returns for touchdowns in the first half, solidifying his spot on the roster. Since then, he's been one of the most dangerous return specialists in the NFL.
