While the Cowboys weren't exactly quiet during free agency this spring, there is still plenty of work to do for this team that finished 7-10 in 2024.
Not only did they add some key players in free agency and via trades, but they also re-signed some of the core depth as well.
Still, there are other guys on this team that must take that next step in order for the Cowboys to be successful in 2025.
Today, we'll continue the Next Man Up series with offensive lineman Brock Hoffman.
- Name: Brock Hoffman
- Position: Offensive lineman
- Experience: 3 years (2 accrued)
- Games Played/Starts: 37/9
- Years Left on Contract: 1 (RFA in 2026)
- How Acquired: Re-signed 2025 as ERFA
- Key Stat: 7 starts in 2024 (career high)
The Past: Hoffman didn't actually begin his career with the Cowboys, despite it feeling that way. He was originally an undrafted free agent signing of the Browns in 2022, a product of Virginia Tech by way of Coastal Carolina. The Carolina native was unable to anchor himself in Cleveland though, waived in November of his rookie season from the team's practice squad. His fortunes would turn around quickly once he put on a Cowboys' uniform, however, and especially when 2023 rolled around — Hoffman being made available for all 17 games that season. He has gone on to ingratiate himself with coaches and the front office due to not only his bulldog (and bully) mentality on the field, but also his lunch pail work ethic off of it.
The Present: He was so impressive in his 2023 campaign that he was effectively named starting center heading into last year's training camp, but third-round pick Cooper Beebe developed far more quickly in his transition to that role than anticipated, but that didn't leave Hoffman on the outs. Instead, he continued to grind and beat out incumbent backup guard T.J. Bass for the right to step in for an injured Zack Martin, leading to the aforementioned career-high seven starts, and was a tonesetter in the process — so much so that the Cowboys likely feel very comfortable potentially not spending a premium pick on the offensive line this April. Hoffman, an exclusive rights free agent this offseason, was re-signed on a one-year deal for 2025.
The Future: If 2024 was to be considered the test drive for Hoffman as a starter, garnering seven starts due to what turned out to be a career-ending injury to Martin, then that means the 2025 season is a full blown lease with an option to buy, should he continue his due north trajectory. With Martin officially retired, there are gargantuan shoes to fill at right guard and though he's irreplaceable, it's impossible to deny the impact of Hoffman when given the chance. The bigger question going into this summer is if he'll actually be viewed as Martin's possible successor or if he'll be shifted back to center in a move that would shift Beebe to Martin's former throne. At the moment, that seems unlikely, but it's definitely on the table for consideration. In either case, Hoffman is a next man up, and in a big way.
