FRISCO, Texas – These two made me laugh.
No more than a day and a half into 2025 NFL free agency, which will last for seemingly forever in a year, one site already was grading the work of all 32 teams. Seriously?
The other, heard on talk radio probably on Friday morning, said somewhat breathlessly, "Now that we're at the end of free agency …"
Really?
Bet guys like Amari Cooper, Russell Wilson, Eric Kendricks, Aaron Rodgers, Brandin Cooks, Tyron Smith, Stephon Gilmore, Kyle Juszczyk, Cooper Rush and hundreds of others would have been heartbroken if this were all true. As if some team couldn't sign them tomorrow, or a month's worth of tomorrows, or the next hour, like what happened with Cooper Kupp to Seattle after false reports of the Cowboys having interest.
But again, that's the world we live in. Oh, and by the way, one of these grading sites gave the Cowboys a C-minus and certainly diminished its credibility by ranking the Cowboys' signing of restricted free agent KaVontae Turpin as "average." Average? Like, the best return man in the NFL, with receiver capability, to a salary cap deal savings of $2 million against what would have been a restricted free-agent tender, average? Average my, oh, heck, never mind.
So as they used to say when listening to baseball radio broadcasts back in the day, "If you are scoring at home," the Cowboys have executed 19 transactions over the first three days of free agency and free trading, jumping out like a bunch of busy beavers.
Let's see, seven unrestricted free agents either signed or agreed to terms, a bunch of those signings actually executed on Friday; two trades; re-signed or agreed to terms with four of their own unrestricted free agents; executed one huge extension of one of their own to avoid using the franchise tag; signed two of their restricted free agents to avoid unfriendly cap tenders to reserve right of first refusal; re-signed three exclusive rights free agents; executed two massive contract restructures to create badly-needed and essential salary cap space; and finally made the retiring Zack Martin a June 1 release, thanks to a void they previously had placed in his restructured contract to spread out his hefty prorated restructure bonuses over two years.
Whew, take a deep breath.
Although, breathe a sigh of regret for those unrestricted guys who cleaned out their lockers to sign elsewhere, especially for the losses of Jourdan Lewis, Rico Dowdle, Chauncey Golston and lastly DeMarcus Lawrence, no matter what he said in the final 10 seconds of a 7-minute, 30-second interview in Seattle with a nodding smile on his face, in case all you were able to do was read about his little social media "spat" with Micah Parsons.
Nothing actually "social" about that media these days, since see where the Merriam-Webster definition of social is "tending to form cooperative and interdependent relationships with others." Ha, that's a good one.
Now, let's provide a little perspective to what the Cowboys have done so far over these first three days of free agency, and remember, when it comes to salary cap expenditures over these like 18 moves, when all is said and signed, probably will end up spending less than $40 million re-stocking their roster. This for a team before those restructured contracts of Dak Prescott and CeeDee Lab that was down to less than $2 million of cap space.
Best move made so far by the Cowboys was re-signing Osa Odighizuwa to a four-year, $80 million deal, but just $39 million guaranteed and lowering the 2025 franchise tag cap hit that would have been $25.1 million to $6.2 million. Next, to me, the financially responsible extension for Turp.
Next, signing veteran defensive lineman Solomon Thomas, versatile enough to play defensive tackle and defensive end, too, especially against the run. And as of late Friday afternoon, bringing back pass rusher supreme Dante Fowler Jr., who returns after spending last year with Washington, for one-year, $6 million that can rise to $8 million.
Next, the trade for linebacker Kenneth Murray Jr., finding a linebacker in free agency a necessity since the only proven potential starter under contract Day 1 for 2025 is Marist Liufau –maybe Damon Clark as well – since DeMarvion Overshown still will be on the mend.
After that, retaining the rights to a few of their own, namely special teamers Bryan Anger, Trent Sieg and C.J. Goodwin. Adding versatile linebacker Jack Sanborn, but a special teamer, too.
Then the running backs, Javonte Williams, who fits the description of new offensive coordinator Klayton Adams' declaration of wanting "violent" players, and now the versatile veteran Miles Sanders, who during his first four seasons in the NFL with the Eagles totaled 124 receptions out of the backfield, then 51 more these past two years with Carolina. Simply proven, short-term, reliable guys.
If taking an overview of what the Cowboys have accomplished in three days of free agency, liken this to patchwork, you know, how road crews go around filling up potholes with asphalt. And goodness knows the Cowboys have more potholes than those winter-worn interstates in the mountains. (See Vail Pass.)
Like, need a veteran possibility at guard? See Robert Jones. Need a low-priced possible upside depth at defensive end. See former first-round draft choice Payton Turner, joining Fowler. Need a veteran warm body at cornerback with potential upside? See the trade for Kaiir Elam, another former first-round draft choice seemingly champing at the bit for a do-over from a carer false start in Buffalo.
But none of these moves would liken to a complete road pave. None of these moves, especially if you are following the money, would preclude the Cowboys from drafting players at any of those positions to become potentially Day 1 starters.
Want to take a running back in the first round at No. 12? Williams only has a $1 million signing bonus. Probably the same when Sanders numbers arise. No problem.
Want a cornerback? The Cowboys are quite aware Elam has only started 12 of the 29 games he's played in Buffalo and is on the final year of his rookie deal, and they certainly won't pick up his fifth-year option. The Cowboys owe him nothing if he doesn't make the team.
Want a wide receiver? Plenty of room on this roster, and at this point, the No. 2 spot is only debatable.
Want a linebacker? Want another defensive lineman, end or tackle? Offensive lineman, maybe a tackle capable of playing guard for starters? Go for it.
And for that matter, there is a good chance any of the players taken on the first two days of the draft will have a chance to compete for a starting job, and if not Day 1, then possibly by Week 5, if you know what I mean.
If you are with me, that is why the Cowboys couldn't qualify cap space on a big-splash free agent, as they like to say. It's not as if one guy is going to turn this 7-10 injury-riddled team of last year around into another 12-5 team of the previous three years. This ain't fantasy football. This is real stuff. Real salary cap encumberments, and remember, this cap stuff isn't all about 2025. There is next year and the year after that to consider, too, when it comes to this salary cap.
Just understand that many of these blinking-light free agents are available because their teams either think their salaries have far exceeded their production or had to prioritize spending money on more impactful positions, like quarterback and defensive end and offensive tackle and wide receiver.
Would the Cowboys have liked to keep Lawrence? You bet, but not when turning 33 in April for an average guarantee of $9 million a year for two years. Got to move on. Got to hope young guys like Sam Williams and Marshawn Kneeland can step to the plate and now Fowler keeps rocking. Would they have liked to keep Lewis? Absolutely, but hard to qualify paying the soon-to-be 30-year-old third cornerback $10 million a year guaranteed in each of the first two years of the contract he signed with Jacksonville.
Common sense must prevail. Must prioritize priorities. Must manage a budget. And then, must draft well. Just hard to pave over an entire roster.
Oh, and wait. It's just Friday. Then there is Saturday and Sunday and Monday and, well, you get it by now.
Breaking news: Free agency just got started. Something seems to happen every couple of hours. See Fowler.
