Cowboys News: Dallas bolsters OL depth, Dalton Schultz’s contract, Rico Dowdle

The Dallas Cowboys have put together the best start to free agency of maybe any team in the NFL. The only kicker is that they hadn’t made an external free agent signing. Prior to Tuesday all of their moves have come by way of re-signing their own, or trade in the form of Stephon Gilmore and Brandin Cooks.

That changed Tuesday as the Cowboys signed offensive linemen Chuma Edoga to a one-year contract. Edoga was one of three free agents, including Ronald Jones, who visited The Star on Monday, and the front office seemingly didn’t let Edoga leave the building without putting pen to paper.

Edoga is a former third round pick in the 2019 cycle. Drafted just two spots behind the recently-departed Connor McGovern, Edoga has played 26 career games with 13 starts over four years with the Jets and Falcons.

The USC product brings needed versatility to the offensive line. He played left guard in Atlanta, but has spent most of his time at tackle. During his pre-NFL days with the Trojans, Edoga manned both tackle positions.

Offensive line depth is still a huge need for the Cowboys, and Edoga’s arrival gives them another body along the interior who has the ability to kick outside in a pinch if duty calls. Another savvy move by the front office.

More Cowboys News:

• Before the Edoga signing was made official, the Cowboys agreed to bring back running back Rico Dowdle on a one-year deal. Dowdle over his two years with the club, but hip and ankle injuries prevented him from being a mainstay in the lineup. If healthy, there’s a spot on the 53-man roster for Dowdle as a rotational back, return specialist and special teams gunner.
• Dalton Schultz’s contract with the Texans were revealed Tuesday after he agreed to a deal with Houston 24 hours earlier. It’s a one-year, $6.25 million deal for Schultz, though he can earn an additional $2.75 million in incentives. Suffice it to say everyone, Schultz included, misread Schultz’s market.
• On top of signing Edoga and Dowdle, Dallas agreed to terms with former Chiefs and  Buccaneers RB Ronald Jones and Dante Fowler Jr., who finished third on the team with six sacks last season in a rotational role.

NFL News:

• Patriots linebacker Dont’a Hightower announced his retirement. Hightower won three Super Bowls over his nine seasons in New England, and his most remembered for sacking Matt Ryan in Super Bowl LI to ignite the Pats’ second half comeback, and his tackle on Marshawn Lynch in Super Bowl XLIX that preluded Malcolm Butler’s game-sealing interception.
• Keeping it in the AFC East, the Bills signed former Patriots running back Damien Harris to a one-year deal. Injuries and the emergence of Rhamondre Stevenson saw Harris fall out of favor in New Englands’s backfield. Harris has totaled 2,094 yards and 20 touchdowns on 4.7 yards per carry in his career.

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