The Dallas Cowboys' offseason to this point has received mixed reviews. While they've been more "aggressive" compared to recent free agency's, their moves are hardly something to write home about.
In terms of needle-moving additions, Dante Fowler is the only one who checks that box and he projects as a rotational pass rusher opposite Micah Parsons. Fowler's experience and ability to win individual matchups will be a nice mix with Sam Williams and Marshawn Kneeland.
The Fowler signing is a big win for Parsons and Osa Odighizuwa, which begs the question of what other players have benefitted from Dallas' transactions?
3 Cowboys players with soaring stock after first wave of free agency
QB Will Grier
Longtime QB2 Cooper Rush inked a two-year pact with the Ravens to back up Lamar Jackson and it doesn't seem like the front office wants anything to do with a Trey Lance reunion. Not to get too off track, but 49ers insider Grant Cohn is wary if Lance could be done in the NFL.
Regardless, the Cowboys have not countered the departures of Rush and (presumably) Lance, leaving former cult hero Will Grier as the only QB on the roster behind Dak Prescott.
That will surely change during the NFL Draft, but depending how how Dallas selects a QB, Grier may be primed to win the backup job with a strong OTAs and training camp. If it happens on Day 3 like everyone expects, the former West Virginia star will be firmly in the mix for the backup job.
WR Jalen Tolbert
As of this writing, Parris Campbell is the lone addition to the wide receiver room.
That means Tolbert is currently your WR2. While that might be unlikely by the time September rolls around, it's huge for Tolbert's outlook in 2025 that Dallas passed on re-signing Brandin Cooks and adding one of Cooper Kupp, DeAndre Hopkins or Darius Slayton.
Tolbert very quietly had a solid 2024 season. Fans would love to see more consistency from the former third-round pick, but 610 receiving yards is a big jump from his 268-yard outing in 2023. He also led the team with seven touchdown catches. That is nothing to sneeze at.
With Cooks rejoining the Saints after a decade apart, Tolbert is locked into a prominent role this season even if Dallas uses its first-round pick on a receiver.
OT Asim Richards
Don't look now, but Richards might be the team's swing tackle this season. The front office allowed veteran Chuma Edoga to walk in free agency, leaving Richards as the clear frontrunner for the all-important backup role.
A fifth-round pick in 2023, Richards has played almost exclusively left tackle in the NFL (204 snaps at LT compared to six at left guard and seven at right guard, per PFF).
That can be attributed to right tackle Terence Steele starting all 34 regular-season games in that span. Nobody else but Steele took a snap at right tackle last season and he played all but seven snaps at the position the year prior.
While Steele has RT on lockdown, left tackle is a different story with Tyler Guyton coming off a rollercoaster rookie year. Over 108 pass-blocking snaps in 2024, Richards allowed just one sack and six pressures. It stands to reason he could kick out to right tackle in a pinch.
Richards is an exciting development player who could reach a new level after being molded by new offensive coordinator Klayton Adams, who has an offensive line background, and offensive line coach Conor Riley.
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