The Dallas Cowboys are acting like a responsible franchise for the first time in several years.
They locked up Quinnen Williams despite having two years left on his deal and now have their franchise defender under contract for the next five seasons. They were proactive in paying their best defensive player, and now, they can turn their attention to other players on the roster who could soon need deals.
Obviously, George Pickens is the next *big* contract the Cowboys will have to figure out, but they are unable to negotiate a deal with him until next offseason due to the franchise tag rules. However, there are a few other players on the roster who might want to sign a deal now before Week 1.
So, without further ado, here are three players who might earn a contract extension in the upcoming days:
3 players the Dallas Cowboys could extend next after paying Quinnen Williams
Dee Winters and DeMarvion Overshown
It’s pretty clear that the Cowboys are taking a wait-and-see approach to the linebackers this offseason. They believe the combination of Dee Winters and DeMarvion Overshown will be good enough to get the job done. But if they want to show even more faith in their linebacker corps, they could sign one or both now before a potential breakout season.
Of the two linebackers, Overshown seems like the one who is the most likely to earn a new deal. The Cowboys obviously love the player and his leadership on defense, but he has only played 927 snaps in the NFL to date. This would be an opportunity for Dallas to “buy low” on Overshown while also giving him some financial security despite multiple knee injuries.
Winters is the more proven linebacker, and he is expected to be an every-down player for Dallas as a weakside linebacker and a fantastic fit under Christian Parker. While he doesn’t have the first-round pedigree of a Quay Walker or Jordyn Brooks, it wouldn’t be a shock to see him earn a similar deal next offseason on the open market.
Dallas could try to sign Winters to a shorter deal now and give him more guaranteed money, but the player may prefer to wait out the year and see what the market can offer next offseason. However, don’t be surprised if Dallas signs one of these linebackers before Week 1.
T.J. Bass
Would you believe me if I told you that Bass has the 12th-highest cap hit for the Cowboys in 2026? Well, it’s true, and despite being an undrafted free agent, his cap hit for the 2026 season is higher than Tyler Booker, who was the No. 12 pick in the 2025 NFL Draft.
Bass is set to become a free agent after the 2026 season and the Cowboys surely don’t want to lose their top backup, who is also taking reps at center during camp. Dallas feels like Bass can be a starting offensive lineman in the NFL and they have clearly prioritized that position in the front office.
During the 2026 offseason, Bass signed a one-year deal worth $5.7 million, making him one of the highest-paid backups in the league. If the Cowboys want to continue to be proactive, it wouldn’t be a bad idea to lock up Bass now and provide him some financial security after not earning much in the first three years of his career.
What might that deal look like? It wouldn’t be a shock to see Bass earn $8 million a year or more from Dallas. But if he decides to wait and plays well in 2026, that number could easily reach $10-plus million a year by 2027.
Add us as a preferred source on Google