So far, the Dallas Cowboys' offseason of being "selectively aggressive" has panned out far better then their "all-in" approach last year.
Through the first two weeks of free agency, the Cowboys have addressed needs and depth at just about every position that commanded it to going into this offseason. While the talent lost triumphs over what the team has brought in, this offseason has given more hope to fans going into 2025.
Dallas so far has signed 10 new players to their roster and traded for two more. While none of these signings are splashy, some of them do raise a few eyebrows. A lot of these players might not be looked at as day one starters in 2025, but most have the potential to play major roles with this team next season. These new faces might have the biggest impact.
4 new Cowboys players who will have the biggest impact
1. LB Kenneth Murray
The Cowboys absolutely needed to find a new middle linebacker this season and they might have found their starter in Kenneth Murray. Dallas traded a sixth-round pick to the Titans for him. While this may look like a disappointing move, Murray brings experience to a linebacker room that desperately needs it.
Over his five-year career, Murray has 73 games under his belt and 67 starts to his name. The Cowboys did sign former Bear and Matt Eberflus guy Jack Sanborn, but Murray brings in much more experience having been a starter most of his career.
The Chargers drafted Murray out of Oklahoma in the first round in 2020. He had a solid rookie season with over 100 tackles, but struggled the next two years. After getting back on track with over 100 tackles in 2023, the Chargers traded him to Tennessee.
The former Sooner had a quietly productive season in 2024 with 95 tackles and a career-high five quarterback hits. He also had a career-high 3.5 sacks.
With no sign of Eric Kendricks coming back, Dallas needed to bring in someone like Murray to help lead this defense in the middle. With no DeMarcus Lawrence, Micah Parsons will likely be the vocal leader of this group, but he needs a solid group of linebackers alongside him. Demarvion Overshown's career could be in jeopardy after another major knee injury and Marist Liufau still has some developing to do.
If Murray can provide the level of play he showed at times in Los Angeles and Tennessee, the Cowboys could have a playmaking linebacker for this defense. With the trade only costing the team a day three draft choice, it could be looked at next year as a steal if Murray plays up to his potential.
2. CB Kaiir Elam
After the departure of Jourdan Lewis on the first day of free agency, the Cowboys needed to address corner during this cycle. They certainly did by acquiring Buffalo Bills castaway Kaiir Elam.
Just like Murray, Elam is another former first-round pick who is looking to jumpstart his career with a new team. Going to the same franchise his dad played for years ago might give him all the motivation he needs to be an impactful player.
Elam made some waves during his initial arrival in Dallas taking a shot at the Bills after his career did not get off to a hot start. It would not be a proper Cowboys offseason if there was not some kind of controversy. Not only is Elam arriving in Dallas with something to prove but he gives this defense more experience at corner.
The Cowboys have arguably one of the best cornerback tandems in the league with Trevon Diggs and DaRon Bland. However, the duo was only on the field together for one game in 2024. With Bland hurt to start last season, Mike Zimmer was forced to trot out rookie Caelen Carson and a bunch of other guys the team picked up off the scrap heap.
With Diggs likely to miss the beginning of 2025 due to his late-season knee injury, the Cowboys needed to look at finding another corner to line up opposite of Bland. With that in mind, they sent a fifth-round pick and 2026 seventh-round pick to Buffalo to get Elam.
Elam had success his rookie year in 2022. He started six games for the Bills and had two interceptions. However, he has not had an interception since his rookie year. He also has had opponents complete an average of 70% of their passes against him in pass coverage in his career.
Despite those numbers, one has to keep in mind that Elam has been buried on the depth chart of a loaded defense with the Bills. When the top corners are guys like Taron Johnson and Christian Benford, sometimes it can be hard for a new first-round pick to stand out.
Elam will get more opportunities having to likely be Diggs' replacement for the beginning of the season. If he can prove himself in Dallas, the Cowboys might form one of the better cornerback rooms in the league.
3. DE Dante Fowler
Rarely does anyone see a player reunite with a team just one offseason after departing. Despite Dan Quinn finding success in Washington, Dante Fowler decided to come back to Dallas on a one-year deal.
Fowler had one of the best seasons of his career last year with the Commanders. He compiled two forced fumbles, 10.5 sacks and even snagged his first career interception. For a player whose career got off to a bad start in Jacksonville, Fowler looks like he is revitalizing himself going into his 10th season.
Fowler played in all of his 24 games as a Cowboy, but never started. That was largely due to Lawrence and Parsons being the main pass-rushers. While Fowler along with former Saints first-round pick Payton Turner might not be able to bring as much as Lawrence, Dallas improving its depth on the defensive line is nothing to sneeze at.
The biggest question is if Fowler can succeed in a defense not coached by Dan Quinn. Matt Eberflus is a 4-3 guy. Adding Fowler provides experience for a line looking to upgrade outside of its best pass rusher. Fowler racked up 10 sacks during his two previous years in Dallas. If he can provide anything close to that, fans might be looking at Fowler as a strong contributor on this defense.
4. RB Miles Sanders
When one hears of Miles Sanders today, they might just think of a guy who was once good, took the money and did not run. That about sums up his last two years in Carolina. However, most forget that Sanders was a Pro Bowler in 2022 during his last season in Philadelphia that saw the Eagles make it to the Super Bowl.
Sanders is a familiar face to the Cowboys having played against him his first four years. With the team needing to upgrade the running game, bringing in an experienced back like Sanders looks like a solid move. While the expectation might not be a 1,000-yard season, Sanders along with Javonte Willams provide depth and mentorship to whoever the Dallas selects in the upcoming draft.
Out of these two new backs, Sanders could have the biggest impact based on his speed and contributions in the passing game. New offensive coordinator Klayton Adams had James Conner in Arizona and Sanders has qualities that match what he brought to that offense. Sanders is quick between the tackles and makes catches that can extend drives.
His last two years in Carolina were overshadowed by the emergence of Chuba Hubbard. Sanders also delt with playing second fiddle to other running backs in Philadelphia. Coming to Dallas to be a contributor in the run game might not appear to provide an impact, but this RB room looks far better than what it was when training camp started last summer.
The Cowboys still definitely need to draft a running back, but it does not hurt to have other guys behind him. Out of the two newly signed running backs, Sanders looks like the one who could have the bigger impact for this offense. He might not be the 2022 Sanders that everyone in Dallas might expect, but he could be a good contributor to a running game that needs to take pressure off of Dak Prescott.