The Dallas Cowboys deserve their fair share of criticism but they have been more active in free agency compared to recent years.
While Dallas has re-signed some key players, they've gone out and signed running backs Javonte Williams and Miles Sanders, and traded for Kenneth Murray and Kaiir Elam to bolster their linebacker and cornerback depth. Signing former Bears linebacker Jack Sanborn might be the best move they have made thus far.
Shortly after agreeing to terms with Sanders late Thursday night, the front office was back at it again on Friday, this time reuniting with pass-rusher Dante Fowler on a one-year, $8 million deal, per NFL Network.
Cowboys reportedly sign DE Dante Fowler on one-year deal in free agency
The Cowboys desperately needed another EDGE after losing DeMarcus Lawrence on the first day of the new league year.
Fowler played with Dallas in 2022 and 2023, racking up 10.0 sacks, 72 pressures, three forced fumbles and 12 tackles for loss. He parlayed that into a one-year deal to rejoin Dan Quinn in Washington last offseason and he enjoyed arguably his finest season to date.
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Fowler morphed into the Commanders' top pass-rusher in 2024. He played his most snaps since 2021 and had the production to match, tallying 10 sacks (one off his career-high), 14 tackles for loss, two forced fumbles, 44 pressures and 25 defensive stops, per PFF.
All of a sudden, the Cowboys' defensive end room looks a lot better. Any group with Micah Parsons leading the way won't look bad on paper, but Fowler is a terrific complementary option.
Sam Williams has flashed when healthy and will be back after missing all of last season with a torn ACL, and 2024 second-round pick Marshawn Kneeland, while still developing as a pass-rusher, is already a serviceable run defender. Maybe they can tap into Payton Turner's first-round potential after signing him to a one-year deal in free agency.
There is definitely room for another veteran or rookie, but the group is night and day compared to where it was when the season ended.
Todd Archer of ESPN is reporting Fowler's deal has a base salary of $6 million but can reach $8 million with incentives. Had it been a $8 million base, it would have been the richest AAV deal for an outside free agent in a decade for the Cowboys. Even at $6 million, Fowler is up there with one of Dallas' biggest free-agency splashes in recent history.
This front office is quietly putting together a nice offseason.
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