While the final result was far from ideal, Sunday's loss to Baltimore saw strong performances from the Cowboys' 2027 free agents. Here are a few of the most noteworthy Dallas players who are vying for new contracts after this season.
Otito Ogbonnia is becoming a run-stopping force
Here on a one-year deal to rotate with Quinnen Williams and Kenny Clark, Ogbonnia is starting to rival these big-name defensive linemen on the field. He led all Cowboys with six stops against the Ravens, which was crucial against Derrick Henry and their power run game. Even last week against Washington, Ogbonnia was praised as the most impactful interior defender.
Dallas is obviously committed to Williams for the next several years, but things aren't so certain with Clark. In 2027, Clark is scheduled to count $23.7 million against the cap, with only $14.8 million in dead money left on the deal.
If Ogbonnia keeps outplaying him this year, that becomes a rather simple decision. Dallas could free up a big chunk of cap space, part of which would likely go to retaining Ogbonnia for another few years.
George Pickens looked more like a top WR in Week 3
After totaling nine catches for 68 yards in the first two weeks, Pickens had seven catches for 82 yards in Brazil. CeeDee Lamb also had seven catches for 112 yards, thanks to that one 49-yard bomb. But for the first time this year, Dallas' starting WRs finally looked like a dynamic duo again.
Rest assured, frustrated fans and beleaguered fantasy owners, Pickens will have his own big games this year. They just won't be weekly because of Lamb and the "pick your poison" nature of the Cowboys' offense. And both are going to struggle with touchdowns as Javonte Williams, Jake Ferguson, and other options get extra attention in the red zone.
Luke Schoonmaker is writing his Cowboys eulogy
Dallas certainly shot itself in the foot at the end of the Ravens game, and it was more of a shotgun blast. One pellet came from Schoonmaker, whose false-start penalty knocked the team back from Baltimore's 2-yard line to the seven. It was part of why the Cowboys ended up with just three points instead of seven, setting up that horrific ending.
Now in his fourth year and with plenty of playing time along the way, Schoonmaker should at least be reliable depth. Even though Brevyn Spann-Ford took over as TE2, Schoonmaker still sees a lot of snaps in big formations and the general rotation. If he can't keep it together in the clutch, Dallas would be better off putting Michael Trigg on the roster for much-needed experience.
Even if Schoonmake does survive this season, it's becoming increasingly apparent that he doesn't deserve a new deal in 2027.
Add us as a preferred source on Google