The Jones family really needs to stop using these little catchphrases when attempting to describe how the Dallas Cowboys are going to approach free agency.
A year ago, America's Team was supposed to go "all-in" once the market opened and then effectively did nothing to improve.
This year, coming out of a 7-10 campaign and failing to make the postseason for the first time in four seasons, the Cowboys were supposedly going to be "selectively aggressive" in helping new head coach Brian Schottenheimer and his staff field a team strong enough to compete with the Super Bowl champion Philadelphia Eagles and the Washington Commanders in the NFC East.
But even after vaulting into the top 10 in salary cap space after adding more than $57 million of room by restructuring the contracts of Dak Prescott and CeeDee Lamb, the Cowboys went bargain shopping for several failed first-round picks.
They've done a little more than that, of course, including bringing back a familiar face while also adding a pair of new running backs. But you get the point.
To their credit, the Cowboys took care of some in-house business, re-signing several of their own pending free agents, a list that features Osa Odighizuwa, C.J. Goodwin, Brock Hoffman, Tyrus Wheat, Juanyeh Thomas, Markquese Bell, Trent Sieg, KaVontae Turpin, and Bryan Anger.
On the other hand, however, they also lost several players, including DeMarcus Lawrence, Chauncey Golston, Jourdan Lewis, Cooper Rush, and Rico Dowdle.
But let's get back to the new names on the Dallas roster and hand out a few grades for the Cowboys during the first wave of free agency.
Grading every signing and trade the Cowboys have made in free agency
Dante Fowler, Jr., DE: A-
This is the familiar face we referenced above, of course, and Dallas deciding to bring back Dante Fowler Jr. on a one-year deal is easily the best move the team has made thus far, especially given how little had to come out of the Jones family checkbook.
After following Dan Quinn to the Commanders last offseason after a pair of solid seasons in Dallas, Fowler had his best season in five years, amassing 39 total tackles, 14 tackles for loss, 10.5 sacks, a pair of forced fumbles, and the first pick-six of his career.
Strong signing here.
Javonte Williams, RB: C+
After rushing for 903 yards and four touchdowns and adding another 316 yards and three scores on 43 receptions as a rookie with the Denver Broncos in 2021, Javonte Williams just hasn't been quite the same player since tearing an ACL, LCL, and posterolateral corner just a few games into his second season.
As the second-rounder only cost the Cowboys $3.5 million, one would think they could've just gone ahead and brought Rico Dowdle back to town.
Miles Sanders, RB: B-
While many are listing Williams as RB1 on Cowboys depth charts, Miles Sanders may be the better option at this point.
Sure, the 2019 second-rounder averaged just 3.5 yards per carry for the Carolina Panthers over the last two seasons.
But let's not forget that Sanders was selected to the Pro Bowl just a few years back after rushing for 1,269 yards and 11 touchdowns for the Eagles in 2022. Were there better options out there? Yes. But this isn't the worst addition in the world.
Robert Jones, G: C
With Zack Martin retiring, there's an opening at right guard, and while Robert Jones could compete for the spot, this feels more like a depth signing than anything else.
After starting 13 games in his first three seasons with the Miami Dolphins, the Middle Tennessee alum, who went undrafted in 2021, finally cracked the lineup on a full-time basis a season ago, starting all 17 games.
With as many offensive line injuries as the Cowboys seem to have at times, having Jones could prove to be helpful, even if he's just an average guard at this point.
Payton Turner, DE: B
Of all the former first-round picks the Cowboys have signed, Payton Turner may have the highest ceiling.
Taken 28th overall in the 2021 draft by the New Orleans Saints, the Houston alum battled several injuries during his first three seasons, appearing in just 13 total games in that stretch.
This past season, however, Turner played 16 games and recorded 21 total tackles, three tackles for loss, and a pair of sacks. He also forced the first two fumbles and defended the first four passes of his career.
A "B" grade may seem a little high here, but there's not a ton of pressure on him, as he'll likely only see snaps when Fowler needs a rest.
Solomon Thomas, DT: C+
Once the No. 3 overall pick of the San Francisco 49ers in 2017, Solomon Thomas brings more depth to the Cowboys' defensive line, even if he's barely above average at this point in his career.
To his credit, the 29-year-old recorded 8.5 sacks over the last two seasons with the lowly New York Jets. But the pass-rush isn't the problem.
Thomas was one of the worst defensive linemen in the NFL against the run in 2024, earning an abysmal 41.5 PFF grade, thus ranking 177th of 219 eligible players.
The hometown connection for Dallas is nice, as Thomas attended nearby Coppell High School. And he does have a relationship with new defensive line coach Aaron Whitecotton, both from his days in San Francisco and New York. So, that's a plus.
And perhaps why we added the "+" to his grade, as that connection could help him improve in the necessary areas.
Jack Sanborn, LB: B-
Speaking of connections, new Cowboys linebacker Jack Sanborn has one with new Dallas defensive coordinator Matt Eberflus, as both were with the Chicago Bears from 2022 to 2024.
Sanborn was there a little longer, of course, but nobody's here to talk about Eberflus getting fired.
Sanborn will never be a superstar, and he's not supposed to be. Undrafted out of Wisconsin, the 24-year-old is scrappy as can be and racked up 164 tackles in three seasons in the Windy City. He'll likely get the chance to compete for the starting spot at middle linebacker with Damone Clark.
Kenneth Murray Jr, LB: C
With DeMarvion Overshown out of action for the entire 2025 season, the Cowboys traded a sixth-round pick to the Tennessee Titans to acquire some extra linebacker help in the form of Kenneth Murray Jr., with Dallas also receiving a seventh-round pick.
The Cowboys likely didn't need to do this, as the Titans were likely to release the 26-year-old at some point this offseason. But that's the way things went down.
Selected with the 23rd overall pick in the 2020 draft by the Los Angeles Chargers, Murray has had a couple of 100-tackle campaigns and is solid as a pass rusher. But like Thomas, he struggles against the run, and his pass coverage is lackluster as well.
Again, this is more of a depth play, and Murray will likely have to compete for a starting spot, especially if the Cowboys draft a linebacker next month.
Kaair Elam, CB: C
The other trade Dallas made in this first week was with the Buffalo Bills, to whom the Cowboys sent a 2025 fifth-round pick and a 2026 seventh-round pick to acquire cornerback Kaair Elam and a 2025 sixth-rounder.
With Trevon Diggs' injury woes and letting Jourdan Lewis walk, the Cowboys obviously needed some help at cornerback. And they're clearly hoping that Elam can find the game that made him the 23rd overall pick in the 2022 draft.
Because while he showed flashes here and there in his three years in Buffalo, his pro career has been disappointing from an overall standpoint. Elam will likely compete with Caelen Carson to line up on the outside opposite DaRon Bland until Diggs is able to return.
Parris Campbell, WR: C-
Ask any Cowboys fan to name a wide receiver they would have wanted to add in free agency, and one can almost guarantee that not one would have said Parris Campbell.
A second-round pick of the Indianapolis Colts in 2019, the Ohio State alum dealt with several different injuries over the first few years of his career until finally breaking out in 2022 with 63 catches for 623 yards and three touchdowns.
But in the two seasons since, one each with the New York Giants and Philadelphia Eagles, Campbell appeared in 17 total games and caught a combined 26 passes for 134 yards. That can't have Dak Prescott overly excited.