Free Agency Tracker: Brandin Cooks departs after two seasons with Dallas Cowboys
The opening of the new league year and the beginning of free agency is less than 24 hours away on March 12, as the official biggest roster construction period of the year will take place for all 32 NFL teams.
But with the opening of the legal tampering period beginning on Monday, free agency moves have been off and rolling throughout the week.
For the Cowboys, there’s an expectation that they will remain quiet in pursuing big outside free agents after owner and general manager Jerry Jones said on April 3 that he doesn’t see “free agency as a place to fill voids” on the roster.
Pair that with executive vice president Stephen Jones saying that he expects the team to be “selectively aggressive” and your head can start to spin on what exactly Dallas is planning to do. Regardless, head coach Brian Schottenheimer said during his availability at the NFL Scouting Combine that the primary focus for the Cowboys heading into free agency is retaining the impending free agents already in Dallas.
“We’re going to make it tough to let those guys leave,” Schottenheimer said.
Already Gone
CB Jourdan Lewis, DE Chauncey Golston, OL Chuma Edoga, DE DeMarcus Lawrence, RB Rico Dowdle, QB Cooper Rush, WR Brandin Cooks
DeMarcus Lawrence was expected to depart in free agency, and he did just that. Lawrence signed a three-year, $42 million deal with the Seattle Seahawks to reunite with former Cowboys defensive line coach Aden Durde who is now serving as the Seahawks’ defensive coordinator. Lawrence departs as the team’s longest-tenured player and one of the bigger fan favorites in Dallas. For the Cowboys, it creates a large hole at the defensive end position, specifically in defending the run off the edge.
Jourdan Lewis has agreed to a three-year $30 million contract with the Jacksonville Jaguars. It’s a bit of a surprise as the Cowboys and Lewis had already met about a potential return to Dallas. The Cowboys considered Lewis a priority, specifically in Matt Eberflus’ defense that expects to run a nickel set on defense the majority of the time.
Losing Chauncey Golston was an expectation for the team this offseason as his pricetag continued to rise with his breakout 2024 campaign, but a three-year, $19.5 million deal to the New York Giants didn’t look as eye-popping as was expected for the Iowa product. Nevertheless, the Cowboys will be on the hunt for more help at defensive end.
Rotational offensive lineman Chuma Edoga was someone that former head coach Mike McCarthy continuously praised, as he was slated to be the opening week starter before getting hurt in training camp. With McCarthy out, Edoga is also out as he heads to Jacksonville.
The Cowboys are officially on the hunt for a new backup quarterback, as Cooper Rush signed a two-year deal worth up to $12.2 million with the Baltimore Ravens to back up Lamar Jackson. Will Grier is still on the roster, but Dallas is doing homework both around the league and in the draft on young quarterbacks to bring in to be the No. 2 behind Prescott.
Returning to the team that drafted him in the first round back in 2014, veteran wide receiver Brandin Cooks signed a two-year, $13 million deal with the New Orleans Saints in the second week of free agency. Cooks will look to compete to be the second wide receiver option behind Chris Olave.
Already Signed (Internal)
DT Osa Odighizuwa, OL Brock Hoffman, S Juanyeh Thomas, DE Tyrus Wheat, CB C.J. Goodwin, WR/KR KaVontae Turpin, S Markquese Bell, LS Trent Sieg, P Bryan Anger, CB Israel Mukuamu
The Cowboys got it going early a week before the opening of free agency when they signed a massive four-year, $80 million extension for defensive tackle Osa Odighizuwa. Keeping consistency going in the pass rush department will be easier in retaining the UCLA product.
Shortly after making that move, the Cowboys locked in their special teams ace, C.J. Goodwin, on a one-year deal, and locked in all three exclusive rights free agents in Brock Hoffman, Juanyeh Thomas and Tyrus Wheat.
Earlier this week, the Cowboys locked in both restricted free agents in Markquese Bell and KaVontae Turpin. Both were expected to be tendered (Bell with a right of first refusal and Turpin with a second-round tender), but both instead agreed to three-year deals that keep them with the team through 2027.
Long snapper Trent Sieg is also staying in Dallas to keep consistency going for the early career of All-Pro kicker Brandon Aubrey. Sieg earned the second-most guaranteed money for a long snapper in league history. Punter and field goal holder Bryan Anger is also back on a two-year deal to keep the special teams core intact moving forward.
After the signing of Javonte Williams, it was clear that Rico Dowdle would officially be departing Dallas. That happened late on the first day of free agency as Dowdle signed a one-year deal to return to his home state of North Carolina to play for the Carolina Panthers. He joins a running back room that just extended Chuba Hubbard last offseason and selected the first running back in the draft in 2024, Jonathon Brooks.
Adding depth to the cornerback room became more imperative after the departure of Jourdan Lewis, and the Cowboys reached a one-year deal to bring back Israel Mukuamu. He has provided reliable depth in the slot and on the outside in his four-year career with Dallas.
Already Signed (External)
RB Javonte Williams, OG Robert Jones, DT Solomon Thomas, DE Payton Turner, LB Jack Sanborn, LB Kenneth Murray Jr. (trade), CB Kaiir Elam (trade), RB Miles Sanders, DE Dante Fowler Jr., WR Parris Campbell
Adding Javonte Williams to the running back room immediately provides a competent backup for whatever running back Dallas decides to spend a draft pick on in April. His ability in late down situations as a pass blocker and as a receiver out of the backfield (52 receptions in 2024 were sixth-most among NFL running backs) will make him a solid complement to a young back.
Robert Jones started all 17 games at left guard for the Miami Dolphins last season, but struggled as the year went on. While he will factor into the competition at right guard, Brock Hoffman and T.J. Bass could still win out over the veteran. Regardless, an extra body on the offensive line helps with depth at the very least.
On Tuesday, the Cowboys added two former first-round picks to the defensive line in Solomon Thomas and Payton Turner. Thomas rejoins new Dallas defensive line coach Aaron Whitecotton who he played for in the past two seasons with the New York Jets. Each of those seasons saw him take a step forward in his pass rush, generating 39 quarterback pressures and 8.5 sacks. Turner has battled multiple season-ending injuries since being drafted in 2021, but showed flashes in rotational work in his first full season in 2024.
While not technically a free agent move, the Cowboys made two trades for more former first-round picks, acquiring cornerback Kaiir Elam from the Buffalo Bills and linebacker Kenneth Murray Jr. from the Tennessee Titans. Both provide much-needed depth to their respective position groups and can compete for starting jobs as soon as this season.
Defensive coordinator Matt Eberflus brought some familiarity with him from Chicago, as the Cowboys signed former Bears linebacker Jack Sanborn. A former undrafted free agent in 2022, Sanborn proved to be a reliable piece for the Chicago defense over the last three seasons. His knowledge of the Eberflus system will provide an immediate boost at training camp.
A familiar face returns to the NFC East as Miles Sanders is back in the division where he rushed for 1,269 yards with the Philadelphia Eagles in 2022. Sanders had a poor two-year stretch in Carolina that saw run for just 637 combined yards, but his veteran presence provides immediate depth to the room.
The Cowboys made their richest free agent deal by annual value in a decade on Friday when they signed Dante Fowler Jr. to a one-year, $8 million deal. Fowler returns to Dallas where he played in 2022 and 2023 after a breakout year in 2024 with the Commanders.
The first addition at the wide receiver position came in the signing of veteran Parris Campbell. Aside from a 2022 season with the Colts that saw him post 63 receptions for 624 yards and three touchdowns, it’s been a largely unproductive career for the former second-round pick. He will provide some veteran competition, but this doesn’t stop Dallas from spending a premium draft pick at the position next month.
Predicted Returners
None
Predicted Departures
QB Trey Lance, LB Eric Kendricks, DT Linval Joseph, DT Carlos Watkins, LB Nick Vigil, CB Amani Oruwariye
While the Trey Lance experiment drew headlines and had fans asking why he was acquired in exchange for a fourth-round pick, that journey looks to be coming to an end in Dallas. Stephen Jones said at the combine that the team is ready to look at another young quarterback development project, signaling that Lance’s time with the Cowboys could be over.
While veterans such as linebacker Nick Vigil, linebacker Eric Kendricks and defensive tackle Linval Joseph served strong purposes during their time in Dallas, a staff turnover and expiring contracts could lead to their departures. The defensive tackle draft class is strong enough for Dallas to find a solid rotational player in the later rounds. For Kendricks, price and desire could play a big role in his potential return or departure.
Despite Carl Lawson’s strong desire to stay in Dallas after a solid 2024 campaign and a potential reunion with defensive line coach Aaron Whitecotton, the Cowboys signing Dante Fowler Jr. and trading for Payton Turner most likely will see Lawson land elsewhere.
This story was originally published March 6, 2025 at 11:00 PM.
