Cowboys have rarely been this busy early in free agency. Here’s what it means going forward – David Moore, Dallas Morning News

Dallas isn’t operating how they usually do in free agency.

The first, full week of free agency is almost in the books.

Unlike past years, the Cowboys have written a couple of chapters.

Dallas has retained 10 of its free agents while signing seven more veterans from outside of the organization. Two more have been acquired by trade.

This weekend is a good time to take a breath, look at what the team has done and project what it means going ahead.

Adding veterans, on one side in particular

Once in the last 35 years have the Cowboys added more free agents veterans — seven —at this stage.

The last time was coming out of the pandemic in 2021. Dallas signed eight players from other teams in the initial phase of free agency that year.

That was also Dan Quinn’s first offseason as defensive coordinator. Five of the eight players signed were on the defensive side of the ball.

A similar script is being followed for new defensive coordinator Matt Eberflus. Factor in the two trades the Cowboys have made, and six of the nine players added so far have been on defense.

And what did Dallas do 35 years ago? That was when Plan B free agency was in effect. Clubs were allowed to protect 37 players on their roster and all others were exposed to free agency.

The Cowboys added 16 players that offseason.

Source: Pass rusher Dante Fowler Jr., Cowboys reach deal – Todd Archer, ESPN

Dallas gets much-needed help at edge rusher from a familiar face.

Having lost veteran DeMarcus Lawrence to the Seattle Seahawks, the Dallas Cowboys turned to a familiar face in agreeing to a one-year deal with pass rusher Dante Fowler, according to a source.

Fowler played for the Cowboys in 2022 and 2023 before leaving with former defensive coordinator Dan Quinn to the Washington Commanders last year and putting up 10.5 sacks.

Fowler’s deal is worth $6 million and can move to $8 million based on incentives.

Fowler is the third defensive lineman the Cowboys have added in free agency, joining Solomon Thomas and Payton Turner. In addition to Lawrence, the Cowboys lost defensive lineman Chauncey Golston in free agency to the New York Giants.

Fowler had the second-most productive season of his nine-year career in 2024 with the Commanders after signing a one-year deal. His 10.5 sacks were one shy of tying a personal best and only the second time he has finished with double digits in that category.

He also recorded 14 tackles for a loss, two off his career best and the second time he finished with 10 or more.

Cowboys are trying their hand at recreating Eagles’ success in one specific way – Mike Crum, Cowboys Wire

Is Dallas taking a page from their NFC East rival?

The Dallas Cowboys front office has been criticized for not learning how to build rosters in the offseason. Dallas never spends on big-money free agents and generally aren’t active early in the league year. This year, has been a bit different has been active early and is trying to hit on something they saw the Philadelphia Eagles do last offseason: get players with lots of potential on cheap deals and hope they break out like Zack Baun did last season.

Baun was seen as a top-50 prospect who fell to the No. 74 pick in the 2020 NFL draft and never made much impact for the New Orleans Saints. He never had more than 30 tackles in a season for the Saints, started only 14 games in four years, and had six tackles for a loss and two sacks. The Eagles signed him for one season for 3.5 million, and he blew up. He had 151 tackles, 11 for a loss, and added 3.5 sacks in an All-Pro season.

The Cowboys are attempting to hit that bolt of lightning this offseason by signing or trading for former first-round picks who never broke out for the team that drafted them, but may be full of potential. It sometimes just takes the right coach or scheme to unlock the full potential of a player.

Leadership could be issue for Cowboys without DeMarcus Lawrence and Zack Martin – Brian Martin, Blogging The Boys

Losing these two cornerstone pieces presents some questions.

With Zack Martin’s retirement and DeMarcus Lawrence deciding to continue his career with the Seattle Seahawks, a new era is officially underway with the Dallas Cowboys. These two players have been stalwarts ever since they joined the organization and neither will be easily replaced anytime soon for what they both accomplished on and off the field.

While replacing either Martin or Lawrence in the starting lineup is as simple as plugging in the next man up, the production likely won’t be on par. That’s to be expected when trying to replace two players that have been building blocks for the organization for over a decade now, especially considering the caliber of players they’ve been.

For 11 years Martin has been a dominant force as the Cowboys right guard. The 16th overall pick in the first round of the 2014 NFL Draft has been a seven-time First-Team All-Pro, a two-time Second-Team All-Pro, and has been named to the Pro Bowl in nine of his 11 seasons before deciding to retire from the league.

Lawrence has also spent 11 years holding down the fort at defensive end for the Cowboys. The 34th overall pick in the second round of the 2014 NFL Draft is a four-time Pro Bowl player and was also a Second-Team All-Pro in 2017. Watching him depart and continue his career in Seattle won’t be easy.

Former Dallas Cowboys star reflects on time with team after NFL free agency departure – Josh Sanchez, Sports Illustrated

Jourdan Lewis took a trip down memory lane as he heads to Jacksonville.

The Dallas Cowboys have been steadily adding talent at positions of need throughout the NFL free agency period, but they have also lost some key leadership.

One of the players who opted for a change of scenery is Jourdan Lewis, regarded as one of the top nickel cornerbacks in the entire league.

Lewis signed a deal with the Jacksonville Jaguars to make him the highest-paid at his position.

While being introduced with his new squad, Lewis reflected on his time in Dallas and how the rest of the league finally recognized his worth.

#Jaguars CB Jourdan Lewis on leaving Dallas Cowboys.

“Every offseason I think I am (laughs)… This time it felt a little different…People started to recognize the type of player I am, so it couldn’t be hidden anymore. Couldn’t be getting anymore… the team friendly deals.” pic.twitter.com/ATQoLv0yhA

— Demetrius Harvey (@Demetrius82) March 14, 2025

“Every offseason I think I am,” Lewis wrote on X. “This time it felt a little different…People started to recognize the type of player I am, so it couldn’t be hidden anymore. Couldn’t be getting anymore… the team friendly deals.”