The Dallas Cowboys are making a surprising decision when it comes to one overlooked free agent that hasn’t been on many fans’ minds lately: interior offensive lineman T.J. Bass.
Bass, a backup guard for the Cowboys who has filled in nicely when asked to start, is a pending restricted free agent. And the latest report shows how the team really feels about him.
Cowboys to ‘tender’ Bass
The Cowboys are planning to use a second-round tender on Bass, according to ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler. The tender is projected by Over the Cap to be worth $5.81 million.
The tender serves as a one-year offer that allows Bass to negotiate with other teams, but if another team makes an offer, the Cowboys have the right to match it. If they decide not to, they are entitled to receive a second-round draft pick from the team signing Bass. In practice, it very rarely comes to that.
The surprise doesn’t come due to the Cowboys wanting Bass back—the young offensive lineman has 10 career starts to his name. Rather, the surprise is in the fact that they’re willing to pay over $5 million for a player who has been a backup in his first three years with the team.
But it reveals two things: The Cowboys really value Bass and they believe other NFL teams could see him as a starter if he was to hit the open market. A second-round tender ensures his stay in Dallas.
Additionally, the move serves as an insurance policy in case they shake up the offensive line and need a new starter at left guard.
Bass might just end up starting
The Cowboys admittedly prefer to keep All-Pro guard Tyler Smith inside. It’s where he plays his best football. But on Thursday, head coach Brian Schottenheimer alluded once again to the possibility of him moving to left tackle.
“We feel like we have something really special inside with those inside three with (Cooper) Beebe, (Tyler) Booker, and Tyler Smith,” Schottenheimer told reporters in Indianapolis. “But we’re not opposed to doing what’s best for the football team.”
If the Cowboys decide to kick Smith outside, it would create a hole at left guard. Such a need could be filled by Bass, even if it would be a downgrade compared to Smith.
More tenders ahead?
In addition to Bass, the Cowboys are also expected to use the second-round tender on All-Pro kicker Brandon Aubrey if negotiations continue at an impasse. The front office likely prefers a long-term extension in this case, but Aubrey’s demands have been higher than anticipated.
Another candidate is OL Brock Hoffman, who provides center/guard flexibility for Dallas.
“(Bass and Hoffman) are studs,” Schottenheimer said Thursday. “They’re glue pieces for us. They’re always prepared, they’re ready. Both of those guys could start for other teams in the league.”
