NFL free agency has begun, and we're keeping track of every major signing, trade and release of the 2025 offseason, with analysis from our NFL Nation reporters and grades from our experts. The new league year began March 12. The first round of the 2025 NFL draft begins April 24 on ESPN.
Here's a breakdown of every 2025 NFL free agent signing by the Dallas Cowboys and how each will impact the upcoming season:
Osa Odighizuwa, DT
The defensive tackle is sticking with Dallas on a four-year, $80 million deal.
What it means: With new coordinator Matt Eberflus, the Cowboys keep an important player along their defensive front. Former defensive coordinator Rod Marinelli, an Eberflus mentor, said the most important player in this scheme is the under tackle. Odighizuwa is coming off his best season with 4.5 sacks, and his 19 quarterback hits were the second most among defensive tackles last season. Odighizuwa has not missed a game in his career or a start over the past three seasons. Plus, his cap number is $6.25 million, almost $19 million less than what the franchise tag would have cost.
What's the risk: There is always risk, but this one is mitigated by the fact that he is a homegrown talent, and the Cowboys should know him better than anybody else. If the Cowboys don't want to lose a player, they do everything they can to keep him. Odighizuwa turns 27 in August, so he is entering his prime. This is the kind of move the Cowboys have made for years: draft, develop and sign long term. The biggest benefit is not waiting until the last second to get it done. As free agency arrives, they know they have a player locked up at a position of need.
Solomon Thomas, DT
The Cowboys are adding the former Jets defensive tackle on a two-year contract worth a max of $8 million.
What it means: He brings the Cowboys a solid veteran presence to their defensive line. He has some pass rush to him (8.5 sacks in the past two seasons) and can be productive against the run. The Cowboys kept Odighizuwa to be their top interior player, but Thomas can be viewed more as a replacement for Chauncey Golston as someone who can line up in different spots along the front with end Marshawn Kneeland looking to make a big second-year jump. He is also making a homecoming, having grown up in Coppell, Texas, a Dallas suburb.
What's the risk: He turns 30 in December and has logged a lot of snaps since he was the No. 3 pick in the 2017 draft by the San Francisco 49ers. But the short-term nature of the deal offers the Cowboys some protection, and it does not take them out of the mix for a defensive end early in the draft.
KaVontae Turpin, WR/Returner
Turpin is staying in Dallas with a three-year, $18 million contract ($5.5 million guaranteed).
What it means: The Cowboys keep the NFL's best returner, and they have him under contract for three years after he was supposed to be a restricted free agent. Effectively, the Cowboys bought out two years of unrestricted free agency to give him $5.5 million guaranteed. He is an explosive returner, and was the only player last season with touchdowns on kickoff and punt returns. His kickoff return average (33.5) was the second highest in the NFL since the 1970 merger. He adapted quite well to the new kickoff rules. He also showed he can help as a receiver, and the Cowboys are an offense that needs playmakers. Will he develop into a bigger threat in the passing game? That remains to be seen, but they have somebody who is a threat to score every time he touches the ball.
What's the risk: There really isn't much risk, although players of Turpin's size (155 pounds) are often susceptible to injury. He does a good job of protecting himself from big hits. The kickoff rules made Turpin more valuable. Under the old system where touchbacks became the norm, he might not have received this offer. It will be interesting to see if coach Brian Schottenheimer comes up with more ways to involve Turpin on offense, but this should not keep the Cowboys from adding to their receiver room through free agency and the draft.
Javonte Williams, RB
The former Broncos back is joining the Cowboys on a one-year deal worth a max of $3.5 million.
What it means: Williams comes to the Cowboys to be a piece of the running game, but not the only piece. While you will not hear "running back by committee" when it comes to the Cowboys in 2025, they do want to have multiple backs. Williams fits the bill. Over the past two seasons, he rushed for 1,287 yards and caught 99 passes with nine total touchdowns. It likely ends the chance of Rico Dowdle returning after he eclipsed 1,000 yards in 2024, but it doesn't end the Cowboys' pursuit of a running back, likely in the top three rounds of the April draft.
What's the risk: The fact that it's a one-year deal tells you there's not much risk. This is reminiscent of the Cowboys' free agent signings before 2024, when they would look to cover holes in free agency, allowing them to set a more pure draft board without reaching for to fill needs. The draft is considered deep at running back, so they could find one in the first two days and fulfill their desire to run the ball more in 2025.
Miles Sanders, RB
The former Panther is heading to Dallas on a one-year contract.
What it means: It's a curious move considering the addition of Williams, but they have different styles, so it's not totally redundant. Sanders' stay in Carolina was not what either envisioned after signing a four-year, $25.4 million deal. He rushed for only 637 yards and three touchdowns, including a career-low 205 yards last season. But he had 1,269 yards and 11 TDs in 2022 with the Eagles and does not have a lot of tread on the tire as he turns 28 in May.
What's the risk: Competition is a good thing and there is not a huge financial downside, so there's little risk. Sanders, like Williams, is solid in the pass game, too. This shouldn't change anything about the Cowboys' draft plans involving a running back.
Parris Campbell, WR
The former Eagles receiver is joining the Cowboys on a one-year contract.
What it means: He spent most of last season on the Eagles' practice squad and finished with five catches for 60 yards and a touchdown. He played in the NFC Championship Game and Super Bowl but did not record a catch. In six seasons with Indianapolis, the New York Giants and Philadelphia, he has 123 catches for 1,117 yards and six scores. He's a former second-round pick of the Colts, so he follows a trend the Cowboys have had in adding players who were high draft picks they might have liked entering the draft. This does not preclude them from keeping veteran Brandin Cooks or adding another free agent. Nor will it take them out of selecting a receiver early in the draft.
What's the risk: This is a low-cost depth move. If it works, great. If it doesn't, no harm, no foul. Put him in the mix with Jalen Brooks, Ryan Flournoy and see if he responds.
Robert Jones, G
The former Dolphin is headed to Dallas on a one-year deal worth a max of $4.75 million.
What it means: With Zack Martin's retirement, the Cowboys wanted to fortify the guard position, even if they liked how Brock Hoffman performed late last season. Jones started every game for the Dolphins in 2024 at left guard and has made 30 starts for his career, but he has experience at right guard, too. He has the size (6-foot-4, 321 pounds) to be stout in the middle and effective in the pass game. And if you really want to feel good about the move: The last time the Cowboys had someone named Robert Jones on their roster, they won three Super Bowls in five years. That Robert Jones was a linebacker from 1992 to 1995.
What's the risk: Like most of the Cowboys' additions, there's not much of a financial risk, since it's a one-year contract. He is 26 years old and has four years of experience, so the Cowboys are betting he can still improve. They believe their new coordinator, Klayton Adams, and offensive line coach, Conor Riley, are good enough teachers to get Jones to play at a higher level. At the very least, he could serve as a backup interior lineman.
Dante Fowler Jr., DE
The former Commander is headed to Dallas with a one-year contract worth up to $8 million.
What it means: With new coordinator Matt Eberflus, the Cowboys plan to use a rotation of defensive lineman/pass rushers, and Fowler has shown the ability to get to the quarterback. He had 10.5 sacks last season with Washington as he followed former Cowboys coordinator Dan Quinn to the Commanders. He had 10 sacks in 2022 and '23 with Dallas. The Cowboys have added Solomon Thomas and Payton Turner in free agency to pair with Sam Williams, who is coming back from a torn ACL, and Marshawn Kneeland, last year's second-round pick.
What's the risk: Fowler turns 31 in August, but he has missed just four games in the past six years. It's a one-year deal, so the Cowboys are not facing much of a financial risk. And this would not preclude the Cowboys from going after a defensive end in the draft. In some ways, it can be viewed as protection if Williams' return from the knee injury is not what the Cowboys expect.
Markquese Bell, S
The safety is staying in Dallas with a three-year, $9 million contract.
What it means: Two years ago, Bell was the Cowboys' second-leading tackler after he was moved to linebacker because injuries thinned out the position. He moved back to safety in 2024 but did not play many snaps before suffering a shoulder injury that forced him to injured reserve. He is a core special-teamer as well, but if the Cowboys need him to play a larger role on defense in 2025, they will be comfortable with that.
What's the risk: Low. Bell was set to be a restricted free agent, which would have cost the Cowboys $3.2 million in cap space. With the three-year deal, the Cowboys were able to lower his count versus the cap in 2025, gain insurance in the secondary and give him some security.
Payton Turner, DE
Turner is moving on from the Saints to sign with the Cowboys for one year and a max of $3 million.
What it means: Eberflus wants to have a deep rotation of pass rushers. Turner, a 2021 first-round pick of the New Orleans Saints, would qualify as a depth piece. The Cowboys love taking chances on former first-round picks to see if they can get more out of them than other teams. It worked with safety Malik Hooker and others. Turner dealt with shoulder and toe injuries in New Orleans and had only five sacks in four seasons. But in 2024, he played 16 games and had two sacks, four pass deflections, two forced fumbles and three quarterback hits. He's just 26, so the Cowboys are betting there is more potential to be tapped.
What's the risk: Look at him as a younger replacement for Carl Lawson. Lawson had five sacks last season, but he had none in 2023 in six games with the Jets. There is little financial downside to the deal, so if Turner doesn't make an impact, he could be released. But if the Cowboys can find a rotational player, like Lawson or even George Selvie from a few years ago, then this would be a win.
Trent Sieg, LS
Sieg is re-signing with the Cowboys on a three-year, $4.45 million deal.
What it means: The Cowboys keep their long-snapper, which is a plus for their Pro Bowl kicker Brandon Aubrey. Sieg is reliable. He hasn't had a poor snap, and he hasn't missed a game.
What's the risk: Nothing really. It would have been riskier had the Cowboys chosen to break in a new snapper while also having the uncertainty at punter with Bryan Anger in the free agent market. The guaranteed money is $3.1 million, which is roughly what Sieg would have made over the next two seasons. Plus, he turns 30 in May and long-snappers can go forever.
Kaiir Elam, CB
The Cowboys acquired Elam and a 2025 sixth-round pick from the Buffalo Bills for a fifth-round pick in 2025 and a seventh-round pick in 2026.
What it means: The Cowboys needed help at the cornerback spot with Trevon Diggs recovering from left knee surgery and facing an uncertain return to the field for the season, plus the loss of Jourdan Lewis in free agency, so Elam fills a hole. The Cowboys are betting that the talent that made him a first-round pick in 2022 is still there and will be helped by a change of scenery. He has two career interceptions, both coming as a rookie. He was injured for a good portion of the 2023 season but was a healthy scratch for games in 2024 in Buffalo. The Cowboys have taken other chances on high picks with some mixed success. But it's only a one-year deal and effectively costs them a 2026 seventh-round pick.
What's the risk: The only risk is if they believe this solves their cornerback spot. It shouldn't. The Cowboys need more talent and more depth. They can continue to look in free agency for slot help to replace Lewis, as well as the draft. If Elam doesn't cut it, then there would be no financial hit if they released him.
Jack Sanborn, LB
The former Bear is joining the Cowboys on a one-year deal.
What it means: Linebacker is a position of need for the Cowboys. While Sanborn might not project to be a starter, he has experience playing middle and strongside linebacker for Eberflus. He spent three seasons with the Bears, but they opted not to tender him a contract as a restricted free agent, allowing him to reunite with Eberflus. Having experience in Eberflus' system is a bonus. He has 19 starts in his career and made 164 tackles in 48 games to go along with 4.5 sacks and an interception.
What's the risk: A one-year deal is not a risk and it won't take the Cowboys out of adding more linebackers in free agency and the draft. They had interest in Dre Greenlaw, but he opted to take a similar deal with the Denver Broncos. If Sanborn can play multiple linebacker spots and help on special teams, that's a boost to the depth.
Kenneth Murray Jr., LB
The linebacker was acquired from the Titans, along with a seventh-round pick, for a sixth-round pick.
What it means: The Cowboys had a big need at linebacker with DeMarvion Overshown rehabbing from major knee surgery and last year's leading tackler, Eric Kendricks, a free agent. Murray has put up solid numbers with the Chargers and Titans. He is better against the run than in coverage, but there are things new DC Eberflus can do to help him there. The Cowboys had him in for a visit prior to the 2020 draft, so they've had their eyes on him for a bit. And he played well against them in 2023 while with the Chargers. They missed out on Greenlaw in free agency, so they knew they needed to do something to address the linebacker spot.
What's the risk: It's a one-year rental, and he will make more than $7 million in base salary, roster bonus and per-game roster bonuses, unless they rework the deal. That's a lot, but giving up a sixth-round pick for a starter while also gaining a seventh seems worth it. And it won't prevent them from adding a linebacker at any point in the draft.
C.J. Goodwin, CB
The Cowboys are re-signing Goodwin on a one-year contract.
What it means: The Cowboys bring back their special teams ace, which is important, but he is also a key voice in the locker room for a roster that will be getting younger. There was a thought that former special teams coordinator John Fassel might try to get him in Tennessee, but he opted to remain with Dallas on a deal that includes a signing bonus of $167,500. He was second on the Cowboys last season in special teams tackles and can still run at age 35. He had too many penalties in 2024 for playing almost exclusively on special teams, but he will be valuable for new coordinator Nick Sorensen.
What's the risk: None, particularly financially. Goodwin understands his role and does not get outside of it. Think of him as the Cowboys' version of Matthew Slater during all those years in New England.
Israel Mukuamu, S
Mukuamu is sticking in Dallas with a one-year deal.
What it means: Mukuamu's best asset is position flexibility. He can play just about anywhere in the secondary, and he can matchup against tight ends. Don't look for him to be the replacement for nickel corner Jourdan Lewis, but he can allow Eberflus to match up against personnel in certain situations. He is also a core special teamer.
What's the risk: It's not a splashy signing, but it's not a nothing signing either. If he is needed at safety, he can play there. If he is needed in-game to play the slot, he can fill in. This means the Cowboys' top four safeties from last year will be back in Malik Hooker, Donovan Wilson, Markquese Bell and Mukuamu.
Bryan Anger, P
Anger is staying in Dallas on a two-year deal.
What it means: Anger is entering his 14th year and fourth with the Cowboys. He averaged 48.5 yards per punt and had 24 punts downed inside the 20 last year. He is a very good directional kicker, which is a must to help the coverage unit. He is also a top holder, which is a must for kicker Brandon Aubrey. With Anger and long-snapper Trent Sieg back, the Cowboys will have their kicking battery together for a third straight year.
What's the risk: Anger keeps himself in top shape, so there's little concern as he turns 37 in August. He understands how much time he needs to be ready for a season and how much work he needs weekly to be ready for a game. With a new head coach in Schottenheimer, the Cowboys should not have to worry about their kicking game.