The first week of free agency is nearing an end, and believe it or not, the Dallas Cowboys are making moves. And they are doing it in all kinds of different ways. They have hung on to key players by giving contract extensions to Osa Odighizuwa and KaVontae Turpin, but the bigger surprise is how many new players they have acquired. Whether it’s from free agency or trades, the Cowboys have added the following players:
Free agent signing: DT Solomon Thomas (two years, up to $8 million)
Free agent signing: G Robert Jones (one year, up to $4.5 million)
Free agent signing: EDGE Payton Turner (one year, $3 million)
Free agent signing: RB Javonte Williams (one year, $3 million)
Free agent signing: LB Jack Sanborn (one year)
Traded for: CB Kaiir Elam
Traded for: LB Kenneth Murray
When you look at this list, you’ll see some commonalities. For starters, none of these guys are breaking the bank. The Cowboys are staying true to their low-cost spending ways. They aren’t looking to these guys to be huge difference makers, but rather to provide them solid depth. Except for linebacker Kenneth Murray, all of these guys should serve as rotational players.
Besides their cost, there are other things that fit into a “type” the Cowboys look for when acquiring outside players.
They love former top 10 picks
For the better part of two decades, the Cowboys have been fascinated with acquiring former players who were top 10 picks in the NFL Draft. The signing of Solomon Thomas, a former third-overall pick of the San Francisco 49ers, is their latest addition to a rather extensive list of former top 10 picks.
- 2006 Drew Bledsoe (1st) and Terry Glenn (7th)
- 2007 Leonard Davis (2nd)
- 2008 Adam Jones (6th)
- 2010 Roy Williams (7th)
- 2012 Ernie Sims (9th)
- 2014 Rolando McClain (8th)
- 2015 Darren McFadden (4th)
- 2016 Mark Sanchez (5th)
- 2017 Jonathan Cooper (7th)
- 2018 Amari Cooper (4th) and Tavon Austin (8th)
- 2020 Aldon Smith (7th) and Gerald McCoy (3rd)
- 2022 Dante Fowler(3rd) and Anthony Barr (9th)
- 2023 Stephon Gilmore (10th) and Trey Lance (3rd)
- 2025 Soloman Thomas (3rd)
The Cowboys hope to recapture some greatness that people once believed these players would bring. In some cases, it worked out. Players like Darren McFadden, Rolando McClain, Jonathan Cooper, Amari Cooper, Aldon Smith, Dante Fowler, and Stephon Gilmore provided at least one good season for them. Besides a couple of big trades for a wide receiver, most of these acquisitions were cheap.
They love former first-rounders
The Cowboys love first-round draft picks even if they’re not taken in the top 10. Over the years, they have signed or traded for many former players who had their name called on Day 1.
Besides Solomon Thomas, players like Kenneth Murray (23rd overall), Kaiir Elam (23rd overall) and Payton Turner (28th overall) are the latest former first-rounders to join the Cowboys. Starting with the New York Jets new head coach, the Cowboys have a long list of former first-round acquisitions who were taken outside the top 10. They are as follows:
Aaron Glenn (12th), Marc Colombo (29th), Keith Brooking (12th), Alex Barron (19th), Brandon Weedon (22nd), Datone Jones (26th), Robert Quinn (14th), Cameron Erving (19th), Dontari Poe (11th), Keanu Neal (17th), Malik Hooker (15th), Brandin Cooks (20th), Rashaan Evans (22nd), and now Murray, Elam, and Turner.
Similar to the top 10 picks, several of these guys turned into quality contributors. And even though most of these players only hung around one season, it didn’t cost much for the Cowboys to get them as they were either low-cost signings or required late-round draft picks to get them.
They love former late first/early second-round corners
With the Kaiir Elam trade, the Cowboys have now traded for a cornerback who has been drafted somewhere in the 20-45 range in each of the last three seasons. And he makes the fifth former cornerback drafted in that range over the last four years who the Cowboys have acquired.
- 2022 Xavier Rhodes (25th) and Trayvon Mullen (40th)
- 2023 Noah Igbinoghene (30th)
- 2024 Andrew Booth (42nd)
- 2025 Kaiir Elam (23rd)
The Cowboys have a type and usually that type is young players coming out of their rookie deals who still offer some upside. They haven’t yet lived up to their potential, so they can get them for cheap. It’s a low-cost way to take a chance on a player who can still turn a corner. They may not resurrect their career, but even if they show a little improvement, it stands to be a good deal for Dallas.
