A Dallas Cowboys football blog

Are the Cowboys finished in 2025’s pre-draft free agency?

1 Comment

The Dallas Cowboys were surprisingly active in the first few weeks of free agency this year. At least in quantity if not in quality.

As the first month of the NFL’s new year winds down, the Cowboys currently have 75 players on the active roster and already counting against the cap.

They have another 17 players piling up nearly $21 million in dead cap money.

QBs (2)

  • Dak Prescott
  • Will Grier

RBs (5)

  • Javonte Williams
  • Miles Sanders
  • Deuce Vaughn
  • Hunter Luepke
  • Malik Davis

WRs (9)

  • CeeDee Lamb
  • Jalen Tolbert
  • Jonathan Mingo
  • Parris Campbell
  • Jalen Brooks
  • Ryan Flournoy
  • Kelvin Harmon
  • Jalen Moreno-Cropper
  • Seth Williams

TEs (5)

  • Jake Ferguson
  • Luke Schoonmaker
  • Brevyn Spann-Ford
  • John Stephens
  • Princeton Fant

OL (14)

  • Tyler Guyton
  • Terrence Steele
  • Matt Waletzko
  • Asim Richards
  • Nathan Thomas
  • TJ Bass
  • Earl Bostick
  • Zack Martin (Retired, but still on roster until June 1st)
  • Tyler Smith
  • Cooper Beebe
  • Robert Jones
  • Jack Anderson
  • Brock Hoffman
  • Dakoda Shepley

DL (12)

  • Osa Odighizuwa
  • Mazi Smith
  • Solomon Thomas
  • Justin Rogers
  • Denzel Daxon
  • Micah Parsons
  • Dante Fowler
  • Payton Turner
  • Sam Williams
  • Marshawn Kneeland
  • Earnest Brown
  • Tyrus Wheat

LBs (9)

  • Jack Sanborn
  • Darius Harris
  • Lujii Vilain
  • Kenneth Murray
  • Damone Clark
  • DaMarvion Overshown
  • Marist Liufau
  • Buddy Johnson
  • Brock Mogenson

DBs (15)

  • Donovan Wilson
  • Markquese Bell
  • Juanyeh Thomas
  • Josh Butler
  • Malik Hooker
  • Trevon Diggs
  • DaRon Bland
  • Kaiir Elam
  • Israel Mukuamu
  • Andrew Booth
  • Kemon Hall
  • CJ Goodwin
  • Luq Barcoo
  • Caelen Carson
  • Tony Pride

STs (4)

  • Kavontae Turpin KR/PR
  • Trent Sieg – LS
  • Brandon Aubrey – PK
  • Bryan Anger – P

Given the current state of the roster, it seems likely that the Cowboys are done in free agency. At least until after the NFL Draft, which begins in just under four weeks.

What’s The Plan?

There really isn’t a need to sign any more free agents right now, given the current size of the roster and the 10 picks Dallas holds in next month’s draft.

Factor in what should be a sizable crop of undrafted free agents that the Cowboys will sign almost as soon as the draft ends, and the Cowboys need to take stock before chasing any veteran free agents.

Jack Sanborn

Besides, the good remaining unsigned veterans are going to be beyond Dallas’ bargain-basement shopping budget. The rest aren’t going to be much better than the inbound rookies.

So, once the draft concludes and the UDFAs are in the fold, the Cowboys can take stock of the roster and see what holes, if any, remain to be filled.

And see how much money they have left to use to fill them with.

How Will The Draft Play Out?

That’s a good question. The answers vary depending on which draft expert you check in with.

The last four first-round picks by Dallas have been on either side of the line.

Yes, Micah Parsons was officially drafted as a linebacker. But, he’s clearly an edge player on the defensive line.

The last skill position player taken in the first round by the Cowboys was CeeDee Lamb in 2020.

Football player in a white and blue uniform pointing while celebrating during a game. Fans and staff in the background.

The previous skill position player drafted in the first round by Dallas?

Ezekiel Elliott. In the 2016 Draft.

Between 2016 and 2024, nine drafts, and only two skill position players.

The rest were linemen and linebackers.

Go ahead, ask me again to name one of the many reasons why Dallas is 2-5 in the playoffs since 2016. They don’t have enough playmakers on offense.

The First Three Rounds In 2025

One of the mock drafts online that I frequently check out is this one by WalterFootball.com.

The guy has a pretty level head on his shoulders when it comes to these things.

In his, he currently has the Cowboys taking running back Ashton Jeanty.

He makes a pretty good case for why the Raiders will pass up on the best running back in the draft. I really think the Raiders will take Jeanty with the sixth pick.

College superstar Ashton Jeanty would "love" to play for Cowboys

Or, if they don’t, someone will trade up between 7-11 and grab him before Dallas goes on the clock.

But, if Jeanty is there at 12, for the love of God, Jerry Jones, take him! Then take a quality WR in the second round.

Then, in the third round, get your quarterback of the future in the fold for that day in 2028 when you have an out to jettison Dak Prescott.

Dallas can use the remaining seven picks in the final three rounds to fill out the rest of their needs.

The lack of quality skill players on the offensive side of the ball has hamstrung this team this entire decade. This needs to change in four weeks.

Richard Paolinelli

Staff Writer

Richard Paolinelli is a sports journalist and author. In addition to his work at InsideTheStar.com, he has a Substack -- Dispatches From A SciFi Scribe – where he discusses numerous topics, including sports in general. He started his newspaper career in 1991 with the Gallup (NM) Independent before going to the Modesto (CA) Bee, Gustine (CA) Press-Standard, and Turlock (CA) Journal -- where he won the 2001 Best Sports Story, in the annual California Newspaper Publishers Association’s Better Newspapers Contest. He then moved to the Merced (CA) Sun-Star, Tracy (CA) Press, Patch and finished his career in 2011 with the San Francisco (CA) Examiner. He has written two Non-Fiction sports books, 11 novels, and has over 30 published short stories.

Follow this author:

Subscribe
Notify of
guest

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

1 Comment
Oldest
Newest Most Voted
Inline Feedbacks
View all comments