In a league where roster construction and team-building strategies often follow a predictable script, the Dallas Cowboys have opted for a slightly different approach in the 2025 offseason.
No, the Cowboys are not signing players at the top of the market.
No, they are not trading for superstars like Myles Garrett.
They are still shopping in the bargain bin at your local Piggly Wiggly, but Jerry Jones and his son, Stephen Jones, have moved from the blowout clearance bin to the “just marked down” bin.
The Cowboys have chosen to sign or trade a group of former 1st round picks who have failed to reach their full potential thus far in their careers:
- LB Kenneth Murray (23rd overall in the 2020 NFL Draft)
- CB Kaiir Elam (23rd overall in the 2022 NFL Draft)
- DE Dante Fowler Jr (3rd overall in the 2015 NFL Draft)
- DE Payton Turner (28th overall in the 2021 NFL Draft)
- DT Solomon Thomas (3rd overall in the 2017 NFL Draft)
These five new additions to the team are featured in this unorthodox strategy. But what led to the Cowboys’ decision to pursue these players, and how might they fit into the team’s plans for 2025?
A Fresh Start
All five players (Murray, Elam, Fowler Jr., Turner, and Thomas) entered the NFL with high expectations, selected in the first round of their respective drafts.
However, for various reasons, their careers have failed to meet the initial promise.
Now, the Cowboys are looking to capitalize on the idea of a second chance for these former first-round talents.
Kenneth Murray, drafted by the Los Angeles Chargers 23rd overall in 2020, flashed potential early on but his play has been inconsistent, and his development stalled under defensive coaching that struggled to unlock his skills.
Similarly, Kaiir Elam was expected to add immediate impact to Buffalo’s secondary but hasn’t been able to secure a starting role, pushed down the depth chart by lesser players.
On the defensive line, Dante Fowler Jr. is making a return to Dallas after a one-year hiatus with Dan Quinn in Washington.
DE Payton Turner tries his hand in Dallas after a failed experiment in New Orleans. Both Fowler and Turner have struggled with injuries and inconsistency.
Fowler has bounced between teams in recent years, failing to fully recapture the magic of his early years, and Turner has yet to consistently show the explosive edge presence that made him an intriguing prospect coming out of college.
Solomon Thomas, drafted by San Francisco as the 3rd overall pick in 2017, was seen as a game-changing defensive lineman, but injuries and a change in schemes have limited his effectiveness.
Trying to Fix What’s Broken
The Cowboys’ decision to target these former first-round picks represents a slight shift in philosophy.
They are still relying on the potential of players who haven’t been able to translate their college production to the NFL field, but Jones is making sure that untapped potential is first round talent.
This unconventional strategy makes sense for a couple of reasons.
First, the Cowboys have excelled in recent years developing players on the defensive line and in the secondary.
Draft and developing players is the Cowboys’ specialty, and there are several examples of home-grown talent already on the roster.
With a new defensive group led by DC Matt Eberflus, the Cowboys believe they can unlock the potential of players who have struggled in other systems.
Additionally, acquiring former first-rounders at relatively low costs is a low-risk, high-reward strategy.
Given that the Cowboys weren’t required to trade away key assets or break the bank to sign these players, the move gives them significant flexibility to bolster other areas of the roster.
Whether or not they take advantage of that financial flexibility remains to be seen, but it’s at least a step in the right direction.
The gamble could pay off in the form of high-value contributions from players who still have the talent to succeed at the highest level.