The Dallas Cowboys’ blazing pace of signing free agents during the first two days is something Cowboys fans are not used to seeing.

Through the first two days of free agency, the Cowboys have added three outside free agents and re-signed four of their own.

This amount of free agency movement is usually not seen until most free agents have signed with other teams, but this team is moving at a blazing pace for them.

Fans know what to expect from the players the Cowboys re-signed, but the outside free agents bring some new blood to the organization.

Players Re-Signed After Two Days of the Free Agency Period

The biggest re-signing for the Dallas Cowboys to this point is Osa Odighizuwa.

Osa will help solidify the middle of the defensive line and bring pressure from the middle.

Defensive Coordinator Matt Eberflus’s calling card is pressure from the front four, and this signing gets him halfway there.

To round out the defensive re-signings, the Cowboys brought back safeties Markquese Bell, Juanyeh Thomas, and defensive end Tyrus Wheat.

Bell and Thomas could be in store for significant playing time this season depending on what happens with Donovan Wilson and Malik Hooker.

Wilson had a disappointing season in Dallas. The veteran safety struggled to perform consistently across all aspects of the game, particularly in run defense.

Wilson is in the final year of his three-year, $21-million contract and will count $8,650,000 against the salary cap in 2025. This is significant for a player with inconsistent performance. He also has $500,000 in weekly roster bonuses. Releasing the 30-year-old safety would save $5,350,000.

The Cowboys re-signed KaVontae Turpin, the All-Pro return man and blossoming wide receiver they could not afford to lose. He helps keep the special teams core intact along with the next two players.

Trent Sieg, Long Snapper, and C.J. Goodwin are stalwarts of the special teams and re-signing these two will help keep this unit one of the better ones in the NFL.

These re-signings may not be the players they wanted back, but these are some core players who fill needed positions.

Outside Free Agents Fill Roster Needs

Now to the part of the article you have all been waiting for: the outside free agents signed to save the season.

I’m just kidding, but these four players will get a heavy dose of playing time, and one of the players will bring some big-time veteran leadership to the defensive side of the ball.

The Cowboys have been much more active over the first two days of free agency than fans expected, but the signings were not up to most standards of the Dallas Cowboys fandom.

So far, four players have been brought on: Payton Turner (DE), Solomon Thomas (DT), Robert Jones (OG), and Javonte Williams (RB).

None of these players are superstars, but they are solid additions to the team for depth, and a couple could be starters.

Let’s take a look at what these players bring to the team.

Payton Turner (26) Defensive End

Payton Turner is a former first round pick out of the University of Houston. He was selected with the 28th pick by the New Orleans Saints in the 2021 NFL Draft.

At 26 years old, he is a 6’6” 270lbs monster with unlocked potential.

In his four seasons with the Saints, he had his most productive year in 2024. When he played 335 snaps, totaling 13 total tackles, two sacks, one quarterback hit, and ten hurries.

During his tenure with the Saints, he lined up at every position along the defensive line, showing some versatility.

He ranked 39th out of 211 edge defenders with a pass rush grade of 70.8, but his run defense grade was 40.7, which was 201st out of 211. He is not going to help the run defense.

This player did show his power and speed after blowing up a right tackle and nearly ending Kirk Cousins’ career with a massive hit.

#Cowboys sign New Orleans Saints free agent DE Payton Turner pic.twitter.com/z8sHeQnmuK

— Attack! on Cowboys ✭ (@AttackOnCowboys) March 11, 2025

 

 

Overall, Payton Turner will add another pass rusher to the defense, but will not offer much help against the run.

Solomon Thomas (29) Defensive Tackle

Solomon Thomas is 6’3” 295lbs and brings a well-rounded game to the defensive line.

Thomas was the 3rd overall pick in the 2017 draft and brings some of the best veteran leadership in the entire NFL to the team.

He will add a pass rush presence on the defensive line that will help bring the vision of Defensive Coordinator Matt Eberflus to fruition with Osa Odighizuwa from the middle of the line.

 

Solomon Thomas casually having a really nice year up to a career high 5 sacks pic.twitter.com/FiS5lFI77d

— Will Parkinson (@Willpa11) December 19, 2023

 

 

Solomon Thomas will bring defensive line versatility to the team. He can line up at any position along the line, which will create mismatches with the amount of chess pieces being collected by the defense.

Last season, Thomas had four sacks, two quarterback hits, and 16 hurries.

This is a player who has been steady throughout his career, but was never the best on the defense.

According to Garrett Podell of CBS Sports, his 8.5 sacks since 2023 were the fourth-most on the Jets defensive front, trailing Will McDonald IV (13.5), All-Pro Quinnen Williams (11.5) and Bryce Huff (10.0).

Having him in a rotation could help create better pass rushing opportunities by keeping him fresh.

Overall, this is a great person to add to the locker room, and he will add production on the field.

Robert Jones (26) Right Guard

The youngest guard on the free agent market is now a Dallas Cowboy. Robert Jones, formerly of the Miami Dolphins, will bring a nastiness to the offensive line.

Jones is slightly below average in run blocking and pass blocking, but being coached by Offensive Line Coach Conor Riler and Offensive Coordinator Klayton Adams will bring out the best.

According to PFF, Robert Jones has a 54.3 run-blocking grade and a 56.3 pass-blocking grade. Overall grade of 56.1.

These grades have been fairly consistent throughout his career with a +/- of about 5 in each category.

He has power, agility, and he tries to de-cleat players.

#Cowboys newest offensive lineman, Robert Jones (No. 65), seems to be familiar with the same style of play as Brock Hoffman—Bully Ball.

Dallas saw it up close and personal. https://t.co/bbZVe8SECP pic.twitter.com/5TkBa8zxde

— Brandon Loree (@Brandoniswrite) March 11, 2025

 

 

He has mostly played left guard in his career with 1,735 snaps at this position, 350 at right guard, and 64 at right tackle.

In 2024, all of his snaps came at left guard and his performance leveled out.

Consistency will be the key for Jones, and he will settle in at right guard nicely.

Robert Jones has got some power. He's got decent agility for a guy his size, seals and twists well, and once he latches, he's hard to shed. A 17-game starter last year for the Dolphins, he's a good OL depth signing for the Cowboys. pic.twitter.com/GrWScihkj6

— Dan Rogers (@DannyPhantom24) March 11, 2025

 

 

Javonte Williams (24) Running Back

Javonte Williams is a free agent addition that will be exciting to see in the Dallas Cowboys backfield.

At only 24 years old, this young man has several good years ahead of him and two years removed from tearing his ACL, LCL, and PCL he should be getting back to form this year.

Williams has the potential to be a free agent steal. He can run with power, he has 4.55 speed, and can catch out of the backfield.

He is also a great blocker, which the Cowboys haven’t had since the younger version of Ezekiel Elliott.

He averages for his career just under three yards after contact, can run in a gap or zone scheme and has a 22.7% chance of breaking free for a big play.

 

Weekly Javonte Williams highlight.

📺: CBSpic.twitter.com/BPrkomiC9H

— Denver Broncos (@Broncos) December 19, 2021

 

To put that in comparison with a superstar running back, Saquon Barkley has 38.4% chance to break for a big play. While Rico Dowdle had a 15.6% chance.

Fans may wonder why the Cowboys would go with Javonte Williams over Rico Dowdle. Williams is two years younger and can put up the same numbers as Dowdle or better, while on a cheaper contract.

If fans are worried about the production here is a play from the Brocnos vs. the Cowboys where Javonte Williams used his power to pick up tough yards.

Javonte Williams is no stranger to balling out at AT&T Stadium 👀

He racked up 111 yards and 2 TDs against the Cowboys as a rookie 🔥pic.twitter.com/kWOUVO0i3f

— DraftKings Network (@DKNetwork) March 10, 2025

 

 

Putting Javonte Williams behind a better line than what he had in Denver will allow this young man to truly show why he was a second round pick.

These free agents may not be what the fans wanted, but the Cowboys front office took the first two days of free agency and created competition for the team.

They picked up great leaders who can contribute to this team early. They may not be superstars, but this free agent class could end up being one of the best the Cowboys have had.

The coaching staff clearly have a type that is big, strong, and has a nastiness to their game.