FRISCO, Texas – As the opening week of legal tampering and free agency comes to a close, the Cowboys continued working on the depth of their roster ahead of the inaugural season of the Brian Schottenheimer era in Dallas.
With that, the organization has brought back familiar faces, signed extensions with some of their own players, and have brought in a handful of former first-round draft selections from other teams.
As the roster slowly comes together ahead of the NFL draft, let's take a look at how the Cowboys ended the week:
The Cowboys reunited with one of their own on Friday afternoon, agreeing to terms with now former Commanders defensive end Dante Fowler to a one-year deal.
Fowler, 30, followed former Cowboys defensive coordinator Dan Quinn to the Washington Commanders for his ninth NFL season in 2024, where he recorded 10.5 sacks, the second most he's had in a single season of his career.
With the addition of Fowler, Dallas brings back some familiarity to compliment Micah Parsons in the pass rush, as he put up 40 tackles and 10 sacks in his two seasons with the Cowboys from 2022-23. Dallas' defensive end room now has a nice mixture of youth and experience with Fowler, Parsons, Marshawn Kneeland, Sam Williams and Payton Turner rounding out the group.
After agreeing to terms with former Broncos running back Javonte Williams earlier in the week, the Cowboys added another veteran running back to their roster in former Panther Miles Sanders late on Thursday night.
Sanders, 27, spent the last two seasons in Carolina coming off a four-year stint with the Philadelphia Eagles where he earned a Pro Bowl nod in 2022. In his career, he's rushed for 4,345 yards and 23 total touchdowns.
The experience that Sanders provides mixed with Williams can provide on both the ground and in the passing game gives the Cowboys two solid options at the position, meaning the Cowboys could wait until later in the upcoming NFL draft to select a running back.
The third phase of the game has always been important in Dallas, and the Cowboys kept another one of their versatile defenders and special teamers around by signing Israel Mukuamu to a one-year extension.
He's officially listed as a safety, but has the versatility to play anywhere in the defensive backfield and lined up multiple teams in the slot cornerback position. Add in what he's been able to give the Cowboys on special teams, and it made sense to keep Mukuamu in the fold.
With Jourdan Lewis signing with the Jacksonville Jaguars, Mukuamu has an opportunity to earn some more playing time with the defense on the field this upcoming season. In 2024, he set a career high in interceptions (2) and could have a chance to build on that in 2025.
Another deal done for the Cowboys in free agency, and it's another for the offensive line.
Dakoda Shepley was set to enter a contract year with the Cowboys in 2025, but has instead agreed to terms on a contract extension that will lengthen his tenure with the club.
Shepley joined the Cowboys in 2023 after spending time recently with the Indianapolis Colts but was also in a Cowboys' uniform in 2022 as well. Though originally undrafted en route to signing with the Jets in 2018, the resident Canadian was a fifth-overall pick of the CFL before ultimately heading to the NFL.
He remains as depth and insurance for an offensive line that's battled injury and recently lost future Hall of Fame guard Zack Martin to retirement.
Cowboys officially sign five external free agents
Jack Sanborn, Payton Turner, Miles Sanders, Robert Jones and Javonte Williams all agreed to terms with the Cowboys earlier in the week. On Friday, they all arrived at the Star in Frisco to put pen to paper on their new contracts.
Solomon Thomas made his signing official on Thursday and Fowler is expected to sign in the near future, bringing the Cowboys total external free agents signed in this cycle to seven.
Dallas' two trade acquisitions, Kaiir Elam and Kenneth Murray Jr., also arrived at the Star yesterday bringing the grand total to nine new players on the Cowboys' roster taking the field in 2025.
