One year after Jerry Jones’s infamous “all-in” comments, the Dallas Cowboys have had another quiet offseason. The Cowboys shelled out to keep one of their own, signing defensive tackle Osa Odighizuwa to a four-year, $80 million contract and could still have one big-money deal remaining for star edge rusher Micah Parsons.
But while there have been some moves, the Cowboys have also lost edge rusher DeMarcus Lawrence and cornerback Jourdan Lewis. These departures have opened the door for some Cowboys to return to the team in 2025 and could re-sign with Dallas in the upcoming waves of free agency.
1. CB Amani Oruwariye
Lewis’s departure was one of the biggest developments of Dallas’s offseason. Lewis was the Cowboys’ top cover corner, holding receivers to 48 catches for 488 yards, three touchdowns with an interception on 68 targets and was Dallas’ highest-graded corner with a 79.0 grade by Pro Football Focus. While there were flaws in his game, the Cowboys have to find a way to replace him – especially with Trevon Diggs recovering from knee surgery.
This could lead Oruwariye to return to the Cowboys. The 29-year-old had a massive mistake during a December game against the Cincinnati Bengals, failing to scoop and score a blocked punt that would have set up a potential game-winning drive when he had not touched the ball. He wasn't great in coverage, either, allowing a 123.6 passer rating in coverage last season. But the Cowboys need bodies with 2024 fifth-round pick Caelen Carson and trade acquisition Kaiir Elam as their current depth options.
For training camp, Oruwariye could battle for playing time while also adding a player for a potential rookie to overcome to make the roster. It wouldn’t be a headline move but it would provide some depth for the upcoming season.
2. EDGE Carl Lawson
The Cowboys’ edge rusher group looks in similar shape after Lawrence’s departure from the Seahawks. Lawrence only played in four games last season due to a foot injury and it exposed Dallas’s depth behind Micah Parsons.
That group included Lawson, who joined the Cowboys as a free agent signing last year. The 29-year-old was adequate as a pass-rushing specialist, recording 27 pressures on 292 pass-rushing snaps according to Pro Football Focus. But he wasn’t able to do much else with PFF grades under 60 in run defense (58.8), tackling (56.6), and overall (59.7).
The Cowboys signed Dante Fowler Jr. to replace Lawrence and could invest in another edge rusher with the 12th overall pick in next month’s draft. But bringing back a veteran like Lawson could help the transition to Matt Eberflus’s scheme and give Lawson another year in Dallas.
3. DT Carlos Watkins
The interior of the defensive line was a struggle for the Cowboys as Linval Joseph and Mazi Smith had plenty of issues. At 37 years old, Joseph is unlikely to come back. Smith is also on thin ice after ranking 140th out of 143 qualifying defensive tackles with a PFF grade of 34.8.
Watkins isn’t going to turn back the clock and have the breakout season he had with the Cowboys in 2021, collecting 32 tackles with five tackles for loss. But he can at least provide some depth after posting a 60.2 overall grade on 228 defensive snaps last season.
It would be unwise to rely on Watkins as a starter, but that’s what free agency and the draft are for. Dallas needs help on the interior of the defensive line and it could be worth giving Watkins a call.