It's NFL free agency season and teams across the country are already wheeling and dealing even before the official new league year begins on Wednesday.
The Dallas Cowboys are in an interesting spot and are desperate to return to the playoffs after a bitterly disappointing 2024 season. With new head coach Brian Schottenheimer handling his first offseason, the roster has some obvious holes that need to be addressed while the front office simultaneously needs to address the underlying Micah Parsons situation.
Parsons' potential extension is the elephant in the room, and even Jourdan Lewis is a big priority for fans. But Dallas just made a smart signing that Cowboys fans should be excited about, even if it wasn't one of those high-profile extensions.
The #Cowboys and safety Markquese Bell have agreed to terms on a three-year deal with a max value of $12M, per sources. pic.twitter.com/kLfSoDEuvY
— Jeremy Fowler (@JFowlerESPN) March 9, 2025
Cowboys Re-Sign S Markquese Bell on Eve of NFL Free Agency
According to Jeremy Fowler of ESPN, Dallas re-signed safety Markquese Bell on a three-year deal worth up to $12 million. Originally an undrafted free agent, Bell has carved out a valuable role for himself after three seasons as a quality special-teams performer with some promise on defense.
While most fans are understandably desperate for a Micah Parsons extension, or even a contract for Jourdan Lewis, Bell's signing is still a strong move and one that should excite Dallas. Finding small edges, even in the forgotten third, is one of the easiest ways that the Cowboys can return to truly competing.
Bell played only 6% of the Cowboys' defensive snaps in 2024, though he was in for 66% of special teams snaps. If you're evaluating him without considering his special teams performance, you'll likely overlook his impressive contributions. He ranked just 144th out of 171 qualified safeties at Pro Football Focus, but Bell is experienced and productive on special teams and deserves the contract he signed.
Plus in 2023, when he did play a significant number of defensive snaps, Bell had an outstanding grade of 80.0 and was one of PFF's top-graded safeties in coverage. Being a special teams standout is sometimes enough to warrant a roster spot on its own, but it's especially valuable when your special teamers are also viable depth pieces at other positions.
Parsons' theoretical extension will bleed the bank, making under-the-radar signings like Bell's even more important. Fans will have to wait for the huge news they're desperate for, though this is still a great decision that winning teams make nonetheless.