After a down 2024 season, the Dallas Cowboys took a different approach to addressing their defensive line depth this offseason.
In NFL free agency, the Cowboys signed multiple veteran defenders to one and two-year deals, hoping to find a diamond in the rough this upcoming season. Dante Fowler was among the pass rushers that Dallas signed, bringing him back to the Lone Star State on a one-year, $6 million deal.
Fowler is coming off a 10.5 sack campaign with Dan Quinn and the Washington Commanders last season, after he had 10 total sacks in his two prior seasons with the Cowboys. Dallas fans hope that the veteran pass rusher can have a similar season in 2025.
However, another veteran edge rusher that Dallas signed this offseason stood out in OTAs and needs to continue this momentum heading into training camp, if he wants to have a sizable role in Matt Eberflus’ defense.
That defender is none other than Payton Turner, who was inked to a one-year, $2.5 million deal after spending the first four years of his NFL career with the New Orleans Saints.
New Cowboys DE Payton Turner Already Making Waves in Dallas
During OTAs in May, Cowboys staff writer Tommy Yarish reported that Turner was among the players who got first-team reps at defensive end. This was an interesting development as the vet has struggled to stay healthy.
Some overarching #Cowboys notes from the second media viewing period:
— Tommy Yarrish (@tommy_yarrish) May 29, 2025
- DaRon Bland spent a majority of the time in the slot during 11 on 11 and 7 on 7 periods. When he lined up outside, both Kemon Hall and Juanyeh Thomas saw reps there.
- Rookie LB Shemar James was absent… pic.twitter.com/pEbUx4OJql
In his first three years with the Saints, Turner only played in a combined 15 games. He missed significant time due to foot, shoulder, calf, knee, chest, and toe injuries.
However, Turner showed in his last year in the Big Easy that he could stay healthy and be a factor on the defensive line. The former first-round pick racked up 21 combined tackles, nine quarterback pressures, four pass deflections, three tackles for loss, three quarterback hits, two forced fumbles, and two sacks in 16 games.
Those numbers aren’t earth-shattering for any pass rusher, but for Turner, who has struggled to stay on the field, it was a positive development. According to Pro Football Focus, Turner had a 70.8 pass rush grade (39th among 211 qualified EDGEs), but a 40.7 run defense grade (201st).
Turner will need to improve his run defense if he wants to be a consistent rotation player for the Cowboys. That said, the ex-Saints pass rusher is off to a good start. Now, it's about putting it all together during training camp and the preseason.
Since he’s on a cheap one-year deal, the Cowboys can easily cut ties if Turner’s play drops off anytime this summer. However, what works in Turner’s favor is that the Cowboys' DE depth isn’t deep, but with several promising vets left in free agency, he cannot take the foot off the gas.