Dallas Cowboys tied to All-Pro free agent who fits their low-risk, high-reward history of bets – Mauricio Rodriguez, A to Z Sports
The Cowboys struck gold with a free agent signing at RB with Javonte Williams last season, could they do it again with Nick Chubb?
ESPN’s Matt Bowen recently named the best fits for the NFL’s remaining free agents, and he listed the Cowboys for Chubb. A former second-team All-Pro and four-time Pro Bowler, the veteran running back fits the Cowboys’ free agency mold.
Following a brutal knee injury in 2023, Chubb’s career took a turn. But since then, he has played solid football. Last year, he ran for
506 yards and three touchdowns, averaging over four yards per attempt.
Perhaps he’s not the same star as before, but as a RB2 behind Williams, he would make plenty of sense.
“A veteran grinder at this point of his career, Chubb could provide value as the Cowboys’ No. 2 or No. 3 option behind starter Javonte Williams,” writes Bowen. “Chubb can still secure catches on swings and checkdowns in the passing game, but he should be viewed as an early-down option who can use his power and vision in short-yardage situations. He rushed for 520 yards in Houston last season.”
At 30 years old, the Cowboys would be looking at an inexpensive one-year deal to add experience with the upside of a running back who once averaged 1,336 yards per season over a four-year stretch (2019-2022).
KaVontae Turpin needs to save his contract in 2026 – Shane Taylor, Inside The Star
The Cowboys having a better return game in 2026 would be a big deal.
Turpin’s contract runs through 2027, and let’s be honest, they paid him based on the year he had in 2024, and honestly, I think with a second year of George Pickens and CeeDee Lamb together and Brian Schottneheimers offense, they need to get Turpin more involved in the offense to earn all $18 million dollars of that contract.
If we take a look at the numbers, he did not help Dallas much last season in the place he has the most value; kick and punt returning.
Through December 2025, on kick returns, the league average is 26.41 yards per return. Turpin is averaging 26.2, which is essentially league average.
Punt returns are where the issue becomes more obvious. The league average is 7.1 yards per punt return, and Turpin is at 5.5.
Read that again, 5.5, that cannot happen again in 2026, making that much money, and if it does, he needs to get more involved in the Cowboys’ offense while Lamb and Pickens take most of the coverage, allowing this man to use his speed and get him the football in space.
DeMarvion Overshown on approach to contract year: ‘I’m going to do my part’ – Tommy Yarrish, DallasCowboys.com
The Cowboys linebacker group is going to look very different in a new defense, but DeMarvion Overshown will still be expected to be a playmaker in the middle.
As for Overshown’s approach, it’s no different than that of his previous years in the NFL.
“It’s football for me,” Overshown said at the Cowboys’ charity home run derby last Thursday. “Contract year or not, I have to come out here and play my best. I was going to go out there and ball regardless. That’s for other people to really figure out, I’m going to go do my part, make sure I’m on the field for 17-plus [games] and the money will take care of itself.”
In his rookie season in 2023, Overshown tore his ACL during Dallas’ second preseason game against the Seattle Seahawks. In 2024, Overshown tore his ACL, MCL and PCL in Week 14 against the Cincinnati Bengals. There’s been a lot of rehabilitation on his plate early in his career, much of which has gone on in the offseason.
This time around though, Overshown went into the offseason healthy after being activated in Week 11 of the 2025 season and playing six games, posting 28 tackles.
The Cowboys quiet new defensive anchor – Dan Rogers, Blogging The Boys
Through all of the Cowboys shuffling at defensive tackle the last two offseasons, adding Otito Ogbonnia this year has gone the most under the radar.
What he has to offer
When you turn on the tape, Ogbonnia’s upper-body strength is immediately noticeable. Upon initial contact, he routinely establishes his hand placement and locks out interior offensive linemen, consistently resetting the line of scrimmage. He is very effective at handling double teams. He’ll drop his weight, anchoring his lower half like an oak tree while two blockers struggle to move him out of the frame.
In run defense, he uses gap integrity and a large tackle radius. Once a ball carrier enters his immediate area, he uses quality wrapping technique and grip strength to secure the stop, preventing any yardage after contact. He acts as a blue-collar interior plug, reliably soaking up blockers and clearing up paths for linebackers. He’s one of those quiet impact players whose true value doesn’t always reveal itself in the box scores.
How he fits with the Cowboys’ scheme
Coming from a 3-4 Chargers’ defense, he already has experience with the transformation up front that Christian Parker is expected to employ. He’s an unselfish nose tackle anchor to absorb punishment in the middle. By taking on those grueling interior double teams, Ogbonnia essentially acts as a human shield for the linebackers behind him. This setup ensures the second-level defenders stay clean, allowing them to fly downhill and make plays without an offensive guard climbing up and getting in their grill.
Furthermore, he is perfect for the gap-and-a-half technique that Parker relies on. Ogbonnia uses his raw power to control the primary A-gap, striking the center with enough force to halt any forward momentum. He keeps his eyes in the backfield to track the ball. Once the running back commits, Ogbonnia uses his strength to shed his blocker and choke out the play. It is a highly disciplined style of play that requires patience and brute strength, two traits he has mastered.
His role in the defense
Looking at the blueprint for the upcoming season, his projected role on this defense is well-defined. He is going to be a classic two-down player, acting as an early-down run-stopping specialist who leaves the field when it is time to rush the passer. You should not expect him to light up the stat sheet with flashy sacks, forced fumbles, or, quite honestly, any type of splashy play except the occasional running back takedown at the line of scrimmage. Instead, he provides a solid floor for their third DT piece and allows the coaching staff to get Quinnen Williams and Kenny Clark some occasional rest, keeping the entire defensive line fresh and energized down the stretch.
CeeDee Lamb can deliver Cowboys history while ruining Giants’ opener – Luke Norris, The Landry Hat
A fun storyline to watch for from CeeDee Lamb in week one at the Giants in primetime.
Regardless of the opponent, however, five-time Pro Bowl wideout CeeDee Lamb was going to be poised to make a little Dallas franchise history, as he needs just 44 receiving yards to move into fifth place on the Cowboys’ all-time list in that department.
And the man he’s set to pass was one of the other greats to don the famous No. 88 (which Lamb takes very seriously), that being Dez Bryant.
CeeDee Lamb needs 44 yards to pass Dez Bryant on the Cowboys’ all-time receiving yards list
From the moment he was taken by Dallas with the 17th overall pick in the opening round of the 2020 NFL Draft, Lamb has been an absolute menace to opposing defensive backs, racking up 7,416 regular-season receiving yards on 571 receptions in 95 regular-season games, good for the most in franchise history and the eighth-most of any player in league history through their first six seasons.
And as mentioned, he’s just 44 yards away from moving into the top five on the Cowboys’ all-time list.
Jason Witten: 12,977
Michael Irvin: 11,904
Tony Hill: 7,988
Drew Pearson: 7,822
Dez Bryant: 7,459
CeeDee Lamb: 7,416
Barring a serious injury, Lamb should easily move into third place later in the season, as he needs just 573 yards to overtake Tony Hill.
Daily discussion question: What has been your favorite non-Cowboys thing to happen this NFL offseason?
