The Cowboys promised they would get to work on making changes “immediately,” and it seems they have just done that–though their first transaction of the offseason is hardly a team-changer. Reporter Aaron Wilson of KPRC notes that the Cowboys made a minor futures signing on Monday, keeping former second-round pick wide receiver Parris Campbell, who had been on the fringe of the roster since he signed with the team last March.
Campbell was initially with the Cowboys throughout training camp but was let go in August when he had a leg injury, originally reported to be season-ending. It wasn’t, though, as Campbell returned to the team in September and was eventually promoted to the team in Week 6, when he played special teams snaps.
Campbell played just two snaps on offense this season, and six on special teams. At age 28, he remains a tantalizing talent, one of the most prolific receivers in Ohio State history after catching an OSU-record 90 passes in 14 games in 2018, a record that was surpassed by Jaxon Smith-Njigba in 2021.
Parris Campbell Got Limited Chances With Cowboys
Injuries have torpedoed Campbell’s career in the NFL, though, as he played just 15 games in his first three seasons with the team that drafted him, the Colts, before posting 17 games in Year 4–a contract year. He wound up with the Giants, where he played 12 games in 2023 and was last with the Eagles in 2024, before he spent last year on and off of the Cowboys roster.
The Cowboys do not necessarily need depth at wide receiver going forward, especially not if they re-sign free-agent George Pickens, as many expect they will. If they can’t come to an agreement with Pickens on a contract, the Cowboys could put a franchise tag on Pickens, forcing the team to pay him $28 million for next season.
The Cowboys have CeeDee Lamb as the team’s WR1, and Pickens is right alongside him. Dallas also got a breakout season from second-year receiver Ryan Flournoy, who had 40 catches for 475 yards, making him an ideal No. 3 receiver. The Cowboys also had KaVontae Turpin go for 26 catches and 398 yards, making him an ideal No. 4/gadget-type receiver.
In other words, there is not much room for Campbell, but he is an interesting insurance policy in case of injuries or free-agency issues, and the Cowboys like taking risks on talented but underperforming skill-position players.
DaRon Bland Getting Surgery
The Cowboys will have bigger roster issues to deal with as they prepare for the 2026 season, though, and that probably starts on the opposite side of the receivers’ room, with the cornerbacks. Dallas let Trevon Diggs go, as he signed with the Packers just before the end of the season, and the Cowboys got another blow as DaRon Bland has decided to again get foot surgery.
Bland has been bothered by a fractured bone in his foot all season–in fact, he originally hurt it last year during training camp. Bland played only seven games last year, and only 12 this season. When he did play, he was not nearly as effective as usual, giving up a passer rating of 103.3 when he was targeted by opposing quarterbacks.
Bland said he will have the surgery on January 13.
Cowboys Re-Sign Ex-2nd Round Playmaker in 1st Offseason Move