The Dallas Cowboys are, apparently, done making major-step moves in free agency, and while it can be debated whether the team fulfilled its promise to spend heavily to upgrade the defense, there is still the grunt work of adding depth pieces ahead. The Cowboys brought in two major new pieces, edge rusher Rashan Gary from the Packers and safety Jalen Thompson from the Cardinals, and it appears those will be the headliners from this free-agent go-round.
But there will need to be depth. There will need to be players at the bottom of the roster. Of course, there will need to be the unheralded special-teams players, too.
And the Cowboys are making a move on one of those, bringing back Tyrus Wheat after he spent the year with the Lions, as beat reporter Nick Harris noted on Wednesday just hours before the free-agent period officially opened at 4 p.m. ET.
Tyrus Wheat Expected to Return
Wheat was with the Cowboys as an undrafted free agent out of Mississippi State in 2023 and 2024. He played 243 snaps on special teams in those two years, and was on the field with the defense for 196 snaps. Wheat signed with the Lions before last season, and while the bulk of his action came in special teams (215 snaps) he did manage a career-high 15 tackles, with 1.5 sacks, in 63 defensive snaps in Detroit.
Here’s what Harris wrote on Twitter/X: “Cowboys are expected to sign OLB Tyrus Wheat when the new league year opens this afternoon, according to his representation. He’s an ERFA for Detroit, but wasn’t tendered. He was signed as a UDFA in 2023 by Dallas and played in 20 games for the Cowboys. Special teams help added.”
Cowboys Moves Focused on Defense
Now, to reset where things stand on the Cowboys and their free agency moves, here’s what the team has added in the opening two days of the NFL’s pre-free-agency period, with Wheat set to be added on top of the pile:
- Traded a 2027 fourth-round pick for Packers pass rusher Rashan Gary
- Agreed to terms with safety Cardinals Jalen Thompson on a three-year, $33 million deal
- Agreed to terms with edge rusher Sam Williams on a one-year, $3 million deal
- Agreed to terms with Broncos safety P.J. Locke on a one-year, $5 million deal
- Agreed to terms with DT Otito Ogbonnia on a one-year, $3 million deal
- Agreed to terms with QB Sam Howell on a one-year deal
Additionally, the Cowboys have second-round tenders on kicker Brandon Aubrey and lineman TJ Bass, as well as a $27 million franchise tag on George Pickens. The team agreed to a three-year, $24 million contract with Javonte Williams.
Cowboys Trading Osa Odighizuwa?
The next order of business is likely trying to find a trade for defensive lineman Osa Odighizuwa, which could prove difficult because Odighizuwa is in the second year of a four-year contract worth $80 million.
But there is an out for a team after this year, which could have the effect of making Odighizuwa’s contract an expiring deal, with a potential $12 million dead cap hit according to Spotrac. Still, the return for the Cowboys for Odighizuwa–who was rated the No. 42 defensive lineman out of 127 by Pro Football Focus–is probably a mid-round draft pick.
Cowboys Set to Sign on for Reunion With Defensive End