Dallas Cowboys focused on signing their own as free agent negotiations begin

The Dallas Cowboys are unlikely to make any splash moves early in the free agency window, if history is any indication. The consistent message out of the Star is of “managed expectations” as Jerry Jones, Stephen Jones, and the front office bigwigs focus on last-minute deals with their own pending free agents ahead of the start of legal negotiations with outside players.

“The negotiating window opens at 11 a.m. CT,” ESPN’s Todd Archer tweeted on Monday. “The Cowboys have enough cap room to be active and can create more, but don’t expect them to be part of the early wave of free agency. Focus is on their own players, like Donovan Wilson, Leighton Vander Esch, Dante Fowler.”

“As much as you want them to, they won’t deviate from their free agency plan in recent years. The last time they made huge splash was 2012 with Brandon Carr. They tried to sign Sammy Watkins a couple years ago. So go in with low expectations and hope to be surprised.”

As Archer mentioned, Wilson, Vander Esch and Fowler are three of 20 Cowboys pending free agents. NFL Network reporter Jane Slater reported on Monday that talks are ongoing with the former first-round linebacker, meanwhile Wilson, and tight end Dalton Schultz, could be on their way out.

“The #Cowboys FA strategy looks to stay the same,” Slater tweeted. “Sign their own guys. I’m told they didn’t even attend OBJ workout BUT Jerry Jones still interested.

“The Cowboys are talking to a few of their own today like LVE’s camp. Dalton Schultz seems poised to move on and Donovan Wilson will likely get more money elsewhere. Just here to manage expectations.”

Dallas’ major moves so far this offseason include franchise tagging Tony Pollard, restructuring contracts for Dak Prescott and Zack Martin and putting a second-round tender on right tackle Terence Steele.

More on the 2023 NFL offseason, free agency

The NFL 2023 calendar year begins at 4 p.m. ET on March 15. At that time, contracts running through 2022 officially run out, making those players free agents.

Prior to the beginning of free agency, teams will have a chance to designate one franchise or transition tag player, starting on Feb. 21 at 4 p.m. ET and ending on March 7. Beginning March 13 through March 15 teams can enter into a legal negotiation with players who are will become unrestricted free agents.

In addition to NFL free agency, the new year also marks the beginning of all trades being made official by the league office. April 21 marks the deadline to sign restricted free agents to offer sheets. On April 26, the deadline for teams to match restricted free agent offers sheets hits. There are 722 heading for free agency in 2023, including 20 unrestricted free agents for Dallas.