Tracking Dallas Cowboys 2023 free agency, offseason moves

The offseason has been moving fast for the Dallas Cowboys front office. Facing a cap space deficit and a free agent list 20 players deep, Jerry Jones and Co. have made dozens of moves already to shape the 2023 roster.

The Cowboys started off with a bang, placing their 2023 franchise tag on running back Tony Pollard and they haven’t quieted down since. They’ve re-signed key free agents and added two veteran starters in Stephon Gilmore and Brandin Cooks.

The move that’s changed the franchise most perhaps is the release of running back Ezekiel Elliott. The cap space-saving move sent one of the franchise faces off to the free agency market and leaves Dak Prescott as the lone 2016 draft class member.

Check out all the Cowboys offseason and free agency moves for the 2023 NFL season.

Free Agency Signings

RB Tony Pollard – Franchise tagged at $10.1 million
QB Cooper Rush – Re-signed for two years, $6 million
S Donovan Wilson – Re-signed for three years, $24 million
LB Leighton Vander Esch – Re-signed for two years, $11 million
CB C.J. Goodwin – Re-signed for one year, $1.3 million
RB Rico Dowdle – Re-signed for one year, $950,000
DE Dante Fowler Jr. – Re-signed for one year, $4.25 million max.
DT Johnathan Hankins – Re-signed for one year, $1.165 million
WR CeeDee Lamb – Fifth-year option, $19.7 million

Cowboys Additions

CB Stephon Gilmore – Acquired in trade with Colts in exchange for 2023 fifth-round pick, costing $9.9 million for 2023
WR Brandin Cooks – Acquired in trade with Texans in exchange for 2023 fifth-round pick, 2024 sixth-round pick, costing $12 million for 2023
OL Chuma Edoga – Acquired in free agency from Falcons, one-year deal, $1.232 million
RB Ronald Jones – Acquired in free agency from Chiefs, one-year deal, $1.232 million
LS Trent Sieg – Acquired in free agency from Raiders, one-year deal, $1.232 million

Departures

OL Connor McGovern – Signed with Bills for three years, $23 million
WR Noah Brown – Signed with Texans for one year, $2.3 million
LB Luke Gifford – Signed with Titans for two years, $4 million
LS Jake McQuaide – Signed with Lions for one year, $1.3 million
TE Dalton Schultz – Signed with Texans for one year, $9 million
RB Ezekiel Elliott – Released after 7 seasons, clearing $10.9 million in cap space for 2023
DT Carlos Watkins – Signed with Cardinals for one year

Cowboys Contract Restructures

QB Dak Prescott – Cleared $20 million in cap space
OL Zack Martin – Cleared $8.8 million in cap space
OL Tyron Smith – Cleared $9.6 million in cap space
DE DeMarcus Lawrence – Cleared $8.89 million in cap space
WR Michael Gallup – Cleared $7 million in cap space
WR Brandin Cooks – Cleared $6 million in cap space

Unsigned Free Agents

LT Jason Peters
CB Anthony Brown
WR T.Y. Hilton
K Brett Maher
OLB Anthony Barr
LS Matt Overton

More on the 2023 NFL offseason, free agency

The NFL 2023 calendar year began at 4 p.m. ET on March 15. At that time, contracts running through 2022 officially ran out, making those players free agents. Prior to the beginning of free agency, teams had a chance to designate one franchise or transition tag player, starting on Feb. 21 at 4 p.m. ET and ending on March 7.

The legal negotiation period spanned from March 13 through March 15. The new year marked the beginning of all trades going official per 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 were 722 players due to hit free agency in 2023, including 20 unrestricted free agents for Dallas.