Cowboys defensive end Dante Fowler Jr. signing new deal with Commanders

Dallas Cowboys defensive end Dante Fowler Jr. is signing a new contract with the Washington Commanders this week amid free agency. Fowler just wrapped up his second season in Dallas and his ninth in the NFL. He’ll now follow former Cowboys defensive coordinator Dan Quinn to D.C., along with defensive end Dorance Armstrong Jr. and center Tyler Biadasz.

Though he had just 13 tackles on the year in 17 games played, four of them were sacks and another five were tackles for loss. He also came up with a forced fumble in October against the Patriots.

After joining the Dallas Cowboys in the 2022 offseason on a one-year, $3 million deal, he had 27 tackles, six sacks, two tackles for loss, two forced fumbles in 17 games. He also added an additional tackle during the two playoff games. He re-signed in 2023 on another one-year deal for $3 million.

Fowler was the third-overall pick in the 2015 NFL Draft for the Jacksonville Jaguars out of Florida. He ended up tearing his ACL during minicamps and missed his entire rookie year. However, he came back to play consistently the two seasons after that, totaling eight sacks in 2017.

His best year was in 2019 with the Rams. He had a career-high 11.5 sacks and then signed a 3-year, $45 million deal with the Falcons where Dan Campbell was his coach. He started six games the year before the Falcons released him.

More on the 2024 NFL offseason, free agency

The NFL 2024 calendar year begins at 4 p.m. ET on March 13. At that time, contracts running through 2023 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. 20 at 4 p.m. ET and ending on March 5. Beginning March 11 through March 13 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 19 marks the deadline to sign restricted free agents to offer sheets. On April 24, the deadline for teams to match restricted free agent offers sheets hits. Following the restricted free agent deadline follows the 2024 NFL Draft, which runs from April 25-27.

Dallas has a lengthy list of upcoming free agents to consider re-signing, as well as multiple stars who are looking for contract extensions. The list of the Cowboys’ unsigned free agents includes Tyron Smith, Stephon Gilmore, Jayron Kearse, Jourdan Lewis, Johnathan Hankins, Neville Gallimore, Chuma Edoga, Noah Igbinoghene and Rico Dowdle.