NFL Free Agency: Dallas Cowboys, Dante Fowler Jr. 'working hard' towards a contract agreement

With free agency running rampant today, the Dallas Cowboys are doing their best to lock up DE Dante Fowler Jr. after his first year with the team. The discussions are mutual considering Fowler also wants to return to The Big D.

Per the latest from Josina Anderson at CBS Sports HQ, both sides are ‘working hard’ to reach an agreement. The Cowboys want him back in the locker room for next season and, in Anderson’s words, ‘the feeling is (Fowler) wants to be back’.

Meanwhile I'm told the #Cowboys are working hard to get an agreement to the finish line with DE Dante Fowler Jr. They "want him back" and the feeling is "he wants to be back," per league source. Hav

— JosinaAnderson (@JosinaAnderson) March 13, 2023

Fowler, the seven-year pro out of Florida, played in 17 games with the Cowboys this season. He had a productive year although he wasn’t starting for Dallas as he finished with 27 tackles, six tackles, two pass deflections, and two forced fumbles.

With this being Fowler’s fourth team already, it’s understandable that he’d want to stick around and find some stability with the Cowboys. From Dallas’ side of things, they seem just as interested in keeping him on as part of their pass rush. From here, we’ll just have to wait and see how things play out as both sides continue to work toward a reunion.

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 a huge splash was in 2012 with Brandon Carr. They tried to sign Sammy Watkins a couple of 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.