The Dallas Cowboys are looking to enhance their pass rush by bringing back a well-known player, Dante Fowler, Jr. The free agent defensive end has agreed to a one-year contract worth up to $8 million. This agreement was confirmed by two individuals knowledgeable about the situation.
Fowler originally joined the Cowboys in 2022 to reunite with Dan Quinn, his former head coach from their days together in Atlanta. At the time, Quinn had taken on the role of head coach after serving three years as the defensive coordinator for the Cowboys. Prior to this, he had moved to Washington, taking Fowler with him.
In the previous season, Fowler impressed with 10.5 sacks for his team, which made it all the way to the NFC championship game before being defeated by the eventual Super Bowl champions, the Philadelphia Eagles. Fowler, who was the third overall pick by Jacksonville back in 2015, reached a peak performance with a career-high of 11.5 sacks during his stint with the Los Angeles Rams in 2019. This performance came just before he and Quinn were reunited with the Falcons.
In the two seasons Fowler spent with the Cowboys, he managed to garner a total of 10 sacks. He returns to join forces with standout edge rusher Micah Parsons and Sam Williams, who is expected to start after missing the entire last season due to a knee injury in training camp. Meanwhile, the Cowboys further strengthened their defense by signing former New York Jets defensive end Solomon Thomas, who grew up in the Dallas area.
Additionally, Dallas announced a one-year contract with former Carolina Panthers running back Miles Sanders. Sanders brings experience from his time with the NFC East rival, the Philadelphia Eagles. The Cowboys also added Javonte Williams, a former Denver Broncos running back, to their roster. As part of their offseason moves, Rico Dowdle, who made history last season as the first undrafted player for Dallas to rush for over 1,000 yards, is heading closer to his roots by signing with the Panthers.
