Cowboys Free Agency Roundup: Key Trades, Departures, and New Additions
FRISCO, Texas – The 2025 NFL league year officially kicked off Wednesday at 3:00 P.M. Central, marking the start of free agency. As teams began solidifying their rosters, the Dallas Cowboys wasted no time making moves, both in trades and signings.
Dallas bolstered its defense by acquiring two former first-round picks, while also saying goodbye to some key contributors. Here’s a breakdown of the Cowboys’ busy first day of free agency:
Cowboys Trade for Titans LB Kenneth Murray
Linebacker was a position of need for Dallas, and the team addressed it by trading for Titans linebacker Kenneth Murray.
A 2020 first-round pick by the Los Angeles Chargers out of Oklahoma, Murray played four seasons in L.A. before signing a two-year deal with Tennessee in 2024. In his lone season with the Titans, he led the team with 95 tackles and posted a career-high 3.5 sacks in 14 starts.
Now joining Dallas, Murray will provide experience in the middle of the defense under Matt Eberflus, bringing a strong tackling presence to the unit.
DeMarcus Lawrence Departs, Expected to Sign with Seahawks
The Cowboys bid farewell to longtime defensive standout DeMarcus Lawrence, who has agreed to a deal with the Seattle Seahawks.
Lawrence, one of Dallas’ most tenured players alongside Zack Martin, arrived in 2014 and became a cornerstone of the defense. A four-time Pro Bowler, he now reunites with Seahawks defensive coordinator Aden Durde, the former Cowboys defensive line coach.
Cowboys Acquire Bills CB Kaiir Elam in Trade
Dallas executed its first trade of the 2025 offseason, sending a 2025 fifth-round pick (170th overall) and a 2026 seventh-round pick to the Buffalo Bills in exchange for cornerback Kaiir Elam and a 2025 sixth-round pick.
Elam, 24, spent three seasons in Buffalo, starting 12 games. In 2024, he appeared in 13 contests, starting four, and recorded 26 tackles, two tackles for loss, and two pass deflections. He now adds depth to the Cowboys' secondary.
Cowboys Sign Former Bears LB Jack Sanborn
Continuing their defensive upgrades, the Cowboys agreed to a one-year deal with linebacker Jack Sanborn.
Sanborn, 24, spent the last three seasons with the Chicago Bears after going undrafted out of Wisconsin in 2022. In 2024, he played all 17 games, starting three, and recorded 35 tackles, two tackles for loss, and 1.5 sacks. He is expected to play a rotational role in Dallas’ defense.
RB Rico Dowdle Signs with Panthers
Following the departure of DeMarcus Lawrence, Dallas also saw running back Rico Dowdle leave in free agency, as he joins the Carolina Panthers on a one-year deal reportedly worth up to $6 million, with $3 million guaranteed.
A native of Asheville, NC, and a former standout at South Carolina, Dowdle made history in Dallas by becoming the team’s first undrafted player to rush for over 1,000 yards in a season (2024). After years of playing behind Ezekiel Elliott and Tony Pollard, he now heads home to take on a larger role in Carolina.
Looking Ahead
The Cowboys' early free agency moves indicate a clear focus on strengthening the defense while making strategic roster adjustments. With more opportunities ahead, Dallas is far from done shaping its 2025 squad.