Off season veteran pickups

[blueblood70]

Curious what zoners think of these off-season veteran pickups. I have only really heard Jalen Thompson being mentioned as a notable pickup

Cobie Durant
Corey Ballentine
Dee Winters
Derion Kendrick
Jonathan Bullard
Otito Ogbonnia
P.J. Locke
Tyrus Wheat
Jalen Thompson

Do a search and you'll find out months ago when what opinions we had on each and everyone of these players Nothing's changed since since there's been nothing to watch..

 

[gimmesix]

Curious what zoners think of these off-season veteran pickups. I have only really heard Jalen Thompson being mentioned as a notable pickup

Cobie Durant
Corey Ballentine
Dee Winters
Derion Kendrick
Jonathan Bullard
Otito Ogbonnia
P.J. Locke
Tyrus Wheat
Jalen Thompson

I think the amount we paid for them and how many years shows what the Cowboys think of these players. Only Thompson got more than the usual Cowboys special, a one-year prove-it deal.

That being said, I think we took less chances this year than we did with last year's additions. Last year, the Cowboys' brain trust (and I use brain loosely) thought it could outsmart the rest of the league by bringing in several failed first-rounders and bringing them up to their potential (Kenneth Murray Jr., Kairr Elam, Payton Turner).

This year, I think we brought in players on more solid NFL ground, if not anything special. Thompson is clearly the prize with a three-year, $33 million deal, but Durant, Winters, Bullard and Ogbonnia all played well for the teams they were on, some in starter roles and some as rotation players. Now, none of them showed enough to receive more than a prove-it deal, so expectations shouldn't be too high. Of course, I'm not sure any of them outside of Thompson is being considered a starter. Ogbonnia and Bullard will likely rotate in on the line and play primarily when we use a three-man front. Durant provides competition/depth at corner but I'm certain we hope that Bland and Revel seize the starting roles, with Downs in the slot. Not sure what extent Winters will play. I kind of think he's vet insurance in case Barham isn't ready, with the team believing that Winters can be a coverage linebacker if nothing else. Players like Ballentine, Kendrick, Locke and Wheat are just trying to make the roster.

 

[Kwyn]

I think this is a very good assessment.

I think Bullard is going to be a key run stuffer in this defense. Marcus Dixon clearly appreciates his ability.

And I think there’s an outside chance that Locke cuts into Hooket’s on field snaps considerably.

And I don’t discount Durant starting over Bland, no matter what the ‘optics’ might look like.

Pretty sure Durant is currently listed as starting at CB alongside Bland at espn and Our Lands, so I suppose could have given him his own category of “starter”.

So, good news!

 

[gimmesix]

Curious what zoners think of these off-season veteran pickups. I have only really heard Jalen Thompson being mentioned as a notable pickup

Cobie Durant
Corey Ballentine
Dee Winters
Derion Kendrick
Jonathan Bullard
Otito Ogbonnia
P.J. Locke
Tyrus Wheat
Jalen Thompson

A player you left out is the other linebacker we brought over from the 49ers: Curtis Robinson. Now, I'm not expecting much from him but he could be fighting for a roster spot because our depth at ILB is questionable outside of the top four (Overshown, Winters, James and Barham). Robinson is up against the likes of Justin Barron and Langston Patterson, so if we keep five ILBs, he has a good shot.

https://www.dallascowboys.com/news/role-call-curtis-robinson-gives-cowboys-depth-experience-at-lb

 

[fivetwos]

Durant and Locke were really solid pickups. It’ll be nice to not have a bunch of UDFA rookies taking significant snaps.

Evidence exists that the powers that be are listening to someone different these days.

 

[gimmesix]

Pretty sure Durant is currently listed as starting at CB alongside Bland at espn and Our Lands, so I suppose could have given him his own category of “starter”.

So, good news!

I think he's getting the veteran preference. I don't think it's Dallas' desire that he starts, but Revel has a lot to prove. Durant ranked 95th among qualifying corners in 2024, according to Pro Football Focus, but he stepped it up some last year but not enough for the Rams to re-sign him instead of trading for his replacement.

 

[gimmesix]

I think this is a very good assessment.

I think Bullard is going to be a key run stuffer in this defense. Marcus Dixon clearly appreciates his ability.

And I think there’s an outside chance that Locke cuts into Hooket’s on field snaps considerably.

And I don’t discount Durant starting over Bland, no matter what the ‘optics’ might look like.

I think Locke is going to have to show significant improvement in his second year back from spinal fusion surgery. He had just 13 total tackles last year (but did have three passes defensed). He hardly played any snaps until Week 14, but a sign of hope is that his snaps did pick up from there, with him playing 95 percent or more in three of the last five games.

 

[BobSacamano]

I think the amount we paid for them and how many years shows what the Cowboys think of these players. Only Thompson got more than the usual Cowboys special, a one-year prove-it deal.

That being said, I think we took less chances this year than we did with last year's additions. Last year, the Cowboys' brain trust (and I use brain loosely) thought it could outsmart the rest of the league by bringing in several failed first-rounders and bringing them up to their potential (Kenneth Murray Jr., Kairr Elam, Payton Turner).

This year, I think we brought in players on more solid NFL ground, if not anything special. Thompson is clearly the prize with a three-year, $33 million deal, but Durant, Winters, Bullard and Ogbonnia all played well for the teams they were on, some in starter roles and some as rotation players. Now, none of them showed enough to receive more than a prove-it deal, so expectations shouldn't be too high. Of course, I'm not sure any of them outside of Thompson is being considered a starter. Ogbonnia and Bullard will likely rotate in on the line and play primarily when we use a three-man front. Durant provides competition/depth at corner but I'm certain we hope that Bland and Revel seize the starting roles, with Downs in the slot. Not sure what extent Winters will play. I kind of think he's vet insurance in case Barham isn't ready, with the team believing that Winters can be a coverage linebacker if nothing else. Players like Ballentine, Kendrick, Locke and Wheat are just trying to make the roster.

I think the days of a bunch of free agents signing multi year deals is dead.

I mean look at some of the free agents who received big, multi year deals this offseason. Most were just above average starters. That DE the Commodes signed is this close to being middling.

The pool is shallow and it’s simply not worth tying a guy down for multi years when you can recycle him for a similar player the next year or two, or if you get lucky, he works out and you can lock him up when his contract is up,

 

[Kwyn]

I think he's getting the veteran preference. I don't think it's Dallas' desire that he starts, but Revel has a lot to prove. Durant ranked 95th among qualifying corners in 2024, according to Pro Football Focus, but he stepped it up some last year but not enough for the Rams to re-sign him instead of trading for his replacement.

Here’s his 2025. Pretty significant improvement.

39/114

Our poor winged rookie was 114/114, so he’s definitely gonna have to earn it but it would be terrific if he pushed Durant to the rotation.

He’s getting $5.5m which is a good chunk.

 

[Ironicalicon]

Better than most years for this franchise. About average for most teams if I had to guess — I don't keep a great pulse of the ongoings around the league.

 

[gimmesix]

Here’s his 2025. Pretty significant improvement.

39/114

Our poor winged rookie was 114/114, so he’s definitely gonna have to earn it but it would be terrific if he pushed Durant to the rotation.

He’s getting $5.5m which is a good chunk.

I agree that Durant showed significant improvement last year, but not enough apparently to quell doubts about his ability. Again, the Rams moved on, choosing to try to get better at the position, and Durant could only find a team that would offer him a one-year prove-it deal.

Most of the time, you can follow the money on how these players are expected to perform. Occasionally, they turn out better than their pay grade. There's reason to believe that Durant can be a functional starter if needed and is good depth if not. Revel definitely has a lot to prove, though.

 

[gimmesix]

I think the days of a bunch of free agents signing multi year deals is dead.

I mean look at some of the free agents who received big, multi year deals this offseason. Most were just above average starters. That DE the Commodes signed is this close to being middling.

The pool is shallow and it’s simply not worth tying a guy down for multi years when you can recycle him for a similar player the next year or two, or if you get lucky, he works out and you can lock him up when his contract is up,

I think the ones who are expected to be good still have multiple teams that want them and end up getting solid deals like Thompson did. Three years and $33 million for us is going out on a limb.

I think you still recycle lesser players, but you also take the risk that those lesser player belong in the garbage bin instead of the recycling bin. We got a lot of garbage last year.

 

[dupree89]

Curious what zoners think of these off-season veteran pickups. I have only really heard Jalen Thompson being mentioned as a notable pickup

Cobie Durant
Corey Ballentine
Dee Winters
Derion Kendrick
Jonathan Bullard
Otito Ogbonnia
P.J. Locke
Tyrus Wheat
Jalen Thompson

i dont think he's been mentioned, but i feel much better at backup QB with sam howell. I feel with a scaled back offense he could fill in for a week if dak was banged up and he could get through a game and get a W

 

[Bigrandrn]

Significant Snaps / Key Role

• Cobie Durant
• Dee Winters
• Jalen Thompson

Solid Depth / Rotation

• Jonathan Bullard
• Otto Ogbonnia
• P.J. Locke

Bubble / Practice Squad

• Corey Ballentine
• Derion Kendrick
• Tyrus Wheat

Ogbonnia will be the starter I think along with Clark and Q (for our 3-4 formation). Guess it depends on how often we have a 3 down lineman formation.

 

[diamonddelts]

Curious what zoners think of these off-season veteran pickups. I have only really heard Jalen Thompson being mentioned as a notable pickup

Cobie Durant
Corey Ballentine
Dee Winters
Derion Kendrick
Jonathan Bullard
Otito Ogbonnia
P.J. Locke
Tyrus Wheat
Jalen Thompson

Ivory Springs washed.

 

[Bigrandrn]

Durant and Locke were really solid pickups. It’ll be nice to not have a bunch of UDFA rookies taking significant snaps.

Evidence exists that the powers that be are listening to someone different these days.

Have a stacked safety room now