Dallas Cowboys free agent signings in 2023: 5 best deals Cowboys have made this offseason

The Dallas Cowboys have been busy since the 2023 NFL free agency began last week.

With one-year contracts signed by RB Ronald Jones and offensive lineman Chuma Edoga on Tuesday (Mar. 21), the Dallas Cowboys shrewdly and systematically crossed off requirements in free agency. They also gave defensive player Dante Fowler a one-year contract extension. Jones is a replacement alternative for the recently departed running back Ezekiel Elliott.

To fill squad gaps, the team has made past deals, like trading for cornerback Stephen Gilmore and WR Brandin Cooks and re-signing LB Leighton Vander Esch and safety Donovan Wilson.

Dallas will enter the 2023 NFL draft as unfiltered as possible, thanks to these moves without needing to press a necessity. All seven rounds of the draft will feature picks for the Cowboys.

Top Dallas Cowboys deals this offseason

Here are the top five:

#1 Brandin Cooks

The Cowboys' base hit move was exactly what they needed to do to help Dak Prescott get on the right path.

With over 1,000 receiving yards during his nine-year career with the Houston Texans, New England Patriots, New Orleans Saints and Los Angeles Rams, Brandin Cooks, 29, still offers an abundance of speed and productivity.

Cooks' arrival ought to mitigate some of Prescott's forced feeding of CeeDee Lamb, which cost the Cowboys dearly in their season-ending NFC Divisional Round defeat to the San Francisco 49ers.

#2 Stephon Gilmore

Stephon Gilmore of the Indianapolis Colts

How the Dallas Cowboys managed to acquire Stephon Gilmore for just a fifth-round pick is still beyond comprehension.

They intend to combine him and Trevon Diggs. Gilmore was outstanding last season. Having the two of them at cornerback, along with DaRon Bland, is a huge help to a defensive unit that keeps getting better while being the best in the league for a significant portion of the season.

#3 Ronald Jones

The Dallas Cowboys signed Ronald Jones just days after cutting Ezekiel Elliott. Jones played for the Kansas City Chiefs in 2022 and Tampa Bay Buccaneers in 2020, contributing to two of the last three Super Bowl winners. He will now likely act as Tony Pollard's backup.

With 505 career rushes, Jones has accumulated 2,244 running yards and 19 rushing TDs. His best season was his third with the Bucs, where he racked up 978 rushing yards and seven running TDs on 192 runs as they won Super Bowl LV.

#4 Chuma Edoga

Chuma Edoga is considered a critical component of the Cowboys' offensive line as a supplementary player.

Last year, when injuries started to occur on the front, the Cowboys were forced to search for reinforcements. The presence of Edoga makes it more likely that it won't occur in 2023.

Edoga's adaptability is one of his biggest assets, and he has previous league experience in both tackle and guard. This knowledge should be helpful as the Cowboys attempt to mitigate any offensive line difficulties that arise during the season.

#5 Leighton Vander Esch

Leighton Vander Esch of the Dallas Cowboys

The Dallas Cowboys have retained a crucial member of their defensive unit in Leighton Vander Esch. It was significant when he was forced to miss the last three games of the regular season in 2022 due to injury. He was second on the squad with 100 tackles the previous season.

He had 21 tackles in two postseason games last season, which was the most on the team. After having his 2019 and 2020 seasons cut short by injuries, Vander Esch has participated in 30 of the last 34 contests.

He had a comparable form to his debut season, which led to his selection to the Pro Bowl last year. He gives a fairly young defensive team toughness and direction.