FRISCO - The NFL business year opens on March 12, which means NFL free agency starts that same day.
But that doesn't mean the Dallas Cowboys have to wait.
The Cowboys are finishing up the hires to the staff of new coach Brian Schottenheimer, with a next step being to evaluate the roster entering the 2025 offseason.
Jerry and Stephen Jones do have the chance to create and spend $100 million in cap room this offseason, and while Cowboys Nation hopes they are telling the truth about the idea of examining the pursuit of "outside'' free agents, they also have reason to be proud of their work in paying for and keeping their own key guys who are about to be out of contract.
Dallas can start signing its own guys at any time ... with 25 Cowboys players set to hit free agency. On this list are an assortment of performers - from four Pro Bowlers to contributors who might be ready for a goodbye - who are looking for paydays.
Here is the list of the players, position group by position group, who are set to become free agents in Dallas ...
Quarterback: Cooper Rush and Trey Lance
Running Back: Rico Dowdle
Receiver: Brandin Cooks and KaVontae Turpin (RFA)
Offensive line: Zack Martin, Chuma Edoga and Brock Hoffman (ERFA)
Defensive Line : Osa Odighizuwa, DeMarcus Lawrence, Chauncey Golston, Carl Lawson, Linval Joseph, Carlos Watkins and Tyrus Wheat (ERFA)
Linebacker: Eric Kendricks and Nick Vigil
Defensive Backs: Markquese Bell (RFA), Jourdan Lewis, Amani Oruwariye, Israel Mukuamu and Juanyeh Thomas.
Special Teams: Bryan Anger, Trent Sieg and C.J Goodwin.
Major decisions are due quality players who are on the back end of their careers, a group led by Zack Martin, DeMarcus Lawrence and Brandin Cooks.
Also challenging: How to keep the likes of younger players with some star quality like Osa Odighizuwa.
As always, the Cowboys can do almost anything they want within reason when it comes to cap-spending and flexibility ... and that decision-making time is here.
