4 role players the Cowboys should re-sign during the 2024 season

As far as contracts go, the Dallas Cowboys’ attention has been focused on Dak Prescott and CeeDee Lamb, who are both in the midst of negotiations. These two are going to eat up a large chunk of the salary cap, so it would make sense to also sign some role players so their cap hit can be spread out over multiple years and keep some decent players.

Here we look at seven players who are vital to the team’s success, even if they don’t have big names.

Note: With Juanyeh Thomas, KaVontae Turpin and Markquese Bell all restricted free agents left off this list.

While not a superstar player, Chuma Edoga is a reliable backup who started six games and appeared in all 17 for Dallas last year. He earned a 61.4 grade from PFF, which isn’t elite, but he was the 52nd-highest tackle in the rankings. That means he’s exactly where he should be as a backup.

FURTHER: Jake Ferguson left off top 10 tight ends list according to executives, coaches and scouts

Add to that his versatility as a point guard and it makes sense to keep him. In 2024, Edoga is worth just over $1.1 million and if he’s willing to add a couple more years at a similar salary, it would be worth the deal.

One of the most underrated defenders on the roster, Jourdan Lewis was a big reason the Cowboys earned their season-ending win over the Seattle Seahawks.

Lewis, a third-round pick in the 2017 draft, is a top-notch cornerback with extreme confidence. He signed a one-year deal for just under $3 million, but with no real option behind him to groom him, he should re-sign.

Ideally, the Cowboys would re-sign starting 3-tech Osa Odighizuwa. Unfortunately, he could do what Tyler Biadasz did and leave as a free agent after playing well enough that Dallas can’t afford to keep him.

Without Biadasz, they only had Brock Hoffman. While he’s not a long-term answer, he can be a starter if there are no other options. The same can be said for Chauncey Golston. He’s better as a role player, but having him on the roster in 2025 (and maybe beyond) would keep the Cowboys from hitting the draft cap.

Rico Dowdle is the best running back on the Cowboys roster right now. It’s not a sentence anyone would expect to read, but here we are.

That’s not meant to knock Dowdle because he played very well in 2023, it’s just the corner this team has painted themselves into. That being said, Dowdle is a valuable running back who should remain their RB2 even after they (hopefully) land a starting running back in 2025.