Top 5 Free Agents Signings in Cowboys History

Free agents can make or break a team’s success. Famous signings such as Reggie White on the Green Bay Packers and Tom Brady to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers have been so impactful that they put a team over the top and guide them to a Super Bowl trophy the following season.

In this blog, we will be examining the best free agent signings in the history of the Dallas Cowboys. In looking through the history of the Cowboys free agent signings, we will see a mix of draft busts who needed a change of scenery to come into their own, to flashy superstars who decided to bring their talent to America’s Team.

All of these players proved to make the biggest impact on the Dallas Cowboys rosters after they were signed as free agent. 

Best on current roster: Jayron Kearse

Signing on a one-year, prove it deal for the Dallas Cowboys, safety Jayron Kearse became one of the most underrated signings of the 2021 offseason. In his previous five seasons in the NFL, Kearse was a meddling safety for the Minnesota Vikings and Detroit Lions, not making a significant impact on the defensive side of the ball. In these seasons, Kearse recorded one interception and averaging around 28 combined tackles per season. 

Coming off a career year with the Detroit Lions in 2020, starting 7 games and recording 59 combined tackles, Kearse was ready to make a jump in his career. Joining the Cowboys in 2021 on a one-year, $990,000 contract, Kearse was expected to be a piece to add to the defensive back depth chart. 

2021 was a career year for Kearse, starting 16 games and recording two interceptions and 101 combined tackles. He was also third on the team in total defensive plays during the regular season, stepping on the field for 1,014 plays.

Coming off of his breakout season, Kearse inked a two-year, $10 million contract to return to the Cowboys and is looking to make a bigger impact in 2022.

5. Leonard Davis

Previous to joining the Dallas Cowboys, left tackle Leonard Davis played six seasons for the Arizona Cardinals. While Davis started almost all 16 games each season with the Cardinals, the team did not see regular season success. Between 2001 and 2006, the Cardinals never won more than seven games each season and not did not make a postseason appearance. 

In 2007, Davis signed with the Dallas Cowboys on a 7-year, $49,6 million contract. The Cowboys moved Davis over to right guard which might have been a factor for his success that season. After signing with the Cowboys, Davis had the best year in his career, starting all 16 games, making his first Pro Bowl and earning a spot on the NFL All-Pro Second Team. In his next three season in Dallas, Davis made two more Pro Bowls. 

4. La’Roi Glover

Before coming to the Cowboys, La’Roi Glover was known as one of the best defensive tackles in the NFL. In 2000, Glover had a career year with the New Orleans Saints, recording 17 sacks and earning a First Team All Pro and Pro Bowl spot while finishing second in the defensive of the year voting, finishing behind Baltimore Ravens linebacker, Ray Lewis. 

In 2002, Glover signed with the Dallas Cowboys. In four seasons with the team, Glover earned four Pro Bowl spots as well as two All Pro Second Team nods. While Glover never eclipsed his career year with the Saints, his consistent play positively impacted the success of the Cowboys’ defensive line in the early to mid 2000s. 

3. Terrell Owens

By the time Terrell Owens arrived in Dallas, T.O. was one of the most polarizing players in the sport. Owens was also regarded as one of the best, if not the best wide receiver in the NFL. In a decade in the NFL, Owens was a multiple time First Team All Pro and Pro Bowl player, with six thousand yard seasons and lead the NFL in touchdowns two times. 

In 2006, Owens signed with the Dallas Cowboys. Owens came from the division rival, Philadelphia Eagles, making a Super Bowl trip with the team in 2004. However, the 2005 season was ridled with controversy between Owens and Eagles quarterback, Donovan McNabb, which caused Owens to pursue signing with a different team. Coming into the 2006 season, Owens was ready to make an impact on his new team.

In three years in Dallas, Owens recorded three 1,000 yard seasons, led the league in touchdowns in 2006, and received a First Team All-Pro selection as well as a spot in the Pro Bowl, both in 2007. While T.O. was not the first polarizing free agent signing for the Dallas Cowboys, he provided a combination of impactful offensive play and viral moments that NFL fans still enjoy to this day. 

2. Deion Sanders

How could Prime Time not on this list? Arguably the best defensive back in the NFL, Deion Sanders was coming off 1994 season with the San Francisco 49ers where Sanders won his first Super Bowl and the Defensive Player of the Year. Although Sanders had already made a name for himself in the NFL, his time with the Cowboys helped cement his legacy as the greatest cornerback of the 1990s. 

In 1996, Sanders signed a seven year, $35 million contract with the Cowboys. His impact on the team was immediate, helping the Cowboys win their third Super Bowl championship in four years. During his tenure with the Cowboys, Sanders made four All-Pro First Teams, four Pro Bowls and finished fifth in Defensive Player of the Year voting in 1997.

On the field, Sanders recorded 159 tackles and 14 interceptions with the Cowboys. Prime time not only took the Cowboys defensive unit to the next level, but was worth every penny of his lucrative contract. 

1. Jay Novacek

Tight End Jay Novacek not only broke out when coming to Dallas, but was one of the biggest pieces that made the Dallas Cowboys a Super Bowl dynasty in the 1990s.

Before signing with the Dallas Cowboys, Novacek was a decent tight end playing for the St.Louis/Arizona Cardinals franchise for five seasons. In those seasons, Novacek started a total of six games and recorded under 1,000 yards with eight touchdowns.

Novacek signed with the Dallas Cowboys in 1990. This signing would end up changing the trajectory of his career. Novacek became a stalwart in the Cowboys offense over the next six seasons. Novacek started over 12 games each season as a Dallas Cowboys tight end.

In his six seasons with the team, Novacek recorded 22 touchdowns and 3,576 receiving yards on 339 receptions. Novacek also received five Pro Bowl selections and spots on the NFL All-Pro First and Second team. While Novacek is not the flashiest free agent signing, his impact on the offensive side of the ball was integral to the success of the Dallas Cowboys in the 1990s.