Dallas Cowboys, Dante Fowler end embarrassing NFL free agency stat

Finally, the Dallas Cowboys are spending money on free agents.

Washington Commanders linebacker Dante Fowler Jr. / Lon Horwedel-Imagn Images

The Dallas Cowboys brought back a familiar face on Friday and ended an embarrassing free agency stat in the process.

Dante Fowler, who was with the Cowboys in 2022 and 2023, re-joined the team on a one-year deal worth $8 million.

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Not only is this significant since Fowler just recorded 10.5 sacks for the Washington Commanders in 2024, but it was also the first time since 2015 that the Cowboys signed an outside free agent for more than $6 million.

Reunion: Veteran pass rusher Dante Fowler Jr. is heading back to the #Cowboys on a one-year deal worth up to $8 million, sources tell The Insiders.

Sean Kiernan and Tom Povinelli of @AthletesFirst negotiated the deal for Fowler, who had 10.5 sacks last season. pic.twitter.com/nNXbObOQ2d

— Tom Pelissero (@TomPelissero) March 14, 2025

As bad as that stat is, what's worse is who the Cowboys signed that offseason. For those who don't remember, that was when Jerry Jones rolled the dice on Greg Hardy, giving him a $6 million deal.

Fowler will be a far better addition than Hardy was, and that can be said with confidence considering how well he played during his first stint. As a rotational pass rusher, Fowler recorded 40 tackles and 10 sacks for the Cowboys.

He followed Dan Quinn to D.C. when the former Cowboys defensive coordinator took the head coaching job with the NFC East rival. He now returns to Dallas and should have a larger role with DeMarcus Lawrence leaving for Seattle in free agency.

Dallas Cowboys defensive end Dante Fowler Jr. / Sam Navarro-Imagn Images

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