Dallas Cowboys officially receive the benefits from an NFL rule they love to take full advantage of on a yearly basis
The Dallas Cowboys' lack of activity in free agency is the result of several things, including an overall aversion to spending. However, one of the biggest factors in their philosophy is the league's compensatory pick policy, which awards NFL teams with draft selections based on a formula that in the most basic terms, compensates teams […]
The Dallas Cowboys' lack of activity in free agency is the result of several things, including an overall aversion to spending.
However, one of the biggest factors in their philosophy is the league's compensatory pick policy, which awards NFL teams with draft selections based on a formula that in the most basic terms, compensates teams for losing free agents.
"In plain English, if a team loses more players that qualify as Compensatory Free Agents than it signs during free agency, that team is eligible to be awarded compensatory picks in the following NFL draft," is the explanation found at popular salary cap website Over The Cap.
The Cowboys, who often allow mid-tier free agents to walk out the door once their contracts are up, admittedly put a lot of weight on comp picks to make their free agency decisions. For instance, this year, allowing Chauncey Golston and Jourdan Lewis is something they'll likely cash in on in 2026.
Well, ahead of the 2025 NFL season, the Cowboys officially got an NFL-high four compensatory picks for April's Draft based on last year's free agency. The losses that yielded such picks were center Tyler Biadasz, edge rusher Dante Fowler, running back Tony Pollard, and left tackle Tyron Smith. Below are the picks granted to Dallas on Tuesday:
- Round 5, Pick 170 (34)
- Round 5, Pick 171 (35)
- Round 5, Pick 174 (38)
- Round 6, Pick 211 (35)
The above give the Cowboys 11 draft choices in total, including the 12th overall pick in the first round. Dallas will enter the 2025 NFL Draft without a fourth-round pick, which could entice them to make a trade into Round 4 considering their vast amount of picks in Day 3.
Alternatively, the Cowboys could use their draft capital to shop for veteran players like they did a couple of years ago when they acquired WR Brandin Cooks and CB Stephon Gilmore during the 2023 offseason.
But one thing is for sure: The Cowboys are happy to once again exploit this NFL rule. For better or worse.
