FRISCO, Texas— The first day of the legal tampering period saw the Dallas Cowboys sit still as they head into the new league year and need more financial flexibility to compete in the free agent market.
On the first day, big names came off the board in the NFL, including the Cowboys, who lost two starters on the offensive side of the ball to other teams and the team's second-leading sacks since 2023 to a division rival.
Here are the stories from the first day of action.
- Running back Tony Pollard will wear a different jersey for the first time in his NFL career as the Tennessee Titans agreed to a three-year, $24 million contract with the former Cowboys offensive weapon on Monday morning. Pollard returns to his home state, where he played in high school and college in Memphis. He now replaces Derrick Henry in a backfield that also features second-year running back Tyjae Spears. Reports said the deal surpassed offers from the Cowboys, Giants and Vikings.
- Defensive lineman Dorance Armstrong saw his final two seasons in Dallas increase his value on the open market as he proved to be a solid pass rusher with elite special teams ability since being drafted by the Cowboys in 2018. Now, he'll follow Dan Quinn to the Washington Commanders in a deal that will see him earn $45 million over three years as a featured pass rusher for the Cowboys' NFC East rivals.
- Armstrong wasn't the only one to follow Quinn, as center Tyler Biadasz became one of the first centers off the board in a bustling market at the position when he agreed to a three-year, $30 million deal with the Commanders to strengthen the half. for his offensive line to advance.
- Elsewhere in the division, the Philadelphia Eagles got running back Saquon Barkley and running back Bryce Huff to build on both sides of the ball. The New York Giants, after officially losing Barkley, signed running back Devin Singletary after a productive season with the Houston Texans.
- The Green Bay Packers, after surprisingly signing running back Josh Jacobs, released Aaron Jones on Monday afternoon, as he adds to a still-robust market for free agent running backs across the league.
Cowboys free agents who remain without a deal in place include cornerback Stephon Gilmore, offensive tackle Tyron Smith, defensive tackle Johnathan Hankins and more.
Note: All agreed-upon deals cannot become official or signed until the start of the league year on Wednesday.
