FRISCO, Texas — Per week after releasing Ezekiel Elliott, the Dallas Cowboys have agreed to a one-year cope with free agent operating again Ronald Jones, the staff introduced Tuesday.
It does not imply Jones, a former second-round choose of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, can be Elliott’s sole substitute in 2023, however the Cowboys have supplied depth as a complement to Tony Pollard, who’s on the $10.091 million franchise tag.
The Cowboys additionally agreed to a cope with defensive finish Dante Fowler Jr. to develop into the third defender to re-sign with the staff, together with security Donovan Wilson and linebacker Leighton Vander Esch, a supply informed ESPN.
Jones spent final season with the Kansas Metropolis Chiefs however appeared in simply six video games with 17 carries after a four-year stint with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. His greatest yr got here in 2020 when Tampa Bay gained the Tremendous Bowl, and he completed with 978 yards on 192 carries with seven touchdowns.
Jones, who performed not removed from the Cowboys’ apply facility, The Star, at McKinney North Excessive Faculty, signed a one-year cope with the Chiefs final yr, however discovered himself behind Isiah Pacheco, Jerick McKinnon and Clyde Edwards-Helaire. For his profession, he has 2,224 yards dashing on 507 carries with 19 touchdowns.
Whereas the Cowboys have Pollard beneath the franchise tag, it’s attainable they may work out a multiyear settlement by the July 17 deadline. The Cowboys even have Malik Davis, an undrafted free agent final yr, on the roster and re-signed Rico Dowdle, who was harm for portion final season, to a one-year deal.
Jones is the second free agent the Cowboys have added Monday, as Dallas additionally signed offensive lineman Chuma Edoga to a one-year deal. He supplies depth to their line after shedding final yr’s beginning left guard, Connor McGovern, in free company to the Buffalo Payments. The Cowboys’ largest acquisitions to this point have come on trades for cornerback Stephon Gilmore (Indianapolis Colts) and huge receiver Brandin Cooks (Houston Texans) for third-day draft picks.
The tagging of Pollard and the addition of Jones doesn’t preclude the Cowboys from taking a operating again early within the draft, together with at No. 26 within the first spherical.
Fowler had six sacks in simply 343 snaps final season after becoming a member of the Cowboys as a free agent from the Atlanta Falcons on a one-year deal. He was in a position to report the third-most sacks he has had in his profession after reuniting with coordinator Dan Quinn, who recruited him to the College of Florida and coached him in Atlanta.
With Fowler, the Cowboys have their high 5 sack leaders from a yr in the past again in 2024, together with Micah Parsons (13.5), Dorance Armstrong (8.5), DeMarcus Lawrence (6) and Wilson (5). Final yr’s second-round choose, Sam Williams, had 4 sacks. The Cowboys had 54 sacks final yr, tied for third within the NFL and probably the most by a Dallas protection since 2008 (59).
