The Dallas Cowboys have an extended listing of free brokers who will formally hit the open market in somewhat over two months. Of these, six or seven have been vital contributors in 2024, which means the Cowboys have some troublesome selections forward of them within the subsequent two months.
At present, we proceed our sequence by taking a look at a participant coming off the very best total season of his profession, broad receiver KaVontae Turpin.
Picture by Sam Hodde/Getty Photos
2024 Common Season Stats: 17G, 31 Receptions, 420 Receiving Yards, 2 Receiving Touchdowns, 48.1% Receiving Success Fee, 16 Rushes, 92 Speeding Yards, 904 Kickoff Return Yards, 33.5 Y/Ret (Kickoff), 1 KRTD, 1 PRTD
12 months Assessment: 2024 was a giant yr for 28-year-old KaVontae Turpin. The previous undrafted free agent took a big leap ahead this season, propelling himself from being checked out solely as among the best particular groups gamers in all of soccer to an ample receiving menace as nicely.
On the season, Turpin posted career-highs in practically each offensive statistical class. His receptions (31) and receiving yards (420) greater than doubled from his 2023 totals, and his 13.5 Y/Rec was the very best among the many Cowboys’ certified broad receivers.
Late within the season, the Cowboys additionally began to make use of Turpin’s game-changing velocity within the run sport. In Dallas’ final 5 contests, the second-year professional ran the ball 10 instances for 76 yards, averaging a particularly spectacular 7.60 Y/A. Turpin recorded first downs on 4 of his 10 rushes over this span and was inches away from breaking a number of vital runs.
Turpin’s improve in offensive efficiency didn’t have an effect on his dominance within the return sport one bit. He led the NFL in kickoff return yards (904) and yards per kickoff return (33.5) and was the one participant within the NFL to return each a kick and punt for a landing this season. Turpin’s dominance within the return sport earned him the consideration of being chosen as a particular groups First-Workforce All-Professional (kick returner) earlier this week.
General, 2024 was an impressive season for the 5’9” wideout. It looks like the Cowboys are simply scratching the floor of what Turpin can accomplish on offense, and it will likely be fascinating to see how they proceed to extend his position if he returns to Dallas.
Free Company Outlook: Turpin is certainly one of Dallas’ 4 restricted free brokers this yr. Which means that Dallas may have an opportunity to put a young on Turpin, permitting them to match a proposal sheet from one other workforce. If a draft decide worth is hooked up to the tender, the Cowboys would obtain draft compensation in the event that they have been to let Turpin stroll.
Since Turpin was an undrafted free agent, it’s unlikely the Cowboys will place the unique spherical or proper of first-refusal tender on the receiver/return specialist. In the event that they did so and Turpin signed a proposal sheet the Cowboys refused to match, they’d obtain no draft compensation. This makes it extremely probably Dallas will place the second-round tender on Turpin, price a projected $5,217,000.
If Dallas does go forward and make Turpin a second-round tender, the query turns into, will one other workforce worth Turpin’s offensive potential sufficient to be keen to half with a second-round decide? If a workforce choosing late within the second spherical believes they’ve an revolutionary sufficient offense to make use of Turpin’s otherworldly velocity, mixed along with his unmatched means within the return sport, they could debate parting with an early-round choice. Groups just like the Buffalo Payments, Kansas Metropolis Chiefs, and Philadelphia Eagles, with inventive play-callers and late second-round picks, could also be inquisitive about Turpin this spring.
Cowboys Verdict: As talked about above, the logical determination for the Cowboys is to make Turpin a second-round tender price somewhat over $5M. The exhausting half for Dallas is deciding in the event that they imagine what Turpin brings on offense and the return sport is definitely worth the $5M they may use to retain a extra constantly usable participant like Rico Dowdle or Chauncey Golston.
Dallas might simply carry Turpin again for the $5.2M and re-sign each Dowdle and Golston, however everyone knows how stingy the Jones’ are with their cash, and so they could also be trying to lower prices as soon as once more this offseason. One factor going in opposition to Turpin is guys like Dowdle and Golston may very well be a starter on the 2025 Cowboys, or at the least in heavy rotation. As a lot potential as Turpin did present, there may be an offensive ceiling he’ll probably not surpass, and he’ll by no means be a participant who’s in a position to play 75% or extra of the offensive snaps.
If Dallas does place the second-round tender on Turpin and he’s ready to signal a proposal sheet from one other membership, it will likely be fascinating to see how tempted Dallas is to take the draft decide compensation. Of their minds, the Fifty fifth-Sixty fourth decide within the draft could also be extra beneficial to their workforce than what Turpin brings.
On the finish of the day, as tempting as it could be with Turpin’s distinctive skillset, it’s in all probability fairly unlikely a workforce will half with a second-round decide to accumulate him, making a return to Dallas the most certainly end result this spring.
Prediction: KaVontae Turpin accepts the Dallas Cowboys second-round tender price $5,217,000.