Cowboys tender two RFAs, two others now unrestricted
The Dallas Cowboys are preparing for next week’s free agency bonanza with some final internal decisions. We now know that two of their four restricted free agents, K Brandon Aubrey and G T.J. Bass, will receive second-round tenders. The other two, C Brock Hoffman and S Juanyeh Thomas, will not be tendered and will now be unrestricted when the market opens.
The decision on Aubrey was announced earlier, making him one of the league’s highest-paid kickers at $5.76 million. Talks will continue on a multi-year deal, with Aubrey seeking to move to the top of the compensation list for his position and Dallas hoping to bring down his salary cap number. If Aubrey plays 2026 on the tag, that full amount will count against the cap.
The final decisions on Bass, Hoffman, and Thomas are consistent with rumors we’ve been hearing over the last few weeks. As RFA tender amounts are not position-dependent, Bass will get the same annual salary as Aubrey outside of a multi-year deal. Over the last three seasons, Bass has become a primary depth option at guard and has potential flexilbility at center, though he’s never taken that job away from Hoffman. The RFA tender means that, even if a long-term deal is eventually reached, Bass will likely be the Cowboys’ most expensive backup on the offensive line and could be expected to handle center as well.
As for Hoffman and Thomas, they can now negotiate freely with other teams next week without any concerns of draft compensation or the Cowboys matching an offer. For Hoffman, this may allow him to pursue starting opportunities that he wouldn’t have in Dallas behind Cooper Beebe, Tyler Smith, or Tyler Booker. The door is likely still open for him to return, but only after testing the market and agreeing to a team-friendly contract as a key reserve.
Given the Cowboys’ more open situation at safety, it’s surprising that they’re not securing Thomas’ services. He’s arguably flashed more potential than Markquese Bell over the last few years, but injuries cost him chances to build on that reputation in 2025. Now, both he and Donovan Wilson will be free to sign elsewhere, leaving Malik Hooker and Bell as the only experienced safeties on the current roster. Thomas may also be given a chance to return after seeing what the rest of the NFL has to offer.
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