Dallas Cowboys make decision on restricted free agent Rico Dowdle
One of the Dallas Cowboys‘ two restricted free agents, running back Rico Dowdle will not be tendered for the 2023 season, according to ESPN’s Todd Archer. Dowdle, an undrafted free agent out of South Carolina, has three years in the league under his belt but his time with the Cowboys has apparently run its course. Without a tender, the RB will hit the free agency market on March 15.
The 6-foot-0, 215-pound running back didn’t post stats for the Cowboys during the 2022 season but he appeared in five games.
During the 2021 season, the Cowboys had to place Dowdle on injured reserve. He suffered a hip fracture in the preseason. Prior to 2022, he also had a knee scope that kept him out of OTAs.
In 2020, his rookie season, Dowdle had seven rush attempts for 24 yards. Out of South Carolina, he signed a three-year contract for $2.3 million, including $110,000 guaranteed.
Although the Cowboys will not tender Dowdle, they are placing a second-round tender on their other restricted free agent, Terence Steele. The former Texas Tech star suffered a season-ending knee injury in mid-December but he’ll be ready to play the season in 2023.
Steele, who went undrafted out of Texas Tech, joined the Cowboys in 2020. He signed a three-year deal for $2.3 million at the time. Dallas still hopes to work on a long-term deal with Steele.
More on the 2023 NFL offseason, free agency
The NFL 2023 calendar year begins at 4 p.m. ET on March 15. At that time, contracts running through 2022 officially run out, making those players free agents.
Prior to the beginning of free agency, teams will have a chance to designate one franchise or transition tag player, starting on Feb. 21 at 4 p.m. ET and ending on March 7. Beginning March 13 through March 15 teams can enter into a legal negotiation with players who are will become unrestricted free agents.
In addition to NFL free agency, the new year also marks the beginning of all trades being made official by the league office. April 21 marks the deadline to sign restricted free agents to offer sheets. On April 26, the deadline for teams to match restricted free agent offers sheets hits.
There are 722 players slated to become free agents in 2023, including 20 unrestricted free agents for Dallas.