Like many teams around the league, the Cowboys sent a strong message in free agency. However, they did not add a large number of players or keep most of their own players. What is clear for the Cowboys is that they are willing to give opportunities to the young players on the team.
There are a number of players on this roster who are still on their rookie contracts but have yet to have a breakout season. Maybe this year too? There's only hope for the Cowboys, especially considering they only signed one player in free agency (Eric Kendricks) and only have six picks in the NFL Draft later this month.
Therefore, the Cowboys will have to rely on some past draft and free agent signings to fill out this roster.
Today we continue our series with offensive lineman TJ Bass.
- name: TJ base
- position: guard/center
- experience: 2n.d. Year
- Games played/started: 17/2
- Remaining years of contract: 2
- how to get: UDFA 2023 (Oregon)
- Key statistics: In the two games Bass started in 2023, the Cowboys averaged 158 rushing yards. Overall, the team averaged 112.9 rushing yards on the season.
past: In just one season, Bass proved to be another great post-draft player for the Cowboys. In fact, while last year's 2023 draft class had limited contributions, Bass was one of the most productive players in the entire rookie class. He played in every game on the schedule and started two games due to injury. Bass was the starting right guard in Arizona, and the Cowboys rushed for a season-high 185 yards. In Week 18 against Washington, he started at left guard and the Cowboys gained 131 yards, their sixth-highest total of the season.
the current: This should be a big offseason for Bass, where he will not only compete for the starting job, but also probably have a chance to show off his versatility at the same time. The Cowboys haven't made clear their intentions for a player like Bass in the lineup, but there seems to be some talk about his ability to play center. He played only guard in games last season, but also practiced at center a few times. This year, the Cowboys lost both their starting center (Tyler Biadasz) and left tackle (Tyron Smith) to free agency. The center spot is open, and left tackle could create a ripple effect if Tyler Smith moves to tackle and the guard tries to grab him. Either way, Bass should be in line to compete for the starting gig. Even if they don't, having a player who can play either the guard spot or center would be a great backup on game day.
future: This looks like a bright spot for Bass, who many thought would be drafted last year because of his Day 3 performance by the Cowboys. He's now in his first season and has already been named as a potential starter. He could definitely develop into a starter in the future, and center seems to be the best option given his size. But even if he doesn't start, there's always a role for a reserve player who can step over the line and fill those three spots. What happens with Bass this year will say a lot about his future potential. The Cowboys still have plenty of time to figure out what kind of player Bass will become, as he still has two seasons left on his contract before he becomes a restricted free agent.
