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TJ Bass #66 of the Dallas Cowboys

The Dallas Cowboys offseason has been proceeding apace, and though there have not been quite as many new additions as many had expected, the team has been more active in free agency than has been typical in the last decade or so of the Jerry Jones regime. But there is still the business of keeping their own players in the fold, and that’s likely to start getting some attention in the weeks between free agency and next month’s NFL draft–it happened, in fact, on Tuesday with the return of guard TJ Bass.

The Cowboys have two free agents in special circumstances who remain in holding patterns, kicker Brandon Aubrey and star receiver George Pickens. Both of those players will require contracts near the top of the market in free agency, though the Cowboys ultimately control the fates of both–Aubrey was given a second-round tender offer by the Cowboys, and Pickens is on a $27 million franchise tag. That means Dallas controls the rights of both.

Bass, too, was on a second-round tender, which is a $5.7 million offer that allows the player to sign with a new team, if that team is willing to give back a second-round pick.

Cowboys Have Leaned on TJ Bass

Since that was not going to happen, Bass took the sensible path and signed the one-year deal with the Cowboys, ensuring a fourth season for him as, arguably, the most valuable depth piece on the roster. Bass was an undrafted free agent when he came aboard in 2023, and in his first three seasons in Dallas, he has consistently been called upon to start games.

He started two games in 2023, and three in 2024. Last year, he started five games. three on the right side when Tyler Booker was hurt and two on the left side when Tyler Smith kicked out to tackle to replace Tyler Guyton.

TJ Bass Was a Glue Piece

As a backup, he was rated the No. 29 guard in the NFL by Pro Football Focus last year, out of 81 total guards. His deal is a relative bargain, and it is unlikely the Cowboys will be able to keep him long-term unless he replaces someone in the first five–Bass probably will get a chance to start somewhere.

At the combine, coach Brian Schottenheimer was asked about the Cowboys’ line depth, where Bass and Brock Hoffman were free agents.

“Both of those guys are studs. They’re glue pieces for us. They’re always prepared, they’re ready. Both of those guys could start for other teams in the league,” Schottenheimer said.

The Cowboys did not tender Hoffman, though. Now, Bass will be back.

Cowboys Keeping Reddy Steward

The Cowboys’ Reddy Steward, who got playing time last year in the team’s depleted secondary, also signed his tender offer, though his deal was for $1.1 million as an exclusive rights free agent.

Steward was undrafted in 2024, but was on the fringe of the Bears and Vikings rosters for that season. He was claimed off of waivers by the Cowboys at the end of August 2025. Steward was in 17 games, with five starts, and notched 63 tackles and forced a fumble. He allowed a passer rating of 99.3 when he was targeted last year.

Sean Deveney is a veteran sports reporter covering the NBA, NFL and MLB for Heavy.com. He has written for Heavy since 2019 and has more than two decades of experience covering the NBA, including 17 years as the lead NBA reporter for the Sporting News. Deveney is the author of 7 nonfiction books, including “Fun City,” “Before Wrigley became Wrigley,” and “Facing Michael Jordan.” More about Sean Deveney