When a player becomes a piece of the puzzle on a team with a positive trajectory, they tend to try to remain in that environment. However, for one member of the Dallas Cowboys’ 2024 roster, the opportunity to see regular playing time this past season has led him to join a new franchise.
After returning to Dallas following brief stints with the Arizona Cardinals and Washington Commanders, veteran defensive lineman Carlos Watkins appeared in 15 games with the Cowboys this past season, recording 12 total tackles. This marked his second go-round in Dallas as he made 27 appearances, including 18 starts, during the 2021 and 2022 seasons.
Watkins’ second stint in Dallas has officially ended. For the second time in his career, Watkins has left the franchise as a free agent as the former fourth-round pick is taking his talents from Big D to Music City.
— Jim Wyatt (@jwyattsports) May 13, 2025
Given how porous the Titans’ defense was during the 2024 campaign, there could be more of an opportunity for Watkins in Tennessee than there would have been in Dallas. From that perspective, it is understandable why the former Clemson Tigers standout may have felt this was the best situation for him.
Losing Watkins means one fewer depth piece from this past season will be available for the 2025 campaign. This isn’t something that should have any sort of long-lasting impact on the team, though, as, despite playing 23% of the snaps on the defensive side of the ball in games he was active for, Dallas is set up well along the defensive front with training camp on the horizon.
With Watkins off to Nashville, this likely ends his Cowboys tenure moving forward. It is difficult to think of a scenario where Dallas would bring Watkins in for a third separate time, barring some significant injury issues on the defensive line.
