The comp pick formula was extended a bit, but now that it's officially closed, the only thing remaining at play is just how much each of the qualifying free agents plays in 2025. For the Dallas Cowboys, this could have a serious impact on their future, because they have three players who could greatly impact the number of comp picks.

32 compensatory picks are awarded to teams annually, based on a formula of signing and losing qualified free agents. The primary factor is average annual value of the deal, but playing time (and to a lesser degree, awards) is the determining factor among players clustered together. Over The Cap has recently looked at those factors and identified several players whose playing time will be crucial in determining the comp pick haul of their current and former teams.

there is an unusually high number of players on the bubble of qualifying as CFAs that are relevant to multiple teams’ comp pick ledgers. This is because these players signed at or near $3 million APY, a very popular amount this season, and the cutoff looks to be very close to that $3 million mark.

The Dallas Cowboys have four such players, RB Javonte Williams, DL Solomon Thomas, former RB Rico Dowdle and former QB Cooper Rush. Dallas, currently projected to have three comp picks (Jourdan Lewis, DeMarcus Lawrence, Chauncey Golston) based on contract value and projected playing time, could earn a fourth comp pick (Chuma Edoga) based on Rush's snaps.

Unlike the Ravens, the Cowboys have much more at stake. They will have to decide just how much they want to play Javonte Williams and Solomon Thomas, both of whom are expected to be part of committees at their positions. If either play enough to qualify as CFAs, they risk cancelling out first a 6th rounder, and then a 5th rounder. They could get some unexpected 7th round insurance if, as explained above with the Ravens, Cooper Rush plays more than expected. Rico Dowdle could also do the same if he hits incentives in his contract with the Panthers.

Currently, the Cowboys losses of Brandin Cooks and Edoga cancel out their two qualified signings of Dante Fowler and Robert Jones, leaving the team three picks for the losses of Lewis (Jacksonville), Lawrence (Seattle) and Golston (NY Giants).

But if Lamar Jackson misses a sizable amount of time for the Baltimore Ravens and Cooper Rush plays a bunch, he'd see enough snaps to now be a qualifying player for the Cowboys' formula. Rush would replace the cancelled-out Edoga who would join Lewis, Lawrence and Golston as players the Cowboys would be compensated for losing.

Proposed Cowboys comp pick chart

The same outcome could arise if Dowdle becomes a primary back in Carolina and sees a large share of their offensive snaps.

On the flip side, instead of seeing a haul of the maximum four comp picks, the Cowboys could see their bounty drop down to just a single additional pick.

If Williams or Thomas end up being large-scale contributors at their position, they could earn their way into the formula, cancelling out the Cowboys' awards for losing Lawrence and Golston.

Potential 2026 comp picks for Cowboys

It should not be ruled out that if any of these players are seen as exchangeable parts, whether in the cutdown to the 53-man roster or during the season, that the front office might make a case for them to be featured less, or not at all.