Jerry Jones and the Dallas Cowboys front office have taken a definitive step toward stabilizing their roster, making a pair of personnel decisions that target two of the team’s most pressing concerns.
By securing offensive lineman T.J. Bass and cornerback Reddy Steward, the organization has reinforced a protection unit plagued by positional uncertainty and a secondary that struggled to maintain consistency during the 2025 season.
These moves represent a strategic effort to retain “glue pieces” who can step into starting roles at a moment’s notice, providing a safeguard against the injuries and depth issues that hampered the team’s playoff aspirations a year ago.
The decision to lock in these contributors became official on Tuesday when Bass signed a second-round tender worth $5.76 million, following Steward‘s agreement to an exclusive rights tender valued at approximately $1 million.
Brian Schottenheimer backs roster depth ahead of key position battles
The internal value of these signings was reinforced by head coach Brian Schottenheimer during the NFL Scouting Combine, where he emphasized the necessity of having prepared, versatile athletes on the active roster. When asked specifically about the future of his interior linemen, Schottenheimer‘s endorsement was unequivocal.
“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, we’re just very, very talented like I just talked about. Both of those guys coming back would be big for us,” the coach stated.
This “absolutely” from the coaching staff highlights a philosophy of building around reliable depth as the foundation for a more explosive starting unit.
The return of T.J. Bass is particularly vital as the Cowboys continue to weigh the permanent role of All-Pro Tyler Smith. Simultaneously, the retention of Reddy Steward addresses a secondary that surrendered a league-worst 4,276 passing yards last season.
Steward, who was claimed off waivers in August 2025, emerged as a rare bright spot during his “test drive” with the team, eventually recording 63 tackles and 1.5 sacks in a starting role.
