The Dallas Cowboys signed DT Perrion Winfrey on June 28, 2025, adding depth and putting pressure on Mazi Smith. Can the new-look D-line deliver in 2025?
StatPro NFL Beat Reporter
The Dallas Cowboys made a significant move to address their biggest defensive question mark on Saturday, signing All-UFL defensive tackle Perrion Winfrey to shore up the interior. The move came on the same day the team officially announced its much-anticipated return to Oxnard, California for training camp, setting the stage for a pivotal few weeks as Dallas aims to rebound in 2025.
The success of the entire defensive front may hinge on a breakout season from former first-round pick Mazi Smith.
Just as the UFL season concluded, the Cowboys pounced, adding one of its defensive standouts. Perrion Winfrey, a former fourth-round pick by the Cleveland Browns, resurrected his career with the Birmingham Stallions, earning All-UFL honors and now a contract with Dallas. After being out of the NFL in 2024, Winfrey provides a low-risk, high-potential body for a defensive tackle room in desperate need of depth and disruptive talent. He adds immediate competition and a potential rotational piece to help plug gaps in the run defense.
Winfrey's arrival puts an even brighter spotlight on Mazi Smith. The 2023 first-round pick showed improvement against the run late last season but is now tasked with adapting to new defensive coordinator Matt Eberflus's scheme. For the Cowboys' defense to take the next step, they need Smith to become the dominant force they envisioned on draft day. A healthy offseason for Smith, combined with the veteran presence of Winfrey and rookie Jay Toia, will be critical for a unit that was often pushed around last year.
It's official: the Cowboys are going back to Cali. The team announced its 2025 training camp schedule, confirming a return to the familiar grounds of Oxnard. Players are set to arrive on July 20, with the first open practice kicking off on July 22. Fans can circle July 25 on their calendars for the annual Fan Appreciation Night. After holding camp at The Star in Frisco last year, the return to the West Coast marks a return to tradition and signals that the season is just around the corner.
As camp approaches, the injury report is top of mind. The good news is that quarterback Dak Prescott is expected to be fully recovered from his hamstring issue and ready to go. However, several key defenders are still on the mend. The progress of Trevon Diggs (knee) and DeMarvion Overshown (knee) will be watched closely, as will the recoveries of kicker Brandon Aubrey (shoulder) and Markquese Bell (shoulder). Their availability will be a major storyline heading into August.
With a healthy Dak Prescott, a new head coach in Brian Schottenheimer, and a new weapon in receiver George Pickens, the offense is poised for a bounce-back year. The trio of CeeDee Lamb, Michael Gallup, and Pickens gives Prescott a formidable set of targets, which has fantasy analysts buzzing. While the backfield remains a committee approach post-Tony Pollard, the offseason acquisitions of defenders like Kenneth Murray Jr. and Kaiir Elam signal a clear 'win-now' mentality across the entire roster.
With a new piece for the defensive line in hand and the official countdown to Oxnard underway, the offseason narrative is shifting from planning to preparation. All eyes will now be on the health of key players like Trevon Diggs and Dak Prescott as the team gears up for its July 20th arrival in California. The questions are clear, and the real work to find the answers is about to begin.
