NFL News: Solomon Thomas, Cowboys Reportedly Agree to $8M Contract in Free Agency

The Dallas Cowboys agreed to a two-year contract worth up to $8 million with defensive tackle Solomon Thomas in free agency on Tuesday, according to ESPN's Adam Schefter.

Thomas, 29, was originally the No. 3 overall pick in the 2017 NFL draft out of Stanford by the San Francisco 49ers.

He spent his first four NFL seasons with the Niners before a one-year stint with the Las Vegas Raiders. Thomas played for the New York Jets over the past three campaigns.

Although expectations were high at the start of his NFL career, Thomas never quite lived up to them in San Francisco, recording just six sacks in 48 games, including 30 starts.

He rebuilt his value a bit as a rotational player for the Raiders in 2021, recording 3.5 sacks, and parlayed that into three one-year deals with the Jets.

Although he only started four of the 50 games he played in for the Jets, the past two seasons were among the best of Thomas' career, as he recorded a career-high five sacks in 2023, followed by 3.5 sacks last season.

In Dallas, Thomas figures to serve in a similar role since the Cowboys already have their starting defensive tackles in place in the form of Mazi Smith and Osa Odighizuwa, the latter of whom signed a new four-year, $80 million deal last week.

With Linval Joseph and Carlos Watkins hitting free agency, the Cowboys lacked depth on the interior defensive line, but Thomas changes that.

In terms of players still under contract with the Cowboys, Micah Parsons is the leading returning sack-getter after recording 12 sacks last season, followed by DeMarvion Overshown (five), Odighizuwa (4.5) and safety Donovan Wilson (4.5).

Chauncey Golston, who was second on the team last season with 5.5 sacks, has agreed to a deal with the New York Giants in free agency. Also, Carl Lawson is a free agent after registering five sacks.

DeMarcus Lawrence only had three sacks last season since injuries limited him to four games, but he recorded 61.5 sacks overall in his 11 seasons with the organization, and he is a free agent as well.

Although he has never had more than five sacks in a single season, Thomas is capable of getting some push up the middle, and the Cowboys have some major pass-rushing holes to fill.

Even with the arrival of Thomas, the Cowboys still have some significant needs on defense following a 7-10 season, and an edge rusher to complement Parsons may be the biggest among them.