Topic / Subject
A report says the Cowboys plan to protect guard T.J. Bass with a second-round restricted free agent (RFA) tender for 2026.

TL;DR
It’s a pricey “hands off” shield, but it keeps Dallas from getting its O-line depth raided. If another team wants Bass badly, it has to pay in picks.

Key Details

• Per ProFootballTalk (citing Jeremy Fowler), Dallas plans to use a second-round RFA tender on T.J. Bass.
• The reported 2026 tender amount is $5.8M.
• A second-round tender means if Bass signs an offer sheet elsewhere and Dallas doesn’t match, the Cowboys would receive a second-round pick as compensation.
• It’s not official until Dallas files the tender.

Breakdown
This is classic front-office trench insurance. Dallas is basically saying: “We like the player, and we’re not letting the market steal him for cheap.”

The second-round tender is the “make it hurt” version. If another team wants Bass, it’s not just money, it’s money plus a meaningful draft pick if the Cowboys choose not to match. That deterrent alone often cools the whole situation down.

The only real suspense is whether Dallas sticks to this exact tender level or pivots to a different one before the deadline, and whether they treat the tender as a bridge to a longer-term deal.

What to Watch Next

• Whether Dallas files the second-round tender as reported (or adjusts the level).
• Any sign the Cowboys try to extend Bass after the tender is in place.
• If any team is bold enough to test Dallas with an offer sheet anyway.

Sources
NBC Sports ProFootballTalk — Report: Cowboys to use second-round RFA tender on T.J. Bass
Jeremy Fowler (ESPN) — report (headline not provided)

Comment
Would you rather Dallas pay the $5.8M tender now, or push for a cheaper multi-year deal that keeps O-line depth locked in?