FRISCO, Texas – On Tuesday, restricted free agent OL T.J. Bass signed his second-round, $5.76 million tender, and CB Reddy Steward signed his roughly $1 million exclusive rights tender.
The tenders are not necessarily guarantees that both Bass and Steward play for the Cowboys in 2026, as both could still be traded if an offer comes across the table.
On March 7, the Cowboys officially placed the second-round tender on Bass, along with kicker Brandon Aubrey. The usage of a that tender on Bass speaks to the value the Cowboys see in him.
Throughout his three seasons in Dallas, Bass has been as reliable a backup option at guard as anybody. Over the course of the last year, Dallas has even had him take some snaps at center. Should the Cowboys elect to move All-Pro left guard Tyler Smith to left tackle, Bass presents a starting option to fill the opening.
At the NFL Combine in Indianapolis, head coach Brian Schottenheimer said he "absolutely" wanted Bass, along with fellow offensive lineman and restricted free agent Brock Hoffman, to be back in Dallas in 2026. Hoffman did not receive a qualifying offer from the Cowboys and is now an unrestricted free agent.
"Both of those guys are studs," Schottenheimer said. "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."
As for Steward, he was claimed off waivers by the Cowboys a day after the Vikings, who had signed him to a reserve/futures deal at the beginning of the year, decided to move on from him.
Prior to his time in Minnesota, Steward signed with the Chicago Bears and then head coach Matt Eberflus as an undrafted free agent. He reunited with Eberflus, who was Dallas' defensive coordinator in 2025, to give the Cowboys some more depth at corner, specifically in the nickel spot behind DaRon Bland.
Despite being a late add to the roster, Steward played in all 17 games for the Cowboys in 2025 and started in five. He collected 63 tackles, five tackles for loss, three pass breakups and a forced fumble in 496 defensive snaps.
With Bland at times playing on the outside and at times dealing with injury, Stewart gained an increased role in the defense as the year went along. In Week 8 on the road against the Broncos, the Cowboys were losing bodies at the safety position to injury, and Steward filled in at that spot as well.
Both Bass and Steward give the Cowboys some depth options on the offensive line and in the secondary that have proven to be valuable in the past.
