According to a report by Jordan Schultz cited on NBC Sports, the Dallas Cowboys do not plan to place a restricted free agent tender on offensive lineman Brock Hoffman, which would make the 26-year-old an unrestricted free agent. Coach Brian Schottenheimer had publicly said the team wanted both Hoffman and T.J. Bass back for 2026, and the Cowboys did place a second-round tender on Bass. Hoffman started 14 games over the past two seasons and has played center, left guard and right guard; Bass has 10 career starts. If the report is accurate, Dallas will need to negotiate a direct contract with Hoffman to retain him, rather than relying on the restricted free agent tender process.
Key takeaways
- The Cowboys reportedly will not tender Brock Hoffman, making him an unrestricted free agent if the team does not change course (source: Jordan Schultz via NBC Sports).
- Hoffman, 26, has started 14 games across the 2024–25 seasons and has on-field experience at center, left guard and right guard.
- Dallas placed a second-round restricted free agent tender on T.J. Bass; Bass has started 10 games in his NFL career.
- Coach Brian Schottenheimer publicly described both Hoffman and Bass as core “glue” players who could start elsewhere, signaling the club values their versatility and preparation.
- Without a tender, Hoffman is free to sign with any team immediately in the 2026 free-agent period, removing draft-pick compensation for Dallas.
- The decision reduces one administrative retention tool (RFA tender) but preserves the team’s option to negotiate a standard free-agent contract with Hoffman.
Background
Restricted free agent (RFA) tenders are a common tool NFL teams use to preserve negotiating leverage and, depending on the tender level, to obtain draft-pick compensation if another club signs the player. Teams weigh tendering RFAs against salary-cap costs and roster planning; higher tenders (first- or second-round) carry a larger salary and greater compensation if the player signs elsewhere. The Cowboys used a second-round tender on T.J. Bass, signaling they wanted stronger protection for him.
Brock Hoffman emerged as a rotational/starting interior lineman over the past two seasons, appearing at multiple interior spots and starting 14 games. Versatile interior linemen often draw market interest because they can cover injuries and provide depth across the line. Coach Brian Schottenheimer has publicly praised both Hoffman and Bass, calling them “glue pieces” for the offensive unit, which indicates the team values their preparedness and versatility even as front-office decisions play out.
Main event
The report from Jordan Schultz, relayed by NBC Sports’ ProFootballTalk, states the Cowboys do not plan to tender Hoffman as a restricted free agent. That procedural decision would immediately change Hoffman’s status: from restricted — where the Cowboys could match offers or receive compensation — to unrestricted, free to sign anywhere without giving Dallas a claim to draft compensation. The Cowboys did, however, place a second-round tender on T.J. Bass, reflecting a deliberate choice to protect Bass through the tender mechanism while apparently allowing Hoffman to hit the open market.
Coach Schottenheimer had said at the NFL Scouting Combine that the team wanted both Hoffman and Bass back for 2026, calling them “studs” and saying they could start for other teams. The coach’s public comments underscore a willingness to retain the players but do not override front-office roster or cap-driven decisions about tenders and roster construction. If Dallas wants Hoffman to remain, the team can still pursue a direct contract, but without a tender they risk losing negotiating leverage and the automatic compensation that comes with higher tender levels.
For Hoffman, the immediate consequence of the reported decision is increased agency: he would be free to negotiate with any team and potentially command a market rate based on his starts and positional flexibility. For the Cowboys, the move reduces short-term cap exposure tied to tender levels but leaves interior-line depth contingent on either re-signing Hoffman via agreement or finding alternatives in free agency or the draft.
Analysis & implications
Strategically, declining to tender Hoffman suggests the Cowboys are balancing cap priorities and roster flexibility. A second-round tender on Bass creates a clear retention fence around him, likely because the team values his projection and wants to deter poaching. By contrast, not tendering Hoffman could indicate the team believes it can either re-sign him at a lower cost, replace him through other roster moves, or accept the risk of losing him in free agency.
Hoffman’s value to potential suitors is in his versatility. Interior linemen who can play center and both guard spots are attractive in a league where injuries routinely force in-season shuffling. Having started 14 games in the past two seasons, Hoffman presents a combination of recent starting experience and positional flexibility that should generate interest on the open market, particularly among teams with thin depth on the interior line.
The decision also has ripple effects on Dallas’s short-term offensive-line planning. If Hoffman departs, the Cowboys will need to prioritize interior depth in free agency or the draft, or lean on younger, less experienced players. Conversely, if Dallas negotiates a new contract with Hoffman, the team may secure continuity at a potentially lower cost than a tender would have required.
Comparison & data
| Player | Age | Starts (recent two seasons) | Primary positions |
|---|---|---|---|
| Brock Hoffman | 26 | 14 | Center, LG, RG |
| T.J. Bass | — | 10 (career) | Guard, Interior |
The table above summarizes starts and positional roles: Hoffman has 14 starts over the last two seasons, while Bass has 10 career starts. These raw counts reflect availability and recent opportunity but do not fully capture film-grade performance or snap counts. Teams will combine these statistics with game tape and internal metrics when deciding whether to pursue or re-sign each player.
Reactions & quotes
“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.”
Coach Brian Schottenheimer, at the NFL Scouting Combine
“The Cowboys do not plan to tender Brock Hoffman,”
Jordan Schultz / The Schultz Report (reported on NBC Sports)
Schottenheimer’s remarks underline the coaching staff’s appreciation of the players’ preparation and versatility. Schultz’s report, as presented by NBC Sports, identifies the front-office procedural choice; the team had not issued a formal public confirmation of the non-tender at the time of the report.
Unconfirmed
- The Cowboys had not issued an official, public confirmation of the decision to not tender Hoffman at the time of the NBC Sports report.
- Specific contract offers, salary expectations, or negotiations between Hoffman and the Cowboys were not reported and remain unknown.
- Which teams, if any, have expressed concrete interest in Hoffman on the open market has not been verified.
Bottom line
The reported decision not to tender Brock Hoffman would materially alter his status: instead of restricted free agency, he would enter unrestricted free agency and be free to sign immediately with any club. That outcome increases Hoffman’s market options and removes draft-pick compensation as a barrier for interested teams. For Dallas, the choice preserves short-term cap and roster flexibility but creates a clearer need to either re-sign Hoffman through negotiation or find replacement depth.
Watch for two near-term developments: an official confirmation from the Cowboys organization, and any immediate contacts between Hoffman (or his representatives) and prospective teams. Those actions will determine whether Dallas ultimately keeps Hoffman via a negotiated deal or loses a versatile interior lineman in free agency.