C.J. Goodwin’s retirement leaves the Cowboys with more than a roster spot to fill. It takes away one of the most dependable special teams pieces Dallas had, a player whose value showed up far more in coverage than in the box score.
Goodwin announced his retirement on June 29, closing the book on a 12-year NFL career. He spent his final eight seasons in Dallas, appearing in 108 games and piling up 2,211 special teams snaps while rarely seeing defensive action. He also finished last season with 18 tackles and was one of the Cowboys’ six team captains in 2025.
Special teams coordinator Nick Sorensen praised Goodwin’s consistency last year, calling him a true professional who excelled at his role, via Patrik Walker of the team’s official website.
Sorensen said, "He takes really good care of his body, he's a really good leader, but he also still produces. And you've gotta keep producing to stay in the league.
He's consistently done that. He competes every day and does right, and keeps producing."
With that production now gone, Dallas has to find a new answer for coverage units. Traeshon Holden is the name to watch.
Holden is a 6-foot-3, 205-pound receiver who went undrafted in 2025. At Oregon, he caught 82 passes for 1,170 yards and 11 touchdowns over two seasons after previously playing at Alabama. He also flashed in training camp last summer, leading the Cowboys with 42 receiving yards in his preseason debut before landing on the practice squad for the season.
That stint only seemed to strengthen his standing in the building. Holden became a fan favorite, and Dallas brought him back on a reserve/future contract for 2026.
His frame and speed make him a natural candidate for punt and kickoff coverage, giving him a path to the 53-man roster even with CeeDee Lamb and George Pickens ahead of him at receiver. Holden has already shown he’s not shy about the competition, saying during last year’s camp, "When I walk on the field, I'm the best player on the field."
The Cowboys still haven’t named a starting gunner for 2026. They also added safety P.J. Locke this offseason on a one-year, $4 million deal that can climb to $5 million with incentives, with special teams experience in mind.
For now, Holden looks like the most obvious in-house candidate to help replace what Goodwin gave Dallas for nearly a decade.
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Cowboys Still Have One Line Problem That Could Haunt 2026
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Tyler Guyton and Terence Steele are still the names most likely to open at tackle, even though neither has given Dallas much reason to feel settled there in recent years. The team did add Drew Shelton as a developmental option, but he is not viewed as someone who can push for a starting job right away, which leaves the Cowboys with more hope than competition at a position group that could end up mattering just as much as any defensive overhaul. [Read more 🡒]