The Cowboys made the kind of move Jerry Jones loves to point to: they signed Von Miller.
Dallas agreed to a contract with the 37-year-old linebacker, with Adam Schefter first reporting the deal for an undisclosed amount. It gives the Cowboys an 8-time Pro Bowler and 2-time Super Bowl champion, but it does not automatically hand him a starting job.
There’s a real case for Miller to start if he’s healthy. Still, the more likely setup is a role built around pressure packages, with Miller used as a situational weapon on third down and in other select spots.
That fits what Dallas has already done this offseason. The Cowboys added edge help through the draft and a trade, and now Miller joins a defense that’s still taking shape under Quinnen Williams, who recently landed a 3-year, $105 million extension.
Miller’s résumé is the kind of thing that jumps off the page: 2 Super Bowl titles, 7 All-Pro selections, 8 Pro Bowls, 203 games, 138.5 sacks, 27 forced fumbles and 9 fumble recoveries.
He also arrives with a track record that points to a specific role. Miller had 9 sacks with the Commanders and 6 sacks in 2024 with the Bills, and both of those seasons came in a situational pass-rusher role rather than as an every-down player.
Dallas is planning to use him in a 3-4 defense under new defensive coordinator Christian Parker, a scheme Miller knows well. On the outside linebacker depth chart, the weak side currently includes Rashan Gary, James Houston, Miller, Isiah Land and Tyrus Wheat. On the strong side, the names are Donovan Ezeriuaku, Malachi Lawrence, Sam Williams and Marist Liafau.
The clearest path for Miller is simple: come in fresh on third-and-6 or longer, when the offense has to throw, and go after the quarterback. That kind of usage makes the most sense for a player with his background and still gives Dallas the pass-rush punch it wants.
For a Cowboys team that was historically bad last season, even a move like this matters. Miller brings championship experience, he adds credibility to the room, and he gives Jones the splash he likes to talk about. It’s a low-risk, high-reward signing, and Dallas gets the headline it wanted.
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