The Dallas Cowboys had a choice to make this offseason when it came to their offensive line reserves. The club had two in-house restricted free agents basically competing for the same second-round tender. While TJ Bass had a higher regard coming out of Oregon, Virginia Tech’s Brock Hoffman had shown and proven his toughness in the trenches, earning a reputation as an “I’ll fight any defender, any time” enforcer that fans love.
In the end, the homegrown Bass won out, earning the tender, while Hoffman moved on in free agency. Do the Cowboys have someone who can move into the role of the tougher-than-nails backup? Perhaps that guy is Trevor Keegan. Like Hoffman, who began his career with the Cleveland Browns, Keegan started with the Philadelphia Eagles, earning a Super Bowl ring in 2024 when he appeared for 35 offensive snaps after being a fifth-round pick. Dallas snared him after he was waived at the end of 2025 training camp, and now there could be a role to be earned for 2026.
Rundown
Position: Offensive Guard
Age: 25
Height: 6-foot-5
Weight: 306 pounds
Hometown: Crystal Lake, IL
High School: Crystal Halke South High
College: Michigan (Film Study Video)
Draft: 2025 Fifth-round pick (Eagles) No. 172 overall
Acquired: 2025 Street FA
Contract: Three-year contract (2025), $4.3 million
2026 Base Salary: $1.1 million, no guarantees
Career Earnings: $1.7 million (per Over The Cap)
Profile
Scouting Report from Dane Brugler’s The Beast:
A three-year starter at Michigan, Keegan was a mainstay at left guard in former head coach Jim Harbaugh’s power-spread offense. After almost transferring early in his time at Ann Arbor because of a lack of playing time, he was a key cog in the Wolverines’ offensive line success and earned All-Big Ten honors in each of his three seasons as a starter. Keegan is an experienced, well-schooled player who has gotten more consistent fitting blocks with experience. Although he works hard to fire off the snap and mirror, he lacks the bend and lower-body agility that most teams desire in a future starter. Overall, Keegan is an average athlete and lacks a truly distinguishing trait, but he is a physical, blue-collar blocker who made steady improvements as a senior that gives scouts optimism. He will have a chance to earn his keep as a depth piece in the NFL.
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This article originally appeared on Cowboys Wire: Can former Eagles 5th-round Dude Bro replace Cowboys fan favorite?
Reporting by K.D. Drummond, Cowboys Wire / Cowboys Wire
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
By K.D. Drummond, Cowboys Wire | USA TODAY Network
