The Dallas Cowboys have agreed to a three-year, $18 million contract with return specialist KaVontae Turpin, NFL Network reports.
Per the report, the deal makes Turpin the highest-paid special teams player in the NFL. He was scheduled to enter the new league year as a restricted free agent.
Turpin joined the Cowboys in 2022 as an undrafted free agent. He previously played at TCU from 2015-18 and then played in the Fan Controlled Football League and USFL before getting his shot in the NFL with the Cowboys at 26 years old. He’s been one of the league’s best return men since joining the Cowboys.
As a rookie, Turpin returned 29 punts for 303 yards (10.4 yards per return) and 21 kickoffs for 508 yards (24.2 yards per return) en route to making the Pro Bowl.
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In 2024, he returned 18 punts for 187 yards (10.4 yards per return) and one touchdown, and 27 kickoffs for 904 yards (33.5 yards per return) and another touchdown. His average and total yards on kick returns were best in the NFL. He was named to his second Pro Bowl in three seasons and earned first-team All-Pro honors.
Turpin also contributes on offense and has tallied 44 catches for 556 yards and five touchdowns for his career. He took a larger role on offense in 2024 as the Cowboys’ fourth-leading receiver with 31 catches for 420 yards and two touchdowns.
He also carried the ball 16 times for 92 yards (5.8 yards per carry) as a versatile weapon and threat to move the ball whenever he’s on the field. His career NFL earnings prior to his new deal totaled $2.56 million.
