The Dallas Cowboys have added reinforcements to their offensive line by signing free agent Matt Hennessy to a one-year contract. Hennessy will provide veteran depth at both center and guard, effectively sliding into the versatile swing role previously occupied by Brock Hoffman. While the move might not spark a parade, having adequate depth is crucial, especially for a Cowboys team that has dealt with plenty of injuries along the offensive line in recent years.
Hennessy first made a name for himself at Temple University, where he was far more than just a body in the trenches. He was a three-year starter and eventually became the first Owl to ever be a finalist for the Rimington Trophy, awarded to the best center in college football. His technical prowess was so advanced that he earned an elite 92.9 overall grade from Pro Football Focus during his final collegiate season, allowing only a single sack over his entire career in Philadelphia. He left campus as a decorated technician with the kind of high football IQ that coaches dream about.
Transitioning to the professional ranks, Hennessy was selected by the Atlanta Falcons in the third round of the 2020 NFL Draft. He struggled his rookie season in a backup role behind Alex Mack, but it didn’t take long for him to prove that he belonged, as he started all 17 games his second year in the league. During that season, his run blocking efficiency was particularly impressive, ranking among the top centers in the league in several key metrics.
After a promising start, injuries derailed his career. He suffered a season-ending knee injury in training camp of 2023 and a back injury that limited him to just six games in 2024 before finally returning healthy last season. He played in all 17 games last year with the 49ers, where he didn’t allow a single sack or commit a single penalty. With bad health behind him, he has started reminding people what made him so good coming out of college.
Hennessy’s primary strengths lie in his mobility and lateral quickness, which allow him to excel in zone blocking schemes where linemen need to reach difficult angles. He plays with excellent leverage and understands how to use a defender’s momentum against them. He is the type of player who wins with brains and footwork rather than just raw, brute force. His ability to diagnose a blitz before it happens is sharp, quickly putting himself in a great position once the ball is snapped.
On the flip side, he has faced challenges when it comes to pure power. His smaller frame for an NFL lineman can lead to him being pushed back by the league’s most elite nose tackles. He doesn’t have the arm length to keep defenders from getting to his chest, making him susceptible to pass rushes at times. And we’d be remiss to say that his recent injury history isn’t a bit of a concern that the Cowboys’ medical staff will be watching closely.
Hennessy is a hand-in-glove fit for Klayton Adams’ high-energy gap scheme, which relies on the exact type of pulling athleticism he showcased during his elite run-blocking seasons in Atlanta. His ability to create violence in space matches Adams’ philosophy of aggressive, downhill football that revitalized the Cowboys’ ground game last season. By providing high-level depth at both center and guard, Hennessy gives the unit a versatile insurance policy that won’t skip a beat if the injury bug bites the interior, provided he’s not also bitten. It’s a swipe-right match as it gives the coaching staff another hit-and-run lineman who treats a lead block like a personal vendetta.
The Cowboys are getting a smart, experienced, and versatile lineman who can stabilize the interior roster if a starter goes down. He brings a high level of collegiate pedigree and proven NFL starting experience to a team that values flexibility upfront. If he can stay healthy, he provides a massive upgrade to the bench depth at a very reasonable price. At the very least, he gives the Dallas coaching staff peace of mind knowing they have a guy who can step in and provide them instant insurance.
