FRISCO, Texas — The Dallas Cowboys are waiving defensive tackle Jay Toia, NFL Network’s Tom Pelissero reported Sunday, citing a source. The post went up at 2:10 p.m. CT. Dallas has until 5 p.m. CT to get to 53 players.
Toia has fewer than four accrued seasons. That puts him on waivers rather than straight into free agency, and any of the other 31 teams can claim him. Claims are due Monday at noon CT.
Jay Toia’s Draft Selection And Rookie Season
Dallas took Toia in the seventh round of the 2025 NFL Draft, No. 217 overall, with a pick acquired from the Tennessee Titans. He was the first of three seventh-rounders the Cowboys made that year. Toia started three seasons at UCLA and was voted a team captain there. He weighed 342 pounds entering the draft.
His rookie year came to five appearances and no starts. Toia debuted in the season opener at the Philadelphia Eagles on Sept. 4 and finished the season with 3 tackles. His one quarterback hit came against the Arizona Cardinals on Nov. 3. He played his last game of 2025 at the Las Vegas Raiders on Nov. 17. Toia was on the field for 90 defensive snaps as a rookie and 26 more on special teams.
What Jay Toia Said At Rookie Minicamp
Toia spoke at rookie minicamp in May 2025, in an availability reported by DallasCowboys.com’s Patrik Walker.
“I mean, I feel like just the standard of being a D lineman [is], you know, coming in and just destruction all over the line of scrimmage,” Toia said.
During Toia’s first training camp in Oxnard, California, Walker wrote that Toia was drawing double teams in padded practice and bull rushing linemen back into the quarterback.
“I feel like success, for me, is longevity,” Toia said. “I want to play in this league for a long time. I want to play for the Cowboys for a long time.”
Jay Toia’s Preseason Starts Against Arizona And New Orleans
On Aug. 22 in Phoenix, Toia started at defensive tackle in the Cowboys’ 34-13 preseason win over Arizona. He started again Friday against the New Orleans Saints in the preseason finale, a 27-24 loss at AT&T Stadium.
Earlier in camp, ESPN reported Toia was scheduled for an MRI on his elbow after leaving a practice early.
Dallas Cowboys Defensive Line Depth Under Christian Parker
Dallas is moving to a 3-4 base front under first-year defensive coordinator Christian Parker, who replaced Matt Eberflus. Quinnen Williams, Kenny Clark, and Otito Ogbonnia sit at the top of the interior group. Jonathan Bullard signed in March. Rookie LT Overton, the No. 137 pick in the 2026 draft, has been working inside after playing edge at Alabama.
The Cowboys finished 7-9-1 last season and missed the playoffs for a second straight year. They allowed 30.1 points per game, last in the NFL.
Dallas opens Sept. 13 at MetLife Stadium against the New York Giants. Kickoff is 7:20 p.m. CT on NBC.
