The Career That Got Him Here
Snowden, 28, entered the NFL as an undrafted free agent with the Chicago Bears in 2021 out of Virginia, where he was a second-team All-ACC selection in 2020.
He spent time with the Buccaneers in 2022 before catching on with the Las Vegas Raiders, where he carved out a real role across three seasons.
Over the last two seasons in Las Vegas, he appeared in 31 games with 18 starts, recording 4.5 sacks and eight tackles for loss.
Sources: The #Cowboys are signing former #Raiders DE Charles Snowden.
— Jordan Schultz (@Schultz_Report) June 18, 2026
Over the last two seasons, Snowden started 18 games for Las Vegas — recording 4.5 sacks and 8 tackles for loss. pic.twitter.com/JlFqcu2ZmT
His 2025 season was his most productive, with 3.0 sacks, five tackles for loss, four quarterback hits, and an interception across 15 games and nine starts.
The Raiders waived him last month after Klint Kubiak's defensive makeover added Kwity Paye and Keyron Crawford while re-signing Malcolm Koonce, leaving Snowden as the odd man out despite his starting experience.
Why Dallas Made the Move
The Cowboys traded Micah Parsons to the Green Bay Packers prior to last season, and the pass rush has been an ongoing area of need ever since.
Dallas used one of its two first-round picks this year on Caleb Downs out of Ohio State, but the edge rotation behind Dante Fowler and rookie Donovan Ezeiruaku still needed depth.
Turns out the Cowboys weren't done with roster moves: Dallas is reportedly signing EDGE rusher Charles Snowden too (which fills their last open roster spot). Of all the moves today, he might have the best shot at the 53-man roster pic.twitter.com/ZAemOyRQyb
— Tom Downey (@WhatGoingDowney) June 18, 2026
Snowden's PFF grade over 70.0 and his quality run defense suggest his value lies as an edge-setter rather than a pure pass rusher, which does match up with the run-stopping emphasis Jerry Jones described when the team traded Parsons and retained interior players Quinnen Williams and Kenny Clark.
As a backup end capable of setting the edge against the run, Snowden addresses a gap that the team's young designated pass rushers do not fill, giving him an actual path to making the final roster rather than simply serving as a camp body.
