Position: Defensive tackle
Size: 6-4, 309
Age when season starts: 29
College: Southern Arkansas
Drafted: Undrafted in 2011
Experience: Entering his sixth season
Contract status: Signed through 2019
2016 recap: The Cowboys signed Thornton to a four-year, $17 million contract as a free agent last offseason. Thornton failed to live up to expectations in his first season outside of Philadelphia. He wasn't much of a factor on defense, finishing the year with only 22 tackles and 1 ½ sacks in 13 games.