{"id":540050,"date":"2026-03-16T11:59:09","date_gmt":"2026-03-16T11:59:09","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/540050\/"},"modified":"2026-03-16T11:59:09","modified_gmt":"2026-03-16T11:59:09","slug":"cowboys-early-free-agency-haul-perfectly-summed-up-in-one-word","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/540050\/","title":{"rendered":"Cowboys’ Early Free Agency Haul Perfectly Summed Up in One Word"},"content":{"rendered":"

The Dallas Cowboys<\/a> were active during the first wave of NFL <\/a>free agency, but the team did not land any of the top-tier players on the market. While Dallas may not have made a major splash, the team has made some solid additions that will improve the team. <\/p>\n

But is it enough for the Cowboys to take the next step?<\/p>\n

Players like Jalen Thompson<\/a>, Cobie Durant<\/a>, and P.J. Locke<\/a> are immediate upgrades for the secondary, while the trade for Rashan Gary helps some help on the edge<\/a>. However, there are still major holes on the roster entering Week 2 of free agency. <\/p>\n

Because of the team’s approach, Alex Ballentine of Bleacher Report<\/a> used the perfect word to sum up the team’s early haul. Dallas didn’t take a major step forward, but they also didn’t take any steps back. That’s why you can only describe the team’s action so far as “maintaining.”<\/p>\n

\"Green<\/p>\n

Green Bay Packers defensive end Rashan Gary runs onto the field before the game against the Carolina Panthers | Sarah Kloepping\/USA TODAY NETWORK-Wisconsin \/ USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images<\/p>\n

“There’s a world where a long-term contract for Pickens and a successful pursuit of Trey Hendrickson have this team looking like a contender,” Ballentine explained. “Instead, they have an extended standoff with a franchise-tagged Pickens while trading for Rashan Gary and making other defensive acquisitions. It’s just enough to be where they were in 2025.”<\/p>\n

Of course, the Cowboys still have an opportunity to continue adding as the offseason goes on. Players like Minnesota Vikings edge Jonathan Greenard<\/a> and former New York Giants defensive captain Bobby Okereke<\/a> are still available, and the team holds two first-round picks in the upcoming 2026 NFL draft<\/a>. <\/p>\n

So, while the team hasn’t come flying out of the gates in free agency, something Jerry Jones <\/a>historically does not do, the patient approach is allowing the team to think through their decisions and evaluate all of the options on the board. <\/p>\n

When the team does strike, let’s just hope it continues building for new defensive coordinator Christian Parker<\/a>. <\/p>\n

Dallas Cowboys’ 2025 defensive rankings\"A<\/p>\n

A view of Dallas Cowboys players’ helmets on the bench against the Washington Commanders at FedExField. | Geoff Burke-Imagn Images<\/p>\n

Total Defense: The Dallas Cowboys ranked No. 30 in the league in total defense, allowing 377 total yards per game, including what is, unfortunately, a league-high 60 touchdowns.<\/p>\n

Pass Defense: The Dallas Cowboys ranked dead last in the NFL in passing defense, No. 32, allowing 251.5 yards per game and 35 passing touchdowns, ranking as the second-most behind the New York Jets, who failed to get an interception in 2025.<\/p>\n

Rush Defense: The Dallas Cowboys ranked No. 23 in the league, allowing 125.5 yards per game and a league-high 24 rushing touchdowns.<\/p>\n

\u2014 Sign up for the Cowboys Daily Digest newsletter <\/a>for more free coverage from Dallas Cowboys on SI<\/a> \u2014<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"The Dallas Cowboys were active during the first wave of NFL free agency, but the team did not…\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":540051,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[436],"tags":[49,48,514,82],"class_list":["post-540050","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","category-nfl","tag-ca","tag-canada","tag-nfl","tag-sports"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/540050","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=540050"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/540050\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/540051"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=540050"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=540050"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=540050"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}