{"id":426587,"date":"2026-09-04T23:56:15","date_gmt":"2026-09-04T23:56:15","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-tx\/426587\/"},"modified":"2026-09-04T23:56:15","modified_gmt":"2026-09-04T23:56:15","slug":"offseason-in-review-dallas-cowboys","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-tx\/426587\/","title":{"rendered":"Offseason In Review: Dallas Cowboys"},"content":{"rendered":"

The Cowboys\u2019 main objective entering the offseason<\/a>: Repair a sievelike defense that was among the dregs of the NFL in 2025 and may have been the worst in franchise history. With coordinator Matt Eberflus at the controls, nobody gave up more points, more passing yards or had more trouble getting off the field on third down than the Cowboys. Dallas finished a similarly horrid 30th in total yards and takeaways, 26th in sacks and 23rd against the run.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a><\/p>\n

The Cowboys\u2019 immense defensive struggles undermined a strong offense, dooming the team to a second straight seven-win season. That wasn\u2019t going to cut it for owner Jerry Jones or head coach Brian Schottenheimer, who dismissed the beleaguered Eberflus in early January. Cowboys brass then tapped former Broncos and Eagles defensive backs coach Christian Parker as Eberflus\u2019 replacement, ending a streak of hiring five consecutive former head coaches to run their defense.<\/p>\n

Parker had never been a D-coordinator, let alone a head coach, but the 34-year-old wunderkind could draw HC interest<\/a> as early as 2027 if he guides a defensive turnaround this season. The unit does not have to be elite or even close to it for the Cowboys to break a two-year playoff drought; it just has to serve as a decent complement to a high-scoring offense.<\/p>\n

Thanks to the Cowboys\u2019 offseason moves, Parker will have better personnel at his disposal than his predecessor had. Eberflus took the job expecting to coach superstar outside linebacker Micah Parsons<\/a>. Those hopes were dashed when Jones traded<\/a> Parsons to the Packers last August amid a public spat over the perennial Pro Bowler\u2019s contract. The Cowboys\u2019 defense never recovered. There still isn\u2019t a game-wrecking pass rusher on the roster a year later, but the defense\u2019s floor is much higher than it was in 2025.<\/p>\n

The drama<\/a> around Jones, Parsons and agent David Mulugheta cast a pall over Cowboys camp last summer. There were no such issues this year with wide receiver George Pickens<\/a>, who was the Cowboys\u2019 No. 1 free agent-to-be at the beginning of the offseason. The Cowboys prevented Pickens from hitting the open market when they placed the franchise tag on him in February. Although Mulugheta also represents Pickens, and although Dallas shut down<\/a> multiyear contract negotiations during the spring, he signed the tag without any real pushback.<\/p>\n

Between Pickens and CeeDee Lamb<\/a>, the Cowboys will continue to boast a stellar one-two punch at receiver for at least one more season. With the July 15 deadline for Pickens to sign a new contract now long gone, the team and player are putting his long-term future on the back burner until next year.<\/p>\n

Trades:<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a><\/p>\n

The Parsons blockbuster began a trade-happy 12 months for the Cowboys. In an attempt to upgrade a pass rush with a Parsons-sized hole in it, the Cowboys aimed about as high as possible on the trade market early in the offseason.<\/p>\n

Dallas sent multiple offers<\/a> to Las Vegas for Maxx Crosby<\/a>, but the Raiders turned down a proposal that included the 20th overall pick and Odighizuwa, one featuring the 12th overall selection and a third-rounder, and another centering on No. 12 and a second-rounder.<\/p>\n

The Raiders accepted<\/a> Baltimore\u2019s offer of two first-rounders on March 6, but the agreement collapsed<\/a> when the Ravens backed out amid concerns over Crosby\u2019s surgically repaired left meniscus. Dr. Daniel Cooper, a renowned orthopedic surgeon and the Cowboys\u2019 team physician, was among the doctors who consulted with the Ravens during the process.<\/p>\n

While Crosby is now on the cusp of beginning his eighth season with the Raiders, teams (perhaps including the Cowboys) could circle back on him around the November 10 trade deadline. That will depend on the Raiders\u2019 willingness to sell and the five-time Pro Bowler looking like his usual self during the first two months of the season.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a><\/p>\n

In the brief period between the Ravens agreeing to acquire Crosby and then backing out, the Cowboys executed a much less exciting and far less costly trade for Gary. As Parsons\u2019 teammate last year, Gary tallied 54 pressures (18th in the league), 35 hurries (17th), 20 quarterback hits and 7.5 sacks in 16 games.<\/p>\n

All of Gary\u2019s 2025 sacks came before Week 9, which may be a concern, but he does carry a credible track record as a pass rusher. The eighth-year man has racked up between six and 9.5 sacks in five straight seasons.<\/p>\n

At the time of acquisition, Gary had two seasons and a non-guaranteed $42MM left on the four-year, $96MM extension he signed in 2023. The 28-year-old agreed to wipe out $10MM of that total after the trade, and the Cowboys compromised in giving Gary $16MM in guaranteed money.<\/p>\n

The Cowboys continued to clear cap space ($4.75MM) when they sent Odighizuwa to the 49ers, but they took on $16MM in dead money at the same time. They also lost a key defensive presence who started in 76 of 84 games in Dallas over the first half-decade of his career.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a><\/p>\n

The Cowboys considered Odighizuwa a core player when they handed him a four-year, $80MM deal<\/a> in March 2025, avoiding a franchise tag, but a lot changed along their interior defensive line in the ensuing months. They acquired Kenny Clark<\/a>\u00a0in the Parsons trade and then shipped a package<\/a> including two premium picks \u2014 a 2027 first-rounder and a \u201926 second-rounder \u2014 to the Jets for Quinnen Williams<\/a> in November.<\/p>\n

The additions of the expensive Clark and Williams rendered Odighizuwa expendable from the Cowboys\u2019 standpoint. As we\u2019ll explore later, it appears they put the pick they acquired for Odighizuwa to good use.<\/p>\n

Not done dealing with the 49ers after the Odighizuwa trade, the Cowboys parted with a Day 3 pick for Winters during the draft. The trade came together after the Cowboys fell short in efforts to sign Nakobe Dean<\/a>, Quay Walker<\/a> and\u00a0Devin Lloyd<\/a> in free agency. They also reportedly attempted to trade for Jordyn Brooks<\/a> (Dolphins), Azeez Al-Shaair<\/a> (Texans) and Patrick Queen<\/a> (Steelers), but none of those players changed hands.<\/p>\n

Like several other areas on defense last year, linebacker was a sore spot for the Cowboys. Kenneth Murray<\/a> and Shemar James <\/a>led the way in snaps, though neither played well (Murray has gone unsigned since free agency opened). The now-retired Logan Wilson<\/a> made no real impact after the Bengals traded him to the Cowboys<\/a> for a seventh-rounder in November.<\/p>\n

The Cowboys now appear to have a more capable option in Winters, a fourth-year player who worked as a full-time starter on an injury-plagued San Francisco defense in 2025. While lining up for more than 91% of defensive snaps, the Texas native and former TCU standout notched 101 tackles, eight TFL, five pass breakups and a pick. He finished as Pro Football Focus\u2019<\/a> 47th-ranked off-ball LB out of 88 qualifiers, easily outdoing Murray (86th), Stewart (84th) and Wilson (66th) in that regard.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a><\/p>\n

The Cowboys\u2019 starting offensive line looked set in stone before the Jones trade came out of left field on cutdown weekend. The 2023 first-rounder was a full-time starter for three seasons in Pittsburgh, where he spent time at both tackle spots, but was shaky throughout.<\/p>\n

Between Jones\u2019 so-so performance and the spinal fusion surgery he underwent last December, it was not a surprise that the Steelers declined the former No. 14 overall pick\u2019s $19.07MM fifth-year option in April. He is now on track to become a free agent after the season.<\/p>\n

Jones has come back healthy from the procedure, but he would have begun 2026 as a backup had the Steelers kept him. With two other recent first-round tackles (Troy Fautanu<\/a> and Max Iheanachor<\/a>) and Dylan Cook<\/a> in the fold, they moved on from Jones and gained some draft capital in the process. Jones rejoins ex-Georgia teammate Pickens more than a year after the Cowboys acquired the wideout in a trade haul headlined by a third-round pick.<\/p>\n

While Jones is not guaranteed to start in Dallas, the team is giving him a chance<\/a> to unseat Terence Steele<\/a> for the right tackle job. Even though Steele has been a starter since he debuted in 2020, this is the second year in a row he will unexpectedly have to fend someone off to keep his position. Schottenheimer announced an in-season RT competition<\/a> last November, creating an opening for the since-traded Nathan Thomas<\/a> to overtake Steele. However, Steele never gave up his spot in what turned into his third straight 17-start campaign.<\/p>\n

Steele agreed to restructure<\/a> his contract after the season, but the 29-year-old still has $22MM in guarantees coming his way. There is now a possibility he will collect that money as a backup instead of a starter.<\/p>\n

Free agency additions:<\/p>\n

Jalen Thompson<\/a>, S: Three years, $33MM ($22MM guaranteed<\/a>)
\nP.J. Locke<\/a>, S: One year, $4MM ($3.5MM guaranteed<\/a>)
\nVon Miller<\/a>, OLB: One year, $5.5MM ($3MM guaranteed<\/a>)
\nSam Howell<\/a>, QB: One year, $2.5MM (fully guaranteed<\/a>)
\nOtito Ogbonnia<\/a>, DL: One year, $2.75MM ($2MM guaranteed<\/a>)
\nCobie Durant<\/a>, CB: One year, $4MM ($1.5MM guaranteed<\/a>)
\nJonathan Bullard<\/a>, DL: One year, $2MM ($1.5MM guaranteed<\/a>)
\nMatt Hennessy<\/a>, C: One year, $1.4MM ($1.26MM guaranteed<\/a>)
\nTyrus Wheat<\/a>, OLB: One year, $1.25MM ($100K guaranteed<\/a>)
\nAmeer Speed<\/a>, CB: Two years, $2.41MM<\/a><\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a><\/p>\n

Between their Crosby pursuit and the Gary trade, the Cowboys reportedly<\/a> went into free agency with edge defenders Trey Hendrickson<\/a>, Jaelan Phillips<\/a>, Odafe Oweh<\/a> and Boye Mafe<\/a> on their radar. With the exception of Mafe (three years, $60MM), all of those players signed nine-figure contracts. The Cowboys didn\u2019t spend anywhere near that much on a single free agent, including along the edge, though they did address the area in the first round of the draft (more on that later).<\/p>\n

Still seeking a pass-rushing boost in mid-August, the Cowboys brought the 37-year-old Miller aboard for reasonable money. The agreement came four years after the Cowboys aggressively went after the local product and Texas A&M legend in 2022.<\/p>\n

With Miller fresh off winning Super Bowl LVI as a member of the Rams, the Cowboys offered five years and $70MM. He chose the Bills\u2019 six-year, $120MM. proposal instead. The longtime Bronco and future Hall of Famer thrived during his first couple of months with Buffalo, but he tore his ACL 11 games into his run there and never fully bounced back.<\/p>\n

The Bills released Miller in March 2025, and after a drawn-out stay on the market, Miller chose the Commanders over the Seahawks. Miller expected the Commanders to vie for a championship after reaching the NFC title game the previous year, but they instead sputtered to a 5-12 record. As for the Seahawks, well, Miller would have joined Matt Millen as the only players to win a Lombardi Trophy with three different teams had he signed with them.<\/p>\n

The Super Bowl 50 MVP later admitted<\/a> he backed the wrong horse, but he was hardly the reason the Commanders\u2019 season went in the tank. On the contrary, Miller held his own in a limited role, registering 15 QB hits and nine sacks (his most since 2021). He will head into this season with 138.5 career sacks, tied with Cowboys icon and former Broncos teammate DeMarcus Ware for eighth on the all-time list.<\/p>\n

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Miller is the most accomplished of the Cowboys\u2019 free agent pickups, but Thompson is by far the most expensive player of the bunch. The Cowboys prioritized upgrading over their 2025 defensive snaps leader, safety Donovan Wilson<\/a>, who has not signed anywhere in free agency.<\/p>\n

Dallas expressed interest<\/a> in Jaylinn Hawkins<\/a>, who signed a two-year, $10MM deal with the Ravens, but ultimately added Thompson and Locke to join the returning Malik Hooker<\/a>. Locke, who played for Parker in Denver from 2021-23 and brings free safety\/box safety\/slot capabilities, will provide versatile depth.<\/p>\n

Thompson spent his first seven seasons in Arizona, where he broke out with a 121-tackle, three-interception showing in 2021. The former supplemental draftee became a full-time starter alongside Budda Baker<\/a> the next year and held the job through last season. In all, Thompson made 87 starts over 99 appearances with the Cardinals.<\/p>\n

While Thompson has not picked off a pass since a career-best four-INT effort in 2023, PFF has consistently given him good grades in coverage. The 28-year-old also regularly logs low missed tackle rates, including a 5% mark last season. Wilson, who whiffed on 16.5% of tackles in 2025, was PFF\u2019s 83rd-rated safety out of 91 qualifiers. Thompson hasn\u2019t finished worse than 36th in PFF\u2019s rankings since 2022. Even then, he still placed inside the top 50.<\/p>\n

Re-signings:<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>Williams, the 35th overall pick of the 2021 draft, had a terrific rookie showing with the Broncos. But after rushing for 903 yards and averaging 4.4 per tote that year, the 5-foot-10, 220-pounder suffered ACL and LCL tears early in his second season. He never regained form in Denver, but Williams enjoyed a dramatic turnaround after signing a $3MM deal with the Cowboys last year.<\/p>\n

Williams seized the starting job over Miles Sanders<\/a> and Jaydon Blue<\/a> and went on to set personal highs in carries (252), yards (1,201) and TDs (13; 11 rushing, two receiving) in 16 games. It was enough for the Cowboys to give Williams an appreciable raise \u2014 on a contract that comes with two fully guaranteed years \u2014 though it doesn\u2019t look as if they wildly overpaid. The 26-year-old is making mid-tier money for a starting running back.<\/p>\n

Despite making just 10 starts in 48 games during the first three years of his career, Bass joined kicker Brandon Aubrey<\/a> in receiving a second-round RFA tender<\/a> early in the offseason. That was too rich for the rest of the league\u2019s blood, so Bass will continue as the primary backup to starters Tyler Smith<\/a> and Tyler Booker<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Notable losses:<\/p>\n

Jaydon Blue<\/a>, RB (waived<\/a>)
\nTrikweze Bridges<\/a>, CB (waived)
\nHakeem Adeniji<\/a>, LT
\nCorey Ballentine<\/a>, CB
\nJadeveon Clowney<\/a>, DE
\nDante Fowler<\/a>, OLB
\nC.J. Goodwin<\/a>, CB
\nBrock Hoffman<\/a>, G (non-tendered<\/a>)
\nRobert Jones<\/a>, G
\nPhil Mafah<\/a>, RB (waived<\/a>)
\nKenneth Murray<\/a>, LB
\nJack Sanborn<\/a>, LB
\nMiles Sanders<\/a>, RB
\nJuanyeh Thomas<\/a>, S (non-tendered<\/a>)
\nJalen Tolbert<\/a>, WR
\nPayton Turner<\/a>, DE
\nSam Williams<\/a>, OLB (released<\/a>)
\nDonovan Wilson<\/a>, S
\nLogan Wilson<\/a>, LB (waived<\/a>)<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a><\/p>\n

Of all the ex-Cowboys listed above, Clowney made the largest impact in 2025. The NFL nomad didn\u2019t sign with the Cowboys until mid-September, but after Clowney made his Week 4 debut, he became a rare positive on an inept defense. Across 13 games and 373 defensive snaps, the former No. 1 overall pick logged 41 tackles, 40 pressures, 29 hurries, 12 TFLs, a team-high 8.5 sacks and four pass breakups.<\/p>\n

Clowney was only on the field for 34% of defensive snaps, but he still managed to rank 20th in the league in sacks. In PFF\u2019s estimation, Clowney was the league\u2019s 17th-best edge defender out of 116 qualifiers.<\/p>\n

Clowney revealed<\/a> that he reached out to the Cowboys multiple times in hopes of re-signing. They did not reciprocate, though, leading the 33-year-old edge rusher to wave the white flag on his Dallas tenure last month. Clowney stayed in Texas and accepted a $5.5MM offer from Houston, where he began his career a dozen years ago. Two weeks after Clowney reunited with the Texans, the Cowboys added Miller.<\/p>\n

Previously a Cowboy from 2022-23, Fowler returned last season after a year in Washington. Despite playing all 17 games, Fowler recorded modest counting stats \u2014 30 pressures, 20 hurries, 15 tackles, 10 QB hits, three sacks \u2014 over 359 defensive snaps. PFF nonetheless rated Fowler 21st among edge defenders, but the Cowboys did not bring him back to play for Parker. He joined the defending Super Bowl champion Seahawks for $2.5MM.<\/p>\n

Extensions\/restructures:<\/p>\n

Reached three-year, $105.9MM extension ($63.35MM guaranteed<\/a>) with DT Quinnen Williams<\/a>
\nAgreed to four-year, $28MM ($15MM guaranteed<\/a>) extension with K Brandon Aubrey<\/a>
\nMarch: Restructured<\/a> contracts<\/a> for<\/a> QB Dak Prescott<\/a>, LG Tyler Smith<\/a>, WR Ceedee Lamb<\/a>,\u00a0RT Terence Steele<\/a>, S Malik Hooker<\/a>, DT Kenny Clark<\/a>, creating $89.3MM in cap space
\nSeptember: Restructured contracts<\/a> for Clark, CB DaRon Bland<\/a>, TE Jake Ferguson<\/a>, creating $19MM in cap space<\/p>\n

The Cowboys were $56.1MM in the red in late February, forcing them to rework several contracts to get under the cap and create space to improve their roster. Mission accomplished on that front. They did it again when they adjusted the deals for Clark, Bland and Ferguson on Thursday. The Cowboys are now around $34MM in the black, giving them more than enough to make meaningful in-season acquisitions.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a><\/p>\n

Dallas also opened up $13MM-plus in wiggle room when it extended Williams, whose 2026 cap number dropped from $21.63MM to $8.55MM. The agreement came weeks after fellow interior defensive linemen Jeffery Simmons<\/a> (Titans) and\u00a0Jalen Carter<\/a> (Eagles) shifted the market with their own mammoth extensions.<\/p>\n

While Williams is second to Carter at the position in average salary ($35.3MM, edging out Simmons), the former is raking in about $23MM more in fully guaranteed money than the latter. Williams leads the position in that category. He also scored a $31.85MM signing bonus; among DTs, only Rams all-time great Aaron Donald<\/a> ($40MM in 2018) has done better. Considering the package the Cowboys traded for Williams, who made his fourth straight Pro Bowl in 2025, it is not a surprise they backed up the Brinks truck for him.<\/p>\n

Williams topped out at 12 sacks in 2022, and though he tied a career low with 2.5 in 15 games last season, his overall impact was still enormous. He finished second among interior D-linemen in run stop win rate, fourth in pass rush win rate and hurries, and seventh in pressures. Williams joined fellow 2019 first-round D-tackles Dexter Lawrence<\/a> and Jeffery Simmons<\/a> in being extended with two seasons remaining on a 2023 deal.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>In PFF\u2019s judgment, Williams was the second-best DT out of 120 qualifiers last season. It was the third time since 2022 that he earned a top-five grade. Although Williams has been a first-rate defender for a sizable chunk of his seven-year career, he has yet to play for a team that went to the postseason. The Cowboys surely expect that to change this year.<\/p>\n

Dallas had an Aubrey extension<\/a> on its radar since at least last September, but it took until this spring for it to materialize. In the meantime, the Cowboys placed a second-round tender<\/a> on Aubrey in March to deter other teams from sending offer sheets to the 31-year-old. A month and a half later, the Cowboys and Aubrey shook hands on a record-setting kicker agreement.<\/p>\n

Aubrey, a former pro soccer player, quickly established himself as one of the league\u2019s premier kickers after cracking the Cowboys\u2019 roster in 2023. He went to the the Pro Bowl and picked up first- or second-team All-Pro honors in each of his first three seasons. As a reward, Aubrey is now either tied for the lead or in solo first at his position in total money, average salary ($8MM) and guarantees.<\/p>\n

Draft:<\/p>\n

Round 1, No. 11 (from Dolphins): Caleb Downs<\/a> (S, Ohio State) (signed<\/a>)
\nRound 1, No. 23 (from Eagles): Malachi Lawrence<\/a> (EDGE, Central Florida) (signed<\/a>)
\nRound 3, No. 92 (from 49ers): Jaishawn Barham<\/a> (LB\/EDGE, Michigan) (signed<\/a>)
\nRound 4, No. 112: Drew Shelton<\/a> (T, Penn State)\u00a0(signed<\/a>)
\nRound 4, No. 114 (from Falcons via Eagles): Devin Moore<\/a> (CB, Florida) (signed<\/a>)
\nRound 4, No. 137 (from Eagles): LT Overton<\/a> (EDGE, Alabama)\u00a0(signed<\/a>)
\nRound 7, No. 218 (from Titans): Anthony Smith<\/a> (WR, East Carolina)\u00a0(signed<\/a>)<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a><\/p>\n

Reddy Steward<\/a>, now on the Cowboys\u2019 practice squad, led the team in slot snaps last year. The league didn\u2019t think much of his performance, evidenced by the fact that he cleared waivers after failing to make the Cowboys\u2019 initial 53-man roster last week. In going from Steward to a blue-chip prospect in Downs, the Cowboys appear to be in vastly better shape in the slot than they were last season.<\/p>\n

Downs excelled during a three-year college career divided between Alabama and Ohio State, where he combined for 16 tackles for loss and six interceptions. As a back-to-back unanimous All-American with the Buckeyes, the 5-11, 206-pounder helped the team to a national championship in 2024 and won the Jim Thorpe Award (best college defensive back) last season.<\/p>\n

Downs primarily played safety with the Crimson Tide and the Buckeyes, but he garnered over 400 slot snaps along the way. He will primarily handle those duties<\/a> under Parker, who aided in the development of defensive backs Quinyon Mitchell<\/a> and Cooper DeJean<\/a> in Philadelphia. With Parker\u2019s help, those two quickly morphed into stars at the game\u2019s highest level. The Cowboys are likely expecting a similar outcome with Downs, having traded up one spot to draft him because they feared<\/a> another team would beat them to the punch.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a><\/p>\n

Originally slated to make their second selection at No. 20 (which they received in the Parsons trade), the Cowboys went down three places in a trade with rival Philadelphia. That enabled the Eagles to pilfer receiver Makai Lemon<\/a> from the unsuspecting Steelers<\/a>, while the Cowboys opted for Lawrence. Best-case scenario for Dallas: Lemon will turn into a Jalen Reagor<\/a>-esque bust and Lawrence will menace the Eagles and the rest of the league for years to come.<\/p>\n

Lawrence played three full seasons at UCF, where he totaled 28 TFL and 20 sacks. The 6-4, 253-pounder generated<\/a> widespread pre-draft interest after an eye-opening performance at the Combine in February. Lawrence ran a 4.52-second 40-yard dash, trailing only top-five picks David Bailey<\/a> and Arvell Reese<\/a> among edge defenders. He also came in second in his position group in the 10-yard split and the vertical and broad jumps.<\/p>\n

Cowboys VP of player personnel\u00a0Will McClay said after the draft<\/a> that four teams behind them were targeting Lawrence late in Round 1. He is now part of a Dallas edge-rushing contingent that also includes Gary, Miller and 2025 second-rounder Donovan Ezeiruaku<\/a>.<\/p>\n

The Cowboys cashed in the pick they received for Odighizuwa on Barham, a four-year college starter who played two seasons apiece at Maryland and Michigan. The 6-3, 240-pounder spent the majority of time as an off-ball linebacker, but as an edge defender during his last year in college, he tied a personal high with four sacks and chipped in a career-best 10 TFL.<\/p>\n

While Dane Brugler of The Athletic<\/a> wrote before the draft that Barham \u201clacks the instincts to play off-ball or the size to be an every-down edge,\u201d the rookie has turned heads<\/a> as a linebacker this summer. Winters and the oft-injured DeMarvion Overshown<\/a> are in line to start in the middle of the Cowboys\u2019 LB corps, though neither player is under contract past this season. That could create a path for Barham to force his way into a first-team role by 2027, if not sooner.<\/p>\n

Other:<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a><\/p>\n

Pickens spent his first three seasons in Pittsburgh, where the 2022 second-round pick from Georgia averaged around 58 catches, 950 yards and four TDs per year. Solid numbers, but the Steelers grew weary of Pickens\u2019 habitual tardiness and dealt him<\/a> to Dallas in May 2025 for third- and fifth-rounders in a pick-swap trade.<\/p>\n

There was one well-publicized instance<\/a> of Pickens (and Lamb) missing curfew the night before a Week 11 blowout win over the Raiders, but the trade has otherwise been a smash hit for the Cowboys. On his way to a Pro Bowl selection and a second-team All-Pro nod, the 6-3, 200-pound Pickens finished top 10 in the sport in catches (93; eighth), yards (1,429; third) and touchdowns (nine; eighth).<\/p>\n

The more Pickens produced last year, the more it became obvious he was not going to become a free agent in March. The Cowboys were at least going to slap the franchise tag on Pickens, if not re-sign him. They officially tagged<\/a> Pickens on Feb. 27.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a><\/p>\n

Had another team signed Pickens to an offer sheet, the Cowboys could have let him walk for two first-round picks. They also could have swung a trade involving different compensation after Pickens signed the tag on April 23. However, even though extension talks never went anywhere, executive vice president Stephen Jones said<\/a> the club had \u201cno intention of moving George.\u201d<\/p>\n

Pickens will be the first to play a tagged season since Bengals wideout Tee Higgins<\/a> did so in 2024. It didn\u2019t faze Higgins, who went on to ink a\u00a0four-year, $115MM extension<\/a> in March 2025. If Pickens has another big year, it will cost the Cowboys far more to wrap him for the long haul than the Bengals paid for Higgins. Among Cowboys, Pickens will be the fifth player to play a season on the tag since 2018<\/a> (DeMarcus Lawrence<\/a>, Dak Prescott<\/a>, Dalton Schultz<\/a>, Tony Pollard<\/a>).<\/p>\n

With the cap continuing to soar, there are now six receivers (including Lamb) averaging between $34MM and $42.15MM per annum. Pickens has already made it known<\/a> he aims to eventually score a contract near the top of the market. That may happen after the season, though the tag will again loom as an option for the Cowboys.<\/p>\n

Tagging Pickens in 2027 will cost $32.76MM, which is acceptable for a stud receiver, but whether he would sign it for a second consecutive year is anyone\u2019s guess. Stephen Jones admitted this week<\/a> that it would be \u201cchallenging\u201d to have both Pickens and Lamb around on top-market contracts, which will make this an even more interesting situation to monitor next winter.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a><\/p>\n

With Pickens\u2019 help last year, Prescott turned in an excellent season and put an injury-wrecked 2024 in the rearview. The 33-year-old Prescott will continue as the Cowboys\u2019 starter for the foreseeable future, but the team reportedly eyed a potential heir apparent in Sorsby.<\/p>\n

A former Indiana and Cincinnati QB, Sorsby had been poised to start for Texas Tech until the NCAA ruled him ineligible<\/a> over repeated gambling violations. A legal battle with the NCAA ensued, but Sorsby \u2014 who underwent treatment for gambling addiction \u2014 turned his attention to the pros when he applied<\/a> for the supplemental draft.<\/p>\n

The NFL has not held its rare summer draft since 2019 (the Cardinals took Thompson then), and it did not make an exception<\/a> for Sorsby this year. The league\u2019s decision to barricade the door for Sorsby means he will go a full season without playing competitive football, which is expected to negatively affect<\/a> his 2027 draft stock. Still, as a touted prospect who may have first-round talent, Sorsby could be a name to watch for the Cowboys next year.<\/p>\n

Bell was arrested in April in Prosper, Texas, on a felony count of possession of a controlled substance and a misdemeanor count of possession of marijuana. There have been no legal updates since then, but the league could suspend Bell under its personal conduct policy at some point. The reserve safety\/core special-teamer made the Cowboys\u2019 53-man roster this summer, setting him up to play a fifth year with the club. Bell is in the second season of a three-year, $9MM contract.<\/p>\n

Top 10 cap charges for 2026:<\/p>\n

Dak Prescott<\/a>, QB: $43.51MM
\nGeorge Pickens<\/a>, WR: $27.3MM
\nCeeDee Lamb<\/a>, WR: $19.15MM
\nDaRon Bland<\/a>, CB: $17.02MM
\nKenny Clark<\/a>, DT: $12.7MM
\nJake Ferguson<\/a>, TE: $10.4MM
\nTyler Smith<\/a>, LG: $10.3MM
\nTerence Steele<\/a>, RT: $8.73MM
\nQuinnen Williams<\/a>, DT: $8.55MM
\nMalik Hooker<\/a>, S: $6.56MM<\/p>\n

With last year\u2019s explosive offense still intact and a defense that no longer looks like an abject disaster, expectations should be high for the Cowboys. There is a chance they will challenge the two-time defending NFC East champion Eagles for the division. At worst, the Cowboys should finish ahead of the Giants and Commanders in the division and push for a wild-card spot.<\/p>\n

Adding up their available cap room, their two first-round picks in 2027, and Jerry Jones\u2019 willingness<\/a> to \u201cgive up the future\u201d for the sake of the current roster, the Cowboys will be a must-watch team around the trade deadline. If a playoff berth is within striking distance, Jones is likely to go big-game hunting in the fall.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"The Cowboys\u2019 main objective entering the offseason: Repair a sievelike defense that was among the dregs of the…\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":426588,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[9],"tags":[102,113,104,103,148343,127937],"class_list":["post-426587","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","category-dallas","tag-dallas","tag-dallas-cowboys","tag-dallas-headlines","tag-dallas-news","tag-offseason-in-review","tag-pfr-originals"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-tx\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/426587","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-tx\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-tx\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-tx\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-tx\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=426587"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-tx\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/426587\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-tx\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/426588"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-tx\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=426587"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-tx\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=426587"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-tx\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=426587"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}