2026 Combine Thread
- Thread starter boozeman
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I blame NIL in a way. They are going to invite the big names, not the guy that went to three schools in three years unless they were elite somehow.
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It's like they made their list a year ago.
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1 of them from TTU.
Simpleton
DCC 4Life
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Yeah no reason to be pissy. I mean I want to see the best of the best out there. But we know some guys just won't. And they will always give some excuse anyway.
And in the end, this is a workout. I can't even ding a guys charecter for saying, I'll workout on a different day.
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I only do this cause I love you. Oh, and because you gave me shit the other day. But, mainly the first one.
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I blame the board upgrade.
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Cowboys combine preview: 10 biggest storylines to follow in Indianapolis
Will the Cowboys pursue Raiders defensive end Maxx Crosby to improve their pass-rushing deficiencies? Greg Fiume / Getty Images
By Jon Machota
Feb. 23, 2026
One of the best news-gathering times of the NFL year is upon us. The Dallas Cowboys and the league’s other 31 teams will be in Indianapolis all week for the annual scouting combine. Owner and general manager Jerry Jones, executive vice president Stephen Jones, coach Brian Schottenheimer and the team’s entire coaching and scouting staffs are expected to be in attendance.
To give you an idea of what Cowboys-related news will be discussed over the next week, here are some of the most notable topics.
1. How do they plan to fill all of their defensive holes?
Aside from defensive tackle, the Cowboys should be trying to upgrade every defensive position this offseason. Cornerback, edge rusher and middle linebacker top the list. Much of that will need to be handled in free agency or via trade. Dallas has two first-round picks but no picks in the second or third rounds.New defensive coordinator Christian Parker is expected to do things differently than Matt Eberflus. His vision will greatly impact filling all of those roster holes.
“First thing, we’re going to be multiple,” Parker said last week at his introductory news conference at The Star. “I think that whenever you form a defensive structure, it’s about the players that you have. So our core principles, we’ll be a 3-4 (scheme) by nature, 4-3 spacing will be appropriate, 4-2-5 in nickel, different front-structures, coverages behind it. But I will say being multiple is probably the most important thing about it.”
2. Will they keep both first-round picks?
There won’t be any definitive answers, but does it sound like they really like the top of this draft class and want to keep both top-20 picks? Or are they leaning toward keeping one and using the other to move back a little and gain extra Day 2 picks after losing theirs in the trades for Quinnen Williams and George Pickens?3. How involved will the new defensive staff be in adding personnel?
The Cowboys have allowed their coaching staff to be very involved in the draft process. But at what level will that be for a new defensive coordinator and an almost entirely new defensive staff? Turning around arguably the worst defense in franchise history is going to take more than just a couple of new pieces.“I think we just want to kind of take it day by day and do it the right way,” Parker said. “So we’re kind of just taking that approach. We’ll get our heads out of the sand at some point, but right now, we got tunnel vision on doing things the right way.”
4. What’s the latest with George Pickens’ future?
The combine is a time when the Cowboys’ front office usually meets with numerous agents representing players on their team and across the league. Will they meet with Pickens’ agent, David Mulugheta, in Indianapolis? The current plan is to use the franchise tag on Pickens in hopes of buying time to work out a long-term deal. If the new deal isn’t reached, Pickens will likely remain under the tag, which would pay him around $28 million for the 2026 season. As unlikely as it seems, would the Cowboys consider trading Pickens? We’re unlikely to get definitive answers, but there should be enough said to gauge how they’re leaning.
Jadeveon Clowney picked up 8 1/2 sacks and 12 tackles for loss in 13 games last season with Dallas.Kent R. Wexler / Imagn Images
5. What about Jadeveon Clowney?
Before Saturday, Dallas’ two most notable unrestricted free agents — not named Pickens — were Javonte Williams and Clowney. With Williams and the Cowboys agreeing to a new three-year deal Saturday, Clowney is the next priority. But at what price? If they don’t re-sign him, what is their next move at edge rusher? It went from a position of strength two years ago to arguably their biggest area of need. Stephen Jones said on 105.3 The Fan in Dallas in late December that they “absolutely” want Clowney back. “He’s played at a very high level,” Jones added. “We’ll be talking with his guys right away. … Hopefully with his willingness to want to be here and us wanting him to be here, hopefully we can figure something out.”6. Anything new with Brandon Aubrey’s contract situation?
The NFL’s best kicker is a restricted free agent. They could get something done this offseason and get him locked up well into the future. But will that happen? Where are negotiations?7. How are they feeling about their offensive line?
The interior is set with Tyler Smith, Cooper Beebe and Tyler Booker. Both tackle spots are questions at this point. Tyler Guyton should continue to be a starter at left tackle or right tackle, but he has to stay healthy. Terence Steele is under contract for three more years. But they could be looking to go in a different direction on the right side. If there weren’t so many defensive holes, an offensive tackle would make sense at Pick 12 or Pick 20. That group has to get figured out, which might also include more opportunities for Nate Thomas. Will that be enough? Are they still considering Tyler Smith as a possibility at left tackle?8. How does the offense plan on taking the next step?
That side of the ball was good enough to score with just about anyone in the league. Almost all of the pieces are expected back. How can they be even better in Schottenheimer’s second season calling plays?“I felt we built a program on offense last year that we’ll sustain,” Schottenheimer said last week. “It’s going to sustain our success and it’s going to sustain when you lose players to injuries and you’re going with four new offensive linemen and things like that. But that only happens through long nights, hard conversations, disagreements, arguments. That happens in our business. But you work through it. And it takes someone like (offensive coordinator) Klayton Adams, someone like a Parker, to work through those arguments and get everybody aligned and going in the same direction. It’s a long task. I think we’ve started, but we’re just getting started. The biggest piece we’re in right now is personnel-driven.”
9. Will Jerry Jones say anything notable to stir things up?
“We want to get out here and do better than we did this year,” Jones said last month. “(Is there) the incentive to, dare I say it, bust the budget to try to get something done now? Yes. Yes. We’ll do some dramatic things. … We’re gonna keep this thing as good as we can possibly be. Finances are no object. We’re gonna make it as entertaining as we can and keep it as lively as we can for everybody.”Does that mean a more active free agency for the Cowboys? What will be Jones’ tone when asked about that topic in Indianapolis?
10. Will the Cowboys be a player for Maxx Crosby, if he becomes available?
The All-Pro edge rusher is under contract with the Las Vegas Raiders through the 2029 season. If they are willing to move him to the highest bidder, would the Cowboys make a run? They certainly need edge-rushing help. But are they significantly interested in the 28-year-old?A defensive line of Crosby, Williams, Osa Odighizuwa, Kenny Clark and Donovan Ezeiruaku could be quite good for a first-year defensive coordinator.
“The game is definitely won and lost up front,” Parker said. “We have significant players in the front seven and so I think when you start with that defensive line room and what you’re able to do in controlling the pocket, stopping the run, control what an offense is able to do, and if you’re able to dictate to them on their terms, so you’re not playing the whole playbook on first and second down, I think it starts there. That’s where the excitement starts. There’s several other pieces that have been proven playmakers. We look forward to kind of bringing it all together in the next couple of months.”
By Jon Machota
Staff Writer, Cowboys