2026 NFL Cuts/Signings/Trades/FA Thread

I know we joke but sounds like there may be legitimacy on the Dean to Dallas rumors.
Probably... Jerry always like to give his newly-hired coordinators a couple of new toys.
 
It just seems backwards to say defense, defense, defense in the draft.

And then talk offense in free agency. You are only going to spend so much in free agency, I want to focus that money plugging holes on defense so that I'm not worried about a draft pick carrying the defense.


The limitations in FA are self inflicted. The draft it's imposed in you.

In the draft you're generally not going to have enough resources to get 3-5 top prospects (meaning the first couple of rounds).

In free agency you can get 3-5 starter caliber players if you want to. Even the salary cap isn't a true restriction.

There's no reason they can't bring in offense and defense in free agency.

In the draft, every time you pick one position you're by definition taking away from your ability to address another position. In FA you address every need you have and push the money out into the future if you want.

It's just different.

The draft is kind of a zero sum game, but FA is not.
 
The limitations in FA are self inflicted. The draft it's imposed in you.

In the draft you're generally not going to have enough resources to get 3-5 top prospects (meaning the first couple of rounds).

In free agency you can get 3-5 starter caliber players if you want to. Even the salary cap isn't a true restriction.

There's no reason they can't bring in offense and defense in free agency.

In the draft, every time you pick one position you're by definition taking away from your ability to address another position. In FA you address every need you have and push the money out into the future if you want.

It's just different.

The draft is kind of a zero sum game, but FA is not.
This perfectly reflects what I was trying to say in an earlier post in this thread, but said in a much more betterer way.
 
I'm going to go ahead and say it and I may get railed over this, but I don't want Crosby at all. He is too old and has had too much taken off his tires already. No thanks.


I agree, and I'm not convinced he's a great fit for Parker's defense. But with the caveat that if the asking price is low enough I'd do it and figure it out. But I certainly wouldn't part with premium resources for him which is likely what it would take.
 
In free agency you can get 3-5 starter caliber players if you want to. Even the salary cap isn't a true restriction

The thing is you're going to have a budget in free agency. Big or small the Cowboys will have a budget. And so with a limit on the resources it would make the most sense to pool that money to fill your biggest needs. And unlike the draft free agency you can go after any position and find a good starter.

You're right that you're limited in the draft more than free agency. But that's why your conclusion is wrong. You want to fix the defense, free agency is the best way to do it.
 
I agree, and I'm not convinced he's a great fit for Parker's defense. But with the caveat that if the asking price is low enough I'd do it and figure it out. But I certainly wouldn't part with premium resources for him which is likely what it would take.

Agree fit and cost means Crosby makes no sense. You're burning draft capital to get one guy and burning the free agent money you could spend.
 
The thing is you're going to have a budget in free agency. Big or small the Cowboys will have a budget. And so with a limit on the resources it would make the most sense to pool that money to fill your biggest needs. And unlike the draft free agency you can go after any position and find a good starter.

You're right that you're limited in the draft more than free agency. But that's why your conclusion is wrong. You want to fix the defense, free agency is the best way to do it.


Yes and I would certainly advocate that we should be going full bore in free agency to fix the defense as much as possible.

But by definition these are older players than you find in the draft (outside of Methusidor).

Regardless of what we do in free agency I'd still lean defense in the draft since our offense is in good shape long term.

To be clear if we satisfactorily fill our defensive needs in free agency I wouldn't object to taking offense at points in the draft but we need longer term fixes on defense. I'm far less concerned about that offensively.

This defense definitely requires a dedicated overall plan of attack incorporating everything at our disposal to get better.

I wouldn't mind a tackle in free agency because I definitely want to replace Steele, but generally I'm not advocating for much on offense even in free agency and I'd even be ok if we did essentially nothing on offense.
 
I wouldn't mind a tackle in free agency
This should be priority number 1 in FA on offense. Outside of that there is only really a need at TE. And that's not even that glaring.
 
Yes and I would certainly advocate that we should be going full bore in free agency to fix the defense as much as possible.

But by definition these are older players than you find in the draft (outside of Methusidor).

Regardless of what we do in free agency I'd still lean defense in the draft since our offense is in good shape long term.

To be clear if we satisfactorily fill our defensive needs in free agency I wouldn't object to taking offense at points in the draft but we need longer term fixes on defense. I'm far less concerned about that offensively.

This defense definitely requires a dedicated overall plan of attack incorporating everything at our disposal to get better.

I wouldn't mind a tackle in free agency because I definitely want to replace Steele, but generally I'm not advocating for much on offense even in free agency and I'd even be ok if we did essentially nothing on offense.
We have 2 first round picks for Tackles. Plural.
 
We have 2 first round picks for Tackles. Plural.
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I started to edit that gif to put Rev's name on the white dude, but then I remembered how much a pain the ass that was the other day and decided Rev and his shit-stirring wasn't worth it. All the offense in the world intended, Rev.
 
Regardless of what we do in free agency I'd still lean defense in the draft since our offense is in good shape long term.

I actually agree with this and my argument would simply be, free agency isn't about finding franchise or star players. On offense you have stars. Dak, Pickens, Lamb and Tyler Smith are star players. And franchise types. You've also got damn good players like Booker, Beebe and Jevonte.

On defense you have what one franchise or star player? Williams.

Now you may have some good players in that Booker, Beebe, Jevonte level. But no one else that I look at and go, it would take more than a first round pick to pry this player from me. You just never find those guys in free agency because teams have tools to keep those players. So yeah, ultimately I'm leaning hard towards defense in the first for this exact reason. I'm looking at those two picks as my chance to add franchise/star talent on defense. Free agency is more about finding good players but rarely great even if you sign the top guys.
 
I'm going to go ahead and say it and I may get railed over this, but I don't want Crosby at all. He is too old and has had too much taken off his tires already. No thanks.


I agree. It would take more than I'd be willing to give up and this team needs all the value it can get from their draft picks.
 



This is a smart move, imo. His production has gone down 3 years in a row and he's 28. They also spent a 3rd rounder on him and they're getting back a 4th and a 7th.

Edit: I forgot Chicago drafted him. Still a good return on a FA signing.
 
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