2026 Cowboys Free Agency Thread…

bbgun said:
no habla
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#Steelers Yesterday, ILB Patrick Queen received the roster bonus scheduled in his contract. With this, it looks much more difficult for him to be traded since the Steelers' cap would have to absorb those $2.5M as dead moneyNow, to save, they would have to extend him
 
Genghis Khan said:
Shit it was translated on X when I saw it.

Basically it says the Steelers paid Queen's roster bonus and are unlikely to trade him now.
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It did that to me one day, too. Not sure why. I guess it just defaults to the original tweet? :shrug
 

Cowboys free-agency breakdown: 5 best moves, biggest remaining questions​

Jalen Thompson #34 of the Arizona Cardinals runs onto the field before the NFL game at State Farm Stadium on October 5, 2025, in Glendale, Arizona.

The Cowboys and safety Jalen Thompson agreed to a three-year deal. Christian Petersen / Getty Images

Jon Machota
By Jon Machota
March 16, 2026 5:02 am CDT

The first week of free agency looked similar to previous years for the Dallas Cowboys. They made some solid moves, but nothing that came close to busting the budget.

Cowboys owner Jerry Jones told reporters last Thursday that he’s pleased with what Dallas has done so far in free agency.

“I think we’re within the boundaries of what we have available, what we’re trying to accomplish with draft picks and with (salary) cap,” he said. “I wouldn’t try to re-visit or try to re-do what we’ve done on either that cap or the trades we’ve made. I like what we got.”

The Cowboys are far from done with filling roster holes, particularly on defense. Here are five of their best moves and three questions that still need answers.

Best moves​

1. Signing Jalen Thompson​

The veteran safety was added on a three-year deal worth up to $36 million. New defensive coordinator Christian Parker needed versatility on the back end and Thompson brings that with his experience playing multiple positions. Dallas now has a player who can line up at either safety spot or play nickel cornerback. Financially, this was the biggest commitment the Cowboys have made in free agency since signing cornerback Brandon Carr to a five-year, $50 million deal back in 2012.

2. Signing Cobie Durant​

At 5-11, 180 pounds, he doesn’t have great size. But he has shown an ability to be a solid starting cornerback who can take the ball away. He had three interceptions during the season last year for the Los Angeles Rams. He then had three more in the playoffs. He brings experience at a major position of need and comes from playing for one of the NFL’s best teams. A one-year deal worth a max of $5.5 million seems like outstanding value for Durant.
https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/7101355/2026/03/09/rashan-gary-packers-cowboys-trade-grades/

3. Trading for Rashan Gary​

This is the most notable move because Gary is the most well-known player Dallas added. The Green Bay Packers were expected to release the 28-year-old edge rusher. The Cowboys ended up trading a fourth-round pick. Gary reworked his contract, lowering his cap hit. He’s currently the most accomplished edge rusher on the roster, and it should be good for him to pair back up with former teammate Kenny Clark.

“He started as a first-round draft pick and he’s played to that level, in my mind, all the way through his career,” Jones said of adding Gary. “He gives us a strong player right there that can give us (pass) rush, give us run-(stopping), give us both. And he fits this scheme.”

4. Signing P.J. Locke​

The safety position hasn’t been a strength for a while in Dallas. Thompson and Locke bring stability. Locke, who was added on a one-year, $4 million deal, also helps on special teams.

5. Bringing back Sam Williams​

It’s a deal that won’t get much attention, but a one-year, $2.5 million contract could end up being a pretty good bargain for a team that desperately needs pass-rush help.

Biggest questions​

1. Inside linebacker​

DeMarvion Overshown, Shemar James and Justin Barron are what they currently have at the position. Another starter and another reserve player with starter upside are needed. The Cowboys had interest in Nakobe Dean and Quay Walker; however, both signed with the Las Vegas Raiders. The goal this time of year is to fill every position so a team isn’t forced to draft any spot next month. At this point, the Cowboys have to use one of their two first-round picks on an inside linebacker. But there is still time left to make a move. A trade for a starting-caliber inside linebacker feels like a good bet.

2. Outside linebacker​

Gary and Donovan Ezeiruaku look to be the Week 1 starters, but this is an area where one of the first-round picks could also be spent. They’ve added depth, but this roster needs more starting-caliber pass rush.
https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/70...ck-draft-trade-defense-impact-mansoor-delane/

3. Osa Odighizuwa trade​

Sending the starting defensive tackle and team captain to San Francisco for a third-round pick was a little bit of a head-scratcher to some. How this trade is judged will depend on what they end up doing to fill out the defensive roster and how they spend the third-round pick. But, currently, it doesn’t seem like a great idea to trade away a top defender from a team that is lacking in top defenders.

“We needed to spread it around a little bit on what we have available to us with (the salary cap),” Jones said last week when asked about the Odighizuwa trade. “More importantly, we can put it in some places that probably get more mileage out of what it’s done. That’s not taking anything away from him individually, but we’ve got two outstanding football players (Quinnen Williams, Kenny Clark), we have other backup players, plus we don’t want to rule out drafting a player. So, we thought that was the best move.

“… (Odighizuwa) has such high character. He’s done such an amazing job in his career. You could say, ‘Well, aren’t you going the wrong way when people of his quality, his caliber, aren’t on the team?’ But that’s the reason we were able to get what we thought was a really beneficial result for the team. We got the (third-round pick). (That pick) will be very helpful to us. And (that) also lets us put those resources that we’re going to spend there in some other spots we need help.”

Updated list of Cowboys moves:​

• Placed franchise tag on WR George Pickens

• Re-signed RB Javonte Williams to a three-year deal

• Traded for edge rusher Rashan Gary

• Signed safety Jalen Thompson to a three-year deal

• Signed CB Cobie Durant to a one-year deal

• Signed edge rusher Sam Williams to a one-year deal

• Signed safety P.J. Locke to a one-year deal

• Signed DT Otito Ogbonnia to a one-year deal

• Signed QB Sam Howell to a one-year deal

• Signed edge rusher Tyrus Wheat to a one-year deal

• Signed OL Matt Hennessy to a one-year deal

• Signed TE Princeton Fant to a one-year deal

• Released QB Will Grier

• Traded DT Osa Odighizuwa to the 49ers for a third-round pick

• Traded DT Solomon Thomas to the Titans for a seventh-round pick swap

• Placed second-round tender on K Brandon Aubrey

• Placed second-round tender on G T.J. Bass

Jon Machota
By Jon Machota
Staff Writer, Cowboys
 
I'm somewhat satisfied with what they've done in FA, my main issue is of course the ILB situation, but also that they didn't really do much of anything significant financially when you consider that they shipped out Osa.

Osa and Gary are basically a 1:1 replacement salary wise, then they signed Thompson which is cool, but nothing else that really moves the needle. They made some decent moves but they're still being cheap little assholes for the most part, and now there's basically no depth on the interior DL.

With that said, they were obviously very aggressive on Crosby and they made a trajectory changing trade after the draft last year for Pickens, so I'm willing to wait and see what plays out over the next two months since obviously there are moves to come at ILB and interior DL particularly.

I love where the secondary is at, there's still space for a draft pick in theory, but I'd be fine rolling with what we have into the season. If Revel can develop we'll have 5-6 solid starting caliber players there.

I'm fine with the edge depth going into the draft, although obviously I'd like to add someone relatively high. Interior DL and edge are kind of the opposite in terms of having difference makers at interior DL but no depth, whereas at edge we have really solid depth but might not have a real difference maker.
 
Simpleton said:
I'm somewhat satisfied with what they've done in FA, my main issue is of course the ILB situation, but also that they didn't really do much of anything significant financially when you consider that they shipped out Osa.

Osa and Gary are basically a 1:1 replacement salary wise, then they signed Thompson which is cool, but nothing else that really moves the needle. They made some decent moves but they're still being cheap little assholes for the most part, and now there's basically no depth on the interior DL.

With that said, they were obviously very aggressive on Crosby and they made a trajectory changing trade after the draft last year for Pickens, so I'm willing to wait and see what plays out over the next two months since obviously there are moves to come at ILB and interior DL particularly.

I love where the secondary is at, there's still space for a draft pick in theory, but I'd be fine rolling with what we have into the season. If Revel can develop we'll have 5-6 solid starting caliber players there.

I'm fine with the edge depth going into the draft, although obviously I'd like to add someone relatively high. Interior DL and edge are kind of the opposite in terms of having difference makers at interior DL but no depth, whereas at edge we have really solid depth but might not have a real difference maker.
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Yeah, I'm thrilled to have a third round pick. But I feel like we also kind of opened a sneaky hole at 3-4 DE now too. Otito can play that 4i spot and do it at a normal level. But I certainly think it now opens the possibility of drafting that position as well. Like if we took Big Citrus at 92 I wouldn't be upset at all anymore. (Love the nickname)

But the glaring need is LBer. I just can't fathom that we don't at least bring in an older veteran as insurance/to help lead the group. Someone like Wagner would make sense as like a 1 year, he can help sort of lead the group and bring a rookie along. Although we don't appear to have any interest in him.

Outside of LBer I feel like the draft is sort of open to draft BPA now. Sure we need a high end pass rusher. But if we miss in the first I'm not sure it makes much difference if we circle back around later. We could draft an impact corner/safety/D-lineman. But if we don't we have the guys that can start in some sort of a mix and match.
 
Cowboysrock55 said:
Yeah, I'm thrilled to have a third round pick. But I feel like we also kind of opened a sneaky hole at 3-4 DE now too. Otito can play that 4i spot and do it at a normal level. But I certainly think it now opens the possibility of drafting that position as well. Like if we took Big Citrus at 92 I wouldn't be upset at all anymore. (Love the nickname)

But the glaring need is LBer. I just can't fathom that we don't at least bring in an older veteran as insurance/to help lead the group. Someone like Wagner would make sense as like a 1 year, he can help sort of lead the group and bring a rookie along. Although we don't appear to have any interest in him.

Outside of LBer I feel like the draft is sort of open to draft BPA now. Sure we need a high end pass rusher. But if we miss in the first I'm not sure it makes much difference if we circle back around later. We could draft an impact corner/safety/D-lineman. But if we don't we have the guys that can start in some sort of a mix and match.
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I bet they're waiting to see how the draft goes before making another move for a starter either in FA or a trade, similar to how they did with WR last year.
 
Simpleton said:
I bet they're waiting to see how the draft goes before making another move for a starter either in FA or a trade, similar to how they did with WR last year.
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I hope that's not what they're doing. I think that's backwards and subtly can affect their draft mentality whether they think so or not.
 
Simpleton said:
I bet they're waiting to see how the draft goes before making another move for a starter either in FA or a trade, similar to how they did with WR last year.
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I guarantee you that's what they're doing. Post draft doesn't affect the precious comp pick.

You know the saying, when something has proven to be a mediocrity to an outright failure, keep doing it.
 
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