With one of the NFL's most explosive offenses already in place, the Dallas Cowboys aren't far from pushing back into the playoff picture.
A strong free agency focused on fixing their defensive holes could quickly put them in contention. It just so happens that this year's class is loaded with talent, and Jerry Jones has made it clear he plans to be more aggressive.
The Cowboys entered the 2026 offseason with a dim salary cap outlook, but they now have plenty of money to throw around after restructuring some of their biggest contracts.
All of that should add up to Dallas' busiest signing frenzy in years. From signings to departures, consider this your hub for everything Cowboys related in free agency.
On this page:
- Free-agency snapshot
- Major Cowboys signings
- Departures
- Potential departures to watch
- Best targets remaining
- More free-agency coverage
Free-agency snapshot
- Cap space remaining: $-18.272 million
- Biggest signing: Jalen Thompson
- Biggest departure: Logan Wilson
- Most surprising move: Rashan Gary trade
- Biggest remaining need: EDGE
- Last updated: 4:35 pm. ET, March 9, 2026
Edge rusher was already a glaring need for the Cowboys, but it should be an even bigger priority now that Donovan Ezeiruaku will miss all of OTAs and minicamp after hip surgery. Ezeiruaku and James Houston are the only returning edge rushers who logged more than 100 pass-rushing snaps in 2025.
Major Cowboys signings:
Javonte Williams: three years, $24 million (Ian Rapoport, NFL Network)
The Cowboys wisely did not allow Williams to reach the open market after a career year. On top of rushing for 1,201 yards, Williams ranked fourth among running backs with 3.56 yards after contact per carry and seventh with 54 missed tackles forced, per PFF.
Per ESPN's Todd Archer, Williams' deal carries a $3.95 million cap hit in 2026 and has $16 million guaranteed. He has a $1.75 million base salary next season and a $6.25 million base salary in 2027, both of which are guaranteed, setting up Dallas with an easy out in 2028.
Read the full breakdown on how the Cowboys' gamble on Javonte Williams paid off here.
Rashan Gary, DE: Trade with Packers (Ian Rapoport, NFL Network)
According to Ian Rapoport of NFL Network, the Cowboys have sent a 2027 fourth-round pick to the Green Bay Packers for Rashan Gary. Some will view that as a steep price, as Gary was considered a cut candidate, but trading a Day 3 pick for a proven pass rusher is solid business.
It only feels right that the Cowboys and Packers kicked off free agency with a trade involving a pass rusher.
A first-round pick in 2019, Gary has compiled 24 sacks over the last three seasons, and he has ties to defensive coordinator Christian Parker, DL coach Derrick Asnley, and DT Kenny Clark from their time in Green Bay.
Read more on why the Cowboys actually paid a fair price for Rashan Gary.
Jalen Thompson, S: three years, $36 million (Ian Rapoport, NFL Network)
Thompson was a reported Cowboys target following the NFL Combine in Indianapolis, and smoke continued to build from there.
To say that he fills a need in the secondary would be huge, as Donovan Wilson is a free agent, and the returning Malik Hooker turns 29 next month and has already started showing his age, likely due to the various lower-leg injuries he suffered early in his career.
A five-year starter with the Cardinals, Thompson brings 87 starts and a ton of positional versatility with him to Dallas, and he won't turn 28 until July. He gives the team needed flexibility for the remainder of free agency and the NFL Draft.
Read more on why Jalen Thompson fixes a position the Cowboys have ignored for years.
Departures:
Logan Wilson, LB (per Patrik Walker)
In a move that was widely expected, the Cowboys released Wilson on February 2, freeing up $6.5 million of cap space. Acquired before the 2025 trade deadline to spark a floundering defense, Wilson made seven appearances for Dallas, including one start.
To put it kindly, Wilson did not provide a spark, posting a 52.4 PFF grade while logging just six defensive stops on 224 total snaps. He should have gotten more playing time than Kenneth Murray, but that's not saying much, as Murray is one of the worst linebackers in the NFL.
While necessary, Wilson's release leaves DeMarvion Overshown as the only returning starting linebacker. Rookie Shemar James played 500 snaps out of necessity, and Marist Liufau will convert to an outside linebacker (pass rusher) under new coordinator Christian Parker.
Potential departures to watch
Jadeveon Clowney, DE, UFA
Clowney is an unrestricted free agent after signing a one-year deal with Dallas last September. Despite being a last-minute addition, Clowney was the defense's most consistent presence off the edge.
No, that's not saying much, but the veteran put together a really strong season, finishing with 8.5 sacks, 40 pressures, and 12 tackles for loss.
The Cowboys were adamant about re-signing Clowney, but their tone changed after Christian Parker was hired as defensive coordinator.
Donovan Wilson, S, UFA
Wilson may have reached the end of the road with Dallas. A sixth-round pick in 2019, Wilson appeared in 98 games over seven seasons, including 75 starts. He's still an effective blitzer, but declining athleticism has left him exposed in coverage as he's aged.
The Texas A&M product may no longer fit into the Cowboys' plans, as Christian Parker aims to get younger and more athletic in the defensive backfield.
Dante Fowler, DE, UFA
Fowler is a fine rotational edge rusher, but the Cowboys need more consistency. The former No. 3 overall pick struggled in that department coming off a 10.5-sack season with the Commanders in 2024, as he notched just 3.0 sacks and finished sixth on Dallas with 30 pressures.
Like every defender on the roster, Fowler would benefit from playing under Parker relative to Matt Eberflus, but he'll turn 32 in December. The Cowboys need to rebuild the edge room behind Donovan Ezeiruaku, and Fowler didn't pop enough in 2025 to warrant a new deal.
Jalen Tolbert, WR, UFA
Tolbert had plenty of buzz after the Cowboys drafted him in the third round out of South Alabama in 2022, but he often left fans wanting more, as every strong performance seemingly was followed by a string of no-shows.
The 27-year-old had a career year in 2024 as Dallas' de facto No. 2 receiver, but he failed to carry that momentum into last season. While the George Pickens trade didn't do him any favors, 2024 sixth-round pick Ryan Flournoy ultimately surpassed him in the pecking order.
With all three of CeeDee Lamb, Pickens, and Flournoy expected back, Tolbert should seek a fresh start elsewhere on the open market.
Sam Williams, DE, UFA
Coming off a torn ACL suffered in 2024 training camp, Williams made little to no impact in his contract year. Despite playing the second-most pass-rush snaps of any Cowboy edge defender, Williams amassed just 24 pressures, one sack, and six tackles for loss, while his 8.7 percent pass-rush win rate ranked 68th out of 76 edge rushers.
For some reason, Dallas wanted to sign him to an extension during training camp last summer, but it never came to pass. The front office dodged a mistake, as 2025 proved he's not the player they expected when they drafted him in the second round in 2022.
Best targets remaining
Trey Hendrickson, DE, Bengals
Cowboys fans will be monitoring Hendrickson's market closely when the legal tampering period begins on Monday. It's this simple: Dallas is desperate for pass rushers, and Hendrickson is the crown jewel of this year's free agency class.
Since 2021, Hendrickson's 61.0 sacks trail only Myles Garrett (83.0), T.J. Watt (65.5), and Micah Parsons (65.0) for the most in the NFL. However, it's fair to question if his best days are behind him, as injuries limited him to just seven games last season and he'll turn 32 in December.
Devin Lloyd, LB, Jaguars
Hendrickson and Lloyd could end up as the highest-paid free agents from the 2026 class. It's not often that All-Pro linebackers reach the open market, and a lot of teams are desperate for better play at the position.
Lloyd is coming off a career year with the Jaguars, recording 81 tackles, five (!) interceptions, 10 tackles for loss, and his 25 pressures ranked third at the position. He's a rare complete linebacker, and he could still be ascending, as he won't turn 28 until September.
Signing Lloyd would be a dream for Dallas, but it would limit their ability to upgrade other positions. He may ultimately price himself out of Jerry Jones' budget.
Nakobe Dean, LB, Eagles
Dean's injury history will give most teams pause, but he bounced back nicely from a knee injury to compile four sacks, two forced fumbles, and a 92.0 pass-rush grade last season. He has an undeniable nose for the football, and he's regarded as the best blitzing linebacker in the game.
Still just 25 years old, Dean is the most realistic signing of the players we've listed, as multiple reports have already linked him to the Cowboys. Not only is he the most affordable, but he's familiar with Christian Parker from their two seasons together in Philadelphia.
Joey Bosa, DE, Bills
With Jaelan Phillips and Odafe Oweh signing gargantuan contracts with the Panthers and Commanders, respectively, Bosa is the next-best available edge behind Hendrickson.
After struggling with injuries for multiple years with the Chargers, Bosa started 15 games for the Bills last season, posting 54 pressures and an 88.7 pass-rush grade that ranked eighth seventh among edge defenders and a 0.18 PFF-WAR that ranked 19th at the position, per PFF.