Jones being ‘aggressive’ in free agency

By Josh Ortega

This week, more than 100 NFL players are set to test the open free agency market to find a potential new landing spot across the 32 different teams with the start of the new league year on March 11. 

Free agency brings excitement for fans as the days count down until NFL football is back; think buying a flat screen TV on Black Friday at an eye-popping price level of excitement. The frenzy begins when teams are legally allowed to contact pending free agents and negotiate with their representation.

So far, many teams have been hard at work replenishing their rosters. Here in Dallas, the Cowboys have been one of those teams in the mix of it all. So far, at the time of writing, the Cowboys have made nine different moves to the roster to improve in 2026. 

Dallas Cowboys Owner, President and General Manager Jerry Jones mentioned being “aggressive” in free agency at the 2026 NFL Scouting Combine, holding two first-round picks in the fold. 

In Head Coach Brian Schottenheimer’s first season, Dallas went 7-9-1 while bolstering one of the NFL’s most explosive passive offense in addition to a high-ranked rushing attack. Dallas led the league in total passing yards and finished in the top five in total passing yards, while finishing inside the top 10 in multiple rushing statistics. 

However, Dallas struggled on defense, ranking last in the league for passing yards allowed and surrendering 4.7 yards per carry against the run. They also tied for the most rushing touchdowns allowed, highlighting significant defensive weaknesses. In combination with the trade that shook the Metroplex just before the start of the season, it’s having long-term effects on the field for the defensive unit. Dallas sent three time All-pro and 2021 Rookie of the Year defensive end Micah Parsons to the Green Bay Packers — after a drawn-out stand-off over a long-term deal — for two first-round picks and defensive tackle Kenny Clark.

Despite making moves like trading for All-Pro defensive tackle Quinnen Williams from the Jets and others, the unit still struggled further, implying much-needed reinforcements on defense come the offseason. 

With the offseason in full swing, the Cowboys have been working to retain key pieces on the roster, while adding new players to fill needs on both sides of the ball. Before free agency truly commenced, the front office wrapped up two key pieces of business early on the offense. Dallas handed running back Javonte Williams a three-year, $24 million dollar deal after Williams had a career year, finishing inside the top 10 in both total rushing yards and touchdowns.

Dallas also secured the rights to one of the key pieces in the passing arsenal, placing a non-exclusive franchise tag on wide receiver George Pickens. Dallas traded for Pickens from Pittsburgh last offseason to partner alongside three-time All-Pro wide receiver CeeDee Lamb. 

During his first season with Dallas, Pickens exploded on the field, finishing third in the NFL in total receiving yards, putting up career highs in receptions, targets, yards and touchdowns. Pickens solidified himself as a key weapon in Dallas, but with his rookie contract set to expire at the end of the season, his production carried a large price tag. 

The franchise tag being placed on Pickens allows the front office to continue to negotiate a new deal with the wide-out until the summer deadline, where Pickens can opt to play on the franchise tag for a season, netting a reported figure of $27 million. However, the other option is that Pickens can refuse, too, and hold out for a new deal. Jones spoke highly, though, about getting an eventual long-term deal done with Pickens’s back at the end of February at the NFL Scouting Combine. 

“No mistake about how much we want George Pickens to be a part of our future,” Jones said when asked about his confidence level about working out a long-term deal after placing the franchise tag on Pickens. “I would want all of our fans to rest assured that I have every intention of working very well with his agent.”

Back on defense, the Cowboys opened this week during the legal tampering period by further bolstering the pass rush while adding pieces to first-year defensive coordinator Christian Parker’s new scheme.

Dallas traded for former Packers defensive end Rashan Gary in exchange for a 2027 fourth-round pick. Gary’s career in Green Bay spanned over seven seasons, finishing with 47.5 career sacks.

Dallas also agreed to terms for former second-round defensive end Sam Williams to return on a one-year deal, and former Chargers DT Otito Ogbonnia, who himself inked a one-year deal to come to North Texas after playing 41 games for the Chargers across five seasons in LA. Adding depth to the secondary, former Broncos safety P.J. Locke agreed to terms, and former Cardinals safety Jalen Thompson inked a three-year deal. 

The Cowboys are reportedly still working on a deal with the special team’s ace kicker Brandon Aubrey, whom the team placed a second-round tender. With the offseason moves in full swing, only time will tell how aggressively and what moves Dallas makes to fortify the roster.