NFL
By: Greg Rector
Hello folks, it’s been a while since I last wrote about the team that most love to hate. Indeed, it’s time to go over the 2026 offseason. The Dallas Cowboys now enter season 31 without going to an NFC Championship game.
Jerry Jones
Well, at least Jerry Jones spent some money this offseason. When he signed safety Jalen Thompson to get this player in town for a three-year deal worth 33 million dollars, this signing was easily the largest free agency deal signed by the Dallas Cowboys since they signed Brandon Carr in 2012. Give Jerry Jones a big ovation for this one move.
The rest of the free agent signings are the usual one-year deals. Cobie Durant and Derion Kendrick are both former Los Angeles Rams corners who will fight for playing time. P J Locke joins the safety room as well, coming in from the Denver Broncos awesome defense. Sam Williams returns, and they also signed Jonathan Bullard to keep some rotational bodies at the edge position. The Dallas Cowboys signed Sam Howell to battle with Joe Mixon as backup QB to Dak Prescott. Otito Ogbannia joins the DT room as the Cowboys dealt Osa Odigizuwa to the San Francisco 49ers. Matt Hennesy takes over the spot of former backup OL Brock Hoffman.
The Trade
Rashan Gary was dealt for a fourth-round draft pick in the 2027 NFL Draft. This move was due to the entire mess of Maxx Crosby being signed by the Ravens before his deal was quashed. Gary is a decent edge player, and moving another fourth-round pick should pay off handsomely, unlike the moves for Trey Lance and Johnathan Mingo.
The Holes
Most Dallas Cowboys fans want to see the team acquire a real middle linebacker, either in a trade or through the NFL Draft. Someone who can be the green dot guy. There has been a conversation with the Miami Dolphins about Jordyn Brooks. I don’t believe this deal takes place until after the draft. In the draft, I don’t see using either first-round draft pick for an MLB. So at pick 92, they might find a decent player to be the green dot guy.
The other major hole remains in the secondary, specifically the guy who will play the nickel corner position. If Caleb Downs falls in the draft, he would immediately fill that position. The other guy who might be worth going for in round one is Avionne Terrell, who would be selected at pick 20, who played at Clemson.
Yes, Dallas Cowboys fans are looking for the team to address these two needs immediately in the NFL draft. Hold your horses, folks. Because if the draft falls the way so many mock drafts have at pick 12, they may not like anyone available. In a recent mock draft I participated in, this was the case. I decided to draft Kenyon Sadiq, the tight end from Oregon. Shhh, it means the Philadelphia Eagles, you know that bunch who we really hate, can’t draft him at pick 23. Sadiq can block, and it would give Dak Prescott two excellent targets along with Jake Ferguson.
I run mock simulations daily, and if the Dallas Cowboys can’t trade down, don’t be stunned when the Dallas Cowboys select the BEST PLAYER AVAILABLE. Much like when Ceedee Lamb fell to pick 17.
I also feel the Cowboys need a new running back, and at pick 112, I often select one. Remember last year, I wasn’t high on Jaydon Blue from Texas. Guess what happened? His lack of hard work in practice meant Malik Davis passed by Blue on the depth chart.
Even with the rest of the Cowboys’ selections, good players are available. This draft is full of excellent safety, corners, and middle linebackers.
2026 Season
Do I feel like the Dallas Cowboys are going to win the NFC East this upcoming season? NOPE!!! This NFL Draft should assist the team become true contenders in 2027. Christian Parker is using a 3-4 defense, which differs from the last attempt at a 3-4 defense installed by Bill Parcells. This new type of 3-4 defense features plenty of three-safety looks in nickel packages and relies less on dime coverage. Along with the way the defensive lines up.
Take care, Dallas Cowboys fans. I’ll see you on YouTube when we present our Draft coverage show all three days.
