Hope in the Dallas Cowboys has been restored following the 2026 NFL Draft. Adding a potential franchise cornerstone like Caleb Downs will have the effect, but Dallas' entire draft has rightfully earned praise.
The vibes weren’t immaculate heading into last week, as the Cowboys were coming off another subdued free agency. They plugged plenty of holes with their seven draft picks, but the defense, particularly the front seven, could still use more firepower.
Even though Dallas has hinted that it'll partake in the post-draft signing wave, it squandered yet another opportunity to sign veteran defensive lineman Calais Campbell, who inked a one-year deal with the Baltimore Ravens on Thursday.
Ravens reporter Jeff Zrebiec of The Athletic believes Campbell’s contract will mirror the one he signed with Arizona last year, which was a one-year, $5.5 million deal.
The Dallas Cowboys could have used Calais Campbell for defensive line depth
Yeah, the Cowboys should be kicking themselves. They have just under $13 million in cap room, more than enough to sign Campbell.
A member of the NFL's All-2010s Team, Campbell is entering his 19th season in the league, but you wouldn't know it because he continues to produce at a high level. He played a whopping 643 snaps for the Cardinals last season, tallying his most sacks (6.5) since 2018, and his nine quarterback hits were seventh-most among interior defenders, per Pro Football Focus.
Dallas would absolutely use that production behind Quinnen Williams and Kenny Clark. Fourth-round pick LT Overton out of Alabama is viewed as the long-term replacement for Osa Odighizuwa, but he can't be expected to fill that void in Year 1.
Outside of Overton, the Cowboys have vets Otito Ogbonnia and Jonathan Bullard, and 2025 seventh-round pick Jay Toia.
Ogbonnia is a fine DT3, but there’s only so much Dallas can expect from Bullard in his age-33 season after logging just 327 snaps in New Orleans last year. The Cowboys hope Toia develops into a rotational nose tackle, though his rookie season showed he still has a long way to go.
It's not the end of the world that Dallas didn't sign Campbell, but he would have provided a bigger pass-rushing presence and even more versatility to the DL. He would've been a perfect addition next to Williams and Clark.
If one of them gets hurt, that hesitation could come back to haunt Dallas. Fans have long pounded the table for Jerry Jones to sign Campbell, but like so many pleas over the years, it's fallen on deaf ears.
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