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: $1.149 million
- Biggest signing: Jalen Thompson
- Biggest departure: Osa Odighizuwa
- Most surprising move: Osa Odighizuwa trade
- Biggest remaining need: Linebacker
- Last updated: 10:15 am. ET, March 12, 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.
Sam Williams, DE: one-year, $3 million (Mike Garafolo, NFL Network)
It was reported that the Cowboys were willing to have Williams back at the right price. A one-year contract for $3 million is extremely reasonable for a rotational outside linebacker. He'll fit much better as an OLB in Christian Parker's scheme relative to a standard edge rusher.
That said, this move does very little -- if anything -- to move the needle, as Williams ranked 68th out of 77 qualified edge defenders with an 8.7 percent pass-rush win rate last season, per PFF.
The hope is that Williams will rebound two years removed from ACL surgery, and Parker and new outside linebackers coach Chidera Uzo-Diribe can unlock Williams' undeniable talent.
Read more on why Sam Williams had no business being back with the Cowboys.
P.J. Locke, SAF: one-year, $5 million (Ian Rapoport, NFL Network)
A former Texas Longhorn, Locke played under Christian Parker for three seasons in Denver. He's largely been a backup in his career, but he gave the Broncos some quality starts in six seasons and brings positional flexibility to a secondary that badly needs it.
Over the last two seasons, Locke's played 326 snaps in the box, 681 as a free safety, and 123 as a nickel cornerback, per Pro Football Focus. He's best served in a reserve role, but he can be a major contributor on special teams while providing quality safety depth.
Revamping the safety room is a clear priority for Dallas, and it wouldn't be a surprise to see it continue during the NFL Draft.
Read more on why the Cowboys' P.J. Locke move has Christian Parker written all over it.
Otito Ogbonnia, NT: one-year, $3 million (Mike Garafalo, NFL Network)
A Houston native, Ogbonnia is a true nose tackle who started 17 games for the Chargers two years ago while appearing in 41 games over four seasons. He's a quality backup DT, and he joins 2025 seventh-round pick Jay Toia as the only true noses on the roster.
The Cowboys now have five mouths to feed along their interior defensive line: Quinnen Williams, Kenny Clark, Osa Odighizuwa, Solomon Thomas, and Ogbonnia. It has the makings to be a logjam, but for a team that ignored the DT position for years before 2025, this is a sight for sore eyes.
Read more on why the Osa Odighizuwa trade chatter will explode after the Otito Ogbonnia signing.
Sam Howell, QB: one-year (Adam Schefter, ESPN)
The financial terms of Howell's contract with the Cowboys have not been reported. We'll keep you updated, but nevertheless, he is a Cowboy, which comes as a surprise to a lot of people.
Dallas is not giving up on backup Joe Milton, but it doesn't hurt to insert some competition behind him, and Howell provides exactly that. The former Commanders fifth-round pick has started 18 games in his career (all with Washington), and was the Eagles' third-stringer last season.
Howell can provide fireworks when he drops back to pass, but, like Milton, he needs to learn not to put the football in harm's way.
Read more on how the Cowboys blindsided fans by signing Sam Howell.
Tyrus Wheat, DL: one-year (Nick Harris, Fort Worth Star-Telegram)
An exclusive rights free agent with Detroit, Wheat was not tendered, making him an unrestricted free agent. The Cowboys signed Wheat as an undrafted free agent in 2023, and he appeared in 20 games over two seasons before spending 2025 with the Lions.
Wheat has only played 263 defensive snaps since entering the NFL, but he's a valuable special teams contributor. As a rookie, he totaled 196 special teams snaps, including 54 on kick returns, 77 on kickoff coverage, 35 on punt returns, and 30 on punt coverage.
Like Howell, Wheat's financial terms have not been reported, but it's fair to assume he'll make at or around the veteran minimum.
Read more on why signing Tyrus Wheat adds to growing frustration among Cowboys fans.
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.
Osa Odighizuwa, DT (per Ian Rapoport)
Questions emerged about Odighizuwa's fit in Christian Parker's scheme following the NFL Combine. The Cowboys started receiving calls after teams caught wind that he was floated in trade talks with the Las Vegas Raiders for Maxx Crosby.
It wasn't groundbreaking that Odighizuwa was traded, but it still hit hard when Dallas traded him to the San Francisco 49ers. The Cowboys did well to get a 2026 third-round pick for him, but it is fair to wonder if they should have just kept him.
Odighizuwa doesn't have great PR, but he's one of the most disruptive interior defenders in the NFL. Very few defensive tackles are better at rushing the quarterback than Osa.
Solomon Thomas, DT (per Adam Schefter)
Minutes after Odighizuwa was traded to San Francisco, the Cowboys sent Thomas to the Tennessee Titans for a Day 3 pick swap. The teams exchanged picks No. 218 and 225.
In some ways, trading Thomas was more surprising than trading Odighizuwa. You can understand offloading a player who isn't a fit in a new system. But trading Thomas took a flamethrower to the team's interior defensive line depth.
The Cowboys now need bodies behind Quinnen Williams and Kenny Clark, even after signing former Charger Otito Ogbonnia. Moving Odighizuwa and Thomas back-to-back feels intentional, like they are clearing a path for a bigger move on the defensive line.
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
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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.
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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.
Best targets remaining
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.
Bobby Wagner, LB, Commanders
Dan Quinn and the Commanders have run laps around the Cowboys in free agency. Why not steal one of their most prized free agents?
While Wagner turns 36 in June and looks like he's running in cement in coverage, he can still get downhill with the best linebackers in the NFL. Even on a dreadful Washington defense last season, Wagner was marvelous, posting a 90.3 run-defense grade while tallying 52 defensive stops to just eight missed tackles, per PFF.
Mike Hilton, CB, Colts
Slot cornerback is arguably the Cowboys' biggest need, and Hilton has a long track record of success at the position.
A shoulder injury wiped out most of his 2025 after replacing Kenny Moore in the Colts' starting lineup, but he was a force for the Bengals in 2024. Per PFF, he led all qualified defenders -- not just cornerbacks -- with a 91.4 run-defense grade, to go with 38 run stops and just six missed tackles.
Hilton can likely be had at the vet minimum. The Cowboys will have to clear him medically, but they can do much worse than sign the 31-year-old to play the nickel for them.