The Dallas Cowboys have focused entirely on defense this offseason, which is exactly what they should be doing after a disastrous 2025 campaign.
Since free agency began, the Cowboys traded for pass rusher Rashan Gary and signed safeties P.J. Locke and Jalen Thompson to help bolster their defense. They also added defensive tackle Otito Ogbonnia to an already crowded DT room.
Unexpectedly, there's now a sudden quarterback battle at hand, with former division rival QB Sam Howell signing with the Cowboys late Tuesday. Speaking of division rivals, since free agency began, Dan Quinn and the Commanders have been playing chess while the Cowboys play checkers.
Even though the Cowboys or Commanders didn't end up with All-Pro pass rushers Maxx Crosby (a story in itself) or Trey Hendrickson, Washington has done much more than Dallas to show they are serious about competing in the NFC East.
Dan Quinn and the Commanders are running laps around the Dallas Cowboys in free agency
The Commanders have bolstered every position on defense with solid names in free agency. They may not be the most glitzy additions, but Quinn didn’t waste any time upgrading the unit across the board.
Washington's pass-rushing core looks nearly complete after signing K'Lavon Chaisson and Odafe Oweh. They also got help in the secondary, signing cornerback Amik Robertson, and their front seven looks in place after signing defensive tackle Tim Settle and outside linebacker Leo Chenal.
This is a classic Quinn philosophy playing out in real time. It's going out to grab already polished talent to take them to new heights. Not to mention, the Commanders already have Pro Bowl DT Daron Payne, who's been the anchor of that front seven for many years. Quinn adding all of these assets only helps him.
The best way the Cowboys can combat this is to continue to improve their defense at every level. Sure, they may have missed out on some names, but they still have two first-round picks to think about, possibly a cornerback like LSU's Mansoor Delane or a defensive end in Clemson's T.J. Parker.
Trading for Gary did help, but surely Jones can't be too proud of himself for re-signing Sam Williams. Since his 2022 rookie campaign, Williams has not stood out as a pass rusher, and it's a nothing-burger compared to the home runs that Washington has been hitting.
There's still time, but it looks like the contract numbers for pass rushers this free agency caught the Joneses completely off guard, while Washington has a ton to look forward to.