The Dallas Cowboys addressed two major needs on the first day of the NFL's legal tampering period, trading for pass rusher Rashan Gary and signing safety Jalen Thompson.
While quality additions, fans were understandably left wanting more, and the angst culminated after rumored target Nakobe Dean signed with the Las Vegas Raiders on a three-year, $36 million deal with $20 million guaranteed. That's a fair price for the 25-year-old linebacker.
Losing out on Dean will hardly be remembered so long as Dallas comes away with DeMarvion Overshown's new running mate by the end of the week.
If the latest intel from NFL Network's Jane Slater is accurate, though, it will be remembered because it's flat-out embarrassing.
Per Slater, the Cowboys made a similar offer to Dean. However, he went with his "gut feeling" and could have seen himself playing in both uniforms, with the Raiders ultimately winning out with a 51/49 margin.
Just talked with someone close to the situation and apparently Dallas was actually very competitive in the Nakobe Dean market.
— Jane Slater (@SlaterNFL) March 9, 2026
He was one of their 5 zooms allowed. I’m told their offer was similar to the Raiders but ultimately he went with his gut feeling but was told he could…
It sure sounds like Nakobe Dean picked the Raiders over the Dallas Cowboys
That will surely go over well with Cowboys Nation ...
It should be noted that Dean will reunite with former Georgia teammate Quay Walker, another reported Cowboys target, in Las Vegas. It's possible that swayed his decision, even though he played under Dallas defensive coordinator Christian Paker on the Eagles for two years.
The Walker factor may have swung the pendulum in Las Vegas' favor. Regardless, it's a painful look for Jerry Jones that one of his top free-agent targets chose the Raiders over the Cowboys. That should never happen. Period.
With the No. 1 overall pick, a new head coach in Klint Kubiak, and fresh off dishing out over $200 million on Monday, the Raiders are undoubtedly trending up. But they play in one of the best divisions in the NFL. A lot has to go right with presumptive top pick Fernando Mendoza for them to even sniff a playoff berth.
The Cowboys, meanwhile, are just a few more additions on defense away from being a highly dangerous team. Their stock was trending up after hiring Christian Parker and putting together a rockstar defensive staff.
For Dallas' sake, money better have been the deciding factor here. If Dean took more money to reunite with his former Bulldog teammate, that'd be much easier to swallow.
But Slater framed it as if it could have gone either way. If that's true, the Joneses have nobody to blame but themselves.