It's been more than a week and a half now since NFL free agency began, and the Dallas Cowboys certainly didn't make as many moves as some would have liked, especially since Jerry Jones talked about a potential spending spree even after re-signing running back Javonte Williams to a new three-year deal and placing the franchise tag on wide receiver George Pickens.
But it's not as if the Cowboys didn't make any moves, as they now have eight new players who weren't on the roster this past season, seven via free agency and one via trade, some of which we'll get to momentarily.
Dallas could still make some more moves in the coming weeks, but the bulk of the remaining help on the way will come via next month's draft.
In that regard, John Kosko of Pro Football Focus recently took the time to opine on what each of the 16 NFC teams' worst-case scenarios would be, and his analysis for America's Team was this: Don’t come out of the draft with difference-makers on defense.
It's a little obvious, of course, but that certainly doesn't mean it's not true.
The Dallas Cowboys must add multiple impact defensive players in the NFL Draft
Before we go any further, here's a look at Kosko's full breakdown:
"The Cowboys are in a similar situation to the Bears, except with a defense that didn’t generate turnovers at a league-high rate. Dallas ranked last in the NFL in both EPA per play allowed and success rate.
"With two first-round picks, the Cowboys need to double up on the defensive side of the ball. Dak Prescott and the Dallas offense was one of the most explosive in the NFL in 2025. While Prescott has been inconsistent over the past several years, using a premium pick on the team’s offense in 2026 is not the route to take."
It's certainly no secret that Dallas was a one-sided team this past season. While the offense ranked second in the league in total yards per game (391.9) and seventh in scoring (27.7), the defense ranked 30th in total yards per game allowed (377.0) and dead last in scoring (30.1).
Now, as the roster stands now, the Cowboys are already better than they were, as they added veteran edge rusher Rashan Gary in a trade with the Green Bay Packers and safety Jalen Thompson in free agency.
They also added some depth at several positions by signing cornerback Cobie Durant, safety P.J. Locke, and nose tackle Otito Ogbonnia. Those aren't high-profile additions by any means, but they're all solid options.
Plus, Dallas gets a full year of Quinnen Williams, so that'll be nice. They did trade Osa Odighizuwa to the San Francisco 49ers, of course, but they got a third-round pick in return, upping their total number of selections to eight, obviously including those two first-rounders mentioned above.
Kosko is spot-on in saying the Cowboys need to use both of those first-rounders (No. 12, No. 20) on defensive players, with linebacker, edge rusher, and cornerback being the top three needs at this point. It's not that they shouldn't take any offensive players, as the O-line could use a little more depth, specifically at tackle.
But the focus should undoubtedly be on the defense, and one would hope that new DC Christian Parker is heavily involved in the process.