With the NFL Combine a week away and legal tampering less than a month out, this feels like a pivot year for Dallas. New defensive coordinator. New staff. New identity. If the Cowboys are serious about contending again, this can’t be a passive offseason. It has to be aggressive, intentional, and defensive-driven. This is my projection for how Dallas restructures contracts, clears space, attacks free agency, and sets up the draft.

Contract Restructures (PFSN Estimates)

Dallas leans into cap manipulation and creates flexibility without gutting the roster.

This approach pushes money forward but maximizes the next two seasons, which is clearly the competitive window.

• WR CeeDee Lamb – $19M

• QB Dak Prescott – $31.0M

• DT Osa Odighizuwa – $12M

• RT Terence Steele – $8M

• CB DaRon Bland – $8.6M

• DT Kenny Clark – $9.6M

• DT Quinnen Williams – $14.6M

• G Tyler Smith – $9.8M

• TE Jake Ferguson – $4.8

Players Released / Cap Savings

• MS Malik Hooker – $6.8M

• LB Logan Wilson – $6.5M

• TE Luke Schoonmaker – $1.6M

Estimated Cap Space Remaining

$92,005,897

Free Agency: Defense Sets the Tone

This isn’t a splash-for-headlines offseason. It’s targeted, calculated aggression.

EDGE Jadeveon Clowney (1 year, $6.1M)

Return of Clowney is a short-term disruptor. Sets the edge, wins early downs, and gives the new DC a movable chess piece.

WR George Pickens (4 years, $123.2M)

Pickens, opposite CeeDee Lamb, creates one of the most physically dominant WR duos in football.

RB Javonte Williams (3 years, $22M)

Downhill runner. Physical. Reliable in pass pro. Takes pressure off Dak and restores balance to the offense.

PHI LB Nakobe Dean (3 years, $27.1M)

Fast. Instinctive. Leadership upside. Fits a defense that wants speed at the second level.

PHI S Reed Blankenship (2 years, $14.3M)

Smart, physical, versatile safety who can rotate down or play deep. Strong fit in a multiple-front defense.

GB EDGE Kingsley Enagbare (2 years, $12.8M)

Rotational rusher with developmental upside. Keeps the pass rush deep and fresh.

OL Depth Moves

• TJ Bass (R1 tender, $3.4M)

• Brock Hoffman (1 year, $1.75M)

• MIA Larry Borom (1 year, $2.5M)

K Brandon Aubrey (4 years, $25.8M)

2026 Mock Draft & Fit

Round 1, Pick 12: CB Mansoor Delane (LSU)

Long, physical press corner with SEC experience. Perfect outside CB2 opposite DaRon Bland. Allows Dallas to stay aggressive with coverage disguises.

Fit: Immediate starter in a defense that wants length and man versatility.

Round 1, Pick 20: EDGE Cashius Howell (Texas A&M)

Explosive first step. Power-to-speed conversion. Rotational Year 1, starter ceiling Year 2.

Fit: Keeps the pass rush relentless.

Round 4, Pick 112: RB Kaelon Black (Indiana)

Change-of-pace back with juice. Pairs well with Javonte Williams. Keeps legs fresh.

Round 5, Pick 150: S Jakobe Thomas (Miami)

Developmental safety, with upside for range and special teams.

Round 6, Pick 177: TE Lake McRee (USC)

Inline depth TE with blocking upside. Insurance behind Ferguson.

Round 6, Pick 215: WR De’Zhaun Stribling (Ole Miss)

Vertical developmental WR. Red-zone body. Practice squad upside.

Round 7, Pick 225: CB Jaylon Guilbeau (Texas)

Nickel depth. Special teams contributor. Competitive, physical profile.

Dallas Cowboys 2026-27 Projected Depth Chart

(Starters in Bold / Free Agents: *)

Quarterbacks

• Dak Prescott

• Joe Milton

• Will Grier

Running Backs

• Javonte Williams

• Kaelon Black (R)

• Jaydon Blue

• Phil Mafah

• Hunter Luepke (fullback)

Wide Receivers

• CeeDee Lamb

• George Pickens

• Ryan Flournoy

• KaVontae Turpin

• De’Zhaun Stribling (R)

Tight Ends

• Jake Ferguson

• Brevyn Spann-Ford

• Lake McRee (R)

Offensive Line

• LT Tyler Guyton

• LG Tyler Smith

• C Cooper Beebe

• RG Tyler Booker

• RT Terence Steele

• Nate Thomas

• TJ Bass

• Brock Hoffman

• Trevor Keegan

• Larry Borom*

Defensive Tackles

• Quinnen Williams

• Kenny Clark

• Osa Odighizuwa

• Solomon Thomas

• Jay Toia

• Perrion Winfrey

EDGE

• Donovan Ezeiruaku

• Jadeveon Clowney

• Cassius Howell (R)

• Kingsley Enagbare*

• James Houston

Linebackers

• DeMarvion Overshown

• Nakobe Dean

• Shemar James

• Marist Liufau

Cornerbacks

• Mansoor Delane (R)

• Shavon Revel

• DaRon Bland

• Caelen Carson

• Reddy Steward

• Jaylon Guilbeau (R)

Safeties

• Reed Blankenship*

• Jakobe Thomas (R)

• Markquese Bell

• Alijah Clark

Specialists

• K Brandon Aubrey

• P Bryan Anger

• LS Trent Sieg

Did I build this roster aggressively enough to compete with the top teams in the NFC, or should Dallas have pushed even harder?