Each week, we collect to debate the most recent information in regards to the Dallas Cowboys and search our author’s perspective on every headline. Welcome again to the roundtable. This week we have now Sean Martin, David Howman, and Jess Haynie.
Which participant on the Cowboys roster that’s about to turn into a free agent must be precedence to re-sign?
Mike: If we’re selecting one pending free agent to maintain on the high of the record, it’s Jadeveon Clowney. In a 12 months when the protection has been looking for anybody who can constantly stress the passer and create damaging performs, Clowney has been one of many few dependable sources. With Micah Parsons gone and the entrance nonetheless needing identification, letting essentially the most reliable veteran rusher stroll simply creates one other gap that Jerry should spend the spring making an attempt to patch with cheaper, riskier bets.
Jess: The simple reply is George Pickens, and that’s why it’s the appropriate reply. He wasn’t the Robin to CeeDee Lamb’s Batman this 12 months. He was Superman, and their mixed powers are why this offense flourished. With Lamb having missed just a few video games in every of the final two years, Pickens ensures that you simply nonetheless have a real WR1 on the market whereas additionally giving defenses matches when each starters are wholesome. And with our personal protection in all probability needing greater than only one offseason to get fastened, preserving your benefit on offense is essential.
Howman: Pickens is the apparent reply, and Jess already lined it nicely, so I’ll go one other course: Javonte Williams. He’s not as essential as Pickens, however Williams is an excellent match for this offense and the run sport. He additionally received’t be as costly as Pickens because of the total operating again market, so it’s simpler to handle retaining him along with Pickens, whether or not that’s the franchise tag or a long-term deal.
Sean: I very strongly agree that each George Pickens, Jadeveon Clowney and Javonte Williams are high-priorities, however we don’t need to weaken the offense throughout an offseason that basically must be all in regards to the protection, so let’s deal with Clowney.
The Cowboys don’t need to simply get to the playoffs in 2026, they need to have the ability to make some noise as soon as there. Clowney is the kind of clutch, veteran presence that groups have to do exactly that in January. The usage of five-man defensive fronts isn’t going wherever for the Cowboys as a method to proceed using their defensive deal with depth. Having defensive ends that may reap the benefits of a powerful inside rush continues to be extremely necessary although, and Clowney and Donovan Ezeiruaku have been these gamers final season. With Ezeiruaku already underneath contract, retaining Clowney with a brand new deal seems like a successful transfer.
On the free agent market, which participant do you hope the Cowboys decide up and signal this offseason?
Mike: Trey Hendrickson. If Dallas goes to spend in free company, it must be on a cross rusher who wins with out blitz assist, and Hendrickson is the cleanest ‘wreck the sport plan’ edge within the 2026 class. PFF even calls him the jewel of the group. Pairing that type of warmth with what Dallas already has up entrance would shrink the time quarterbacks must stay in the course of the sphere, which has been the protection’s greatest recurring downside.
Jess: Give me one among LB Nakobe Dean or S Reed Blankenship, as both Eagle would assist new defensive coordinator Christian Parker set up his scheme. They might additionally present much-needed upgrades at their positions, with Dean being a real center linebacker and Blankenship a extra versatile and extra gifted security than Donovan Wilson. Additionally providing championship expertise, both would assist past simply their particular person place.
Howman: Any Eagles free agent makes apparent sense, however the title I’ll be circling is Broncos linebacker Alex Singleton. He’s been a deal with machine in Denver and, earlier than that, Philadelphia. A staff captain with the Broncos, Singleton would convey management and worthwhile expertise into the locker room.
Sean: But once more, implausible solutions by each David and Jess. Signal me up for welcoming any of these defensive standouts to Dallas in 12 months one among Christian Parker’s tenure. The title I’ll throw within the ring can be for the protection, security Kevin Byard. Each Chicago Bears safeties Jaquan Brisker and Byard are free brokers this offseason. Dennis Allen’s Bears protection led the league in takeaways, and Byard had seven interceptions. The Cowboys have already accomplished quite a lot of issues to step out of their consolation zone to handle this traditionally dangerous protection, and spending on a security in free company can be much more of that, however the personnel on the backend should enhance at extra than simply cornerback for this protection to really get higher outcomes.
What are the highest three positions Dallas must fill earlier than the draft so as to give them essentially the most freedom on draft day?
Mike: Dallas wants to purchase itself flexibility at three spots. Let’s begin with offensive line, particularly deal with depth, as a result of the staff can’t go into April one harm away from collapsing the complete playbook, proper deal with is a sneaky want. Prime of the record is edge rusher. The protection wants a dependable, every-down stress supply that wins with out blitzing.
Let’s fill cornerback in free company as a result of there’s a necessity for one more outside-capable cowl participant so this protection isn’t compelled into delicate zone and fixed security assist. Plugging these three positions in free company might be the simplest method to go greatest participant out there within the first spherical as an alternative of a panic record when targets come off the board. Certain, linebacker is a big want, however let’s draft one and a take a younger, dependable linebacker with low put on fairly than looking out the marketplace for one which’s already obtained the knocks and bruises.
Jess: Properly, that is determined by whether or not or not Pickens and Javonte Williams get re-signed. Assuming these do occur, then I’m specializing in getting an EDGE rusher and a MLB who I belief to start out. However should you don’t convey again a type of offensive guys, both WR or RB instantly be part of the record. None of those positions might be left to probability. Whereas we do have two first-round picks, not having any Day 2 makes it very treacherous to depend on this draft to fill holes.
Howman: I absolutely imagine each Pickens and Williams will get some type of deal accomplished earlier than the draft. That would go away, for my part, a lot of work to do on protection. You want a beginning nook, two beginning safeties (sorry, Malik Hooker), somebody who can play the all-important nickel function, a beginning linebacker, and an edge rusher. If they will get all of these, they’ll be capable to take a real BPA method to the draft.
Sean: In no particular order, defensive finish, cornerback, and linebacker. Even when Clowney is re-signed like I advocated for, the Cowboys want extra velocity off the sting to win towards fast passing video games. This was the primary space they missed Micah Parsons in 2025. The cornerback want is the obvious by a rustic mile, however linebacker feels a bit extra lowkey. I feel as an alternative of accepting that the Kenneth Murray/Jack Sanborn experiment didn’t work out, many followers have simply erased it from taking place of their minds fully, with Murray getting snaps as one of many faces of this porous protection during Week 17. The excellent news is that each are free brokers the Cowboys can simply transfer on from, the less-great information is clearly that Dallas will want new our bodies right here. How a lot they will belief Logan Wilson as a protection participant in a brand new scheme might be an necessary query to reply, however linebackers that may match up towards tight ends or operating backs within the cross sport is a necessity it doesn’t matter what.
