Comparing 2025 FA moves and trades to 2026 moves so far

[Q_the_man]

Just one simple answer. These players are better. The guys we picked up last year were career busts. These guys are not.

Of the 5 one year contracts this free agency period, which one exceeded expectations and is not a bust.

Last year Fowler did ok and Williams had 1k rushing yards.

 

[Starforever]

Jazz, quality of FA historically has a direct correlation to money spent.

Does spending money on Free agents guarantee quality? No, certainly not. But the likelihood of success is much greater than with a bunch of low cost one year guys.

It’s like buying a $30k used car or a $10k used car. Which one is more likely to be better?

We’ve seen the low budget FA approach for years and what it has brought us. I guess we can “hope” this year is better?

The car that fits your needs is better no matter the price. Of all the changes made and with the new D-Coordinator’s input, I believe they’ve been good this free agency period.

 

[jazzcat22]

The car that fits your needs is better no matter the price. Of all the changes made and with the new D-Coordinator’s input, I believe they’ve been good this free agency period.

I think so as well.
I believe many fans will stay in the not believing they are better mind set for various reasons. They don't want to be let down, so they stay in the negative frame of mind.

They just have a disdain for the FO and some players, I think it clouds some judgement to a degree. Just as many always positive fans allows it to cloud their judgement things are better than what they really are.

On paper with the new DC and coaches is an improvement. Need to see it on the field though.
I believe through the trades and the quality of the FA's brought in, the one brought back, as well the one they have not brought back shows improvement. They made some good trades without giving up the farm. Actually the farm got better. Along with the 2 first round draft picks to improve even more.

All that adds up and can redirect a team to be better.

 

[jaythecowboy]

Offseason was way different than previous seasons. Jalen Thompson alone costs more than the entire draft class from last season. Also before the offseason the Cowboys were top in the league with potential cap space from restructures at $131 million and they ended up flipping most of those switches. The issue is they were around $55 million in the negative so they were never going to be a top spender in free agency.

 

[atlantacowboy]

I tend to take a wait-and-see approach with most things Cowboys these days. Some players outplay their contract, like Javonte Williams did last year, and some show why they didn't get much of a contract, like Payton Turner, Jack Sanborn, etc., did, or why they didn't cost much in a trade, like Kenneth Murray and Kaiir Elam did. I tend to believe you can follow the money/trade cost on what your expectations should be. Based on that, we should expect Thompson and Gary to be solid players. Of course, Jadaveon Clowney was a solid player for us last year, so I don't know if Gary is a step up. The one-year deals for the others show that they have something to prove. Will they? History says not all of them or even most of them.

Obviously , you can't know with 100% certainty how any player is going to play in 2026. The general problem is overall lack of talent. That was a historically bad defense last year. So, it is not unreasonable to go position by position and ask "where did we upgrade the talent?" I see we maybe upgraded at safety. Gary for Clowney is not an upgrade. Its a defensive fit move.

 

[big dog cowboy]

Obviously , you can't know with 100% certainty how any player is going to play in 2026. The general problem is overall lack of talent. That was a historically bad defense last year. So, it is not unreasonable to go position by position and ask "where did we upgrade the talent?" I see we maybe upgraded at safety. Gary for Clowney is not an upgrade. Its a defensive fit move.

The changes in the coaching staff alone significantly improve the defense. Flus looked 100% lost. CP certainly looks the part.

 

[atlantacowboy]

The changes in the coaching staff alone significantly improve the defense. Flus looked 100% lost. CP certainly looks the part.

We hope so. Christian Parker has never called a defensive game.

 

[jazzcat22]

We hope so. Christian Parker has never called a defensive game.

Maybe the NFL will be kind and give us a few lay up games the 1st few weeks.


However, those teams may think we are the lay up game.

 

[atlantacowboy]

Maybe the NFL will be kind and give us a few lay up games the 1st few weeks.


However, those teams may think we are the lay up game.

Maybe Christian Parker is the second coming of Buddy Ryan. It's going to be an interesting season.

 

[kskboys]

Of the 5 one year contracts this free agency period, which one exceeded expectations and is not a bust.

Last year Fowler did ok and Williams had 1k rushing yards.

Ogboner: Good rotational guy and run stopper
Durant: Good slot guy
PJ Locke: Excellent STer and decent player all around
Bullock: Good rotational guy and run stopper
Hennesy: Decent backup
Derion Kendrick: Here is the lone huge question mark. Have no idea, except I guess they're giving him a cup of coffee.

So, all these one year contracts you're complaining about, 5 of them are proven useful players. Most have starting experience. That is a far cry from one useful one year contract. Fowler is no longer needed and we're getting away from players who can't stop the run. Which is smart.

 

[kskboys]

The changes in the coaching staff alone significantly improve the defense. Flus looked 100% lost. CP certainly looks the part.

Possibly. We do not know that yet.

However, what really has improved the D is Gary, Durant, Thompson, and possibly Locke. Coaching staff would've been irrelevant w/o these improvements.

 

[BlindFaith]

https://www.spotrac.com/nfl/free-agents/team/_/year/2026

Currently 30th in free agent spending for 2026.

We held it down at being 25th but we adapted and overcame to take over the 30th slot.

Minnesota in Jacksonville can now see us in their rear view mirrors and Jerry's ready to hit the NOS.

" You're gaining on them. Waldo, you're gaining on them!"

First, this shows Dallas at 25 still.

Second, this doesnt include Pickens, T Williams, Gary, Aubrey, Bass and probably a couple more Im missing

The Cowboys are spending money. Does it really matter if they are FA, tenders, trades etc?

 

[jazzcat22]

First, this shows Dallas at 25 still.

Second, this doesnt include Pickens, T Williams, Gary, Aubrey, Bass and probably a couple more Im missing

The Cowboys are spending money. Does it really matter if they are FA, tenders, trades etc?

Right.
It is about making the team better.
Not to out spend other teams to appease some fans.

 

[Nova]

First, this shows Dallas at 25 still.

Second, this doesnt include Pickens, T Williams, Gary, Aubrey, Bass and probably a couple more Im missing

The Cowboys are spending money. Does it really matter if they are FA, tenders, trades etc?

I get the idea, but I think where dollars are spent tells a decent story about the FO's strategy, or lack thereof.

The team is, and has been, at a cross roads for a few years now. They either need to rebuild or truly go all-in.

They need more personnel resources, and they cannot have a net flow of personnel resources under current methods.

 

[shabazz]

First, this shows Dallas at 25 still.

Second, this doesnt include Pickens, T Williams, Gary, Aubrey, Bass and probably a couple more Im missing

The Cowboys are spending money. Does it really matter if they are FA, tenders, trades etc?

Yeah, its strange but spotrac had them at 30 when I posted it. I assumed the other 5 teams had spent additional moneys since I last checked it.

And no it doesnt matter where the money is spent if the players live up to their cap burden.....and clearly all of them kept here and rewarded are doing a fabulous job so need for outside talent

My sincere apologies for the mix up Jerry.....keep on killing it.

 

[75boyz]

It’s late March in what is supposed to be a “bust the budget” and “different” off-season for our FO. Which made me wonder about how this 2026 off-season of Free agency and trades compares (so far) to last year’s off-season.

2025 Off-season New Free Agency Acquisitions:

Position	Player	Age	2024 team	Contract
RB	Miles Sanders	28	Carolina Panthers	1 year, $1.3 million
RB	Javonte Williams	25	Denver Broncos	1 year, $3 million
G	Robert Jones	26	Miami Dolphins	1 year, $3.75 million
T	Hakeem Adeniji	27	Cleveland Browns	1 year, $1.2 million
DE	Dante Fowler	31	Washington Commanders	1 year, $8 million
DE	Payton Turner	26	New Orleans Saints	1 year, $3 million
DT	Solomon Thomas	30	New York Jets	2 years, $6 million
LB	Jack Sanborn	25	Chicago Bears	1 year, $1.5 million

2025 Trades

Position	Player/Aquired	Age	2024 team	Traded away
QB	Joe Milton	25	New England Patriots	2025 fifth-round selection
WR	George Pickens	24	Pittsburgh Steelers	2026 third-round selection and 2027 fifth-round selection
DT	Kenny Clark and two 1st rounders	29	Green Bay Packers	DE Micah Parsons
DT	Quinnen Williams	27	New York Jets	DT Mazi Smith, 2026 second-round selection, and 2027 first-round selectionhttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2025_Dallas_Cowboys_season#cite_note-QuinnenTrade-7

Also Kenneth Murray for a 6th round pick.
And Logan Wilson for 7th.

Here are (so far) our new FA acquisitions in 2026:

Position	Player	Age	2025 team	Contract
QB	Sam Howell	25	Philadelphia Eagles	1 year, $2.5 million
C	Matt Hennessy	29	San Francisco 49ers	1 year, $1.4 million
DE	Tyrus Wheat	26	Detroit Lions	1 year, $1.755 million
DT	Otito Ogbonnia	25	Los Angeles Chargers	1 year, $3 million
CB	Cobie Durant	28	Los Angeles Rams	1 year, $1.5 million
S	P.J. Locke	29	Denver Broncos	1 year, $5 million
S	Jalen Thompson	27	Arizona Cardinals	3 years, $36 million

Trades so far:

Position	Player	Age	2025 team	Traded away
DT	Rashan Gary	29	Green Bay Packers	2027 fourth-round selection

What looks amazingly similar this year compared to 2025 is once again only signing one free agent to a multi-year contract. And there will certainly be a few more FA signings before the 2026 off-season ends. But the only ones left are of the “dumpster dive” variety. And I expect a trade or two perhaps as well.

But how is this off-season (so far) so much different than last year?

I still strongly question whether there's been any improvement at all compared to last year with regards to edge, off ball linebacker and offensive tackle.

Safety and backup QB are the only net plus so far imo.

IF Parker puts Durant in the slot then that's a plus too. But that's a big IF. Still haven't replaced what Lewis did as the slot corner.
Heck, now the Zone is even talking about Bland being a slot. Bland might be following in Diggs footsteps imo.

 

[gimmesix]

Obviously , you can't know with 100% certainty how any player is going to play in 2026. The general problem is overall lack of talent. That was a historically bad defense last year. So, it is not unreasonable to go position by position and ask "where did we upgrade the talent?" I see we maybe upgraded at safety. Gary for Clowney is not an upgrade. Its a defensive fit move.

I don't know if Gary for Clowney is an upgrade, but it's not a clear upgrade. We haven't done anything with a flashing light that says we fixed that position except maybe the safety signing. A three-year deal for that amount says that we believe in the player.

 

[Bobhaze]

Yeah, its strange but spotrac had them at 30 when I posted it. I assumed the other 5 teams had spent additional moneys since I last checked it.

And no it doesnt matter where the money is spent if the players live up to their cap burden.....and clearly all of them kept here and rewarded are doing a fabulous job so need for outside talent

My sincere apologies for the mix up Jerry.....keep on killing it.

What really frustrates me is how slow our FO always seems to be in preparing for the off-season. They always seems s-l-o-w.

Here’s what I mean:

• Know what contract restructures you plan to do to gain cap space EARLY and do it! Don’t wait.
• If you’re really serious about being a player in FA or even big impactful trades early on in off-season, you need to do your cap savings EARLY so you’re ready to be quick.
• Be willing to go beyond your original offers in FA. Talent is expensive. The price for big talent is always going up.
• Once past the early FA period, if you’re really serious but haven’t solved some of the big roster holes (Edge, LB, maybe Corner) you need to have serious trade conversations and be prepared to give up something big to get something great.

The old saying our grandparents told us, “You get what you pay for”, is true in the NFL just like other areas of life.

Sure you can find a good bargain occasionally but you don’t put all your hopes in cheap bargains. If you’re serious about winning a championship.

 

[gimmesix]

Ogboner: Good rotational guy and run stopper
Durant: Good slot guy
PJ Locke: Excellent STer and decent player all around
Bullock: Good rotational guy and run stopper
Hennesy: Decent backup
Derion Kendrick: Here is the lone huge question mark. Have no idea, except I guess they're giving him a cup of coffee.

So, all these one year contracts you're complaining about, 5 of them are proven useful players. Most have starting experience. That is a far cry from one useful one year contract. Fowler is no longer needed and we're getting away from players who can't stop the run. Which is smart.

Locke underwent spinal fusion surgery after the 2024 season, which no NFL player had returned from successfully. He ended up playing in 16 games, with three starts, but only totaled 16 tackles. He did have three passes defensed

Ogbonnia started all 17 games in 2024, but only played in nine games in 2025 and had 10 tackles. He did have three tackles for loss and a half-sack.

There are reasons these players were cheap.

 

[kskboys]

Locke underwent spinal fusion surgery after the 2024 season, which no NFL player had returned from successfully. He ended up playing in 16 games, with three starts, but only totaled 16 tackles. He did have three passes defensed

Ogbonnia started all 17 games in 2024, but only played in nine games in 2025 and had 10 tackles. He did have three tackles for loss and a half-sack.

There are reasons these players were cheap.

Of course, that's obvious. However, the signings this off still trump last year's offseason signings by gadzillions of miles.