Off season veteran pickups

[Established1971]

Curious what zoners think of these off-season veteran pickups. I have only really heard Jalen Thompson being mentioned as a notable pickup

Cobie Durant
Corey Ballentine
Dee Winters
Derion Kendrick
Jonathan Bullard
Otito Ogbonnia
P.J. Locke
Tyrus Wheat
Jalen Thompson

 

[Kwyn]

Significant Snaps / Key Role

• Cobie Durant
• Dee Winters
• Jalen Thompson

Solid Depth / Rotation

• Jonathan Bullard
• Otto Ogbonnia
• P.J. Locke

Bubble / Practice Squad

• Corey Ballentine
• Derion Kendrick
• Tyrus Wheat

 

[Coogiguy03]

Curious what zoners think of these off-season veteran pickups. I have only really heard Jalen Thompson being mentioned as a notable pickup

Cobie Durant
Corey Ballentine
Dee Winters
Derion Kendrick
Jonathan Bullard
Otito Ogbonnia
P.J. Locke
Tyrus Wheat
Jalen Thompson

It was decent hope these guys pan out for us and be good enough to get another deal

 

[Blackrain]

I hope some of them turn into reliable productive players.

But none of them strike me like we just picked up deion Sanders or Charles Haley.

 

[ScotsCowboy]

Significant Snaps / Key Role

• Cobie Durant
• Dee Winters
• Jalen Thompson

Solid Depth / Rotation

• Jonathan Bullard
• Otto Ogbonnia
• P.J. Locke

Bubble / Practice Squad

• Corey Ballentine
• Derion Kendrick
• Tyrus Wheat

Tyrus Wheat will make the 53 for his special teams ability and leadership, especially without CJ Goodwin there anymore.

I agree on the rest. I think Otito (not ‘Otto’) Ogbonnia will mostly be a starter at NT when we’re in base. However, given that we’ll be in the 3-4 around a third of the snaps (or less), I do think his role will be more rotational in total.

 

[Whirlwin]

Significant Snaps / Key Role

• Cobie Durant
• Dee Winters
• Jalen Thompson

Solid Depth / Rotation

• Jonathan Bullard
• Otto Ogbonnia
• P.J. Locke

Bubble / Practice Squad

• Corey Ballentine
• Derion Kendrick
• Tyrus Wheat

I’m thinking, special teams, it’d be nice to have an improvement they are also

 

[Kwyn]

Tyrus Wheat will make the 53 for his special teams ability and leadership, especially without CJ Goodwin there anymore.

Tou think Wheat makes it?

He was cut last year and never made the 53. To actually play his position he would need to beat out both Liufau and Williams. He has almost zero financial impact if cut.

You’re right though in that any chance he has to get in the field would almost strictly be on special teams.

 

[Carson]

Durant, Winters, Thompson will start.

Locke will get a ton of snaps at safety when Downs moves around. He knows Parker’s scheme.

Ogbonnia Is similar to Locke. Will see a ton of snaps likely at 1T as they’ll move Clark around. I could also see him starting with Williams and Clark.

I believe defense should have 6-7 new starters this season.

Clark, Q, Overshown, Bland are locks. Revel and Hooker likely start or make a ton of snaps

 

[big dog cowboy]

Curious what zoners think of these off-season veteran pickups. I have only really heard Jalen Thompson being mentioned as a notable pickup

There has been plenty of talk about some other pickups being big contributors. Besides Thompson, players to watch are Ogbonnia, Durant, Locke, and Winters will all get a lot of snaps and are upgrades from the slop of last year.

 

[ScotsCowboy]

Tou think Wheat makes it?

He was cut last year and never made the 53. To actually play his position he would need to beat out both Liufau and Williams. He has almost zero financial impact if cut.

You’re right though in that any chance he has to get in the field would almost strictly be on special teams.

Special teams - and I wouldn’t be surprised to see him slot in at Mike LB in certain packages. Played that position a fair bit at college, and has the body type of a thumper.

He could possibly be included at the expense of Liufau and Barron, rather than a pure edge like Williams/Houston.

 

[Stash]

Significant Snaps / Key Role

• Cobie Durant
• Dee Winters
• Jalen Thompson

Solid Depth / Rotation

• Jonathan Bullard
• Otto Ogbonnia
• P.J. Locke

Bubble / Practice Squad

• Corey Ballentine
• Derion Kendrick
• Tyrus Wheat

I think this is a very good assessment.

I think Bullard is going to be a key run stuffer in this defense. Marcus Dixon clearly appreciates his ability.

And I think there’s an outside chance that Locke cuts into Hooket’s on field snaps considerably.

And I don’t discount Durant starting over Bland, no matter what the ‘optics’ might look like.

 

[Stash]

Tyrus Wheat will make the 53 for his special teams ability and leadership, especially without CJ Goodwin there anymore.

I agree on the rest. I think Otito (not ‘Otto’) Ogbonnia will mostly be a starter at NT when we’re in base. However, given that we’ll be in the 3-4 around a third of the snaps (or less), I do think his role will be more rotational in total.

I don’t see Wheat making the team.

 

[Carson]

I think this is a very good assessment.

I think Bullard is going to be a key run stuffer in this defense. Marcus Dixon clearly appreciates his ability.

And I think there’s an outside chance that Locke cuts into Hooket’s on field snaps considerably.

And I don’t discount Durant starting over Bland, no matter what the ‘optics’ might look like.

I think Bland and Durant start. Revel likely is in the mix but I see both starting

Durant is a dawg

 

[CWR]

Curious what zoners think of these off-season veteran pickups. I have only really heard Jalen Thompson being mentioned as a notable pickup

Cobie Durant
Corey Ballentine
Dee Winters
Derion Kendrick
Jonathan Bullard
Otito Ogbonnia
P.J. Locke
Tyrus Wheat
Jalen Thompson

Im the most excited about Jalen Thompson and Dee Winters. I think both will be really good players for us.

Durant could also have a big impact. I think him OO and Bullard will help.

I dont have a clue about the rest.

 

[J-man]

IMO, Thompson and Winters are legit players. Will Winters make our LB crop great? No, but it's an improvement. Add Downs into that mix as the nickel and it's looking decent.
I am actually very excited to see our S's this year. With the additions of Downs, Thompson and Locke It really is a HUGE upgrade over last season. Depending how much S Downs actually plays, Hooker could just be more of a reserve S, definitely not a starter and that isn't a bad thing.

 

[cowboyec]

im excited to see what lb dee winters does here.
loved that guy in college.

 

[nate dizzle]

Significant Snaps / Key Role

• Cobie Durant
• Dee Winters
• Jalen Thompson

Solid Depth / Rotation

• Jonathan Bullard
• Otto Ogbonnia
• P.J. Locke

Bubble / Practice Squad

• Corey Ballentine
• Derion Kendrick
• Tyrus Wheat

 

[speedkilz88]

Dallas Cowboys​

On September 25, 2025, the Dallas Cowboys signed Ballentine to their practice squad. He was promoted to the active roster on December 24.

On March 23, 2026, Ballentine re-signed with the Cowboys on a one-year, $1.3 million contract. He was released on June 18.

 

[shabazz]

Significant Snaps / Key Role

• Cobie Durant
• Dee Winters
• Jalen Thompson

Solid Depth / Rotation

• Jonathan Bullard
• Otto Ogbonnia
• P.J. Locke

Bubble / Practice Squad

• Corey Ballentine
• Derion Kendrick
• Tyrus Wheat

Very nicely done.

 

[jazzcat22]

Curious what zoners think of these off-season veteran pickups. I have only really heard Jalen Thompson being mentioned as a notable pickup

Cobie Durant
Corey Ballentine
Dee Winters
Derion Kendrick
Jonathan Bullard
Otito Ogbonnia
P.J. Locke
Tyrus Wheat
Jalen Thompson

Cobie Durant - Will contribute, and possibly start.
Dee Winters - Starter and probably the green dot on defense.
Derion Kendrick - Will contribute as a back up and be a ST's player. chance he may be on the PS. Called up as needed.
Jonathan Bullard - Solid rotational player
Otito Ogbonnia - Solid rotational player
P.J. Locke - Will get playing time and contribute
Tyrus Wheat - Probably a PS player
Jalen Thompson - Will start and be very helpful to the improvement of the defense.

Corey Ballentine - He was with the team last year, on the PS, and got some playing time in some games due to all the injuries. He will be on the PS again.