Cowboys eye massive cap space, a potential George Pickens tag, and big moves for veteran stars like Maxx Crosby.
FRISCO - My challenge in trying to assemble a Dallas Cowboys Offseason Primer and to do so in an orderly fashion?
Jerry Jones and this franchise sometimes could not care less about “orderly fashion.’’
Nevertheless, marrying “chronology’’ with “priorities,’’ I’ll give it a go - free agency and the NFL Draft and all the rest - as the Cowboys come off a 7-9-1 season during which their defense was historically bad. … while promising (as always) that they are “around the rim’’ of playoff success …
Fish’s Dallas Cowboys 10-Step Offseason Primer …
1 - ‘FLIP THE SWITCHES’ TO GET CAP-COMPLIANT Much is being made of how Dallas is “operating over the cap.’’ As a practical matter, though, there is no such thing.
Soon enough, Dallas will “flip the switches’’ that are already baked into a bunch of big-money contracts. These will be called “restructures,’’ and they will therefore be misunderstood. No, quarterback Dak Prescott, receiver CeeDee Lamb, offensive lineman Tyler Smith and defensive tackle Osa Odighizuwa won’t be asked to “negotiate’’ or “sacrifice.’’
It’s a bookkeeping trick, nothing more. By doing those four guys alone, the Cowboys can open up $80 million in cap space. They’ll be under the $303 million cap (by March 11) and they’ll be ready to do business.
2 - SECURE (TAG-PLUS) GEORGE PICKENS Some of that room needs to be carved out in advance of the March 11 start of the NFL business year.
Why? George Pickens.
Pickens can be franchised-tagged from now to March 3, with the projected number at $28 million. To do that - and it’s a contract offer that puts Dallas in control - the team will need room.
Later (at the scouting combine in Indy starting on Thursday?) the club will visit with Pickens’ agents. But he’ll surely be tagged. Then Pickens has until July 15 to sign a contract extension that could end up being worth $30 to $32 million APY.
The Cowboys and Pickens (represented by agent David Mulugheta) want to stay together. Of course, the Cowboys and Micah Parsons (repped by Mulugheta) said the same thing a year ago.
And Micah now plays in Green Bay.
3 - LIKE ‘BUTTER,’ TENDER BRANDON AUBREY Home-town guy Aubrey is a restricted free agent, so the Cowboys can place a first-round tender ($8.107 million) or second-round tender ($5.811 million) on the star kicker.
That means they get compensation if he gets an offer elsewhere that Dallas doesn’t match. So again, there is contractual control here … and logic that has me thinking the Cowboys might beat March 11 to make him the highest-paid kicker in NFL history at over $6 million APY.
4 - MAXX AND MORE: SWING BIG FOR VETERAN STARS The rumor of Maxx Crosby wanting out of Las Vegas? It’s real enough.
How much would the Cowboys - owners of two first-round draft picks (at 12 and 20) - want to give up? That’s one big question, but the other one is answered: In terms of being able to pay him, they can.
There are an assortment of other ways to go here when it comes to “big swings.’’ How about new defensive coordinator Christian Parker trying to steal some Eagles talent (Nakobe Dean, Jaelen Phillips, Reed Blankenship)? How about Bengals sack monster Trey Hendrickson?
Jerry has promised he’ll “bust the bank’’ in building the 2026 Cowboys roster.
I know you are waiting for some proof.
5 - EXPLORE BLOCKBUSTER TRADES (INCLUDING DRAFT-DAY DEALS) Those two first-rounders open up the imagination. A Crosby trade is a fun idea. So is a deal for Chiefs cornerback Trent McDuffie. Or how about packaging both first-rounders in a swap that lands you Ohio State superstar safety Caleb Downs.
What you don’t want as a Cowboys fan is for your team to be “asleep at the wheel.’’ If they don’t make a deal? OK. If they didn’t make a deal because they were unaware of its availability? Not OK.
6 - SIGN JAVONTE WILLIAMS (AT A WINNING PRICE) Dallas loves Javonte; he’s an RKG. But entered the weekend saying, “I bet they love him at $7 million APY for three years (twice his 2025 salary) and nothing more.’’
Well, I was close, as Dallas has agreed to a three-year deal averaging $8 mil APY.
Good for all involved. No drama here. There’s about to be a game of Musical Chairs at this position in free agency. … but Dallas has its guy.
7 - SIGN JADEVEON CLOWNEY (AS A BACKUP) I know the audience is in love with the 8.5 sacks. But the Cowboys view him as more of a supplemental guy than as a full-ime starting star.
And of course more help is needed.
Alex Singleton Trey Hendrickson, Haason Reddick, Malcolm Koonce, Reed Blankenship, Nakobe Dean, Jaelen Phillips, Bradley Chubb, Tariq Woolen, Khalil Mack … the possibilities are many.
In addition to some of the aforementioned, I’ve tossed out a ton of logical names. Scan below for Fish’s Top 40 Free Agents List …
8 - BUILD AN ‘HONEST’ DRAFT BOARD With two first-round draft picks, there is a bonanza waiting to happen. But I’m troubled by media suggestions that one pick (12) should be used on defense and the other (20) should be used on BAA/BPA.
Nonsense.
Pick the best player. Every time. Every pick. Every round.
Don’t “draft a position’’; that’s how Taco Charlton, Trysten Hill and Mazi Smith happened.
Does that mean the Cowboys should select, say, a running back at No. 12, where Notre Dame’s Love might await?
Let me put it this way: In 2020, Dallas didn’t “need offense’’ with pick No. 17. But their No. 3-rated player was still on the board at their turn. They picked CeeDee Lamb.
How’d that work out for ya?
9 - NEED MORE CAP SPACE? The Cowboys already cut Logan Wilson to save $6.5 million.
Next?
They can cut right tackle Terence Steele ($14 million), safety Malik Hooker ($6.85 million) and others to create more space.
More?
They can move money (not cut, just re-do deals) on Quinnen Williams, Kenny Clark, DaRon Bland, Jake Ferguson and others.
There have been media suggestions on cutting Clark. I don't find that to be wise.
10 - DID I MENTION, ‘FIX THE DEFENSE’? In many ways, this is Job 1 … but in terms of chronology? It starts now and lasts until next winter.
The Cowboys gave up a franchise-record 511 points in 2025. New coordinator Christian Parker is 34; the staff he’s assembled is also young. This is going to be a process.
With two first-round picks, the Cowboys can select among a pass rusher, safety, linebacker or cornerback.
Basically, everything. All of it.
And if Jerry Jones, Stephen Jones, Will McClay and coach Brian Schottenheimer get those two picks right? The To-Do List will be that much closer to getting done.