Unlock the Cowboys' dream roster! Explore five realistic moves to acquire a star receiver, safety, pass rusher, and cornerback.
FRISCO - At this moment - no players are busts, no games have been lost and no Jerry Jones quotes hover in the air - there is every reason for the Dallas Cowboys and their fans to dream big.
Realistic and doable. But dreamy and big.
Here, I offer Fish’s Five-Step Program of Cowboys Moves to make this offseason a successful one.
You’ll notice that I don’t include cap compliance as one of “dreamy moves” because it’s so automatic.
The Cowboys will “flip the switch” on contracts on Dak Prescott and others and they will be ready to trade, sign and draft.
1 - SIGN GEORGE PICKENS LONG-TERM - TO A CEEDEE DEAL
Pickens set new career-highs across the board in 2025, catching 93 passes for 1,429 yards and nine touchdowns while averaging an explosive 15.9 yards per catch.
Does that make him the greatest receiver in the history of the game worthy of $40 million a year? Of course not. But the Cowboys should go ahead and concede that he is Lamb-like.
Give him CeeDee’s deal: a four-year deal at $34 million APY - and structured cleverly so, like Lamb, his cap impact is under $10 million in Year 1.
This leaves Dallas, lots of room to keep on shopping …
2 - TRADE PEANUTS FOR MINKAH FITZPATRICK AND EXTEND
I don’t get the impression that Miami is looking for a windfall here; rather they seem to be in the mood to trade-dump to save money.
Minkah, 29, is a do it all safety who can cover and hit and he’s already played in this “3-4 Hybrid” system being installed by new coordinator Christian Parker.
Give Miami a one of your fifth-round picks and one of your seventh-round picks and add a Pro Bowl “Coach on the field.”
Oh, and his $15 million salary for 2026? Give him an extension and spread out the number so his Impact is under $8 million in 2026.
3 - TRADE FOR MAXX CROSBY AND BRING HIM HOME
The superstar edge rusher is unhappy in Las Vegas and he’s often expressed his fondness for his DFW hometown. Pull off a blockbuster here: Trade pick No. 20 and a good player (Osa?) and put him alongside Quinn and Williams and you have completely remade your defensive front.
He’s $35 million this year, but that number goes down substantially in future years. Do it.
4 - DRAFT MANSOOR DELANE AND HAND HIM THE KEYS
If the very, very top guys go earlier than No. 12, as they figure to?
Who at No. 12 ranks highest on Dallas' overall board as B.A.A. while also (coincidentally!) filling a need?
Based on lots of projections? I'll go with LSU corner Mansoor Delane.
Delane, 6-foot and 190 pounds is the kind of long cornerback (traits!) that Parker is used to and that personnel boss Will McClay loves.
Can he do here what Philadelphia got from young Quinyon Mitchell under Parker’s tutelage?
That’s the idea.
During his final year in Baton Rouge, Delane only allowed 14 receptions.
Delane needs to be a plug-and-play starter on the boundary, with Shavon Revel at the other corner and DaRon Bland in the slot.
5 - COMPROMISE AND SIGN BRANDON AUBREY LONG-TERM
You want to pay him about $7 mil APY, which would make him the highest-paid kicker in NFL history.
He is (allegedly) asking for something closer to $10 million a year.
The Cowboys could keep their thumb on him (just as they could with Pickens using the tag) as Aubrey is restricted and could be limited to making a little over $6 million if they leave them under his tender offer.
But play nice. Split the difference and pay him $8.5 million APY.
That’s almost Dak Prescott like in the way it’s a number that will not be caught up with for a long, long time; Aubrey would have no reason to complain.
And the next thing you know in this dreamy five-step scenario? Your top-ranked offense is intact. Your special-teams weapon is secured. And your NFL-worst defense is completely remade.
This doesn’t have to be the beginning and end of the Cowboys pursuits; I'm enamored by the idea that they might also enlist Parker to chase an Eagles defensive standout like Nakobe Dean or Reed Blankenship.
But for now?
These things are all doable. Dreamy, but doable. Five steps. Do 'em. And your Dallas Cowboys are contenders once again.