The Cowboys Are Once Again Making Cowboys Moves to Open The Season

 

It has been a weird start to the 2026 season for the Dallas Cowboys. It seems like the Baltimore Ravens have it out to sabotage whatever deal they can for the Cowboys. Both top free agents the Cowboys have been interested in the Ravens have pulled the rug.

First, it was with Las Vegas Raiders defensive end Max Crosby. Now it appears to be with Cincinnati Bengals free agents defensive end Trey Hendrickson. 

After backing out of the deal they made with the Raiders that would have sent two first round picks to the black and silver, the Ravens signed Hendrickson to a four-year, $112 million contract. They get to keep their picks safely in their pocket and still get one of the top free agents and defensive ends in the league. 

At this time, it is being reported that the Cowboys do not have interest in engaging Crosby talks again they did open up some cap space by trading Osa Odighizuwa to the San Francisco 49ers for a third-round pick in the upcoming draft. That could mean they are trying to figure a Crosby deal out or get wide Receiver George Pickens or kicker Brandon Aubrey the money they are commanding for contract signings. 

While the Cowboys have not made any serious moves in free agency once again, they have spent some money on a couple players. 

Rashan Gary - Defensive End

The Cowboys managed to work out yet another deal with the Green Bay Packers for Gary that will keep him around for the next couple of years. The Cowboys are sending a fourth-round pick to the Packers for a player they could have eventually picked up as a free agent according to different stories. 

Gary has been a subpar player over the last couple years. Even last season playing opposite Micah Parsons and the double teams, Gary still managed to put-up second-string numbers with 7.5 sacks and one forced fumble. Maybe a fresh start with the Cowboys is what this former first round pick needs. 

Javonte Williams - Running Back

The Cowboys resigned Williams to a three-year, $24 million contract.

Williams had a stellar season with the Cowboys last year marking the first 1,000-yard season for a Cowboys running back since before Ezekiel Elliot signed his big contract and fell off. Hopefully Williams continues to run at the speed and aggressiveness he did to earn him his contract

Sam Williams - Defensive End

The Cowboys resigned Williams to a one-year, $3 million contract to add depth at defense. Williams had a solid 2025 season with the Cowboys as a backup after missing all of 2024 with an acl injury. Williams is a former second round pick by the Cowboys. Maybe this season will be that breakout season all players are looking for to earn them that top money contract.

The Cowboys really need to focus on getting Aubrey and Pickens signed to healthy contracts that works out for all parties involved. The team still has the draft they can work from. With two first round picks the skies are the limit for what the Cowboys can actually do. This is all about addressing primary needs with dept during free agency. 

If it is going to cost the team picks and money that will cripple future rosters, then simply pass on that player and find the next best thing. A lot of these guys will sign these big contracts with all this guaranteed money then fall off from levels they were playing at that earned them the contract in the first place. All contracts should have so much guaranteed money then 100% incentive based on performance to make sure everyone is held responsible for the money in and out.

The Cowboys apparently have $11 million in cap space they can blow. They need to try and restructure some of their other outrageous contracts so they can have a little more money to work with.

 It's going to take a number of more pieces to both the offense and defense. This may be Cowboys fans year, but this is still a franchise that is nowhere near winning another Super Bowl so far heading into the season.