There are a lot of great free agents available in the 2026 cycle — players who could likely help the Dallas Cowboys finally make the leap to the next level.
Don’t count on any of them ending up in Dallas.
Bleacher Report’s Adam Wells pointed out a pretty incredible statistic about the Cowboys when it comes to free agency recently. One that also might also give some insight as to why they haven’t made the playoffs the last 2 seasons.
“One primary issue with looking at free agency is (Cowboys owner) Jerry Jones has been reluctant to really dive into that pool,” Wells wrote. “He hasn’t signed an external free agent to a contract worth more than $6 million since Gerald McCoy’s three-year, $18 million deal in March 2020. If the Cowboys are going to significantly address their defense, it will likely come through either the draft or a potential trade.”
Of the 4 remaining teams in the NFC Playoffs, we can point to at least one player on the roster each team signed as an “external” free agent in 2025 — just on offense — that’s helped them get to this point that cost each of them over $6 million; quarterback Sam Darnold on the Seattle Seahawks ($100.5 million), wide receiver DeMarcus Robinson on the San Francisco 49ers ($9.5 million), wide receiver Davante Adams on the Los Angeles Rams ($44 million) and center Drew Dalman on the Chicago Bears ($42 million).
Like we said — those are just the signings on offense.
If the Cowboys want to get better, they may have to bite the bullet and sign an actual free agent and not just rely on Jones’ draft acumen, trades or what they already have on the roster.
What Cowboys Did in Free Agency in 2025
This is all not to say the Cowboys haven’t clocked some wins in the bargain bin free agency barrel.
In 2025, they signed running back Javonte Williams to a 1-year, $3 million contract and he responded with career highs in rushing yards (1,201), touchdowns (11) and yards per carry (4.8).
After that, it’s a wasteland. The Cowboys signed a ton of free agents for piddly deals who made little to no impact on their season instead of pooling that money to go after one big free agent to actually help them win games.
What Cowboys Could Do in Free Agency in 2026
The short answer is: Not much. The Cowboys are in desperate need of an edge rusher after trading perennial All-Pro Micah Parsons to the Green Bay Packers shortly before the 2025 season, but it’s highly unlikely they’ll be able to go after one of the top options like Trey Hendrickson, Jaelan Phillips or Khalil Mack.
Which means the Cowboys almost certainly will miss the playoffs for a third consecutive season.
“The Cowboys will never be big spenders in free agency, but they have to do more than just nibble around the edges, especially defensively,” ESPN’s Todd Archer wrote on January 13. “Finding a high-end pass rusher and cornerback is difficult in free agency, but they can do more at linebacker and safety. There have been more questions than answers in recent drafts, so they need a more proactive approach to free agency.”
Cowboys Called Out for Not Pursuing ‘External’ Free Agents