The Dallas Cowboys are moving forward through what has already been a very active offseason, replacing their defensive coordinator with rising coaching star Christian Parker, filling out a new defensive staff and signing star running back Javonte Williams to an early deal. But relative to the amount of work that needs to be done revamping the team’s moribund defense, the Cowboys have only just begun.
They’ll need better players across the board. The Cowboys need to fill up the edge-rusher room, they’ll need at least one starting-quality linebacker and they’ll need to address a defensive backfield that is a mess, with DaRon Bland the only known commodity (and even on his account, injuries have clouded his future).
The Cowboys will address the holes through the draft, no doubt, but they’ll need to be aggressive, too, in bringing in veterans, either through free-agent signings or trades. And one guy they’ve had their eye on, according to reports, is still drawing interest from those at The Star–three-time All-Pro safety Minkah Fitzpatrick.
Cowboys Likely to Make Safety a Priority
Safety figures to be an area in which the Cowboys pursue some significant change. They have at least one incumbent worth hanging onto, Malik Hooker, but Hooker could be a cap casualty because the Cowboys can save nearly $7 million by cutting him. The widespread belief is that the team will let Donovan Wilson go.
There are a number of different paths the Cowboys can take to bringing in a “captain of the secondary” type, including Parker’s most recent top safety, Reed Blankenship of the Eagles, who is a free agent this offseason. They could also package their two first-round picks to move up and take Ohio State star Caleb Downs in April.
But one player who has reportedly been on the Cowboys’ radar since the November trade deadline is Fitzpatrick, who is in the final year of a four-year, $73 million contract and who does not really fit with the direction of the rebuilding Dolphins.
Cowboys Already Looked at Minkah Fitzpatrick Trade
According to longtime Cowboys reporter Mike Fisher, citing a source with knowledge of the situation, the Cowboys were “serious” about acquiring Fitzpatrick in November but did not get a deal done. Now, he is entering the final year of his contract, worth $15.6 million, and the Dolphins have little interest in paying that.
Writes Fisher: “What I can report now, via an NFL source: Dallas was ‘serious’ then about acquiring Minkah Fitzpatrick – and furthermore, that the team might be expected to ‘circle back’ on the idea now. In fact, it’s being reported that Miami has already fielded calls on this idea in recent days.
“Logic tells me Dallas is – or will be – among those potential suitors.”
Minkah Fitzpatrick Still Among NFL’s Best Safeties
Of course, much of all this will be determined by the cost, both in terms of the capital it will take to pluck Fitzpatrick from the Dolphins and the amount the Cowboys would have to pay Fitzpatrick once he is on the books.
The Cowboys are already without their second and third-round picks. How much more 2026 draft capital would they give up for Fitzpatrick, and would they include future picks if it meant getting Miami to eat some of his contract costs? Or would the Cowboys and Fitzpatrick agree to a long-term extension as a way to mitigate the short-term costs?
Either way, Fitzpatrick would be an enormous upgrade. Despite playing for a Dolphins team that floundered (apologies, pun) in 2025, Fitzpatrick was still among the best safeties in the NFL last season, recording a Pro Football Focus grade of 81.8, fifth among all safeties in the league.
Cowboys ‘Serious’ About Trade for $73 Million All-Pro