The Dallas Cowboys hired Brian Schottenheimer as head coach last offseason. The 2025 outcome was an impressive offense paired with a historically poor defense, highlighting significant areas for improvement as they approach the 2026 offseason. Notably, ‘America’s Team’ has 20 pending free agents to consider.
Dallas’ list of pending free agents includes two of its offensive stars: starting running back Javonte Williams and breakout wide receiver George Pickens.
The Cowboys finished 7-9-1 in 2025 and missed the playoffs. They will need to address their beleaguered defense, which ranked No. 30 in the league, allowing 377 total yards per game, and No. 32 in points against, yielding a league-high 60 touchdowns. Ultimately, the team fired defensive coordinator Matt Eberflus at the end of the season.
Team owner and general manager Jerry Jones sought to enhance the roster at the trade deadline by acquiring All-Pro defensive tackle Quinnen Williams. This move aimed to rebuild the defensive line after Dallas traded star edge rusher Micah Parsons to the Green Bay Packers in August.
The Cowboys own two first-round picks (picks No. 12 and No. 20) in the 2026 draft, thanks to the Parsons trade, and could use both to address positions of need on defense.
Here’s what to know about Dallas’ free agents and several players they could target this offseason:
Cowboys free agents in 2026
According to OverTheCap.com, Dallas has 22 players set to become free agents at the start of the new league year at 4 p.m. ET on Wednesday, March 11. Fifteen players are unrestricted free agents, meaning they are free to sign with any team. The remaining seven are either exclusive rights free agents (ERFA) or restricted free agents (RFA), whom the Cowboys can choose to sign before any other team.
Here’s the full list of the Cowboys’ pending free agents, all of whom are unrestricted unless otherwise noted:
WR George Pickens
RB Javonte Williams
RB Miles Sanders
WR Jalen Tolbert
EDGE Dante Fowler Jr.
EDGE Jadeveon Clowney
LB Kenneth Murray
S Donovan Wilson
RG Robert Jones
LT Hakeem Adeniji
EDGE Payton Turner
EDGE Sam Williams
LB Jack Sanborn
CB C.J. Goodwin
CB Corey Ballentine
K Brandon Aubrey (RFA)
RB Malik Davis (RFA)
RG Brock Hoffman (RFA)
RG T.J. Bass (RFA)
S Juanyeh Thomas (RFA)
CB Josh Butler (ERFA)
CB Reddy Steward (ERFA)
Cowboys 2026 free agent targets
The Cowboys rank 31st in cap space according to data from OverTheCap, as of Feb. 18.
It’s expected the Cowboys can restructure several current contracts, including Prescott’s and CeeDee Lamb’s, to free up space ahead of free agency. Dallas isn’t usually an aggressive team in free agency, but here are some players it can realistically target in 2026:
RB Javonte Williams
The 25-year-old former second-round pick enjoyed a career year with 252 carries for 1,201 yards and 11 touchdowns while providing a boost in the passing game with 35 catches for 137 yards and two touchdowns. Williams’ ability to block and be a bell cow is something Dallas has missed since Ezekiel Elliott. The Cowboys should attempt to retain Williams, who won’t break the bank. (Market value: $7.8M annually)
CB Kader Kohou
Trevon Diggs is no longer in Dallas. DaRon Bland suffered another foot injury that landed him on Injured Reserve (IR) for the second consecutive season and rookie third-round pick Shavon Revel struggled when he finally played. Corner feels like a position Dallas could address in both the draft and free agency. Bringing in a veteran who can play the nickel will allow Bland to move back to the perimeter, where he excelled in 2023. Kohou missed all of last season with an ACL injury but offers a high floor at a discounted price compared to the other veteran corners in free agency. He notably played for Vic Fangio in 2023 and should be familiar with new defensive coordinator Christian Parker’s system; Parker worked under Fangio in Philadelphia. (Market value: $2M annually)
S Reed Blankenship
The Parker-Fangio connection makes Blankenship an obvious target. Dallas’ secondary needs consistency and the 26-year-old would provide an instant player who is familiar with Parker’s scheme. Malik Hooker is a cut candidate, which means the Cowboys could have two new starting safeties in 2026. (Market value: $7.2M annually)
LB Nakobe Dean
If it’s not Blankenship following Parker to his new home, it could be the veteran linebacker Dean. Kenneth Murray and Jack Sanborn are free agents and Logan Wilson is a cut candidate. This leaves linebacker as a position of need that a veteran in free agency can fill. (Market value: $7.9M annually)
LB Matt Milano
The former All-Pro is one of the best off-ball linebackers in the NFL. He’s been hampered by injuries over the last two seasons, which is why his market value is just $4.5 million. If Parker implements a 3-4 scheme, Dallas will require more out of the position. Sonny Styles is an ideal target in the draft, but an additional linebacker in free agency would provide a boost, especially one who has proven to be a great communicator. (Market value: $4.5M annually)
When does NFL free agency start?
Date: March 11
Time: 4 p.m. ET
NFL free agency officially starts at the beginning of the new league year. In 2026, the NFL league year begins at 4 p.m. ET on Wednesday, March 11.
However, there is a two-day window beforehand called the ‘legal tampering period.’ This negotiation period begins at noon ET on Monday, March 9. Players can begin contract negotiations with teams during this period, and all agreed deals will become official at the start of the new league year on the 11th.
