Too-early predictions for all 21 Dallas Cowboys free agents this offseason
The season is over for the Dallas Cowboys, and they are already off and running on the offseason agenda list of what to correct for 2026.
On Tuesday, they fired defensive coordinator Matt Eberflus, and they are already interviewing potential replacements.
Once that is settled and the month of March approaches, how to handle their 21 free agents will be a big part of how the offseason shakes out. From what to do with wide receiver George Pickens after his special 2025 season and kicker Brandon Aubrey after three consecutive Pro Bowl seasons, there will be a lot to discuss over the next three months.
Here are the 21 free agents for the Cowboys and some way-too-early predictions on how things will shake out for each one this offseason:
George Pickens, WR
How he did in 2025: 93 receptions, 1,429 yards, nine touchdowns (all team- and career-highs)
Free agency outlook: The most notable player set to hit the free agent market for the Cowboys, and arguably the entire NFL. In a one-year “prove-it” situation in Dallas, Pickens exceeded all expectations with a massive year to help power the No. 2 offense in the NFL. He is easily expected to land the largest contract of all free agent receivers, with Spotrac projecting an average annual value of $30.6 million. The Cowboys are expected to place a franchise tag on Pickens to prevent him from hitting the open market and to give them time to work out a long-term deal. If a tag is placed, the Cowboys would have until July 15 to work out a contract.
Too-early prediction: An initial franchise tag is placed before a four-year deal around $120 million is agreed upon in July
Brandon Aubrey, K
How he did in 2025: 36-for-42 on field goals, long of 64, 47-for-48 on extra points
Free agency outlook: Kicker contracts are weird, and this next one for Aubrey has an added layer of unusual to it that could make for an interesting few weeks ahead of the start of free agency. For one, he’s a restricted free agent, meaning that the Cowboys will have the right to match any offer that is made to him. For another, he’s 31 years old going into his second contract. Whether they look to get a deal done before free agency begins or they play the offer-matching game with another team, the most likely scenario leads to him landing the richest kicker contract in league history after three consecutive Pro Bowl seasons.
Too-early prediction: Dallas signs Aubrey back on a four-year deal worth $26 million
Donovan Wilson, S
How he did in 2025: 71 tackles, two interceptions, five pass deflections, one forced fumble
Free agency outlook: The third-longest-tenured player on the team, could this be the end for Wilson? That determination will be largely made by the new defensive coordinator, but an intriguing couple of names at the top of the safety position in the draft class could lead Dallas to take a swing in the first round at that position instead. But there is a case to be made for Wilson. He’s not a field safety, like he was used more often in 2025 than any point in his career, but stepping up and playing in the box and against the run has still seen production from the Texas A&M product. And considering the culture-building that head coach Brian Schottenheimer has emphasized early on, he will want one of his 2025 captains back.
Too-early prediction: Signs three-year, $20.5 million contract elsewhere
Javonte Williams, RB
How he did in 2025: 1,201 rushing yards, 11 touchdowns, 35 receptions for 137 receiving yards and two touchdowns
Free agency outlook: In Wednesday’s season-end press conference, executive vice president Stephen Jones said Williams was a priority for the team to sign back to the team in the offseason after he had his career-best season in his first year in Dallas. He added that he wants Williams back on a multiyear deal. What that ends up looking like could go a lot of different directions, as his mileage in the league and his injury history could be presented against him. But after the year he enjoyed in 2025, he should undoubtedly receive a contract richer than the $3 million he made this season.
Too-early prediction: Dallas re-signs Williams on a three-year, $20.5 million deal
Jadeveon Clowney, DE
How he did in 2025: 41 tackles, 8.5 sacks (team-high), 12 tackles for loss, four pass deflections in 13 games
Free agency outlook: Despite playing for seven teams in the past eight seasons, Clowney could find some late-career consistency in Dallas. The 32-year-old might require the keys to the golf cart at training camp, but Clowney’s pass rush production and locker room leadership are worth bringing back in 2026.
Too-early prediction: Dallas re-signs Clowney on a one-year, $5.2 million deal
Kenneth Murray Jr., LB
How he did in 2025: 81 tackles, four tackles for loss, two pass deflections and one sack
Free agency outlook: Considering Murray was an Eberflus-backed trade acquisition last offseason and Murray didn’t follow it up with a good season, this seems to be the most likely free agent to end up elsewhere in 2026. The Cowboys will need to rehaul the entire position group, and it will begin with finding a different lead communicator in the middle.
Too-early prediction: Signs a one-year, $4 million deal elsewhere
Reddy Steward, CB
How he did in 2025: 63 tackles, 1.5 sacks, three pass deflections, one forced fumble
Free agency outlook: Even though Steward was another Eberflus-backed addition, he was arguably the most consistent defensive back for the Cowboys all season. After coming into the year with just one game of NFL experience, Dallas got so much more out of Steward than it could have expected. It would make sense to bring him back in 2026, but that will largely depend on the new defensive coordinator and if his scheme plays into the zone ability that Steward displayed in 2025. One thing to keep in mind is Steward is an exclusive rights free agent, meaning the Cowboys will retain him simply by offering a one-year, minimum deal.
Too-early prediction: Steward re-signs with the Cowboys on a one-year, $950,000 deal
Sam Williams, DE
How he did in 2025: 37 tackles, seven tackles for loss, one sack, two pass deflections
Free agency outlook: Coming off a torn ACL in training camp of the 2024 season, Williams had a lot to play for on an expiring rookie deal in 2025. He didn’t quite show the production needed to warrant a big second contract, and he could be left with some low offers in free agency. The Cowboys will need to rebuild their defensive end group, and that may not include Williams. The hope for him to stay in Dallas could be a desire from the team to keep his youth around on a cheap deal in case it takes a second season to fully get back from his knee injury.
Too-early prediction: Re-signs with Dallas on a one-year, $2 million deal
Brock Hoffman, C
How he did in 2025: Started seven games, allowed 12 pressures and one sack on 285 pass blocking snaps
Free agency outlook: A staple of the Cowboys’ depth in the offensive line group, Hoffman being in another jersey doesn’t even sound right. But considering how he’s done with 14 starts over the past two seasons, he could find a team out there that would make him the full-time starter with the paycheck to go along with it.
Too-early prediction: Signs a two-year, $5.5 million deal elsewhere
Jalen Tolbert, WR
How he did in 2025: 18 receptions for 203 yards and one touchdown
Free agency outlook: After a 2024 season that appeared to put him in a position to stamp his name in a contract year, Tolbert regressed dramatically to the point of being inactive for four of the last seven games of the season. That, paired with the emergence of Ryan Flournoy, means Tolbert will most likely find a different NFL home in 2026.
Too-early prediction: Signs two-year, $6 million deal elsewhere
Dante Fowler Jr., DE
How he did in 2025: 15 tackles, three sacks, three pass deflections, 12.5% pass rush win rate
Free agency outlook: Fowler told the Star-Telegram after the season ended that this wasn’t the year he envisioned when he returned to Dallas last offseason. He dealt with multiple injuries, including an AC joint issue, but he didn’t miss a game and had some shine in the run game. Talented veterans are hard to come by, and Fowler still can be that with a healthy offseason. But if the team decides to abandon ship in the defensive end group, Fowler would be left looking for another team.
Too-early prediction: Fowler re-signs with Dallas on a one-year, $3.5 million deal
T.J. Bass, G
How he did in 2025: Played 16 games, including five starts, allowed four pressures and no sacks in 209 pass blocking snaps
Free agency outlook: Although the 2023 draft class has been a disaster for the Cowboys, finding Bass in the undrafted market was a smash hit that has given Dallas reliable depth in the interior of its offensive line for each of the past three seasons. In 2025, he had his best year and should be in line to earn a starting job in 2026. Unfortunately, the Cowboys don’t have a spot. Tyler Smith and Tyler Booker are locked in as the starting guards for the foreseeable future. However, Bass is a restricted free agent, and that could give Dallas either one more year of his services or draft pick compensation in either the first or second round if another team falls in love with what he could bring.
Too-early prediction: Second-round tender is placed, Bass re-signs for one-year, $5.6 million
Juanyeh Thomas, S
How he did in 2025: 26 tackles in seven games, including three starts
Free agency outlook: Another restricted free agent, Thomas called 2025 his most difficult season after dealing with a migraine issue that sat him down for the season in November. He has been a solid special teams player, and that value alone should be enough to bring him back to Dallas in 2026.
Too-early prediction: Thomas re-signs with Dallas on a one-year, $1 million deal
Jack Sanborn, LB
How he did in 2025: 34 tackles, one tackle for loss and one pass deflection in six games
Free agency outlook: A groin injury kept Sanborn out for 11 games, but considering the linebacker position will get a complete makeover in 2026, Sanborn’s chances to return were never great. An opportunity on special teams could lead him back to Dallas, but the most likely scenario is Sanborn finding another team to represent next year.
Too-early prediction: Signs a one-year, $1.2 million deal elsewhere
Miles Sanders, RB
How he did in 2025: 117 rushing yards and one touchdown in four games
Free agency outlook: Age was already working against the 28-year-old Sanders, but a knee injury that required a complex surgery will also not help his case in free agency. Considering the Cowboys will want to stay young behind Javonte Williams, it’s not likely Sanders finds his way back to Dallas. When he did play early in the season, there were still signs of burst and veteran patience between the tackles that should give him a training camp shot somewhere in the league.
Too-early prediction: Signs a one-year, $1.2 million deal elsewhere
Hakeem Adeniji, OT
How he did in 2025: Played in 12 games, including one start, allowed two pressures and zero sacks in 41 pass blocking snaps
Free agency outlook: Adeniji came out of a brief retirement with little-to-no training camp expectations, and he made the roster as a depth piece. His return to Dallas in 2026 will largely depend on how things shake out with Hoffman and Bass, but his veteran presence could still be a valuable asset to retain for another year.
Too-early prediction: Adeniji re-signs with Dallas on a one-year, $1.2 million deal
Other free agents
It will be interesting to see if the team moves on from special teams ace C.J. Goodwin, as he turns 36 years old this offseason. Considering he set a career-high with 18 tackles, at least one more season on the docket seems likely.
Cornerback Josh Butler played in the season finale after spending most of the year waiting on a roster spot to open so he could return from a torn ACL he suffered in 2024. He’s become a locker room staple in Dallas, and considering he is an exclusive rights free agent, it makes sense to bring him back for at least a training camp shot in 2026.
The Cowboys had to be ecstatic when they were able to get Rob Jones as an interior offensive line depth piece last offseason, but a neck injury in training camp knocked him out for the season. This one could go any which way, but retaining veteran pieces on the line should be a priority.
It took until the final three weeks of the season before Payton Turner could even get cleared to practice, but that had to do more with the numbers at the defensive end position than anything. He likely wasn’t going to make the initial 53-man roster, and he will likely look for another NFL home in the offseason.
Corey Ballentine found his way onto the active game day roster for five games this season after being picked up midseason, but the depth at cornerback will look a lot different in 2026. He will likely sign elsewhere.
This story was originally published January 9, 2026 at 10:22 AM.
