Here is how the Dallas Cowboys defense looks after one week of free agency moves
We’ve officially seen one week of NFL free agency go by, and the Dallas Cowboys are starting to put their defense together for 2026 after a disastrous 2025 campaign on that side of the ball.
Ask any member of the Jones family or someone from the coaching staff about this offseason’s focus, and they will tell you that they are trying to just find more stops on defense. After a season where that unit finished 30th in yards allowed per game and dead-last in passing yards allowed per game, it’s the right direction to go.
In the first week of free agency, that focus was on display. While the Maxx Crosby sweepstakes didn’t quite work out in their favor (or anyone’s favor, for that matter), the Cowboys uncharacteristically attacked the first day of the legal tampering period by agreeing to terms with former Arizona Cardinals safety Jalen Thompson and trading for Green Bay Packers defensive end Rashan Gary.
In the days following, they would end up adding another safety in P.J. Locke, a starting-caliber cornerback in Cobie Durant and a defensive tackle in Otito Ogbonnia. While trading away Osa Odighizuwa and Solomon Thomas certainly doesn’t make the defense better on paper, the team also acquired draft capital in 2026 to go toward improving the defensive side of the ball.
As of Monday, here is what the Dallas Cowboys’ defense looks like, with starters in bold:
- EDGE: Rashan Gary, Sam Williams, Tyrus Wheat, Adedayo Odeleye
- DT: Quinnen Williams, Otito Ogbonnia
- DT: Kenny Clark, Jay Toia
- EDGE: Donovan Ezeiruaku, James Houston, Marist Liafau, Isaiah Land
- ILB: DeMarvion Overshown
- ILB: Shemar James, Justin Barron
- CB: Cobie Durant, Caelen Carson, Josh Butler
- CB: Shavon Revel Jr., Trikweze Bridges
- NCB (when in nickel): DaRon Bland, Reddy Steward, Zion Childress
- SS: Jalen Thompson, Markquese Bell, Julius Wood
- FS: Malik Hooker, Alijah Clark
What needs still remain?
After striking out on linebackers such as Nakobe Dean and Quay Walker and seeing the price point on Devin Lloyd exceed the comfortability level, the Cowboys’ most glaring need sits right in the middle of its defense heading into the second wave of free agency.
While Dallas experimented at times last season with DeMarvion Overshown and Shemar James as the lead communicating green-dot player, the hope for both is that they have someone in the middle with experience fulfilling those responsibilities so they can resort to their usual outside off-ball linebacker roles.
In the secondary, there is a lot of room for flexibility because of Thompson. His experience playing safety and nickel will give Dallas varying looks from play to play over the course of a game, with Locke as a reliable rotating safety when Thompson does play closer to the line of scrimmage.
Having an alpha pass rusher might still be a need heading into the back end of the month as well. While Gary and Ezeiruaku have confidence from the coaching staff, a productive double-digit sack player might not be on the roster. Having the benefit of two first-round picks could end up jolting the pass rush toward a more comfortable look in Week 1 of the season.
And while Quinnen Williams and Kenny Clark serve as one of the better defensive tackle duos in the league and Otito Ogbonnia provides reliable depth, having another quality, reliable player in the middle may end up being necessary as well.
This story was originally published March 16, 2026 at 3:56 PM.
