PHOENIX – Now well into the 2026 offseason, Cowboys head coach Brian Schottenheimer has been pleased with the moves that Dallas has made thus far in the free agency and trade market.
Still, there's more work to do.
"We've been very active, but we're not done." Schottenheimer said at the NFL's League Meetings on Monday.
The most glaring need on the Cowboys' roster at the moment is at inside linebacker, the only defensive position the Cowboys have not signed a player at so far this free agency cycle. That isn't lost on Schottenheimer and Dallas' front office, who he says have a plan in place.
"We made a run at some guys in free agency. Sometimes it works. Sometimes it doesn't," Schottenheimer said. "And what do you do? You just adjust. It's something we're working on 365, 24-7. We've got a good plan. We've got firepower now going into the draft. We're not done. We're always open for business. So part of it's going to be [DeMarvion Overshown] having a tremendous year. Shemar James is a guy we're excited about. But we recognize we've got to fill some holes there."
Could a rookie linebacker in the upcoming 2026 NFL Draft, where the Cowboys have the 12th and 20th overall picks, be the place where Dallas finds the player they want to man the middle of the defense?
"Yeah, depending on who the guy is and what their football instincts are and things like that," Schottenheimer said. "Yeah, it's happened before. Again, he's going to be surrounded by a lot of really good veteran players at all three levels. And so I think that if you get the right guy, absolutely."
Another area Schottenheimer sees the Cowboys looking to add at is nickel corner. Since hiring new defensive coordinator Christian Parker, the nickel position has been highlighted as one that's important in Parker's scheme. Dallas made some offseason additions that could play in that role like Jalen Thompson, Cobie Durant and P.J. Locke, but conversations have still been had about what that role will look like, and who plays it, with the goal of keeping DaRon Bland on the outside.
"It's important in any defense," Schottenheimer said of the nickel position. "You're closer to the ball. There's different ways you can build it. Again, this was the first time I've heard it, I think Christian [Parker] said it, you have to be able to cover like a corner, you have to be able to blitz like a safety, and you have to be able to fit the run like a linebacker. Those are three really difficult things to do at the highest level. So, I think that's why everyone is chasing it…"
"The good news is Cobie Durant has played that, right? Great addition for us, and I'm excited about that. [Derion] Kendrick has played that some. At the end of the day, we'd love to have a guy that allows us to keep DaRon [Bland] outside. We feel like DaRon has the ability to shut off a side of the field and we'd rather keep him outside then move him inside."
The biggest point of emphasis from Schottenheimer this offseason was addressing the secondary and defensive line, after the Cowboys gave up the most passing yards per game in the NFL and struggled to bring down the quarterback in 2025. With additions like Thompson, Rashan Gary and others, he feels they've taken steps to do that.
"We had a big, big, big push to address the secondary, the defensive line," Schottenheimer said. "Getting Jalen Thompson was big for us. PJ Locke is a really good football player that Christian had a lot of exposure with, wears a lot of hats on the football team, great competitor. Trading for a guy like Rashan Gary is a guy that I've had a lot of respect for having played against him a number of times both in Seattle and here. I thought that was great. We wanted to get the defensive line inside, get bigger and squarer."
In shifting what they were looking for on the defensive line, the Cowboys had to make the difficult decision to move on from Osa Odighizuwa, trading him to the San Francisco 49ers in exchange for the 92nd overall pick in the third round of the 2026 NFL Draft. Schottenheimer said that he and Odighizuwa wept together over the phone when the deal was done.
"Anytime you go through a scheme change that's going to be adjustments where you move on from an incredible person, incredible leader in Osa. That was one of the hard ones," Schottenheimer said. "I'm happy to share with you guys, I wept. We both wept on the phone together. It was hard but that's the nature of the business and I'm thrilled that he's going to a place that is a great fit for him."
Another shift on the defensive line came on the exterior as well, with various moves at outside linebacker to look to improve affecting the quarterback more. Schottenheimer said he was happy with how that room has taken shape thus far, but didn't rule out any further additions.
"I think [Donovan Ezeiruaku] going into year two, getting a guy like Rashan [Gary] I think bringing in a guy like Sam Williams back. Sam is a prototype outside linebacker, that's what he really is. He's got length. He can close edges and knock things around. And we're heading into a draft class that's very deep at the edge rusher position. I think right now, I feel really, really good at all positions, but there's some spots we like to fill and maybe a starter or two on defense that we're still looking for."
Of all of the additions the Cowboys have made thus far, the biggest one may have been their first, and not a player. Christian Parker, who Schottenheimer referred to as a "superstar," has continued to impress.
"That's not a free agency acquisition but I think we made our football team a lot better," Schottenheimer said. "It's always good when you get phone calls or texts from your rivals in the division. Philadelphia saying, 'Why did you take our guy?' And then being around him on the top 30 visits and some of the pro days and stuff, I think we hit a home run with that. I've talked a lot about Christian and the conviction, that's been great."
In less than a month, the Cowboys will be on the clock in the first round with two picks for the first time since 2008. Schottenheimer said they're always "open for business," but should Dallas make picks both times, Schottenheimer reiterated he thinks they're in a position to draft the best player available, and not a need.
"I really do feel like we've set ourselves up to take the best player available," Schottenheimer said. "We've got ourselves in a position so we can make some moves and move back, move up, do what we have to do. But if the best player on the board is clearly an offensive player, then we'll certainly discuss that, and more than likely knowing Jerry, we'll take them."
