FRISCO, Texas — The mission to right the ship has already begun for and by the Dallas Cowboys. They've concluded exit interviews with players following their 7-9-1 finish to the 2025 season, but as they turn their eyes toward the defensive coaching staff, they'll do so knowing full well there is still business to attend to on the roster itself — headlined by players like George Pickens, Javonte Williams and Jadeveon Clowney.
Soon comes 2026 NFL free agency, and there is a lot to sift through in Dallas, to say the very least. In all, the Cowboys have 22 players whose contract will expire once the new league year opens in March.
That's a hefty number with some heavy-hitters headlining the group, but not every player is set to be an unrestricted free agent, though. For those entering free agency as an Exclusive Rights Free Agent or a Restricted Free Agent, the path to potentially leaving the Cowboys is a bit more complicated.
We can dig into the analysis of each player's value soon enough and if the franchise tag will be in play this year but, for now, here's a succinct look at the status of each expiring contract this offseason.
Unrestricted free agents:
- Javonte Williams, RB
- Miles Sanders, RB
- George Pickens, WR
- Jalen Tolbert, WR
- Hakeem Adeniji, OL
- Rob Jones, OL
——— Defense ———
- Jadeveon Clowney, DE
- Dante Fowler, DE
- Payton Turner, DE
- Sam Williams, DE
- Kenneth Murray, LB
- Jack Sanborn, LB
- Donovan Wilson, S
- Corey Ballentine, CB
- C.J. Goodwin, CB
This designation needs no explanation, other than to remind you that these are players who have accrued at least four seasons in the NFL and, barring an extension landing before the new league year opens in mid-March, can negotiate freely with whomever they so choose — their phone lines being open to all 32 teams; and with the Cowboys having no rights to them whatsoever without securing them on a new deal before the first day of free agency arrives.
Restricted free agent:
- T.J. Bass, OL
- Brock Hoffman, OL
- Juanyeh Thomas, S
- Brandon Aubrey, K
RFAs are allowed to negotiate with other teams, but can be assigned a draft tender by the Cowboys that gives Dallas the Right of First Refusal — a first-, second- or original-round tender each carrying a different level of predetermined cost.
Exclusive rights free agent:
- Josh Butler, CB
- Reddy Steward, CB
ERFAs don't have nearly the freedom to negotiate with other teams as do restricted free agents (RFAs) and the grail of the open market, unrestricted free agents (UFAs), so Butler and Steward don't have a lot of options, if any, should the Cowboys opt to keep them around. An ERFA can not, under any circumstances, negotiate with another organization.
There is an opportunity for the Cowboys to secure any of the above players before the legal tampering period begins on March 9, before other teams can begin making offers to those qualified to receive them.
That means the next several weeks will be huge in the early shaping of the 2026 roster, and will be one of the first steps in determining if the Cowboys will take a step forward next season, or backward.
