FRISCO, Texas — Although NFL free agency never actually ends, the annual spending spree portion of the program is officially in the rearview mirror. Breaking from their traditional edict, the Dallas Cowboys were active right out of the gate during legal tampering, a sign they truly do understand the assignment for 2026.
That assignment is to rebuild the defense, hence the trade for edge rusher Rashan Gary and the signing of safeties Jalen Thompson and P.J. Locke, and cornerback Cobie Durant, also trading Osa Odighizuwa and Solomon Thomas in preparation to continue shaping that side of the ball in the 2026 NFL Draft.
The offense wasn't completely quiet, however, with running back Javonte Williams re-signing to a three-year deal being the headliner in that regard and, with the draft only a few weeks away, it's time to take a look at the depth chart to see how things are shaping up.
Having already taken a look at the offense, it's time to peek at the starting lineup on defense:
EDGE
- Donovan Ezeiruaku
- Rashan Gary
The aforementioned trade for Gary immediately places him as the starter opposite Ezeiruaku in Christian Parker's system. The latter is recovering from labrum surgery on his hip but is expected to be a full participant in training camp, so he'll have some catch-up to do when he takes the field, but nothing like what Marist Liufau is up against — being converted to OLB by Parker's staff in Year 3. Sam Williams is back on a prove-it deal to provide pre-draft insurance as well, also one of the better special teams player on the roster.
Defensive tackle
- Quinnen Williams
- Kenny Clark
The trade for Clark to begin the 2025 season ushered in a new era at defensive tackle that was punctuated by the trade, two months later, for Williams, and that apparently meant the writing was on the wall for Odighizuwa and Thomas — traded for a 2026 third-round pick and a seventh-round swap, respectively. It's a dynamic duo at defensive tackle, most assuredly, but second-year talent Jay Toia must take a sizable (no pun intended) step forward, and newly-signed Otito Ogbonnia has to deliver on his promise of "dominance" on his one-year deal.
Inside linebacker
- DeMarvion Overshown
- Shemar James
Liufau is an outside linebacker now and neither Jack Sanborn nor Kenneth Murray are Cowboys as of now, Sanborn returning to the Chicago Bears in free agency. That means the onus is on Overshown to lead the room to the next level, and his ability is never in question. It's his availability that has to be more consistent if he's to become what he might be destined to be in this league: elite. James had an up-and-down rookie season but his flashes hint at something special, and this new coaching staff should pay off like gangbusters for him in Year 2. Look for promising, hard-hitting Justin Barron to back them up, and for Dallas to also address the position before (trade?) and/or during the draft.
Cornerback
- DaRon Bland
- Shavon Revel
- Cobie Durant
Overshown isn't the only one who'll need to remain on the field in 2026. The same can be said of Bland, the All-Pro and record-setting cornerback dealing with a nagging foot issue that's cost him games over the past two seasons. His health will be paramount to the CBs depth chart bouncing back, and so will Revel's, who will get his first healthy NFL offseason in Year 2; and a player Christian Parker continuously points at as a key player in his system. Adding Durant potentially solidifies the three-man starting rotation, with Reddy Steward earning another contract after wildly outplaying his test-drive deal last season.
Safety
- Malik Hooker
- Jalen Thompson
The deal with Hooker was restructured so he'll be in tow for the coming season, and signing Thompson in free agency has a chance to be the best one in this year's free agency, given his football IQ, versatility and familiarity with secondary coach Ryan Smith. Juanyeh Thomas is now with the Indianapolis Colts, and the Cowboys brought in P.J. Locke, a Texas native and former Longhorn, to supplant that loss and Locke also has the benefit of knowing exactly what Parker wants — seeing as he was coached by Parker multiple seasons in Denver.
From there, Markquese Bell still provides a great young veteran presence and up-and-comers Alijah Clark and Julius Wood round out the depth chart behind Hooker and Thompson.
