ARLINGTON, Texas – The first week of NFL free agency is in the books, and the Cowboys have acquired eight new players since the new league year began on March 11.
Six of those additions have come on the defensive side of the ball, looking to supplement a unit that gave up the most points in franchise history in 2025.
Cowboys owner/GM Jerry Jones knew this offseason was a crucial one, saying at the NFL Combine that he could see the team "being aggressive" in the free agency market and that he "would bet that we will spend more money in free agency than we have."
The overall goal was to bring in veteran players that wouldn't need time to ramp up in the unit, and Jones feels the Cowboys have gotten off to a good start of remodeling their defense.
"I don't know that since we've had free agency as we know it today, where it's really very viable, most teams involved very actively making deals if you will. I don't know since that has evolved and come about that we've ever had this kind of reshaping of an aspect of our team." Jones said while speaking at the Grand Prix of Arlington on Sunday.
Adding experienced players like OLB Rashan Gary, S Jalen Thompson and CB Cobie Durant to new DC Christian Parker's defense is only part of the equation that has Jones optimistic about the unit improving in 2026.
"Of course, we actually have touched some offense with a great blocker, but more importantly, what we've done on defense," Jones said. "That plus what we have set up for the draft, plus what we really have coming back from our veteran defensive players that really didn't play that much last year, injury issues, things like that, gives us a lot of promise."
When it comes to reconstructing a unit like the Cowboys are having to do, there are a variety of things that need to go right to see the ship steering back in the right direction. Jones knows that, but with all the challenges Dallas faced last season, sees only one direction for the defense to go.
"I'll tell you, when you have the challenges we had last year, there's no place to go but up on the defensive side of the ball," Jones said. "Had we played a lick of defense last year, we would've had ourselves, I think, a real playoff run."
