The Cowboys are still trying to squeeze every last ounce out of the 2026 season, but the offseason picture is already coming into focus. With Dallas staring at a tricky cap setup and a loaded 2027 free-agent class, the front office is going to have some hard choices to make.
That means deciding which pieces are worth keeping around and which ones are better left to the open market. Some of the names on this list make a ton of sense to bring back. Others feel like the kind of players Dallas should thank and move on from in March.
Otito Ogbonnia is the first obvious keep. He has been a strong run defender for the Cowboys this season, and if the price stays reasonable, there’s a clear case for bringing him back. He may be one of the few cost-controlled players on the roster who can actually swing a game, which makes this one pretty straightforward if the money lines up.
Joey Porter Jr. belongs in that same conversation, even with the injury concerns. There’s a reason the Steelers didn’t want to extend him, and that matters. But Dallas doesn’t exactly have a deep pool of proven cornerbacks, so if the financial side can be worked out, Porter Jr. should be near the top of the list.
Tyler Goodson has also earned attention. He’s been a revelation in the running back room, and that kind of production usually gets noticed fast inside the building. The key here is that he should be affordable, and if his knee injury heals well enough, he looks like a strong candidate to stay.
Elijah Garcia is another name Dallas should want back, especially if Kenny Clark becomes a cap casualty this offseason, which he should be. Garcia has been one of the defense’s breakout players and one of the few real bright spots, so a cheap deal would make a lot of sense.
Then there’s George Pickens, who sits in a different category altogether. This offense needs Pickens at his peak if Dallas ever wants to win a Super Bowl.
Seriously. It’s going to be complicated again, and the franchise tag situation could get messy, but whatever it takes to keep Pickens in a Cowboys uniform, I would sign up for it.
On the other side of the ledger, DeMarvion Overshown is the kind of player Dallas probably has to be careful with. The talent is there, but the availability hasn’t been.
He simply cannot stay healthy, and that makes any lucrative deal a bad idea. If the Cowboys bring him back, it would need to be on a cheap contract with very low guarantees and heavy incentives.
Broderick Jones is another player Dallas could let go, even if that sounds strange after sending a draft pick for him just a few months ago. The reason is simple: Terence Steele and Tyler Guyton have both played well this year, so the Cowboys don’t need as much insurance as they once did. Jones will probably also want a real chance to start somewhere else.
T.J. Bass may have already reached the point where a reunion is unlikely.
Dallas was fortunate to get him back this past offseason, and repeating that outcome feels doubtful. He also looked like he had regressed early in the year while filling in for Tyler Smith, so the Cowboys may be better off finding someone who wants to be here for cheap.
Cobie Durant has played well this season, but the cornerback math gets crowded fast if Dallas keeps Porter Jr. There are only so many spots and only so much money to go around at that position. With Shavon Revel Jr. and Devin Moore on rookie deals and DaRon Bland costing a fortune, Durant could be the odd man out.
Malik Hooker rounds out the list of players Dallas may choose to move on from. He’s been a solid-to-very-good part of the secondary for a long time, but with a hopefully healthy Jalen Thompson back and P.J. Locke a bit younger and more familiar with Christian Parker, the Cowboys may decide it’s time to let the veteran walk and keep developing the younger group.
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Cowboys Got One More Lifeline In The NFC East Race
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For the Cowboys, the path forward is still about staying alive long enough for the schedule to give them a chance. The remaining games for Dallas, New York and Washington will go a long way toward deciding whether the division title is still in play or whether the focus shifts more squarely to the playoff picture, and every result from here carries a little extra weight. [Read more 🡒]
Cowboys Just Got A Real NFC East Opening
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For a Cowboys team getting ready to face the 49ers in Week 10, the timing matters. Dallas still has a stretch ahead that includes three straight home games and more divisional chances, which keeps the door open if it can take care of business and keep the pressure on the teams above it. [Read more 🡒]
Cowboys Get A Live Test Of Two Recent Trade Decisions
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Odighizuwa has brought pass-rush value but has also had issues holding up against the run, which makes him worth watching against a Cowboys offense that will want to know what kind of impact he can still make. Winters, meanwhile, has had a mixed start of his own, and this matchup offers Dallas a live test of whether the move made sense on both sides of the ball, even if the fuller answer may not come until after the game. [Read more 🡒]