The NFL has been buzzing with activity over the past few days, as teams dive headfirst into the free-agent negotiation frenzy. By Monday night, a staggering $2.3 billion in new contracts had already been handed out.
And that was just the beginning. Tuesday brought even more deals and some unexpected drama, particularly surrounding the Maxx Crosby situation.
The Dallas Cowboys, while not the busiest team in this free-agency whirlwind, have made some strategic moves. They've bolstered their defense by signing safeties Jalen Thompson and P.J.
Locke, defensive tackle Otito Ogbonnia, and edge rusher Tyrus Wheat. They also ensured continuity by re-signing Sam Williams.
However, the standout move for Dallas came early on Monday when Jerry Jones orchestrated a trade with the Green Bay Packers. The Cowboys sent a 2027 fourth-round draft pick to Green Bay in exchange for edge rusher Rashan Gary. This shows that Dallas is making calculated decisions, and there might be more on the horizon as the free-agency period progresses.
Amidst the free-agency chaos, the NFL quietly announced the compensatory selections for the upcoming draft, awarding 33 picks to 15 teams. To the delight of Cowboys fans, Dallas received two extra fifth-round picks, a much-needed boost.
The Cowboys' official site noted that the compensatory free agents lost included DeMarcus Lawrence, Jourdan Lewis, Rico Dowdle, Chauncey Golston, Chuma Edoga, and Brandin Cooks. On the plus side, they gained Javonte Williams, Dante Fowler, Solomon Thomas, and Robert Jones.
This results in Dallas receiving two compensatory picks at the end of the fifth round, specifically No. 177 and No. 180. This brings their total to seven selections in the 2026 draft, including two valuable first-rounders: their own at No. 12 and another at No. 20 from the Micah Parsons trade with Green Bay.
Here’s a quick look at their draft picks:
- Round 1: No. 12 overall
- Round 1: No. 20 overall (from Green Bay Packers)
- Round 4: No. 112 overall
- Round 5: No. 152 overall
- Round 5: No. 177 overall (compensatory)
- Round 5: No. 180 overall (compensatory)
- Round 7: No. 225 overall (from Kansas City Chiefs)
The Cowboys have no selections in the second, third, and sixth rounds. Their second-round pick went to the New York Jets in the Quinnen Williams deal, the third to the Pittsburgh Steelers for George Pickens, and the sixth to the New York Giants for Jordan Phillips.
Interestingly, their seventh-round pick is not their own, as it went to the Buffalo Bills in the Kaiir Elam trade. Instead, they hold a seventh-rounder from the Kansas City Chiefs via the Peyton Hendershot deal. They also had another seventh-rounder from the Phillips trade, which was sent to the Cincinnati Bengals in the Logan Wilson trade.
Dallas is navigating this offseason with a strategic eye, and their draft positioning suggests they're planning for both immediate impact and future growth. Keep an eye on how they leverage these picks to build a more formidable roster.