The Cowboys have already done enough this offseason to look better on paper in 2026 than they did in 2025, especially after the defensive upgrades and the move that sent Christian Parker in as defensive coordinator in place of Matt Eberflus. But that doesn’t mean Jerry Jones has to sit on his hands once preseason gets close.
Dallas has never exactly been shy about swinging a trade in the days leading up to the regular season, and there are still a few spots on the roster that could use another body. If Jones wants to get aggressive, there are some cheap veteran options out there who could help without costing much to bring in.
Troy Franklin is one name that makes sense if the Broncos are willing to listen. The 23-year-old put up 700 yards last season and built chemistry with Bo Nix, but Denver’s addition of Jaylen Waddle via trade and the rise of Pat Bryant could squeeze him out. Dallas has shown before that it’ll spend picks on receivers, and with Jonathan Mingo still not a sure thing to make the 53-man roster, the Cowboys could be tempted again.
At running back, James Conner could be available if Arizona starts sorting out a crowded room. The Cardinals are carrying Tyler Allgeier, Conner and Trey Benson behind Jeremiyah Love, which is a lot to juggle.
Conner is the oldest of that group, so he might also be the cheapest to pry loose. He’s already had a couple of big outings against Dallas, and his style would fit nicely next to Javonte Williams if Jaydon Blue and Phil Mafah don’t push forward.
Kristian Fulton is another low-cost option who could help a defense that still needs depth at corner. Kansas City brought him in hoping he could get back on track after uneven stretches with the Titans and Chargers, but he never cracked Steve Spagnuolo’s starting lineup. Still, 38 pass deflections in 53 career starts is real production, and that kind of depth would matter for a Cowboys team that signed veterans on one-year deals to start at corner.
The best fit of the bunch may be Tyrel Dodson. Miami’s moves have made his future look shaky, with the Dolphins giving Jordyn Brooks a big extension and using a second-round pick on Jacob Rodriguez. Even after Dallas added Dee Winters, Dodson could still slide into the mix and give Christian Parker another option alongside Winters, DeMarvion Overshown and rookie standout Jaishawn Barham, who is out for now with a groin injury.
Dodson doesn’t have a Pro Bowl on his résumé the way Brooks does, but he does have two 100-tackle seasons, which would make him the most accomplished linebacker on the Cowboys’ roster.
In Other News...
Cowboys Camp Battles Are Already Reshaping Key Spots On This Roster
Two weeks into training camp, the Cowboys have already started sorting out some of the bigger questions on a defense that is being reshaped under Christian Parker. After the eighth practice, a handful of players have made early impressions in a good way, with Marist Liufau, T.J. Bass, Sam Howell and Shavon Revel Jr. among those drawing notice as Dallas works through the kind of evaluations that can end up mattering once roster cuts arrive.
The other side of that ledger is just as important, and it has left a few established names with work to do before the team gets into the regular season mindset. Jonathan Mingo and Marquez Valdes-Scantling are among the players trying to strengthen their cases, and the next stretch of camp should help clarify which of these early standouts can turn momentum into real roster security. [Read more 🡒]
Cowboys Camp Injury Report Brings Relief As One Roster Battle Heats Up
The Cowboys eighth padded practice of training camp brought a small dose of good news on the injury front, with the session ending without any new setbacks. Marquez Valdes-Scantling was added to the report, but he is working with the rehab group, while Jalen Thompson was back on the field in pads after working his way back from a hip flexor injury.
Just as important for the roster picture, the injury list is starting to thin at a few spots, with Jaishawn Barham, Devin Moore and Jonathan Bullard all making progress from groin injuries. That matters because camp is moving deeper into the kind of practices where availability starts to shape the competition, and every healthy body is another chance for a player to separate in a battle that is beginning to tighten. [Read more 🡒]
Cowboys Face A Running Back Temptation They May Need To Resist
The Cowboys backup running back race has been one of the more interesting camp storylines, with Jaydon Blue, Phil Mafah, Israel Abanikanda and Malik Davis all working to carve out a role. It is the kind of competition that can be hard to ignore this time of year, especially for a team that always has to keep an eye on depth behind its lead backs and on how the roster may need to be shaped before the season settles in.
Across the league, though, there is already a temptation for teams to look elsewhere when a name pops up on the wire, and Dallas has to be careful not to chase every opportunity. The better move may be to keep sorting through its own group and, if a change is truly needed, look toward a more proven veteran rather than disrupt a battle that is still giving the Cowboys useful information about what they have in-house. [Read more 🡒]