Cowboys Kick Off Crucial Offseason with Eyes on Defensive Rebuild, Free Agency Decisions
The Dallas Cowboys are wasting no time diving into what promises to be a pivotal offseason. After missing the playoffs for the second straight year, the pressure is on in Frisco to retool a roster that’s fallen short of expectations - and the work is already well underway.
Executive vice president Stephen Jones touched down in Mobile, Alabama on Monday night for the Senior Bowl, where he’s getting a front-row seat to evaluate the next wave of NFL talent. But even while scouting the upcoming draft class, Jones is staying plugged into the action back home, helping finalize the Cowboys’ new defensive coaching staff.
Building a New-Look Defensive Staff
Last week, Dallas hired Christian Parker as its new defensive coordinator - a move that signals a fresh direction for a defense that struggled mightily in 2025. Now the focus shifts to filling out the rest of the defensive staff, and Jones said the process is moving quickly.
“We’re hard at it again to fill out his staff now,” Jones said. “Coach [Brian] Schottenheimer and Christian have done a good job putting together a good group of candidates.”
Most of the interviews so far have been conducted over Zoom, but in-person meetings are set to begin this week. Jones emphasized that the Cowboys are prioritizing teachers - coaches who can communicate effectively and help young players grasp the system quickly.
“You want to start with great teachers,” Jones said. “These young guys want to play fast, they want to come in here, and they want to learn. You want to give them a chance to be successful, and I think it all starts with how you communicate.”
Parker, who comes from the Vic Fangio coaching tree, has reportedly impressed the front office with his own schematic tweaks - a version of the Fangio-style defense that brings a fresh spin to Dallas. The Cowboys are banking on his vision to unlock the potential of a defense that ranked 30th in total yards allowed and dead last against the pass last season.
Free Agency Decisions Looming
Once the coaching staff is set, the front office will turn its attention to free agency - and the Cowboys have some major internal decisions to make.
Among the top priorities is wide receiver George Pickens, who’s coming off a Pro Bowl season and is set to hit free agency in March. While Jones kept things close to the vest when asked about a long-term deal, the expectation is that Dallas will use the franchise tag if necessary to keep Pickens in the fold while working toward an extension.
“We won’t get into any details right now,” Jones said. “Certainly, we want George to be back here in Dallas, and we’ll go from there.”
Running back Javonte Williams is another key piece the Cowboys are looking to retain. After a career-best season with 1,201 rushing yards and 11 touchdowns, Williams has made a strong case for a multi-year deal. Jones confirmed that the team has already met with his representatives and that both sides are interested in getting something done.
“We’ve certainly visited with Javonte,” Jones said. “We haven’t had a lot of those visits, most of those happen at the combine. Obviously, we still have some time before free agency starts.”
The Cowboys are also expected to explore outside options to improve the defense - whether through free agency or the draft - but keeping core contributors like Pickens and Williams remains a top priority.
A Defense in Need of a Turnaround
There’s no sugarcoating it: Dallas’ defense was a liability in 2025. The numbers speak for themselves - 30th in yards allowed, 32nd against the pass - and the front office knows it can’t afford another season like that.
That’s why Parker’s hire is so important. The Cowboys aren’t just looking for a new voice; they’re looking for a new identity on defense. Jones pointed to a handful of players the team views as foundational pieces moving forward: defensive tackles Kenny Clark, Quinnen Williams, and Osa Odighizuwa; linebacker DeMarvion Overshown; cornerbacks Shavon Revel Jr. and DaRon Bland; and edge rusher Donovan Ezeiruaku.
“It starts with what we just did in hiring our defensive coordinator,” Jones said. “[Parker] gave us a vision that will help us utilize the pieces we already have in place, and we’ll need a vision on where we need to improve.”
The goal is clear: turn the defense into a top-tier unit to complement what’s already one of the league’s most dangerous offenses. That means smart investments, both in free agency and the draft, and a coaching staff that can develop talent quickly.
“The biggest thing is we want to get the personnel on defense evolving to one of the top defenses in the league,” Jones said. “Obviously, you have one of the top offenses in the league, and then the same holds true for special teams; we want to be better there.”
Special Teams Still in Focus
While the defense takes center stage this offseason, the Cowboys aren’t overlooking special teams. Nick Sorensen will return as the coordinator in 2026, but Jones made it clear that improvement is expected in that phase of the game as well.
Special teams didn’t do much to help the Cowboys in 2025, and in a league where field position and hidden yardage can swing games, that’s an area Dallas can’t afford to neglect.
The Path Forward
The Cowboys know what’s at stake. The offense is in place.
The talent is there. But if Dallas is going to turn the corner in 2026, it starts with fixing the defense - and doing it fast.
“We want to be one of the top defenses in this league,” Jones said. “If we do that with what we have on the offensive side, we can have a really great football team.”
That’s the blueprint. Now, it’s time to execute it.