The Dallas Cowboys missed the postseason yet again in 2025 after a lackluster defense failed what was a rather impressive offense, leading to a 7-9-1 record and a second-place finish in the NFC East.
With America's Team seeing their championship drought continue following another disastrous campaign, Cowboys owner/GM Jerry Jones is vowing to do whatever it takes to improve the talent on this roster, specifically on the defensive side of things for new coordinator Christian Parker.
During an hour-long session with the media at the NFL Combine, Jones noted that several key players, including Dak Prescott, CeeDee Lamb, and Tyler Smith, per ESPN's Adam Schefter, will be restructuring their contracts this offseason to provide the front office with substantial cap space.
“I would bet that we will spend more money in free agency than we have,” Jones said, via ESPN's Todd Archer.
Cowboys Plan to Revamp Defense by Spending Big During Offseason
If money isn't a concern for Jones and the Cowboys, restructuring Prescott, Lamb, and Smith's contracts will free up $66 million in space, per Schefter, then there is no reason why Dallas shouldn't break out the checkbook and start spending.
The Cowboys also plan to rework the deals of Kenny Clark, Quinnen Williams, and Osa Odighizuwa, per Schefter. That trio of defensive tackles is set to cost $63 million against the cap in 2026, as things currently stand, which is a nice chunk of change for three players at the same position.
Free agency shouldn't be a shopping spree, though. And Jones must resist the temptation of just throwing money at a shiny name in free agency, as he has done before. However, Dallas uses this newfound space to build out a roster that can not only compete for a postseason spot but actually do damage in the league's second season, which must be carefully thought out and executed as part of a larger plan.
The Cowboys need several upgrades on defense, namely meaningful additions at edge rusher, cornerback, and safety. Whether it comes through the draft, where Dallas owns two picks in the first 20 selections, or by targeting veterans on the open market, the moves that Jones and the front office make in the coming weeks and months will shape the way Parker's tenure in Dallas will go.
Parker is walking into a situation that isn't ideal. If it was, Matt Eberflus would have never been relieved of his duties after one season as the team's defensive coordinator. Pushing Parker and the rest of this staff further behind the 8-Ball by mismanaging their money this offseason only makes the ultimate goal of winning another Super Bowl that much harder to grasp.