So, let's just be real for a second. The Dallas Cowboys finishing 7-9-1 in 2025 was a gut punch that most fans didn't see coming, especially with the high-octane expectations Jerry Jones usually manufactures out of thin air every August. But here we are. It’s early 2026, and the Frisco headquarters is a absolute hive of activity because, honestly, the roster is about to look fundamentally different. If you haven't been keeping up, the team has already started the process of "out with the old, in with the new" by locking down their first wave of talent for the 2026 campaign.
It’s not just about the draft anymore. While everyone is obsessed with those two first-round picks Jerry keeps talking about, there’s a whole group of new players for the Dallas Cowboys already in the building on reserve/future contracts. These aren't just "camp bodies." We’re talking about guys like Traeshon Holden and Zion Childress, who actually showed flashes during the 2025 season but are now officially part of the 2026 vision.
The First Wave of New Faces
The Cowboys didn't wait for the Super Bowl confetti to clear before they started signing. On January 6, 2026, they officially brought in a group of nine players on futures deals. Basically, these are guys who finished the season on the practice squad or the fringes but showed enough "juice" to warrant a spot on the 90-man offseason roster.
- Traeshon Holden (WR): This guy was a training camp darling last year. He’s 6’3”, runs like a deer, and sort of feels like the kind of developmental project the Cowboys love to turn into a WR3.
- Zion Childress (DB): He’s a Kentucky product who actually got into three games last year when the secondary started falling apart. With the team moving on from some veterans, Childress is a name you'll hear a lot in June.
- Israel Abanikanda (RB): "Izzy" has been bouncing around, but the Cowboys liked what they saw enough to keep him in the mix, especially with the backfield being such a question mark right now.
- Isaiah Land (DE): A Florida A&M standout who’s got that explosive first step. With the defense looking for a new identity after Matt Eberflus, Land is a dark horse for a rotational role.
The list also includes offensive linemen Nick Leverett and Marcellus Johnson, safety Julius Wood, and wideout Parris Campbell. Campbell is an interesting one—he’s a veteran who’s dealt with a ton of injuries, but the team still sees enough potential to keep him around for another look.
The Quinnen Williams Impact and the Defense
You've gotta look back at the 2025 trade deadline to understand why the defensive front looks the way it does now. Trading away Mazi Smith and a haul of picks to get Quinnen Williams was the kind of "all-in" move that Jerry Jones loves, even if the record didn't reflect it.
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Williams is the anchor now. But around him? It’s a bit of a mess. The team just parted ways with defensive coordinator Matt Eberflus, which means whoever comes in is going to have to decide what to do with "new" additions like Logan Wilson. Dallas traded a 7th-rounder for Wilson mid-season, and frankly, it hasn't quite clicked yet. There's even talk he could be a "cap casualty" before the 2026 season even starts.
Then you have Kenny Clark. He was a massive addition to the interior, but his $21.5 million cap hit for 2026 is a giant elephant in the room. Most experts think he’ll restructure, but if he doesn’t, that defensive line could look very different by the time training camp rolls around in Oxnard.
The George Pickens Question
One of the most exciting new players for the Dallas Cowboys in 2025 was undoubtedly George Pickens. Acquired via trade from Pittsburgh, he became Dak Prescott’s favorite target not named CeeDee Lamb. But here's the kicker: he’s an unrestricted free agent heading into this March.
The Cowboys are in a weird spot where they have Pickens and Javonte Williams—both key pieces of the 2025 offense—sitting on expiring deals. Keeping them is the priority, but with the cap being what it is, nothing is guaranteed. If they walk, the "new players" list is going to get a lot longer, and probably a lot younger, through the draft.
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What Jerry is Doing with Those Draft Picks
Jerry Jones recently made some "eye-opening" comments about having two first-round picks in the 2026 NFL Draft. One is their own (No. 12 overall) and the other is the No. 20 pick they got from Green Bay in the Micah Parsons trade.
Wait, let's talk about that for a second. Trading Parsons was easily the most controversial move in recent Cowboys history. It felt like the end of an era. But now, they have the capital to fix multiple holes.
Jones has hinted that he might not even use the picks. He’s talking about "trading the value" of those ones to get established players. It’s classic Jerry. He’d rather have a proven star than a rookie who might take two years to develop. If he goes that route, we could see some massive names joining the Cowboys via trade before the draft even happens.
Potential Draft Targets
If they do keep the picks, the experts are pointing toward defense. Here’s who is currently linked to Dallas:
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- Sonny Styles (LB, Ohio State): A physical freak who can play multiple positions. Dallas needs linebacker help like I need coffee on a Monday morning.
- Jermond McCoy (CB, Tennessee): With Trevon Diggs being a surprising cut late in 2025, the secondary is thin. McCoy is a high-ceiling corner who could start Day 1.
- Keldrick Faulk (EDGE, Auburn): You can never have enough pass rushers, and Faulk is the kind of twitchy athlete the Cowboys prioritize.
Why This Offseason Feels Different
In the past, the Cowboys were always "calculating." They’d sit out the first week of free agency and wait for the bargains. But the 7-9-1 disaster changed things. The fan base is restless. The "America's Team" brand is taking a hit when they can't even crack a .500 record.
Because of that, the new players for the Dallas Cowboys in 2026 aren't just depth pieces—they are the foundation of a rebuild that Jerry refuses to call a rebuild. He’s calling it a "re-tool." Whatever you call it, the roster turnover is going to be significant.
They’ve got 22 pending free agents. That is nearly half the active roster. When people say this will be a "new-look" team, they aren't exaggerating. We are likely looking at a new RB1, a new starting linebacker corps, and a completely revamped secondary.
Actionable Steps for the 2026 Offseason
If you’re trying to keep track of this roster overhaul, don't just look at the headlines. Here is how you should actually monitor the situation:
- Watch the Defensive Coordinator Hire: This is the first domino. A coach like Mike Vrabel (if he’s still available) would want very different types of "new players" than a more scheme-dependent coordinator. The hire will tell you exactly what kind of athletes they’ll target in the draft.
- The March 11 Deadline: This is when the new league year starts. If George Pickens isn't signed by then, start panicking. His market value is going to skyrocket the moment he hits the open market.
- Monitor the "Chopping Block" Veterans: Keep an eye on Terence Steele and Malik Hooker. If the Cowboys cut or trade them post-June 1, it opens up a massive amount of cap space to bring in more new players for the Dallas Cowboys during the second wave of free agency.
- Scout the Top 20 Draft Prospects: Since Dallas has picks 12 and 20, start looking at mid-first-round talent specifically at DT and LB. That is where the value lies this year.
The 2025 season was a mess, no doubt about it. But the infusion of talent like Quinnen Williams and the potential of those two first-rounders gives this team a path back to relevance. It’s going to be a long spring in North Texas, but the blueprint is finally starting to take shape.