Dallas Cowboys 2026 Offseason Thread

[yimyammer]

Looks like he'll fit right in!!

 

[dbair1967]

Looks like he'll fit right in!!

He's as good as gone now.

He may not have made the team anyway. This probably seals the deal.

 

[Mustang1]

He's slowed a ton.

The fact that a team that is awful on defense and has a HC who loves the guy more than any other player in the league doesn't want him back says volumes. There's definitely far better options they should look at first IMO.

Admittedly I don’t have a grip on all available free agent linebackers. Could you offer up names of potential free agent LBs that could positively strengthen the middle of our defense? What I don’t like is the possibility of starting a rookie middle linebacker on a defense that needs a real experienced tough veteran leader even if it’s just a bridge year. I am trying to be as optimistic as a cowboys fan can be after thirty years of total ineptitude. Our defense still needs a huge talent influx. IMO we should strongly consider moving back out of our 20 spot and get an additional second round pick. We just don’t have the luxury of picks to move up in this draft. We need fresh talent and a lot of it. We could move out of 20 and get a solid middle linebacker and another player as well. By the way…Bobby Wagner had 162 tackles and 4.5 sacks last year. His slowing down is still much better than what we had with Murray in a huge way.

 

[Mustang1]

He's as good as gone now.

He may not have made the team anyway. This probably seals the deal.

Agreed… send him down the road. I felt like he was a liability last season anyway

 

[dbair1967]

Admittedly I don’t have a grip on all available free agent linebackers. Could you offer up names of potential free agent LBs that could positively strengthen the middle of our defense? What I don’t like is the possibility of starting a rookie middle linebacker on a defense that needs a real experienced tough veteran leader even if it’s just a bridge year. I am trying to be as optimistic as a cowboys fan can be after thirty years of total ineptitude. Our defense still needs a huge talent influx. IMO we should strongly consider moving back out of our 20 spot and get an additional second round pick. We just don’t have the luxury of picks to move up in this draft. We need fresh talent and a lot of it. We could move out of 20 and get a solid middle linebacker and another player as well. By the way…Bobby Wagner had 162 tackles and 4.5 sacks last year. His slowing down is still much better than what we had with Murray in a huge way.

Realistically if they want a quality MLB (veteran) then they'll need to go the trade route at this point, which they may well do. Bobby Okereke is available though and at this point in their careers I'm not sure there's much difference between him and Wagner. Okereke's numbers were just as good as Wagner's last yr (similar number of tackles, also had a couple picks and 6 passes defensed too) but Okereke is about to turn 30, whereas Wagner is about to turn 36. Like Wagner though, his current team doesn't want him back (although in Okereke's case, it's a brand new staff)

There's plenty of ammo to move up in the draft and get a top-tier defender (which is what they should do IMO) and there are scenarios where we do this and don't have a net loss of any draft picks. (for ex, trade with Browns for 6 and 39, we give them 12 and 20)

Getting someone that is simply an improvement over Murray shouldnt be the goal, because Murray was one of the worst players in the league last yr. Getting a quality solution there should be the goal preferably one that will be around for a few seasons minimum.

 

[Mustang1]

Realistically if they want a quality MLB (veteran) then they'll need to go the trade route at this point, which they may well do. Bobby Okereke is available though and at this point in their careers I'm not sure there's much difference between him and Wagner. Okereke's numbers were just as good as Wagner's last yr (similar number of tackles, also had a couple picks and 6 passes defensed too) but Okereke is about to turn 30, whereas Wagner is about to turn 36. Like Wagner though, his current team doesn't want him back (although in Okereke's case, it's a brand new staff)

There's plenty of ammo to move up in the draft and get a top-tier defender (which is what they should do IMO) and there are scenarios where we do this and don't have a net loss of any draft picks. (for ex, trade with Browns for 6 and 39, we give them 12 and 20)

Getting someone that is simply an improvement over Murray shouldnt be the goal, because Murray was one of the worst players in the league last yr. Getting a quality solution there should be the goal preferably one that will be around for a few seasons minimum.

Nice take but just to be clear…Bobby Wagner and Kenneth Murray are not even close to being in the same class. Ain’t no missteps with Bobby Wagner. He can find a ball carrier fast regardless of his age. Bobby Wagner would be a huge upgrade over Murray but would be a bridge player only.

As long as we don’t lose any draft capital moving up I could swallow it. I still think we can find quality defenders down in the draft… especially at linebacker. If CP is half the coach everyone believes him to be we should be much improved over the 2025 disaster.

 

[dbair1967]

Nice take but just to be clear…Bobby Wagner and Kenneth Murray are not even close to being in the same class. Ain’t no missteps with Bobby Wagner. He can find a ball carrier fast regardless of his age. Bobby Wagner would be a huge upgrade over Murray but would be a bridge player only.

As long as we don’t lose any draft capital moving up I could swallow it. I still think we can find quality defenders down in the draft… especially at linebacker. If CP is half the coach everyone believes him to be we should be much improved over the 2025 disaster.

I'm just not a believer in adding significantly older players.

Especially when I know Dan Quinn loves the guy, has a total shitpile defense and doesn't want the guy back.

 

[Doomsday]

 

[Mustang1]

I am interested in hearing from fellow DCU members……. Who do you believe is our current leader on defense? I’m not talking about who is the best player…. I want to know names of those players on our defense who you deem to be the leader. It’s okay to name a current player or to put nothing or to project a leader. The next thing I would ask is for you to elaborate on the importance or lack of importance on a true leader on our defense. I will hold my position to myself for now after hearing your takes.

 

[icup]

I am interested in hearing from fellow DCU members……. Who do you believe is our current leader on defense? I’m not talking about who is the best player…. I want to know names of those players on our defense who you deem to be the leader. It’s okay to name a current player or to put nothing or to project a leader. The next thing I would ask is for you to elaborate on the importance or lack of importance on a true leader on our defense. I will hold my position to myself for now after hearing your takes.

its been reported that quinnen williams has been the leader without an official title since he was aquired during the season

at the start of the season, the captains on defense was osa and donovan wilson--neither of which are here anymore

 

[dbair1967]

I am interested in hearing from fellow DCU members……. Who do you believe is our current leader on defense? I’m not talking about who is the best player…. I want to know names of those players on our defense who you deem to be the leader. It’s okay to name a current player or to put nothing or to project a leader. The next thing I would ask is for you to elaborate on the importance or lack of importance on a true leader on our defense. I will hold my position to myself for now after hearing your takes.

Probably QW and Kenny Clark now. Ezeiruaku was regarded as a strong locker-room leader at BC so maybe down the road he grows into the same here.

This is another plus of drafting a pairing like Caleb Downs and Jacob Rodriguez (or CJ Allen if he tests well this week and the concerns over the meniscus injury last yr are satisfied). These guys are regarded as strong alpha-type leaders who are excellent communicators.

 

[dbair1967]

Barring something surprising, it seems Pickens will definitely be here through the draft.