The Dallas Cowboys have been among the NFL's busiest teams this offseason, and head coach Brian Schottenheimer believes that positioning puts them in position to make sound draft decisions without desperation moves.

"I think we did a really good job of setting ourselves up to be able to draft natural and draft pure, which is what you want to do. You don't want to have to be forced to reach for a player, that's when you make mistakes."

Draft Capital and Acquisitions

Dallas holds two first-round selections in the 2026 NFL Draft: picks No. 12 and 20, the latter acquired from the Green Bay Packers in August 2025 as part of the return for trading away star defensive end Micah Parsons. The Cowboys also control the No. 92 pick among other selections.

On the roster front, the team has made several notable moves:

• Re-signed running back Javonte Williams to a three-year, $24 million deal after he rushed for 1,201 yards and 11 touchdowns on 4.8 yards per carry in 2025—all career highs
• Placed a $5.8 million second-round tender on star kicker Brandon Aubrey
• Tagged wide receiver George Pickens with a $27.3 million franchise tag after a breakout first season in Dallas: 93 receptions, 1,429 receiving yards, and 9 receiving touchdowns
• Acquired defensive lineman and 2024 Pro Bowler Rashan Gary from the Packers
• Signed defensive back Jalen Thompson to a three-year, $33 million deal
• Signed defensive back Cobie Durant to a one-year, $4 million deal

Still Building

Schottenheimer acknowledged the work remains ongoing.

"We've added some really good pieces, we've got some good depth. There are still a few positions that we need to address, [but] that's all part of the process. Player acquisition is 24/7, 365, and it never stops. We're never stopping to look, we're always open for business."

Context: Defensive Overhaul

Dallas is operating under significant pressure after a 7-9-1 season—Schottenheimer's first as head coach and the team's second consecutive losing campaign and playoff miss. The defense ranked dead last in points allowed (30.1 per game), 30th in opponent total yards (377.0 per game), and tied for 22nd in sacks (35.0).

The Cowboys fired defensive coordinator Matt Eberflus after one season and replaced him with Christian Parker, a former Philadelphia Eagles defensive assistant, signaling a major philosophical shift on that side of the ball.