They were in on Quay Walker and lost out to the Raiders. Honestly had they made that one signing, I would actually feel pretty good about this free agency. But that linebacker void is glaring.

Updated list of Dallas Cowboys moves: 

Franchise tag: WR George Pickens 
Re-signed RB Javonte Williams
Re-signed edge rusher Sam Williams
Traded for edge rusher Rashan Gary
Signed S Jalen Thompson
Signed CB Cobie Durant
Signed S P.J. Locke
Signed DT Otito Ogbonnia
Signed QB Sam…

— Jon Machota (@jonmachota) March 16, 2026

Seems like everything really slowed down when they didn't get Dean. Thought they'd really go after another LB.

Also thought cowboys would be as active as KC or SF.

Apparently some of the post free agency mocks from "experts" have not been kind to Dallas. Multiple have the 3 Ohio State boys gone, Bailey & Bain gone, Delane gone, and not even Love is available as a fallback option.

Talk about getting wiped the F out! Could definitely happen. I think the only good news in those scenarios is there are definitely teams that would be happy to trade up and get one of those OT or WRs still on the board.

You aren't going to get anybody to overpay, but you should be able to bail out and add another day 2 pick.

jr15aggie said:

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Apparently some of the post free agency mocks from "experts" have not been kind to Dallas. Multiple have the 3 Ohio State boys gone, Bailey & Bain gone, Delane gone, and not even Love is available as a fallback option.

Talk about getting wiped the F out! Could definitely happen. I think the only good news in those scenarios is there are definitely teams that would be happy to trade up and get one of those OT or WRs still on the board.

You aren't going to get anybody to overpay, but you should be able to bail out and add another day 2 pick.

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Yeah, hard to tell now how things are going to fall.

What I do know is that the biggest hole on this team is probably LBer and this is, by all accounts, a very good LBer draft.

I think we could trade down a bit and still get CJ Allen who I believe is just a hair under the OSU guys.

Allen would be an awesome get in the teens and pick up another 2nd day pick. Then you can grab a CB at 20.

I'm not sweating anything when it comes to the draft. Too many dumb teams who will do something idiotic and someone we need to will fall to us at 12. Won't be surprised if Simpson gets taken in the top 11.

Like Overshown, if he were healthy all the time, it would be a fantastic pick. Hes unbelievable when he's playing.

Danny Vermin said:

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Like Overshown, if he were healthy all the time, it would be a fantastic pick. Hes unbelievable when he's playing.

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yes

I wish we had our pick in the 2nd as he would be perfect for that one.

Yes, LB is a huge need and I think our pick #20 (or possibly a bit lower if we trade) will be a great spot to pick up a CJ Allen or Rodriguez. I'd like to double dip here and pick up another in the 5th for depth and special teams.

But I think this team feels like pass rusher is also a HUGE need. I wonder how this team feels about Mesidor or TJ Parker? #12 is probably too rich, but if we are wiped out and can't trade down, it wouldn't surprise me.

If Jeremiyah Love is there at 12 and you can't trade out, do you take him?

No you don't. Defense, Defense, Defense.

Heard they were also looking at Lemon. (USC WR)

Big_Time_Timmy_Jim said:

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batchuser said:

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If Jeremiyah Love is there at 12 and you can't trade out, do you take him?

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If he's the top rated on the board take him without question

Don't reach and overdraft someone for need

An elite RB makes Dak look so much better

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I think an elite WR corps does better.

We just need to be drafting best available with emphasis on defense and OL.

If a franchise LT is available at 12, take him.

He's a solid RB and had a good year. A solid run game is a QBs best friend…Dak in particular is at his best when they dont put it all on his shoulders and ask him to throw it 50x per game. He's at his best when he has balance…love is an elite RB…Javonte is serviceable

I think it boils down to this... at #12 we should not reach and draft a 2nd round graded player on defense and pass up a legit top 5 player on offense.

But I don't see a scenario where we are dead in the water with no options.

There will either be a stud defender still on the board (which I say is likely) and we take the guy... or all the 1st round defenders are gone which means there is a stud O player sitting there. In that scenario our phone is ringing. We will have plenty of options.

On LB, I sure am hearing Harold Perkins name mentioned a lot with our newly acquired 3rd rounder.

I really hope we are able to secure a legit #1 LB in round 1... if we can, I'd be more than happy to add Perkins to the mix. The guy is such a freak athlete... in the right hands he could be a game wrecker with his ability to get to the QB and play the see ball / get ball role.

I've been saying we need to double dip at LB this draft, definitely a name to remember on draft day.

Southlake said:

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Heard they were also looking at Lemon. (USC WR)

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Here's the thing. Pickens is only here one more year, IMO. So WR may not seem like a huge need now, but come next year, it will be.

keep in mind that 2027 is due to be a much deeper draft. I'd prefer to hold off on WR unless Tate magically falls to us. He's a take all day if he's there obv

If we took Love at 12, I wouldn't hate it. That dude is like 60/40 RB to WR

Macarthur said:

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Southlake said:

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Heard they were also looking at Lemon. (USC WR)

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Here's the thing. Pickens is only here one more year, IMO. So WR may not seem like a huge need now, but come next year, it will be.

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If we do end up with a WR, I would look for us to shop Pickens hard after the draft. We can lower the default Tag trade cost (2 first rounders) to be whatever we want. We can give permission for teams to negotiate a new contract pre-trade as well..... it's very doable.

I'd hate to lose him, but you can't pay everybody and considering we'd get MUCH more for him than the 3rd rounder we got him for, it's a win/win either way.

jr15aggie said:

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Macarthur said:

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Southlake said:

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Heard they were also looking at Lemon. (USC WR)

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Here's the thing. Pickens is only here one more year, IMO. So WR may not seem like a huge need now, but come next year, it will be.

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If we do end up with a WR, I would look for us to shop Pickens hard after the draft. We can lower the default Tag trade cost (2 first rounders) to be whatever we want. We can give permission for teams to negotiate a new contract pre-trade as well..... it's very doable.

I'd hate to lose him, but you can't pay everybody and considering we'd get MUCH more for him than the 3rd rounder we got him for, it's a win/win either way.

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The problem is that after the draft, i think you get maybe $0.80 on the dollar. If you don't flip him for a high pick this year, I think his best value is on the field this season.

Also, it gives a young WR some breathing room to get his feet under him and you don't have to put stress on him day one.

denver and buffalo were the best chances of flipping Pickens for a pick but now they have both made moves at WR.

Well, I think it's a moot point either way... I don't see a draft scenario where our only/best play is to draft a WR #12.

Defender, RT, Love, Trade Down are all options I'd stack above WR. At least one of those options will be there for us at 12.

I don't think any of the offensive tackles in this draft are worth picking in the top 15. They all have real flaws. McShay thinks the top 3 guys are all behind the first few tackles that were taken last year.

Macarthur said:

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Southlake said:

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Heard they were also looking at Lemon. (USC WR)

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Here's the thing. Pickens is only here one more year, IMO. So WR may not seem like a huge need now, but come next year, it will be.

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Yup, and Pickens behaved great last year but he still has previous issues. I hope he plays hard and bets on himself with the FT, but there's still a chance he implodes…

Mauigoa has been one of the best college football players in the country each of the past 3 seasons. Really seems like teams are overthinking it with him.

I would have no problem if the Cowboys drafted him at 12, assuming no elite defenders left. Steele has been one of the worst pass blockers in the NFL and has stretches where he is completely abused.

I haven't heard about a bunch of "flaws" with the OTs this year, I think the hang-up is that most of the top guys are RTs. But I know that at least one or two of them project to be kick ass RTs so they are valuable to any team needing o-line help.

I think the one guy that projects to be a good LT (the kid from Georgia) gave up some sacks which is hurting him a bit... but his size, footwork, athleticism, etc. shows a guy with pro-bowl potential.

This is all just stuff I heard... I have no idea how to evaluate O-line or D-line.

Yes Vessel, I agree... he would be an awesome pick up and immediate Steele replacement. People mention Penei Sewell when they talk about him.

I do feel like the Cowboys will find another option and I personally do NOT want another boring 1st round O-line pick... but no denying, he would be a kick ass add to our offense!

The RT thing does not bother me at all. Protecting the QB is more important than it's ever been and there is more pass rush ability+versatility in the league than there has ever been. Having a good LT means nothing when the other team's best pass rusher can just lineup on the other side against your RT, or if the other team has 2 good pass rushers.

Both Fano and Maug… are short armed and project as more sure things on the interior. Fano even as a center.

Freeling is the tru LT like you said. Great tape and some really bad tape, but he only has 1 year playing

Obviously they are not the end all be all, but Todd McShay and Steve Muench (on the McShay Show) have watched these tackles tape more than once and neither of them love this tackle class. They believe there are questions with every single one of them and how they will translate to the NFL.

Not saying any of them are bad per se, but that none of them are slam dunk sure things like you usually get with top 10-ish caliber tackles.

Freeling is a great example; he's an all-world athlete at tackle but he might be Tyler Guyton or worse level of raw when it comes to the skills needed to play tackle on an island in the NFL.

Mauigoa has the exact same arm length as Penei Sewell, I believe. Similar pedigree and similar college dominance, except for Mauigoa did it for twice as many games.

This is the part of the draft where people just overthink it. The guy was awesome for 3 years. He committed no penalties, allowed no sacks, and only 5 pressures allowed in the playoffs this year. He allowed 10 pressures and 2 sacks in the regular season.