Inside The Star
When I look ahead to the Cowboys’ 2026 offseason, I don’t start with what free agents I want to bring back. I will start with a simpler question: what happens if Dallas does nothing at all?
If the Cowboys allowed every contract on this free-agent list to expire, they would clear roughly $46.16 million in cap space based on average annual value.
That’s real money, the kind that gives the front office options instead of forcing it into restructures and accounting tricks.
I’m not arguing that Dallas should let everyone leave. I am saying the number itself matters. Cap flexibility changes how aggressive, patient, or conservative a team can be.
This 2026 free agent list shows exactly where that comes from.
If I’m projecting returns, I have to start with the obvious.
Brandon Aubrey is at the top of the free agent list. Elite kicking at a bargain rate is rare, and I can’t imagine Dallas choosing to disrupt that.
Cheap offensive line depth like Robert Jones and T.J. Bass also fits how this team operates. Interior lineman who can start in a pinch without blowing up the cap usually stick around.
George Pickens also lands on the higher end for me. Productive wide receivers in their mid-20’s don’t grow on trees, and if the cost is reasonable, Dallas would be smart to keep him in the building.
This is where things get interesting.
Players like Brock Hoffman, Juanyeh Thomas, Sam Williams, Jalen Tolbert, and Reddy Steward all fall into this category for me.
I see them as useful, affordable, and replaceable. None are must-keeps, but none would surprise me if they came back on modest deals.
For this group, draft results will likely decide everything. If Dallas hits at their positions, these players walk. If not, a few could return without much financial strain.
Most of the savings come from the veteran tier of free agents.
Kenneth Murray, Donovan Wilson, Dante Fowler Jr., Jadeveon Clowney, and Miles Sanders are recognizable names with noticeable price tags.
They are also older with limited long-term value.
I believe this is where Dallas has been consistent over the years. Paying for past production, unless homegrown, rarely fits their plans. Especially when younger, cheaper options are available.
I don’t expect the Cowboys to clear the entire $46 million free agent list.
Even trimming half of it reshapes the offseason. Letting contracts expire isn’t a bad thing, it’s leverage.
Dallas doesn’t need to keep familiar faces for comfort. They need cap space, timing, and discipline.
If they get that right, the rest follows.
