********* Official Cowboys Off-Season Thread 2026 *********

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Grapesoda2525
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In reply to jr15aggie • 8:42a, 8/31/26
jr15aggie said:
Grapesoda2525 said:
jr15aggie said:
Sam Williams is gone... man, Dan Quinn sucks as an evaluator. Scouts get some blame too, but Quinn was the cheerleader for Mazi and Sam and now both are unemployed.


Still not as bad as Rod Marinelli going to bat for Taco.


Honestly I was gonna bring up Rod in my post but I wanted to keep it shorter... I absolutely agree.


WORST first round pick in Cowboys history. I remember I was driving around at the time when we drafted him, first thing I did when I got home is watched highlights of Taco. It looked like the guy was moving in slow motion or something. I could tell he was going to be a bust immediately and I don't even work in the football industry.
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jr15aggie
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In reply to Grapesoda2525 • 8:57a, 8/31/26
AG
The hubris from Rod during the draft was a big problem. He'd spend most of the time claiming he could win with the guys we already had and we should focus on the offense early in the draft.

But when they all decided it was time to take a defensive player, the guys he fought for could not play in the league. Some scouts argued they couldn't play very well in college either, they just had all the "tools & measureable". Ridiculous.
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Vessel
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In reply to cman1494 • 9:45a, 8/31/26
cman1494 said:
Surprised we kept Caelen Carson. He looked bad in the preseason from what I could tell.


To be fair, any team is going to be hosed when they are down to their 4th corner.

The team has done a good job of making sure the 3rd corner is a good player.
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Vince Blake
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In reply to Grapesoda2525 • 9:50a, 8/31/26
Grapesoda2525 said:
jr15aggie said:
Grapesoda2525 said:
jr15aggie said:
Sam Williams is gone... man, Dan Quinn sucks as an evaluator. Scouts get some blame too, but Quinn was the cheerleader for Mazi and Sam and now both are unemployed.


Still not as bad as Rod Marinelli going to bat for Taco.


Honestly I was gonna bring up Rod in my post but I wanted to keep it shorter... I absolutely agree.


WORST first round pick in Cowboys history. I remember I was driving around at the time when we drafted him, first thing I did when I got home is watched highlights of Taco. It looked like the guy was moving in slow motion or something. I could tell he was going to be a bust immediately and I don't even work in the football industry.

I agree. What makes it even worse is that freaking TJ Watt was sitting there but they liked Taco more because he played with his hand in the dirt.
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bonfarr
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In reply to cman1494 • 10:26a, 8/31/26
AG
cman1494 said:
Surprised we kept Caelen Carson. He looked bad in the preseason from what I could tell.


There are a whole lot of CBs that are now available after cuts so Carson may not be permanent.

Adoree Jackson and Christian Gonzalez are ones I would keep an eye on.
Disclaimer: Views expressed in this post reflect the opinions of Texags user bonfarr and are not to be accepted as facts or to be taken at face value.
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Ag Natural
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11:03a, 8/31/26
AG
Its funny that so many are pointing to last years defense as a real reason to doubt this team. Yet they have a new DC and almost the entire roster has changed. I have never seen a bigger overhaul.
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KatyAggie2000
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In reply to Ag Natural • 11:47a, 8/31/26
AG
Ag Natural said:
Its funny that so many are pointing to last years defense as a real reason to doubt this team. Yet they have a new DC and almost the entire roster has changed. I have never seen a bigger overhaul.

Could not agree more. It's funny. When you listen to folks who actually understand defense, they are quick to sing the praises of what the team has done in one year.

Dallas was dead last in points allowed per game in 2025 (511 points over a 17-game season). If they can just improve to be a middle of the pack defense (points per game), that would reduce the average allowed per game from 30 to 22. I think this type of improvement is within reach. If so, there aren't a lot of teams that will hold Dallas' potent offense under 22 points (only happened 4 times I believe in 2025).
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Infection_Ag11
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In reply to Ag Natural • 12:17p, 8/31/26
AG
Ag Natural said:
Its funny that so many are pointing to last years defense as a real reason to doubt this team. Yet they have a new DC and almost the entire roster has changed. I have never seen a bigger overhaul.


Dallas had one of the five worst defenses by DVOA in history last year. The other four teams on the list won only one or two games each. Dallas won seven. That's how good the offense was last year. A team giving up over 30 PPG still managed to almost reach .500.

If the defense had just been below average, like 24th in the league let's say, we probably win 11-12 games. If we can just not be historically bad this offense can win a ton of games
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Infection_Ag11
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In reply to KatyAggie2000 • 12:19p, 8/31/26
AG
KatyAggie2000 said:
Ag Natural said:
Its funny that so many are pointing to last years defense as a real reason to doubt this team. Yet they have a new DC and almost the entire roster has changed. I have never seen a bigger overhaul.

Could not agree more. It's funny. When you listen to folks who actually understand defense, they are quick to sing the praises of what the team has done in one year.

Dallas was dead last in points allowed per game in 2025 (511 points over a 17-game season). If they can just improve to be a middle of the pack defense (points per game), that would reduce the average allowed per game from 30 to 22. I think this type of improvement is within reach. If so, there aren't a lot of teams that will hold Dallas' potent offense under 22 points (only happened 4 times I believe in 2025).


If Dallas holds teams to 22 points per game they'll probably be the number one overall seed in the NFC. Their expected win total from last year allowing 22 PPG would have been 13.1

For perspective, I think I saw only two other teams have ever had an offense as good as ours last year and finished with fewer than 10 wins.
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J.P. 03
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12:57p, 8/31/26
AG
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cman1494
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In reply to J.P. 03 • 1:02p, 8/31/26
AG
Reunited with Klayton Adams. Probably decent at the 3rd RB.
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Vessel
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1:07p, 8/31/26
Isn't he the one who dropped the ball at the 1 last year? Would have put the cardinals up by 3 scores on the titans and instead the cardinals lost the game.
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Vessel
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1:35p, 8/31/26
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jr15aggie
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2:18p, 8/31/26
AG
I was just thinking, man, Justin Barron (LB) really came and went quickly!!!

I believe he's going to be squad guy which is fine, he's still developing. But he had that crazy week practicing against the Rams followed by a very solid pre-season game... I don't recall him doing anything since.
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KatyAggie2000
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In reply to jr15aggie • 2:23p, 8/31/26
AG
jr15aggie said:
I was just thinking, man, Justin Barron (LB) really came and went quickly!!!

I believe he's going to be squad guy which is fine, he's still developing. But he had that crazy week practicing against the Rams followed by a very solid pre-season game... I don't recall him doing anything since.

He's one I'd like to give some time to develop. Believe his journey at Syracuse was WR to Safety then to LB for the last year or so. He's an athlete, but a raw LB. I'd like to get him on the practice squad, coach him up, and see what he can do over the next year.
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duck79
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3:01p, 8/31/26
AG
Ummm Milton released. Wow
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Peter Klaven
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In reply to duck79 • 3:06p, 8/31/26
AG
That is one where I would think we could've gotten a late round pick back...
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Wabs
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In reply to duck79 • 3:06p, 8/31/26
AG
duck79 said:
Ummm Milton released. Wow

Seems like we could have gotten something in trade for him....
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Infection_Ag11
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In reply to J.P. 03 • 3:09p, 8/31/26
AG
J.P. 03 said:


Actually a pretty interesting player, 6.5 YPC for his career on nearly 150 carries (which is more than an entire season's worth for a high use #2).
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FireAg
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3:10p, 8/31/26
AG
Why would they release Milton? Something else cooking?
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FireAg
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3:11p, 8/31/26
AG
I'm absolutely shocked by the Milton news on its surface…
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jr15aggie
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3:19p, 8/31/26
AG
Man that's crazy. My only guess is that there wasn't enough consistency with the guy. Reports early in camp weren't the best. But he looked pretty good in game 1 and was pro bowl level in game 2. Was pretty bad in game 3 though.

No issues with Howell at #2... I feel like we can win games with him if Dak misses some time.
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jr15aggie
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In reply to Peter Klaven • 3:28p, 8/31/26
AG
Peter Klaven said:
That is one where I would think we could've gotten a late round pick back...


They tried. The only reason he was on the intial 53 man roster was to retain his rights and seek a trade partner. Everybody said "No thanks" and then they released him.

I could be wrong, but that's usually how these things work.
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KatyAggie2000
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3:30p, 8/31/26
AG
Yea perplexing with Milton. In pre-season game 2 he seemed to get some touch on his shorter/intermediate passes and command the offense. I thought he had QB2 locked down. Then pre-season game 3 happens and he reverts back and Howell - to his credit - seized the opportunity. But yea, would have thought they could have traded him for a late round pick.
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Enrico Pallazzo
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4:05p, 8/31/26
Milton looked functional vs future truck drivers. My guess is vs starter level talent in practice, it was not so good. And that only gets worse at regular season game speed
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Peter Piper
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In reply to Vessel • 4:20p, 8/31/26
Vessel said:

Guess it's not gonna be the end of the road for him.
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bonfarr
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5:21p, 8/31/26
AG
Can someone explain the love for Hunter Luepke? The dude is a below average blocker and doesn't really pose a threat running or catching the football. I would think Dallas could keep three TBs as usual and cut Leupke and retain a fourth TE to serve in an H-Back/ FB role on short yardage. I think someone like Trigg has more upside.
Disclaimer: Views expressed in this post reflect the opinions of Texags user bonfarr and are not to be accepted as facts or to be taken at face value.
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bonfarr
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5:26p, 8/31/26
AG
Cowboys don't even want Blue on the Practice Squad. Damn that's harsh.

Disclaimer: Views expressed in this post reflect the opinions of Texags user bonfarr and are not to be accepted as facts or to be taken at face value.
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Infection_Ag11
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5:32p, 8/31/26
AG
Justin Barron is gonna be on the active roster one of these days. Maybe not this year but eventually.
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jr15aggie
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In reply to bonfarr • 5:35p, 8/31/26
AG
bonfarr said:
Can someone explain the love for Hunter Luepke?


Well, we all sorta thought he was McCarthy's pet cat, but he's still here going strong into Schotty's 2nd year. I don't believe he even played in pre-season, so that says a lot about how safe he was.

I don't know that I can explain it, but they obviously trust him more than Blue & Trigg (and so do I). There are some things that just need doing on Sundays and you don't always want your best RB or TE doing it.
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jr15aggie
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In reply to bonfarr • 5:41p, 8/31/26
AG
bonfarr said:
Cowboys don't even want Blue on the Practice Squad. Damn that's harsh.



Yeah, that's what people were saying when Blue didn't play in pre-season #3. Some thought it was because he was safe, but the insiders knew it was because they were just flat out done with the guy.

Glad to see Reedy Stewart there as CB depth and I also heard good camp things about Abanikanda (I remember really liking him as a mid round guy during the draft a few years ago).

Will be interested to see what Barron and Trigg look like this time next year. Barron looks to be a guy that could eventually be a do it all special teams guy while also giving you a few quality LB reps.
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ApachePilot
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In reply to Woods Ag • 5:42p, 8/31/26
AG
Woods Ag said:
Team is way more talented than last year. And where there is question marks we have rookies with potential


This team feels like it's trending up. 1990-91 cowboys
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bonfarr
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In reply to jr15aggie • 7:11p, 8/31/26
AG
Luepke still hasn't officially given up no. 40 jersey yet so if he refuses maybe there is still time to cut him.
Disclaimer: Views expressed in this post reflect the opinions of Texags user bonfarr and are not to be accepted as facts or to be taken at face value.
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Agristotle
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In reply to bonfarr • 7:44p, 8/31/26
AG
Love it!
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batchuser
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7:50p, 8/31/26
"We like our guys." What happened?! Now, this season all of a sudden, our guys can kick rocks
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