This doesn't seem too excessive, does it? Wonder what the Cowboys' offer was:

Raiders are giving former Eagles LB Nakobe Dean a three-year, $36 million deal including $20M guaranteed. https://t.co/7GrhNxALmc

— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) March 9, 2026

Damn we need LB help in the worst way possible

Quay Walker to the Raiders too. Devin Lloyd seems to be the only big name left.

Yeah, Dean seemed to be a good fit because of the CP connection, but he's definitely a 'its always something' hurt guy. Cowboys appear to have no patience for that at the moment.

Expect that to be a theme that carries into the draft.

With regards to LB, I'm hearing hints that maybe don't just stop at free agent names. Cowboys might not be done trading picks for players.

jr15aggie said:

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With regards to LB, I'm hearing hints that maybe don't just stop at free agent names. Cowboys might not be done trading picks for players.

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jr15aggie said:

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With regards to LB, I'm hearing hints that maybe don't just stop at free agent names. Cowboys might not be done trading picks for players.

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The two names i have seen thrown out there are Jordyn Brooks with Miami and Patrick Queen with Pittsburgh.

Damn, thought for sure the cowboys would get Dean. Would have been great to see him play against the Eagles

Is the new safety the "down in the box" guy that the new DC seems to want?????

Lloyd to the Panthers. Next rumored step is a trade for Patrick Queen.

alvtimes said:

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Is the new safety the "down in the box" guy that the new DC seems to want?????

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I think so. He's definitely more versatile than Dono or Hooker. He's got some ability to come down and cover. Probably not quite the thumper that Dono was, but he was more of an all or nothing player and missed a lot of tackles. Thompson is definitely a more well rounded safety.

This signing and the Hooker restructure does not keep us from taking Downs... But it does open the door for other options. I'm a lot more open to taking a CB now that Thompson is on the team.



EDIT: Was listening to talk this morning and they claimed last years snaps were 300+ snaps at free safety, 300+ box safety and 250 as a slot corner. So yeah, he's definitely that Nickel player CP was talking about. And he's apparently pretty good at it so yeah, good signing!

I'd venture to bet now that the Cowboys are still going to be looking for a LBer, whether off ball or standup, with one of their first round picks. But at least since they acquired Gary and Thompson, they likely don't have to look for or reach for a S or pure DE. It frees one of their draft picks up in my eyes.

It definitely frees them up in the draft because we got guys that can play/start for us... far cry from the usual free agents brought in to "compete".

Free Agent News:

Uncle Rico signed with Pittsburgh... 2 for 12. Seems a little low considering Javonte got 3 for 24, but good for him. Talk about a guy that just had to keep working through adversity. By the time he's done in the NFL he should be in the 20+ million earned category... very nice.

Sam Williams resigns with Bid D for a 1 year deal. Very surprised at this one, I thought for sure he was in the same 'Bye Felicia' boat as Dono. But I don't hate it... it's one less hole we have to fill and we know Williams has the physical tools. Expectations, like every other returning player, is that CP will get a good amount more out of him than Flus did.

Vince Blake said:

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Lloyd to the Panthers. Next rumored step is a trade for Patrick Queen.

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Sounds like the Queen trade talk may be flaming out per Jane Slater.

Vince Blake said:

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Vince Blake said:

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Lloyd to the Panthers. Next rumored step is a trade for Patrick Queen.

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Sounds like the Queen trade talk may be flaming out per Jane Slater.

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The scouting report I heard is that he's one of those guys that really needs good players around him. He's not a great answer, but right now we need bodies.

This is one of those areas, like safety before the Thompson signing, that we've simply ignored for far too long (especially in the draft) and now it's biting us directly in the ass! And it's typical Cowboys luck that the home run we hit with Overshown in the 3rd round has been marred by injuries.

We are going to have to draft a LB with one of our first two picks, there is just no other way around it. My current mood right now is I'd trade up to make sure you get Styles.

The linebacker stuff from yesterday was really frustrating. They were in the mix for all those guys (Dean, Walker, Lloyd) and for whatever reason couldn't or wouldn't close.

I agree, I think one of those first two picks is a linebacker. I also think we need an explosive edge that can scream upfield and cause chaos. Would love Styles, but still don't think he makes it to 12. But I wouldn't be upset at a combination of CJ Allen and Cashius Howell even if the pick to player doesn't align perfectly.

I don't think they are in a position to say no to anyone, so-to-speak, but I do think drafting an EDGE/WDE/OLB with one of their first two picks has fallen down the priority list in light of recent developments.

I would expect them to play the group of DTs and SDEs (being Quinnen Williams, Osa Odighizuwa, Kenny Clark, Solomon Thomas and Jay Toia) a ton, along with the newly acquired Rashan Gary. That leaves the WDE/OLB/EDGE to Donovan Ezeiruaku, James Houston, and Marist Liufau. And while again I don't think they would pass up a guy they love at the edge position, I think because of what the defense will look like moving forward it limits the number of guys at that position, and I expect EZ to get every opportunity to make that spot his own.

All of this is to say I think the standup LBer spot is now the single biggest need on this defense, but not by a large margin.

Ags and cowboys have a thing about top LBs going elsewhere.

Signed another safety

#Broncos FA S PJ Locke is signing with the #Cowboys on a 1-year deal worth $5M, source says. Another safety added in Dallas. pic.twitter.com/LD7vsyqVns

— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) March 10, 2026

Unless I missed it, Hendrickson is still not signed.

Very interesting... leads me to believe there is probably a sizeable concern about his injury combined with his age.

My guess: The concern is league wide and there is a sizeable gap between his risk assessment and contract demands. Agent is probably pushing for a minimum 3 year deal with a ton of guarantees.


Every hour that passes those numbers go down. Cowboys are already in a "screw it, we got 2-3 years to before **** blows up in our face" situation... if the risk/reward gets close enough maybe we make a deal.

jr15aggie said:

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Unless I missed it, Hendrickson is still not signed.

Very interesting... leads me to believe there is probably a sizeable concern about his injury combined with his age.

My guess: The concern is league wide and there is a sizeable gap between his risk assessment and contract demands. Agent is probably pushing for a minimum 3 year deal with a ton of guarantees.


Every hour that passes those numbers go down. Cowboys are already in a "screw it, we got 2-3 years to before **** blows up in our face" situation... if the risk/reward gets close enough maybe we make a deal.

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at this point, I'm assuming the hendrickson to the boys deal isn't panning out...and I'm ok with that

Just agreed to terms with NT Otito Ogbonnia on a one-year, $3 million deal.

Absolutely, I don't think it's going to work out here either... but so far he's not working out with any team so we'll see how it all shakes out.

Saw something out there that the gap between what Hendrickson is asking for and what teams are willing to pay is about 10mil.

Vince Blake said:

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Saw something out there that the gap between what Hendrickson is asking for and what teams are willing to pay is about 10mil.

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I have zero insider knowledge, but at a guess I bet he's asking for ~ 3 year / 35 mil (just over 100 mil total) and I bet they want at least half of that fully guaranteed.

That's a big nope for NFL teams looking at a 31 year old coming off hip related injury issues!

I bet most teams are offering 3 / 25 with signing bonus & guarantees such that the team can get out of the deal after 2 years.

It feels to me like the Cowboys will use one of their rd 1 picks on offense, either Jeremiah Love if he's there at 12 or an OT at 20, and play the best of Guyton, Steele, and the rookie.

And has the door closed on Tyler Smith playing LT…and getting paid appropriately?

Chiefs clearly thought Love would not be there at 9

chris1515 said:

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It feels to me like the Cowboys will use one of their rd 1 picks on offense, either Jeremiah Love if he's there at 12 or an OT at 20, and play the best of Guyton, Steele, and the rookie.

And has the door closed on Tyler Smith playing LT…and getting paid appropriately?

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I don't know that a tackle that's worth a dang is going to be there at 21. There's 2 that people are sure on and one of those (some say both) are better guards. And there's 1 that has the measurable and projects well (think Guyton)

It's not a good tackle class

The cowboys are going to get a really good player that we're all happy with at 12. There's too many and too many teams that need T, QB, DE, etc.. all it takes is for a couple teams to take one of Love, Simpson, Mansoor, Freeling and someone like Styles, Downs, Reese lands in our laps… idk seems crazy but someone is going to fall

chris1515 said:

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It feels to me like the Cowboys will use one of their rd 1 picks on offense, either Jeremiah Love if he's there at 12 or an OT at 20, and play the best of Guyton, Steele, and the rookie.

And has the door closed on Tyler Smith playing LT…and getting paid appropriately?

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Tyler's contract extension last year reset the market for Guards. Like Larry Allen (RIP) and Zach Martin before him, he can play OT and play it pretty well, but only if injuries make it absolutely necessary.


I can definitely see a scenario where taking an offensive player at 12 is the best move. But I'm hearing enough whispers about offensive players and/or surprise defensive players going in front of us that, right now, I feel good about one of our top D targets being there at 12.




But then again, we have no idea who the Cowboys top target even is. I could 100% see it happening where Downs/Styles is available at 12 and I'm jumping for joy.... and the Cowboys draft Keldric Faulk.

jr15aggie said:

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chris1515 said:

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It feels to me like the Cowboys will use one of their rd 1 picks on offense, either Jeremiah Love if he's there at 12 or an OT at 20, and play the best of Guyton, Steele, and the rookie.

And has the door closed on Tyler Smith playing LT…and getting paid appropriately?

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Tyler's contract extension last year reset the market for Guards. Like Larry Allen (RIP) and Zach Martin before him, he can play OT and play it pretty well, but only if injuries make it absolutely necessary.


I can definitely see a scenario where taking an offensive player at 12 is the best move. But I'm hearing enough whispers about offensive players and/or surprise defensive players going in front of us that, right now, I feel good about one of our top D targets being there at 12.




But then again, we have no idea who the Cowboys top target even is. I could 100% see it happening where Downs/Styles is available at 12 and I'm jumping for joy.... and the Cowboys draft Keldric Faulk.

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We would lead a mutiny and march on Jerryworld!

From the #Raiders: pic.twitter.com/6oMYCOLZfi

— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) March 10, 2026

I wonder what happened. Failed physical?