Dallas Cowboys News

Dallas Cowboys head coach Brian Schottenheimer said he's been staying in contact with franchise-tagged wide receiver George Pickens, but he "hasn't asked for or received assurances" that Pickens will be present for offseason workouts, according to Nick Harris of the Fort Worth Star-Telegram. The Cowboys and Pickens have until mid-July to work out a long-term contract extension after they placed the franchise tag on him. Minicamp and organized team activities are voluntary, so Pickens almost certainly won't be present for those if he remains on the franchise tag. The Cowboys won't be concerned about the star wideout unless he starts holding out of mandatory workouts at training camp this summer, which is entirely possible if the two sides don't work out an extension by the deadline in July. Pickens will be a WR1 in fantasy football drafts in 2026 after breaking out in his first year in Dallas with 93 catches, 1,429 yards, and nine touchdowns as Dallas' leading receiver.

Dallas Cowboys wide receiver KaVontae Turpin has established an NFL role for himself as an All-Pro return man and a gadget piece on offense. Across 15 games in 2025, the 29-year-old recorded 26 receptions for 396 receiving yards and two touchdowns while also rushing for 89 yards on 17 attempts. However, Turpin has not cracked 50 total touches in any of his four NFL seasons, limiting his fantasy utility. Heading into 2026, the Cowboys have three wideouts firmly ahead of Turpin on the depth chart in CeeDee Lamb, George Pickens, and Ryan Flournoy. Dallas also made a significant free agent commitment to running back Javonte Williams, who profiles as a three-down workhorse. While Turpin's role on the Cowboys' roster is safe, he may not have a path to a consistent role in the Dallas offense in 2026.

Dallas Cowboys quarterback Dak Prescott has missed significant time in three different seasons, all occurring within the last six years, but of the seven seasons in which he played at least 16 games, he has finished as the QB8 or better five times, only once finishing outside the top 12, all the way back in 2018. And yet he is currently being drafted around QB17 in dynasty startups. Longevity is certainly working against him as he enters his age-33 season, but for contending teams, he is a severely undervalued asset who has finished as the QB3 and QB6 in his last two fully healthy seasons. The Cowboys' offensive core remains intact heading into 2026, with CeeDee Lamb, George Pickens, Javonte Williams, and Jake Ferguson forming one of the most fantasy-friendly surrounding casts in the league, and Brian Schottenheimer enters his second season as head coach having already shown a propensity for pushing the ball downfield. Prescott's 4,552 passing yards in 2025 marked the second-highest total of his career, and while his rushing efficiency has declined in recent years, he's one of the few quarterbacks in the league who is a consistent threat to top 30 passing touchdowns.

Dallas Cowboys wide receiver CeeDee Lamb finished the 2025 season with 1,077 yards and three touchdowns on 75 receptions. It was his fifth straight year finishing above 1,000 yards, and with the team returning the same offensive core in 2026, he is confident in where things are headed under head coach Brian Schottenheimer. The Cowboys finished second in the NFL in passing and overall offense, and Lamb recently praised his first-year coach for his receiver-friendliness and command of the team. While missing three games, he finished behind teammate George Pickens in most major statistical categories, and the Cowboys have made moves to improve their basement-dwelling defense from 2025, which could lead to more run-heavy game scripts, but Lamb remains one of the safest options in fantasy football. His connection with Dak Prescott is real, and more big things should be in store for what has become one of the most consistently strong offenses in the league.

Dallas Cowboys wide receiver George Pickens is coming off the best season of his career, and he continues to project as a mid-to-low WR1 option in fantasy football. However, his ongoing franchise tag saga complicates his outlook for fantasy managers. The Cowboys applied the franchise tag to Pickens, who expressed dismay and plans to hold out for a long-term deal. It sounds like he won't return to the Cowboys' facilities until he has a long-term deal in place, and the two sides could eventually come up against the clock, since the deadline for tagged players to sign an extension is July 15. It's tough to say what will happen if Pickens doesn't have a deal by then, but given the trend of franchise tag situations in recent years, it seems unlikely that Pickens would sit out any games. It seems most likely that he'll sign an extension, but he could also be traded or give in and play out his one-year deal. At the end of the day, Pickens will probably be catching passes from Dak Prescott in 2026, which bodes well for his fantasy outlook. However, what happens in 2027 and beyond is anybody's guess. Dynasty managers should consider selling high on Pickens' WR5 finish in PPR leagues last year, especially since changing teams next offseason could drop him outside the top 12 fantasy receivers.

Dallas Cowboys wide receiver Ryan Flournoy is expected to be third on the depth chart when the 2026 season begins, according to Jon Machota of The Athletic. Machota's roster projection indicates that the Cowboys won't make any major additions at wide receiver this offseason, leaving Flournoy in the No. 3 role behind CeeDee Lamb and George Pickens. This is an unsurprising development, as the Cowboys already have $61.3 million allocated to Lamb and Pickens, so an external addition at wide receiver wouldn't make much sense. Plus, Flournoy had an impressive 2025 season, catching 40 passes for 475 yards and four touchdowns across 16 games. He stepped up when teammates went down, such as when he caught nine passes for 115 yards and one touchdown in Week 14. Realistically, Flournoy is one of the better No. 3 receivers in the NFL, and he could handle the jump to being a fantasy-relevant No. 2 receiver if Lamb or Pickens miss any time in 2026. As a result, he's a low-cost trade target in deep dynasty leagues this offseason.

Dallas Cowboys tight end Jake Ferguson opened the 2025 season as a premier fantasy option, but his productivity declined near the end of the year. After ranking as the overall TE1 in PPR leagues from Week 1 through Week 7, he dropped to the overall TE22 spot over the remainder of the season. He had a particularly poor showing over the final four weeks of the season, during which he had just seven catches and ranked 23rd among tight ends in fantasy points. Ultimately, Ferguson just couldn't carve out a consistent role while buried behind CeeDee Lamb and George Pickens in the pecking order. He also lost opportunities when the team decided to run the ball and feed Javonte Williams. All three of those skill players are back for 2026, making it tough to predict any sort of improvement for Ferguson. He's too dependent on targets to confidently draft as a top-eight fantasy tight end. Instead, he's a high-end TE2 who will deliver some mid-to-low TE1 outings from time to time. His name value makes him an appealing sell-high candidate in PPR leagues, especially since his finish as the overall TE5 masks his late-season struggles.

Dallas Cowboys running back Javonte Williams remains the workhorse option heading into the 2026 season. Williams enjoyed a career resurgence during his first season in Dallas, totaling 1,201 rushing yards, 137 receiving yards, and 13 touchdowns. He was the overall RB12 in PPR leagues, setting the best mark of his career to this point. For his efforts, Williams was rewarded with a three-year, $24 million contract that assures he's the Cowboys' primary ball-carrier for years to come. We do expect Jaydon Blue to get more involved going forward, but he's more of a change-of-pace and handcuff. Blue isn't going to threaten Williams' role in 2026. As a result, Williams remains a fringe top-12 fantasy running back with tremendous touchdown upside in a high-scoring Cowboys offense. It doesn't make sense to buy Williams at his elevated price in dynasty leagues, but it's also too early to sell high on him. He's firmly in the "hold" range this offseason.

Dallas Cowboys running back Jaydon Blue had a very underwhelming rookie season in the NFL. A healthy scratch more often than not, Blue finished his first pro campaign with just 134 scrimmage yards and one touchdown across five games. The bulk of his production came from a single game in Week 18, when he had 16 carries for 64 yards and a touchdown. While it was understandably difficult for managers to watch Dallas essentially feed just one running back (Javonte Williams) all year, Blue is still a strong handcuff and an important part of the dynasty fantasy football conversation. Williams will lead the backfield again in 2026, but Blue's strong Week 18 and the Cowboys' lack of other running back moves indicate that the Texas product is slated for the backup role. Blue won't have standalone value every week, but he'll be a top-10 running back handcuff, presumably ranking as an RB2 if Williams were to miss time. As a result, Blue is an intriguing buy-low option in dynasty leagues this offseason, especially for managers who already have Williams on their roster.

The Dallas Cowboys agreed to a one-year, $5.5 million deal with free-agent cornerback Cobie Durant on Thursday, his agent told Todd Archer of ESPN. DaRon Bland (foot) is coming back from foot surgery, and second-year corner Shavon Revel continues to learn on the job after missing the first nine games of his rookie season last year while recovering from a torn ACL, so Dallas could use the help at cornerback. Durant spent the last four seasons playing for the Los Angeles Rams. He has seven career interceptions, with two of them returned for touchdowns. The 28-year-old tied his career-high with three picks last season. Durant was expendable in L.A. after the Rams acquired Trent McDuffie from the Kansas City Chiefs last week. The Cowboys also signed safety Jalen Thompson in free agency, and Durant will give Dallas' secondary flexibility, as he has the ability to move inside to play the nickel spot, if needed. The former fourth-rounder in 2022 out of South Carolina State has 141 career tackles (96 solo), two sacks, six tackles for loss, five QB hits, 26 pass breakups, a forced fumble, and a fumble recovery in 61 games (39 starts).

The Dallas Cowboys have signed quarterback Sam Howell to a one-year contract, according to Adam Schefter of ESPN.com. Howell's journey around the NFC East continues; the former UNC product has already spent time with the Washington Commanders and Philadelphia Eagles, and he also made two appearances with the Seattle Seahawks in 2024. That 2024 campaign was the last time Howell saw game action, and at this point in his career, he's more of a steady backup option than a potential NFL starter. That explains why he's heading to Dallas, where he'll compete for the No. 2 quarterback job alongside Joe Milton III (and behind Dak Prescott). Howell's 26 total touchdowns in 2023 revealed his encouraging upside, but he also had 21 interceptions that year, pointing to some real turnover concerns. Fantasy managers should leave him on waivers in all leagues (including dynasty formats) as long as Prescott remains healthy.

Dallas Cowboys defensive lineman Osa Odighizuwa could be available for trade this offseason, according to Jonathan Jones of CBS Sports. Jones wrote that teams are reportedly "keeping an eye" on the defender's status, and many of those organizations "believe he can now be traded for." The rumors are one thing, but whether a trade will actually come to fruition remains to be seen. Odighizuwa's contract is a key factor for a potential trade partner to consider. Entering Year 2 of a four-year, $80 million contract, Odighizuwa is controllable for another few seasons, but he's also a bit pricey. The 27-year-old has appeared in 17 games for four consecutive years, starting 13 of those 17 contests in 2025. He amassed 44 tackles, 23 quarterback hits, and 3.5 sacks throughout the course of the season. If he does get dealt, the Cowboys could look for a little more production out of fellow veteran defensive end Solomon Thomas.

The Dallas Cowboys restructured defensive tackle Kenny Clark's deal on Tuesday, turning his $11 million roster bonus due next week into a signing bonus to open up around $8.8 million in salary cap space for this year, sources told Todd Archer of ESPN. The Cowboys acquired Clark and two first-round picks last year from the Green Bay Packers in exchange for All-Pro pass-rusher Micah Parsons (knee). In his first year in Dallas, the 30-year-old veteran and three-time Pro Bowler had 36 tackles (17 solo), three sacks, six tackles for loss, and nine QB hits in 17 starts. The Cowboys haven't really made a big splash in free agency yet this week, but their restructuring of Clark's contract could be a sign that they are about to do something. They were interested in trading for All-Pro pass-rusher Maxx Crosby before he was dealt to the Ravens, and they've been connected to impending free-agent pass-rusher Trey Hendrickson as well.

The Dallas Cowboys acquired pass-rusher Rashan Gary from the Green Bay Packers on Monday in exchange for a fourth-round pick in the 2027 NFL draft, according to Adam Schefter of ESPN. Unless the Cowboys rework Gary's contract, he's set to make $18 million in 2026 off a four-year, $96 million deal he signed in 2023. His current deal has him signed through the 2027 season. The move will clear nearly $11 million in salary cap space for the Packers this year. Dallas moved to acquire Gary after they couldn't pry All-Pro pass-rusher Maxx Crosby away from the Las Vegas Raiders. The Cowboys' acquisition of Gary doesn't take them out of the pass-rushing market in free agency or the draft, though, as last year's sack leader, Jadeveon Clowney, will be a free agent this week. The team is also expected to be without last year's second-rounder, Donovan Ezeiruaku (hip). Gary has 46.5 career sacks in his career, which ranks sixth in Green Bay history since 1982.

The Dallas Cowboys placed the second-round, $5.76 million tender on free-agent kicker Brandon Aubrey on Saturday, a source told Adam Schefter of ESPN. Aubrey can now sign an offer sheet with another team, but the Cowboys will have the right to match any offer he receives. If they don't match an offer from another team, the Cowboys would get a second-round pick in return for Aubrey leaving. ESPN's Todd Archer reported last month that the 30-year-old placekicker is looking for a contract that exceeds the $6.4 million average that Chiefs kicker Harrison Butker gets. Aubrey has been a Pro Bowler in each of his three years in the NFL with Dallas and has also been one of the best fantasy options at the position. The Notre Dame alumnus has made 88.2% of his 127 field-goal attempts in three years and was the No. 3 kicker in overall fantasy points in 2025 in an explosive Cowboys offense. He'll be one of the first kickers off the board in fantasy football drafts this fall if he stays in Dallas.

The Dallas Cowboys restructured quarterback Dak Prescott's contract on Wednesday to help the team get under the 2026 salary cap before the legal tampering period begins on March 9, according to Nick Harris of the Fort Worth Star-Telegram. By restructuring the contracts of Prescott, wide receiver CeeDee Lamb, and offensive lineman Tyler Smith, the Cowboys created $47 million in cap room. Dallas can free up more room by restructuring the contracts of Quinnen Williams and Osa Odighizuwa. Signing defensive tackle Kenny Clark to an extension is expected to free up more space. Prescott, 32, will be a clear QB1 target by fantasy managers in drafts this fall after a highly productive 2025 season in which he completed a league-high 404 passes for 4,552 yards, 30 touchdowns, and 10 interceptions in 17 starts. He has one of the best receiver duos in the league in CeeDee Lamb and George Pickens.

The Dallas Cowboys restructured wide receiver CeeDee Lamb's contract on Wednesday to help the team get under the salary cap for the 2026 season, sources told Todd Archer of ESPN. By restructuring the contracts of Lamb, quarterback Dak Prescott, and offensive lineman Tyler Smith, the Cowboys created $47 million in cap room for this season. Dallas most likely converted Lamb's future guarantees into a signing bonus, but he is still under contract through the 2028 season after signing a four-year, $136 million contract with the team in August of 2024. Lamb was still productive in 2025, but new wideout George Pickens overshadowed him in his first year in Dallas. The 26-year-old Lamb finished with 75 catches, 1,077 yards, and three touchdowns in 14 regular-season appearances. A more productive year could be coming in 2026, even with Pickens most likely sticking around.

Dallas Cowboys defensive end Donovan Ezeiruaku (hip) is five weeks removed from hip surgery that will "prevent him from being a full participant in the offseason program," a source told Todd Archer of ESPN. Ezeiruaku is expected to be ready for training camp at the end of July. The 22-year-old former second-rounder last year out of Boston College should be ready for the start of the 2026 season this fall, barring a setback this offseason. He played in 17 games (nine starts) for the Cowboys in his first year in the NFL in 2025 and finished with 40 tackles (20 solo), two sacks, nine tackles for loss, 12 QB hits, and a forced fumble. Dallas will be hoping that Ezeiruaku will be able to take a step forward in his sophomore season once he's fully recovered from his hip injury.

The Dallas Cowboys will restructure quarterback Dak Prescott's contract heading into the 2026 season, according to sources of ESPN's Adam Schefter. Cowboys owner and general manager Jerry Jones intends to be "aggressive in free agency" this offseason. Dallas has already made other moves on the offense by placing a non-exclusive franchise tag on wide receiver George Pickens on Friday and signing running back Javonte Williams to a three-year extension earlier this week. In the 2025 season, Prescott had a career-high 4,552 passing yards and led the league with his 404 completions. Dallas is making a concerted effort to keep Prescott's weapons going into 2026, making the 32-year-old play-caller a viable option for those looking for value in late-round quarterbacks.

Sources told ESPN's Adam Schefter that the Dallas Cowboys will restructure wide receiver CeeDee Lamb's contract. This news comes on the heels of the team's decision on Friday to place the non-exclusive franchise tag on fellow wide receiver George Pickens, who is expected to seek a long-term deal with Dallas. Lamb missed three games in 2025 due to injuries and had a disappointing end to the season in Weeks 16 through 18, but finished just inside the top 20 for the year. Playing on the opposite side of Pickens in 2025, Lamb saw a 23% target share, which is a slight drop from his 28% average since 2022. The 26-year-old receiver is still the lead pass catcher in Dallas and is a bona fide WR1 on an offense that has proven its ability to sustain two top wide-outs.