The Cowboys are currently $35 million over the projected 2026 cap, but have no fear Dallas fans… they can easily get under. In fact, if they pulled off this string of easy-decision moves, they could be looking at having around $75 million of money to spend come March when the new league year begins.
Some of that money will go towards signing their own free agents, of course, and they have a big decision to make on how they will approach the pending free agency of WR George Pickens. Pickens is one of several players recently named to ESPN’s Top 25 pending free agents list, but he’s hardly the only name the Cowboys should be focused on.
After acquiring DT Quinnen Williams and LB Logan Wilson, two players with multiple years remaining on their contracts, the Cowboys have already started working on their future rosters. Just like the extensions given to LG Tyler Smith, DT Osa Odighizuwa, TE Jake Ferguson and CB Daron Bland, the Cowboys have worked on rounding out the 53 centered around the mammoth contracts awarded to QB Dak Prescott and WR CeeDee Lamb last summer.
But the team will still have plenty of work to do, and the fanbase is hoping the recent trades and sacrificing of so much future draft capital (Dallas currently has no Day 2 picks in 2026 and has given up one of their two first-round picks from 2027) means they’ll also shoot for the moon when free agency comes around in March.
Yes, fool me once… but still…
So in that vein, ESPN’s list — which assuredly will be impacted by early re-signings and franchise tags — serves as a tracker of sorts for which players could be targets of Jerry and Stephen Jones and Will McClay come March. Here are a few seemingly great fits the Cowboys should be watching.
1. Trey Hendrickson, Edge
Current team: Cincinnati Bengals2025 salary: $29 millionAge entering 2026 season: 31
With as much money as the Cowboys have invested in the defensive tackle position, it’s now hard to see them carrying one of the league’s top salaries at the edge spot, but it’s not out of the question. The club inquired about Hendrickson prior to the trade deadline, and having him opposite Donovan Ezeiruaku as they booked some combination of Williams, Odighizuwa and Kenny Clark would be nightmare fuel for offensive coordinators.
5. Braden Smith, OT
Current team: Indianapolis Colts2025 salary: $8 millionAge entering 2026 season: 30
Could the Cowboys be in the market for a right tackle? If they move on from Terence Steele and still want to continue the so-far failed experiment of playing Tyler Guyton on the left side, they could absolutely pursue a veteran answer this spring.
6. Breece Hall, RB
Current team: New York Jets2025 salary: $3.4 millionAge entering 2026 season: 25
It appears the Cowboys have squarely moved into the category of team that refuses to pay a running back, so it’s doubtful they’d look to Hall as a solution this offseason. If Javonte Williams prices himself out of a return to Texas though, Hall could potentially have a “Saquon Barkley to Philly” impact on his next team.
7. Alec Pierce, WR
Current team: Indianapolis Colts2025 salary: $3.7 millionAge entering 2026 season: 26
If the Cowboys don’t bring back Pickens, Pierce is looking like a beautiful consolation prize. He’s excelling now that he has a competent QB throwing him the ball (can anyone believe that’s being said about Daniel Jones?) and his deep-threat ability mirrors Pickens’ impact on the Dallas offense.
9. Isaiah Likely, TE
Current team: Baltimore Ravens2025 salary: $3.4 millionAge entering 2026 season: 26
Yes, the Cowboys just extended Ferguson this summer, but he’s not shown the ability to do much of anything after the catch. Perhaps the team knows there’s an issue that he could move past, but there’ a clear escape clause in his contract following 2026. In other words, signing a free agent with a low 2026 cap hit isn’t out of the question. Likely has shown promise before, but was out the first month of the season and his numbers are currently low. He could be affordable.
10. Jaelan Phillips, Edge
Current team: Philadelphia Eagles2025 salary: $13.3 millionAge entering 2026 season: 27
Phillips made a great impression in his Philly debut on Monday night against the Packers. There has to be interest here by Dallas, as he likley won’t command Top 10 edge money, but he’ll still be rather expensive.
16. Rasheed Walker, OT
Current team: Green Bay Packers2025 salary: $3.4 millionAge entering 2026 season: 26
Earlier we spoke of leaving Guyton on the left side, but if the club wants to return him to right tackle (where he played at Oklahoma) as the replacement for Terence Steele, then Walker could be the free agent signing at left tackle.
21. Kyle Pitts Sr., TE
Current team: Atlanta Falcons2025 salary: $10.9 millionAge entering 2026 season: 25
Pitts could be in a similar situation as Pickens, just waiting on the perfect QB to take advantage of his skillset. Same story as with Likely, only with much more draft pedigree initially invested and better skins on the wall after a 1,000-yard rookie campaign.
22. Boye Mafe, Edge
Current team: Seattle Seahawks2025 salary: $1.9 millionAge entering 2026 season: 27
Mafe could be a cheaper grab than Phillips, and certainly cheaper than Hendrickson. He’s having a down year in 2025 and has lost some luster in his year and a half under defensive coordinator Aden Durde.
24. Quentin Lake, S
Current team: Los Angeles Rams2025 salary: $3.4 millionAge entering 2026 season: 27
The Cowboys could be in the market for two safeties this coming offseason, with Donovan Wilson set for free agency and Malik Hooker’s final contract year easily escapable. Lake is in a zone-concept defense already, so he could be a good fit in what Matt Eberflus wants to do.
This article originally appeared on Cowboys Wire: Colts, Falcons stars among free agents Cowboys should target with $75 million cap space
Reporting by K.D. Drummond, Cowboys Wire / Cowboys Wire
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
