It’s now June, and in the NFL that means there veterans could be on the move. Monday saw a few big-name players get traded, with Myles Garrett and A.J. Brown switching conferences, and that could be just the start of things.
Not involved on Monday, while the Dallas Cowboys improved this offseason, they could still use some depth at a few positions. Their front office likes to say talent acquisition is a 365-day proposition, but that doesn’t mean the team will add any recognizable players now that June has arrived. The Cowboys are more likely to see how things develop with their current roster before seeking other options.
Adding depth at offensive tackle, running back, linebacker and pass rusher might still be needed, but Dallas may opt to find out what they’ve got in-house before turning to external players. The team has been traditionally more likely to sign veteran talent around training camp than they are in June.
That means for those who are hoping the Cowboys will sign an edge rusher like Joey Bosa or Von Miller, a LB in Bobby Wagner, or hope the New Orleans Saints release Alvin Kamara, you’re probably going to be disappointed. The team is keener on seeing what they’ve got through the offseason program first, opting for outside help later, if needed.
In the last five offseasons, the Cowboys have signed veterans Malik Hooker, Everson Griffen and Anthony Barr just before, or during training camp. Last year it was James Houston who was signed in late July to boost the pass rush.
If the Cowboys want to add to a position, summer is when it usually happens.
The strategy can make some sense, even as fans pine for headline-shaking gambles.
No team wants a progress stopper for younger players who need reps every chance they can get. One can’t expect a player to grow if they don’t have the opportunity. How can Jaydon Blue or Phil Mafah prove they’re ready to take the next step to being a reliable backup RB if they don’t get the chance to show they can be trusted?
The same can be said for edge rusher Donovan Ezeiruaku and left tackle Tyler Guyton. The Cowboys cannot be sure of what they’ve got until they see more from the young duo. Ezeiruaku’s situation is more complicated due to his hip surgery in the offseason, but the team needs to give him all the opportunities they can to see his second-year jump.
Dallas may also want to see what they’ve got with Sam Williams in a defensive system that fits him better than it has in the previous few years, while being a year removed from his ACL tear.
If Ezeiruaku and Williams excel in training camp, pairing them with veterans Rashan Gary, Houston and rookie pass rusher Malachi Lawrence may lead the Cowboys to believe they don’t need another option. The only way to find out is to let their young guys compete.
Guyton had shown signs of improvement last year, but injuries in camp and early in the 2025 season affected his consistency during his second campaign. That means the jury is still out on Guyton, who still needs more reps at LT for the Cowboys to know what they’ve got. That might not happen if the team adds a veteran tackle like Taylor Decker.
The best option for the team is to allow Guyton, as well as Nathan Thomas and rookie Drew Shelton, to get as many snaps as possible. It’s how the Cowboys will find out if they really need another tackle option.
However, there is a counter argument to be made.
Veterans who have proven to be productive in the NFL often don’t need many reps to get ready to play. Wagner, Miller, Kamara, or any established player won’t need much time to get up to speed to contribute, so they shouldn’t be getting in the way of progress.
Adding a veteran option now would make the Cowboys better, and they wouldn’t limit any development from the team’s youth. If the younger option plays well enough in training camp and in the preseason, the team would have a positive problem to solve.
It’s just not how Dallas normally operates.
The Cowboys could use some better options at a few positions, just don’t expect them to address those needs until training camp. Patience will once again be a virtue for fans hoping for a June upgrade.
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This article originally appeared on Cowboys Wire: Cowboys not really a ‘June 1 signing’ type of team, prefer late summer
Reporting by Ben Grimaldi, Cowboys Wire / Cowboys Wire
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
