The majority of pending contract attention in Dallas, at least since the end of the primary free agent signing period, has been centered around the status of wideout George Pickens. Slapped with the franchise tag before the beginning of the league year, it was almost two whole months before Pickens inked his one-year tender, locking him in for $27.3 million in salary for 2026.
The Dallas front office has made it clear they intend to have Pickens play out the season on the tag, and in about six weeks that becomes more than a hard line in the sand. After July 15, tagged players cannot sign multi-year deals with their club. But just because the biggest name isn’t going to engage in negotiations this summer, that doesn’t mean the Cowboys front office won’t be busy. The team routinely likes to negotiate with agents once the scenery shifts to the cool Pacific air for training camp in Oxnard, CA.
Which players could be in line to get extended this offseason? The contender’s list is slimmer than in most years.
LB DeMarvion Overshown
Overshown has had ridiculously dumb luck when it comes to injuries. An ACL tear wiped out his rookie season. A second tear ended his second season prematurely. What he flashed on the field in those 13 games in between though proved the scouting department nailed it in 2024 when they drafted him in the third round. But Overshown, whether because of scheme, slow recovery, or likely both, didn’t appear to be that same caliber player when he returned to the field midway through 2025.
But if he shows up at training camp and plays like a man with his hair on fire in Christian Parker’s new scheme, there’s an obvious window of opportunity for the Cowboys front office to lock him in at a reasonable, team-protecting price this summer.
Chances: 45%
DT Quinnen Williams
The one major contract the Cowboys didn’t touch this offseason was that of Quinnen Williams, leaving him with a $21.6 million cap hit based primarily on $20.7 million in base salary. The defensive tackle is, by all accounts, going to be the centerpiece of the team’s defensive strategy in 2026. He has two years remaining on his deal, and a couple void years from the contract Dallas acquired in the trade with the New York Jets.
There’s clearly room to create cap space here, so if Dallas were to swing a trade, or sign one of the remaining top vets (they have only $8 million in space remaining), Williams is the obvious restructure choice. But in terms of an extension? He showed and proved his backslide in New York was a “it’s not me, it’s you” scenario based on how he thrived in Dallas. If he proves a perfect fit for what Parker needs during training camp? The Cowboys should absolutely add a year or two to the pact.
Chances: 40%
OL TJ Bass
There’s a not-to-crazy scenario where TJ Bass is one of the Cowboys’ top five offensive linemen this summer. It’s really not that farfetched. And while he could prove to be so good in the vain of “6th offensive lineman” who could step in anywhere between left guard and right guard, the key to Bass being important enough to lock down may sit with the future of left tackle Tyler Guyton.
If Guyton doesn’t show improvement during training camp, and the club has to move Tyler Smith back outside, then Bass is likely who moves into LG. If that happens, and the group’s pass protection of QB Dak Prescott becomes a strength instead of a liability, the former Oregon player could see them tear up his RFA second-round tender and give him long-term security.
Chances: 30%
LB Dee Winters
The Cowboys made a trade during the draft, to make sure they had an additional veteran presence at the second level of their defense. Embarrassingly thin entering draft weekend, the Cowboys finalized a conversation they’d been having with the San Francisco 49ers for months and brought the young veteran aboard. He has just one season remaining on his contract and though the 49ers didn’t entrust him with the green dot when Fred Warner went down, he’s going to have an opportunity to handle the role in Dallas.
Even without it, Winters could prove to fit perfectly in what Parker and company have in store, and by the time the regular season rolls around he could be a sneaky extension to make sure he’s part of the plans moving forward, regardless of how well Jaishawn Barham adapts as a rookie.
Chances: 20%
Other Sneaky Extension Candidates
This article originally appeared on Cowboys Wire: 4 Cowboys who may be in line for contract extensions before Week 1
Reporting by K.D. Drummond, Cowboys Wire / Cowboys Wire
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
By K.D. Drummond, Cowboys Wire | USA TODAY Network
