The Dallas Cowboys spent the first week of free agency bolstering a historically bad defense.
Owner Jerry Jones believes that since he's owned the Cowboys, no unit has been improved in the outset of free agency as much as this year's defense.
"I'll tell you, when you have the challenges we had last year, there's no place to go but up on the defensive side of the ball," Jones said Sunday, . "Had we played a lick of defense last year, we would've had ourselves, I think, a real playoff run."
The Cowboys defense ranked 30th in total yards allowed and dead last in pass defense in 2025. They gave up 377 yards per game and a league-high 60 touchdowns. The offseason brought change with new defensive coordinator Christian Parker, who is reshuffling the play style to a 3-4 front.
During the opening couple of waves of free agency, Dallas traded for pass rusher Rashan Gary, added corner Cobie Durant, safeties Jalen Thompsonand P.J. Locke, defensive lineman Otito Ogbonnia and linebacker Tyrus Wheat in free agency.
"That plus what we have set up for the draft, plus what we really have coming back from our veteran defensive players that really didn't play that much last year, injury issues, things like that, gives us a lot of promise," Jones said.
Dallas also traded away young defensive lineman Osa Odighizuwaand veteran Solomon Thomas
Even with the addition of Gary, the Cowboys could still use help off the edge. With two first-round picks, Jones could add one or two difference-makers to a defense that has improved on paper.
