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CeeDee Lamb CeeDee Lamb Agrees to contract restructure
Wed, Mar 4, 2026, 10:37 AM
Lamb agreed to terms Wednesday on a contract restructure with the Cowboys, Todd Archer of ESPN.com reports.
Analysis: Lamb, quarterback Dak Prescott and offensive guard Tyler Smith (knee) all agreed to contract restructures Wednesday, helping Dallas' salary cap situation in advance of the start of the legal tampering period March 9. The soon-to-be 27-year-old wideout's restructure presumably involves converting future guarantees into a signing bonus, meaning he remains under contract through 2028. The 75-1,077-3 receiving line Lamb posted across 14 regular-season appearances in 2025 was the lowest since his rookie year back in 2020, and it coincided with George Pickens breaking out to the tune of 93-1,423-9. With Pickens having been re-signed via the franchise tag, he and Lamb will remain arguably the league's top wide receiver duo during the 2026 campaign. |
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Dak Prescott Dak Prescott Clears up cap space
Wed, Mar 4, 2026, 9:37 AM
Prescott agreed to terms Wednesday on a restructured contract with the Cowboys, Nick Harris of the Fort Worth Star-Telegram reports.
Analysis: Prescott and offensive lineman Tyler Smith's (knee) combined restructures free up $47 million in cap space for 2026, and Dallas is also expected to restructure CeeDee Lamb's deal. These restructures presumably involve converting future guarantees into signing bonuses. Prescott is entering his age-33 season fresh off a 2025 campaign in which he completed 67 percent of his passes for 4,552 yards and a 30:10 TD:INT, in addition to rushing 532 times for 177 yards and two scores. With the Cowboys having retained George Pickens for 2026 via the franchise tag and re-signed running back Javonte Williams (shoulder) to a three-year, $24 million deal, Prescott will benefit from significant continuity on offense in 2026. |
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George Pickens George Pickens Officially tagged
Fri, Feb 27, 2026, 10:06 AM
The Cowboys officially placed the non-exclusive franchise tag on Pickens on Friday, Todd Archer of ESPN.com reports.
Analysis: The transaction is confirmed by Patrik Walker of the team's official site. The non-exclusive franchise tag will allow Pickens to negotiate with other teams beginning with the start of the legal tampering period March 9, but it will also allow Dallas the right to match any offer extended to the breakout wide receiver. As with any franchise tag option, both sides will still have until mid-July to negotiate a potential multi-year deal, and Cowboys ownership has continually expressed a desire to keep Pickens around long-term. If no long-term extension is finalized, Pickens will be slated to play out the 2026 campaign on a fully guaranteed one-year, $28.8 million contract, per K.D. Drummond of USA Today. |
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George Pickens George Pickens To receive franchise tag
Mon, Feb 23, 2026, 11:32 AM
Cowboys executive vice president Stephen Jones said Monday that the team plans to finalize designating Pickens with the franchise tag within the next week, A to Z Sports reports.
Analysis: Pickens receiving the franchise tag has been the expectation after his breakout inaugural campaign in Dallas, which featured a 93-1,429-9 receiving line (137 targets) across 17 regular-season appearances. The franchise tag would allow the Cowboys to retain Pickens, an impending free agent, for the 2026 season on a one-year, $28 million exclusive deal, as well as provide both sides with until mid-July to negotiate a long-term deal. Were Pickens to reach the open market as a free agent, the soon-to-be 25-year-old wideout would doubtless earn a multi-year deal well in excess of that annual salary figure. Randy Gurzi of SI.com estimates that any deal Pickens were to sign on the open market would be in the range of $30 million per year. |
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Javonte Williams Javonte Williams Inks three-year deal with Dallas
Sat, Feb 21, 2026, 3:44 PM
Williams (shoulder) and the Cowboys agreed to terms on a three-year, $24 million contract Saturday, Ian Rapoport of NFL Network reports.
Analysis: The new deal includes $16 million in guaranteed money and ensures that Williams doesn't enter the new league year as an unrestricted free agent. The North Carolina product inked a one-year deal with the Cowboys in March of 2025 after spending the first four years of his NFL career with the Broncos, and he enjoyed a breakout season in his first year with Dallas, when he turned 252 carries into 1,201 yards and 11 touchdowns while catching 35 passes (on 51 targets) for 137 yards and two scores over 16 regular-season games. The deal solidifies Williams as the Cowboys' RB1 while Malik Davis (eye) and 2025 fifth-rounder Jaydon Blue both operate in rotational roles. |
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George Pickens George Pickens Expected to get franchise tag
Sat, Feb 7, 2026, 6:14 PM
The Cowboys are expected to place their franchise tag on Pickens during the offseason, Adam Schefter of ESPN reports.
Analysis: Pickens had a breakout year in his first campaign with Dallas, posting career bests of 93 catches, 137 targets, 1,429 receiving yards and nine receiving TDs while making his first Pro Bowl and earning second-team All-Pro recognition. While he's stated that he'd like to remain with the Cowboys, Pickens is slated to be an unrestricted free agent, so Dallas appears set to get a leg up on retaining the star wideout by applying the franchise tag to him. Schefter notes that the tag could simply "serve as a placeholder for the start of negotiations designed to keep [Pickens] in Dallas." |
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George Pickens George Pickens No contract talks with Cowboys yet
Mon, Feb 2, 2026, 11:42 AM
Dallas has not yet engaged in discussions about a potential new contract with Pickens, who is slated to become an unrestricted free agent this offseason, Calvin Watkins of the Dallas Morning News reports.
Analysis: Pickens broke out as the Cowboys' leading receiver in 2025, with his 93-1,429-9 receiving line (137 targets) outpacing CeeDee Lamb by six scores and roughly 350 receiving yards. That stands as a notable margin even considering that Pickens played all 17 regular-season games while Lamb suited up for just 14 contests. All expectations are that Dallas will retain Pickens, either via the franchise tag or with a contract extension following the tremendous chemistry he's demonstrated with quarterback Dak Prescott. As Watkins notes, however, the Cowboys' contract negotiations last offseason were tumultuous, culminating in the trade of Micah Parsons (knee), and if Pickens were to hit the open market he'd be one of the most sought-after free agents in the league. |
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Luke Schoonmaker Luke Schoonmaker Disappointing season in 2025
Mon, Jan 26, 2026, 8:51 AM
Schoonmaker caught 14 of 23 targets for 132 yards and zero touchdowns over 17 games for the Cowboys in 2025.
Analysis: The 2023 second-round pick has yet to miss a game in the NFL career, but Schoonmaker has done little else of note. His receiving numbers took a tumble from the 27-241-1 line he posted in 2024, and undrafted second-year player Brevyn Spann-Ford has moved past him on the depth chart due to his superior run blocking, although neither player is a threat to starting TE Jake Ferguson. Schoonmaker has one more year left on his rookie contract, but he hasn't done much to secure a spot in the Cowboys' long-term plans. |
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Brevyn Spann-Ford Brevyn Spann-Ford Provides reliable depth at TE
Mon, Jan 26, 2026, 8:47 AM
Spann-Ford caught nine of 13 targets for 90 yards and his first career touchdown over 17 games for the Cowboys in 2025.
Analysis: The second-year tight end has emerged as a dependable depth option, drawing excellent grades for his run blocking while also handling a regular role on special teams. Spann-Ford got rewarded for his work in the trenches with a four-yard TD pass from Dak Prescott in Week 12, but his usage as a pass rush catcher behind starter Jake Ferguson remains limited. Spann-Ford has one more year left on his rookie contract before becoming a restricted free agent, so he should fill a similar spot on the depth chart in 2026. |
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Jonathan Mingo Jonathan Mingo Fails to make impact in 2025
Mon, Jan 26, 2026, 8:41 AM
Mingo caught one of five targets for 25 yards while active for six games with the Cowboys in 2025.
Analysis: The third-year wideout didn't see his first snap of the season until Week 12, and he saw exactly one target in each of Dallas' last five games, catching just one of them. Mingo has one year left on his rookie contract after entering the league as a second-round pick of the Panthers in 2023, but he's done nothing with the Cowboys to suggest a breakout is coming next season, and he may not even be guaranteed a roster spot. |
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KaVontae Turpin KaVontae Turpin Cashes in on new kickoff rules
Mon, Jan 26, 2026, 8:37 AM
Turpin caught 26 of 38 targets for 396 yards and two touchdowns over 15 games in 2025. He also gained 89 rushing yards on 17 carries and led the NFL in kickoff-return yards with 1,814, while adding 55 punt-return yards.
Analysis: The kickoff-return yards were more than double Turpin's 2024 total, as he took full advantage of the league's revised kickoff rules. The 29-year-old wound up finishing second to the Titans' Chimere Dike in total return yards, but Turpin did fail to take any kicks to the house after scoring twice in 2024 as a return man. With two more years left on his contract, Turpin should be back in 2026 as the Cowboys' primary return specialist and an occasional contributor on offense. |
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Jalen Tolbert Jalen Tolbert Falls down depth chart in 2025
Mon, Jan 12, 2026, 1:25 PM
Tolbert caught 18 of 34 targets for 203 yards and a touchdown over 13 games in 2025.
Analysis: After a career-best campaign in 2024, Tolbert headed into the season third on the depth chart at wide receiver for the Cowboys behind CeeDee Lamb and George Pickens. The 2022 third-round pick fell out of favor after the first month of the season, however, and he was passed in the pecking order for snaps and targets by Ryan Flournoy. Tolbert is a free agent this offseason, and even with Pickens not guaranteed to return, it seems unlikely he'll be re-signed by Dallas. |
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Hunter Luepke Hunter Luepke Small but steady role in 2025
Mon, Jan 12, 2026, 1:20 PM
Luepke carried the ball 16 times for 71 yards and caught 13 of 15 targets for 109 yards and a touchdown over 17 games in 2025.
Analysis: The fullback has missed only one game in three seasons with the Cowboys, and Luepke set a new career high with his 180 scrimmage yards while scoring his second career TD. He split his time nearly equally between the offense and special teams in 2025, playing 250 offensive snaps and 241 on kick return squads, and he should fill a similar role next season in the first year of a two-year, $7 million contract extension. |
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Phil Mafah Phil Mafah Scores in pro debut
Mon, Jan 12, 2026, 11:11 AM
Mafah appeared in one game for the Cowboys in 2025, carrying the ball five times for 18 yards and a touchdown while catching both his targets for 11 yards.
Analysis: The 2025 seventh-round pick spent most of his rookie season on IR due to a shoulder injury, but Dallas activated him ahead of a Week 18 clash with the Giants and Mafah scored from the one-yard line in his NFL debut. With Javonte Williams headed for free agency, the Cowboys' backfield is unsettled to begin the offseason, and Mafah could find himself in a short-yardage-specialist role to begin 2026 if the team isn't able to find a bell cow to head the backfield. |
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Joe Milton Joe Milton Limited action in 2025
Mon, Jan 12, 2026, 11:06 AM
Milton appeared in four games for the Cowboys in 2025, completing 15 of 24 passes for 183 yards and a touchdown with two interceptions. He added 50 rushing yards on five carries and lost a fumble.
Analysis: The second-year quarterback saw his most extensive action in Week 18, but Milton didn't make a single start as Dak Prescott stayed healthy for the entire season. Milton's athletic upside remains intriguing, but he's still very raw as a passer and is stuck behind the highest-paid QB in the entire NFL, giving him little fantasy appeal heading into next season other than as an insurance policy for Prescott. |
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Israel Abanikanda Israel Abanikanda Inks reserve/future deal with DAL
Tue, Jan 6, 2026, 4:56 PM
Dallas signed Abanikanda to a reserve/future contract Tuesday.
Analysis: Abanikanda signed with the Cowboys' practice squad in November after he spent training camp and the preseason with Green Bay. A fifth-round pick by the Jets in 2023, Abanikanda hasn't appeared in a regular-season game since that rookie season. |
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Parris Campbell Parris Campbell Staying in Dallas
Mon, Jan 5, 2026, 9:03 PM
The Cowboys signed Campbell to a reserve/future contract Monday, Aaron Wilson of KPRC 2 Houston reports.
Analysis: Campbell was sidelined to open the season after reaching an injury settlement with Dallas in August due to an MCL sprain that he suffered in late July. The wide receiver then joined the Cowboys' practice squad Sept. 30, appearing in the team's Week 6 loss to the Panthers, failing to record any stats while playing two snaps on offense, but he did add a tackle over six snaps with the special-teams unit. Campbell will now have the opportunity to participate in the Cowboys' offseason activities, looking to compete for a reserve spot at wideout with the team in 2026. |
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Ryan Flournoy Ryan Flournoy Five catches in defeat
Sun, Jan 4, 2026, 11:10 PM
Flournoy caught five of seven targets for 68 yards in Sunday's 34-17 loss to the Giants.
Analysis: Flournoy was able to pace the team in catches and receiving yards as Dallas opted to rest starters CeeDee Lamb and George Pickens, amongst others, after the early moments of the contest. Flournoy has now finished his second season in Dallas, reeling in 40 of 56 targets for 475 yards and four touchdowns while also adding 25 yards on four carries over 16 regular-season contests. With Pickens potentially set to become a free agent this offseason, Flournoy could step into a more substantial role next season behind Lamb in the Cowboys' offense. |
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Jake Ferguson Jake Ferguson One catch in season finale
Sun, Jan 4, 2026, 11:01 PM
Ferguson caught one of two targets for five yards in Sunday's 34-17 loss to the Giants.
Analysis: Ferguson was able to play in Week 18 after opening the week limited at practice with a calf issue, but was limited to just one catch for the second straight week. The tight end sputtered into the finish line this season, failing to reach 20 receiving yards in each of his final four contests. Ferguson has now completed his fourth campaign in Dallas having reeled in a career-high 82 passes on 102 targets for 600 yards and eight touchdowns over 17 regular-season contests, and he'll likely enter next year as the team's undisputed No. 1 tight end. |
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Jaydon Blue Jaydon Blue Caps poor rookie year on high note
Sun, Jan 4, 2026, 4:16 PM
Blue rushed 16 times for 64 yards and a touchdown but wasn't targeted in the passing game during Sunday's 34-17 loss to the Giants.
Analysis: Blue spent most of his rookie season as a healthy inactive, but he took on the lead-back role in the regular-season finale as the Cowboys played without Javonte Williams (shoulder) and Malik Davis (eye/calf). Blue made the most of his opportunity, scoring his first NFL touchdown on a 14-yard run in the first quarter. The 2025 fifth-round pick will try to carve out a larger role in his second NFL campaign after dressing for only five games as a rookie. Blue had 38 carries for 129 yards and one touchdown while catching his only target for five yards across those five appearances. |
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