Missed Opportunities May Lead to Positive Offseason for Cowboys

The Dallas Cowboys have been active this offseason, working to strengthen a squad that has struggled to reach the playoffs for the past two years. Among their notable moves was the acquisition of pass rusher Rashan Gary via trade and the signing of safety Jalen Thompson, marking the team's largest free-agent contract in over a decade. However, it may be their missed opportunities that ultimately benefit the team the most.

Dallas aimed to secure a premier edge rusher, making a serious attempt to acquire Maxx Crosby from the Las Vegas Raiders. The Cowboys presented a compelling offer, including their 12th overall pick, a second-round selection in 2027, and defensive tackle Osa Odighizuwa. Ultimately, that proposal was insufficient, leading the Raiders to trade Crosby to the Baltimore Ravens—a deal that was later retracted, returning Crosby to Las Vegas. This misstep allowed the Cowboys to pivot and successfully trade for Gary at a significantly lower cost, using a fourth-round pick instead.

In addition to Gary, Dallas utilized their first-round pick to select Caleb Downs, a defensive asset who is well-suited for Christian Parker's defensive schemes. Downs, regarded as a top-5 talent, fell to the Cowboys, allowing them to not only acquire a promising young player but also retain a valuable draft pick for the next year, which is projected to be highly competitive.

The Cowboys also pursued high-profile linebackers in free agency but were unable to land their targets. They had hoped to sign Nakobe Dean, who had previously played under Parker with the Philadelphia Eagles, but Dean opted for the Raiders after feeling a strong instinct. Similarly, Quay Walker, a former Green Bay Packer, also chose to join the Raiders instead of Dallas. Both players secured contracts for three years, valued at $36 million for Dean and $40.5 million for Walker.

With the linebacker market diminished, the Cowboys turned their attention to the draft, trading a fifth-round pick to the San Francisco 49ers for Dee Winters. The experienced linebacker has started 27 games in the last two seasons and is coming off a career-best year. The Cowboys also added Jaishawn Barham in the third round, a player with potential as both a pass rusher and a run defender. This strategic approach to filling their linebacker needs may not have been possible if they had succeeded in signing Dean or Walker.

In retrospect, what initially seemed like setbacks for the Cowboys in their pursuit of Crosby, Dean, and Walker could prove to be advantageous in the long run.