Five players Cowboys should target in free agency

Dallas Cowboys owner Jerry Jones may be about to open his wallet.

On Friday at the NFL Scouting Combine in Indianapolis, Jones spoke with reporters about his pending approach to free agency, with ESPN's Todd Archer reporting the longtime Cowboys owner plans to be aggressive this March.

"I would bet that we will spend more money in free agency than we have," Jones said.

After fielding one of the NFL's worst defenses in 2025, the Cowboys have no shortage of needs entering the free agency period, which opens on March 11 at 4 p.m. ET.

Below, we look at five players Dallas should target as it seeks to rebound from its first back-to-back losing seasons since 2000-02.

Safety Kamren Curl

The Cowboys should look to get younger at safety after Malik Hooker, 30, was limited to just 12 games due to injury in 2025. Curl, who turns 27 in March, has predominantly played free safety over the past two seasons with the Los Angeles Rams but began his career primarily as a strong safety with the Washington Commanders, and his strength as a run defender could lead him back to that role. That could be a major boost for a Dallas defense that ranked No. 26 in rush yards per attempt (4.7) in 2025.

Linebacker Demario Davis

The Cowboys had the league's worst third-down defense a season ago, allowing opponents to convert at a 47.3 percent rate. 

The unit struggled against the run in short-yardage situations, giving up a first down on 79.4 percent of third-and-short (three yards or less) rushing plays, the third-highest rate in the league, only ahead of the Buffalo Bills (91.4 percent) and New England Patriots (88.9 percent).

Davis would help fix that problem. NFL Pro noted in November 2025 that the 14-year veteran, 37, led linebackers with 15 run stuffs through Week 13, with several coming in short-yardage situations. He finished the season with 10 tackles on third or fourth-and-short run plays, and New Orleans tied for the third-fewest yards allowed per play (2.2) in those situations.

Edge-rusher Trey Hendrickson

The top pass-rusher on the market, Hendrickson had back-to-back 17.5-sack seasons in 2023-24 before being limited to seven games due to injury in 2025, when he finished with four sacks. One complication here could be if the Cincinnati Bengals, who Hendrickson has played for the past five seasons, applies the franchise tag ahead of the March 3 deadline, which would allow the organization to control where he plays next via trade.

"That hypothetical scenario would be very complicated," Bengals director of player personnel Duke Tobin told reporters at the scouting combine, making it unlikely. But it's still possible, with means the Cowboys need a suitable alternative.

Edge-rusher Jaelan Phillips

If Dallas whiffs on Hendrickson, Phillips would be an appropriate Plan B.

After poaching former Philadelphia Eagles pass game coordinator and defensive backs coach Christian Parker for its open defensive coordinator position, Dallas may try to lure some of his former players to the Lone Star State. Acquired from the Miami Dolphins at the 2025 trade deadline, Phillips appeared in nine games (including playoffs) for the Eagles and was credited by Pro Football Focus with 44 total pressures. Per PFF, his 76 pressures in 2025 were the ninth-most amount edge defenders.

Cornerback Nahshon Wright

The Cowboys let Wright leave once before, trading him to the Minnesota Vikings in August 2024 in exchange for corner Andrew Booth, who was released a year later after playing just 118 defense snaps for Dallas.

The Cowboys could make up for that misfire by signing Wright after a breakout 2025, when he had five interceptions, including one returned for a touchdown, 11 passes defended, three fumble recoveries and received his first Pro Bowl nod.