This offseason, I took control of the Dallas Cowboys in GM Mode on StickToTheModel with a plan to improve the defense, manage the cap, and build depth across the roster.

Here’s how the offseason played out.

The Big Picture

• Starting Cap Space: $9.7M
• Final Cap Space: $18.4M

• Players Cut: 1
• Contracts Restructured: 6
• Extensions: 1
• Free Agents Signed: 5
• Draft Picks: 8

• Overall Grade: B

The Cowboys created cap space while focusing heavily on rebuilding the defense.

Cuts

Malik Hooker
Cap Savings: +$7.0M

Dallas moved on from Hooker to create additional financial flexibility heading into free agency.

Restructures

Six contracts were reworked to create cap space.

• Osa Odighizuwa (+$8.8M)
• Quinnen Williams (+$8.7M)
• DaRon Bland (+$7.5M)
• Terence Steele (+$7.3M)
• Jake Ferguson (+$4.3M)
• Kenny Clark (+$8.3M)

These restructures allowed Dallas to remain aggressive in free agency while maintaining cap flexibility.

Extension

George Pickens

The Cowboys locked up Pickens on an extension, securing a key offensive weapon long term.

Free Agency

Dallas targeted defensive upgrades throughout free agency.

Jaquan Brisker — S
2yr / $14.8M APY

Alontae Taylor — CB
1yr / $9.4M APY

Nakobe Dean — LB
2yr / $8.5M APY

Jaelan Phillips — EDGE
1yr / $7.6M APY

Chidobe Awuzie — CB
1yr / $3.6M APY

These additions helped strengthen the Cowboys’ secondary and add depth to the defensive front.

Draft Class

Dallas continued prioritizing defense in the draft while adding offensive line depth.

Round 1 — Pick 12
Sonny Styles (OLB, Ohio State)

Round 2 — Pick 33
Dillon Thieneman (S, Oregon)

Round 2 — Pick 44
Zion Young (EDGE, Missouri)

Round 3 — Pick 72
Davison Igbinosun (CB, Ohio State)

Round 5 — Pick 151
Skyler Gill-Howard (DL, Texas Tech)

Round 5 — Pick 176
Markel Bell (OT, Miami)

Round 7 — Pick 220
Jadon Canady (CB, Oregon)

Round 7 — Pick 224
Tyler Onyedim (DL, Texas A&M)

Final Take

Dallas finished the offseason with $18.4M in cap space after restructuring contracts, extending a key offensive weapon, and reinforcing the defense through free agency and the draft.

Run Your Own NFL Offseason

I built this roster using GM Mode on StickToTheModel, where you can run your own NFL team, manage the salary cap, make trades, sign free agents, and run the draft.

Try it yourself here:
https://sticktothemodel.com/