How quickly can the defense turn around?

Twenty one years ago when the Cowboys were heading into the 2005 NFL Draft, they were in a somewhat similar spot as they are going into the 2026 NFL Draft. Dallas was changing defensive scheme, needed help personnel wise on defense and had two first-round picks. The Cowboys would go on to draft future Hall of Famer DeMarcus Ware and DT Marcus Spears, and turned around their defense quickly in just one season.

Jones said there are “some flashes” of that process heading into this cycle with new defensive coordinator Christian Parker and the 12^th and 20^th overall picks, and believes that similarly, the Cowboys have a chance to turn things around in one offseason once again.

“I think we can get the things accomplished we need to personnel wise, or we wouldn’t have gone in this direction,” Jones said. “And certainly Christian [Parker] wouldn’t be recommending it if we didn’t think we could get the right personnel to be successful.”

The latest on Jadeveon Clowney’s future

Defensive end Jadeveon Clowney, who led the Cowboys in sacks last season with 8.5, is an unrestricted free agent. While Jones said Dallas “absolutely” wanted Clowney back in late December on 105.3 The Fan, there have been no contract talks up to this point between the Cowboys and Clowney’s representation.

“We’re going to work through with Christian [Parker],” Jones said. “A lot of it will happen this coming week, in terms of the type of player [he wants]. We’re going to continue to have those talks, and then we’ll make final decisions on who we think will be productive in this particular system.”

Clowney, who just turned 33, has said in the past he’d be willing to get a deal signed before training camp so that he could participate. With a new defensive staff in place now for the Cowboys, there’s a possibility he may not fit the bill of the type of player Dallas is looking for as Parker begins his tenure as defensive coordinator.

What could “bust the budget” look like?

At the Cowboys’ end of season press conference, owner/GM Jerry Jones said that with Dak Prescott playing at the level he is among other factors, he would be incentivized to “bust the budget” and “do some dramatic things” pertaining to improving the roster heading into 2026.

On Tuesday, Stephen Jones pointed to the Patriots and Seahawks’ approaches to their 2025 campaign that resulted in a Super Bowl appearance for both teams, but also distinguished that each situation is different.

“I think he is very driven, I think we’re all very driven to really do what we need to do on the defensive side of the ball to get better,” Jones said. “And I think if we can do that, we think we can have a great football team. You don’t have to look any further than the Super Bowl this year. Both those teams are great success stories, probably a lot of people didn’t feel like would be in the big game, and they were, and hats off to them.”

“I think everything’s different. There’s no set situation as to how you go about doing something.”

Resigning Javonte Williams

On Saturday, the Cowboys and RB Javonte Williams agreed to terms on a three-year, $24 million extension following Williams’ career best season in Dallas with 1,201 rushing yards and 11 touchdowns.

Jones made it clear after the season that the Cowboys wanted to get a multi-year extension done with the 25-year-old back, and both sides came to an agreement before Williams hit the market as a free agent, with the deal officially inked on Tuesday.

“It’s really important. The good news too was Javonte was wanting to get it done early too. He wanted to be in Dallas…” Jones said. “Certainly that was one where Javonte was really wanting to be a Cowboy. He wanted to be in Dallas. He liked the situation he was in playing for coach Schottenheimer. He liked the situation playing with Dak, playing with our offensive personnel, he felt like it fit him.”

George Pickens’ likely pending franchise tag

The Cowboys have not been shy with utilizing the franchise tag on players in the past, and that may not be changing in 2026 as WR George Pickens is trending towards having the tag placed on him before the March 3 deadline should no contract extension be reached by then.

“We’re leaning that direction.” Jones said in regard to placing the tag on Pickens.

A tag on Pickens would cost about $28 million against the cap, but both sides will have up until July 15^th to reach an agreement on a multi-year contract extension. Pickens, who will be 25 when the 2026 season beings, posted career-highs in receiving yards (1,429) and touchdowns (9) in his first season with the Cowboys.