Will McClay Discusses Defensive Coordinator Hire, Free Agency, & More | Dallas Cowboys 2026

Dallas Cowboys VP of Player Personnel Will McClay discusses the team’s new defensive coordinator hire, how the club will balance free agency with the draft, and why Dallas plans to follow its traditional evaluation process while targeting impact players the “right way.”

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26 comments

  6. How in the hell does this man still have a job? I mean how long has he been the player personnel director and nothing? How many playoff games have the Boys won under his drafting? It's insane how the media loves McClay and he's nothing but a pos liberal.

  10. * We need a Culture of DISCIPLINE, ACCOUNTABILITY and CONSISTENCY.. This Defense was Putrid, Allocate All assetts to build A Defense.Sign J Williams, B Aubrey and Clowney. DCB4L💯🏈

  12. Will McClay, you need to kick rocks and go somewhere else. The personnel you have been drafting has been miss. We need to change things up. I’m so tired of the monotony and repetition.

  16. Hiring Parker for DC is the start, now must focus on building up a Cowboys defense that will show more consistency than last year. Continue to draft good players that show impact and work to the standard Mr. Will McClay, cause you’re the man.

  19. I. Hope. He. Is. Not. Blowing. Smoke. Up. Everyone. Ass. They. Have. Been. Talking. This. Kind. Of. Shut. For. Years. And. Nothing. Had. Ever. Been. Done. About. It. Get. Jerry. Jones. Out. Of. The. Picture. No. Matter. Who. They. Hire. It. Won't. Work. As. Long. Jerry. Won't. Keep. His. Hands. Off.

  21. MY 2026 SUPER BOWL COWBOY ROSTER ll Projections (Love)
    2026 Salary Cap: 297 million – '27 314 million

    This All Fits thru 26-28

    Dak (restructure) +25 million
    Cee Dee (restructure) +20 million
    Trevon Diggs +12.5 + .475
    Terrence Steele +9 million
    Malik Hooker +7 million (resign)
    Jon Mingo (cut) +1.9 million (Holden)
    Luke Schoonmaker (trade) +1.5 million
    Osa Odighizua ('27 trade) +12.5

    New Contracts:

    IF Trade: { not best move }
    Pick 20
    Terrence Steele
    Luke Schoonmaker
    '27 5th Rd Pk

    for

    DE Max Crosby { restructure }
    4+1 years 113 million 80G 28.25 avg
    30SB – 4, 20, 26, 33, v,
    Cap Hit: 10, 24, 30, 39, 6

    or

    Free Agent > { Best Option }
    DE Trey Hendrickson 6'4 265
    2+2 yrs million 25G + .1 gp .25 sk
    10SB- 10, 5B-10, 5, v, v
    Cap Hits: 12.5, 17.5, 2.5, 2.5

    WR George Pickens { Franchise }
    '26 29 million; '27 35 million
    or
    { Best Option } > Contract
    4+3 years 130 million 78G 32.5 avg
    20SB – 12, 20, 24B-26, 32, v, v, v
    Cap Hit: 16, 24, 36, 42, 10, 6, 6

    DT Quinnen Williams dt-1 { restructure }
    Cap Hits: 20.75; 25.4
    4+3 years 110 million 68G 27.5 avg
    20m – 8, 20, 20B-16, 26, v, v, v
    Cap Hits: 12, 24, 24, 34, 8, 4, 4

    DT Kenny Clark dt-3 { restructure }
    3+1 years 45 million 25G 15 avg
    10B – 5, 15, 2.5B-12.5, v
    Cap Hits: 7.5, 17.5, 17.5, 2.5

    { Free Agent } good move
    LB Nakobe Dean 5'11 231 lb-2
    2+1 years 18 million 10G 9 avg
    6B – 2, 2B-8, v
    Cap Hits: 4, 11, 3

    or

    { Free Agent } strong move ☆
    LB Kaden Ellis 6' 240 lb-1
    3+1 years 27 million 18G 9 avg
    8SB- 2, 2B-6, 9, v
    Cap Hits: 4, 9, 11, 3

    { Free Agent } wilson replacement
    S Geno Stone 5'10 210 ss-1 *
    3+1 years 22.5 million G14 7.5 avg
    8SB- 1, 5, 8.5, v
    Cap Hits: 3, 7, 10.5, 2

    or

    { Free Agent } coaches special?
    Reed Blankenship 6'1 203
    2+1 years million 12.5G 6.25 avg
    4.5B – 1, 2B-5, v
    Cap Hits: 2.5, 7.5, 2.5
    ( not worth the projected 3 yr 39m )

    K Brandon Aubrey
    5+2 years 40 million 20G 8 avg
    10SB – 2, 3 B[5]5-4, 5, 6, v, v
    Cap Hits: 4, 5, 8, 9, 10, 2, 2

    RB Javonte Williams 5'10 225
    3+1 years 18 million 9G + incentives
    6SB- 1, 2B-3, 6, v
    Cap Hits: 2.5, 5.5, 8.5, 1.5

    { Free Agent } bargin ☆
    Quincy Williams 5'10 239 lb-4
    3 years 17.5 million 7.5G 5.5 avg
    4.5SB- 1, 2B-4, 6
    Cap Hits: 2.5, 6.5, 8.5
    ( Q-W brother – team friendly )

    OC Brock Hoffman 6'4 309 ( gets )
    3+1 years 15.5 million
    4SB- 1, 5, 5.5 v
    Cap Hits: 2, 6, 6.5, 1
    { 6th Round Compensatory Pick }

    DE Jadeveon Clowney 6'6 250 de-3
    2+1 yrs 10.5 million 6.5G + incent .25 sk
    4.5SB- 1, 1B-4, v
    Cap Hits: 2.5, 6, 1.5

    DE Sam Williams de-5/st
    2+1 years 10.5 million 5.5G
    4.5SB- 1, 5, v
    Cap Hits: 2.5, 6.5, 1.5

    FS Malik Hooker fs-1 { cut/resign } -2m
    2+1 years 9.5 million + incentives
    4.5SB- 1, 4.5, v
    Cap Hits: 2.5, 6, 1.5

    { Free Agent }
    Chidobe Awuzie cb-4
    3+1 years 15 million 8G
    6SB- 1, 1B-3, 4, v
    Cap Hits: 2.5, 5.5, 5.5, 1.5

    RB Malik Davis 5'11 205 rb-3
    2+1 years 5.75 million 3.25G
    2.25SB- 1, 2.5, v
    Cap Hits: 1.75, 3.25, .75
    ( or Phil Mafah sends him to ps )

    WR Jalen Tolbert 6'3 205 { resign } wr-4
    3+1 years 10.5 million + incentives
    4SB- 1, 2, 3.5, v
    Cap Hits: 2, 3, 4.5, 1
    ( continuity – Dak Friendly or Holden )

    S/ST Juanyeh Thomas 6'3 215
    3+1 years 8.5 million 2.25SB
    ( C.J. Goodwin replacement )

    { camp bubble }
    Payton Turner 6'6 270 de-6
    1 year 2.75 million
    or
    Dante Fowler 6'3 263 de-6
    1 year 2.75 + incentives .25 sk
    or

    2026 DRAFT

    * denotes Cowboy drafted player
    ☆ coveted player

    Pick 12
    [ RB Jeremiyah Love 6'0 214 N.D. ] *
    [ DE David Bailey 6'3 250 Tex Tech ] gone
    [ OLB Arvell Reese 6'4 243 Ohio St ] gone
    [ S Caleb Downs 6'0 205 Ohio St ] gone
    [ LB Sonny Styles 6'5 245 Ohio St ]
    [ CB Mansoor Delane 6'0.5 190 LSU ]
    [ OT Francis Mauigoa 6'6 318 Miami ]

    Pick 20
    [ CB Jermod McCoy 6'0 193 Tenn ] ☆
    [ LB CJ Allen 6'1 235 Georgia ]
    [ DT K. McDonald 6'3 326 Ohio St ]
    [ DE Akheem Mesidor 6'3 275 Mia ]
    [ OT Kadyn Procter 6'7 366 Ala ]

    Trade: 20 for 41, 72, '27 3rd

    [ 41 CB Keionte Scott 6'0 195 Miami ] *

    Trade Down Candidates
    [ CB Keionte Scott 6'0 195 Miami ] ☆
    [ DE Romello Height 6'3 243 Tex T ]
    [ CB David Igbinosun 6'2 195 Ohio St ]
    [ DT Christian Miller 6'4 315 ]
    [ CB Colton Hood 6'0 190 Tenn ]
    [ DE JoshuaJoseph 6'3 240 Tenn ]
    [ CB Avieon Terrell 5'11 183 Clem ]
    [ LB Jay Golday 6'4 242 Cincinnati ] ☆
    [ S Emman McNeil 6'2 205 Toledo ]
    [ LB Anthony Hill Jr 6'3 235 Texas ] ☆
    [ CB Brandon Cisse 6'0 194 S. Car ]
    [ DE Malachi Lawrence 6'4 250 UCF ]

    [ 72 CB David Igbinosun 6'2 195 Ohio St ] *

    Pick 112
    [ OT J.C. Davis 6'5 335 Illinois ]
    [ S Cole Wisniewski 6'4 220 Tex Tech ] *
    [ CB Trey Stukes 6'2 202 Arz ] ☆
    [ DE Malachi Lawrence 6'4 250 UCF ]
    [ S Keon Sabb 6'1 205 Alabama ]
    [ CB Domani Jackson 6'1 196 Ala ]
    [ LB Al Rodriguez 6'1 235 Tex Tech ]
    [ S Bishop Fitzgerald 5'11 205 USC ]
    [ CB Jalon Kilgore 6'1 211 S. Car ] ☆
    [ S Bray Hubbard 6'2 213 Ala ]
    [ CB Daylen Everette 6'1 191 UGA ]
    [ DE Ken Jackson 6'6 265 Ohio St ]
    [ CB Chris Johnson 6'0 195 SD St ]
    [ S Michael Taaffe 6'0 190 Texas ]

    Pick 150
    [ CB Keith Abney II 6'0 192 Ari St ]
    [ OT Trey Zuhn III 6'6 320 Tex A&M ]
    [ CB Djon Johnson 6'1 204 Fla ]
    [ S Genesis Smith 6'2 204 Arizona ]
    [ DT Lee Hunter 6'4 330 Tex Tech ]
    [ DE Nadame Tucker 6'3 250 W. Mich ] *
    [ OT Alex Harkey 6'6 325 Oregon ] ☆

    Trade 177, Trevor Keegan for 151

    [ 151 OT Trey Zuhn III 6'6 320 Tex A&M ] *

    Pick 177 (trade)
    [ CB Jandon Canady 5'11 189 Oregon ] ☆
    [ TE Tanner Koziol 6'7 250 Houston ]
    [ S Bud Clark 6'2 195 TCU ] ☆
    [ CB Tony Grimes 6'2 195 Purdue ]
    [ TE Dae'Quan Wright 6'4 255 Miss ]
    [ CB Fred Davis 6'1 200 Neb ]
    [ DT Zxavian Harris 6'8 330 Miss ]
    [ DE Eric O'Neil 6'3 261 Rutgers ] ☆

    Pick 215
    [ C Jager Burton 6'4 323 Kentucky ] *
    [ S DQ Smith 6'1 219 S. Car ]

    [ 221 QB Cole Payton 6'3 233 N. Dakota St ] *

    [ 225 TE Rohan Jones 6'3 244 Arkansas ] *

    Undrafted Free Agents:
    TE Tanner Arkin 6'4 265 Illinois
    C Bryce Foster 6'5 315 Kansas
    CB Cormani McClain 6'2 189 Fla
    WR

    MY ROSTER PROJECTION '26

    Offense: (24) (ps) 9

    Quarterbacks: (2)
    Dak Prescott 6'3 225
    Joe Milton 6'5 235

    [ Cole Payton 6'3 233 eme-qb3 ] *
    or
    Will Grier 6'3 218 eme-eme-qb3

    Runningbacks: (4)
    [ Jeremiyah Love 6'0 214 ] *
    Javonte Williams 5'10 225 ($)
    Jaydon Blue 5'9 202 ( +4 lbs )

    Hunter Lemke 6'3 250 IR

    (ps) Malik Davis 5'11 205
    (ps) Israel Abanikanda 5'11 215
    (ps) Phil Mafa 6'1 234

    Wide Receivers: (5)
    Cee Dee Lamb 6'2 198
    George Pickens 6'3 200 ($)
    Ryan Flournoy 6'1 210
    Traeshon Holden 6'2 205 wr-4
    KaVonte Turpin 5'9 158 st

    3of
    (ps) Traeshon Holden 6'2 205
    (ps) Parris Campbell 6'0 205
    (ps) Jalen Crooper 5'11 195
    (ps)

    Tightens: (3)
    Jake Ferguson 6'5 245
    Brevyn Ford 6'7 270
    Princeton Fant 6'3 242

    Rohan Jones 6'3 244 IR 🙂

    2of
    (ps) Tanner Arkin 6'4 265
    (ps)
    (ps)

    [ 221 TE Rohan Jones 6'3 244 Arkansas ] *

    Offensive Line: (10)
    Tyler Guyton 6'8 322
    Ajani Cornelius 6'5 313

    Tyler Smith 6'5 325 t
    T.J. Bass 6'5 325

    Coober BeeBe 6'3 335
    [ Jager Burton 6'4 323 ] *

    Tyler Booker 6'5 325
    Robert Jones 6'4 334

    Nathan Thomas 6'5 335
    [Trey Zuhn III 6'6 320 ] *

    2of
    (ps) Hakeem Adeniji 6'4 315
    (ps) Bryce Foster 6'5 315
    (ps)

    [ 151 OT Trey Zuhn III 6'6 320 Tex A&M ] *

    [ 215 C Jager Burton 6'4 323 Kentucky ] *

    UDFA C Bryce Foster 6'5 315 Kansas

    DEFENSE (26+1exem) (ps) 9
    Defensive Line: (5)
    Quinnen Williams 6'3 308
    Osa Odighizua 6'3 285 de
    Kenny Clark 6'3 315
    Solomon Thomas 6'3 295 de
    Perrin Winfrey 6'4 295
    or
    Jay Toia 6'2 342

    2of
    (ps) Jay Toia 6'2 342
    (ps)
    (ps) Earnest Brown 6'5 280
    (exe) Denzel Daxon 6'2 305

    Edge: (6)
    Jadeveon Clowney 6'6 252 ($)
    [ Nadame Tucker 6'3 250 ] *
    Sam Williams 6'4 255 ($)

    { Trey Hendrickson 6'4 265 } ($)
    Donovan Ezeriuaku 6'2.5 248
    Payton Turner 6-6:270 de-6 ($)

    2of
    (ps) James Houston 6'1 242
    (ps) Adedayo Odeleye 6'5 283 exem
    (ps) Earnest Brown 6'5 275
    (ps) Isaiah Land 6'4 235

    [ 150 DE Nadame Tucker 6'3 250 W. Mich ] *

    Linebackers: (5)
    DeMarvion Overshown 6'4 228 lb-1
    { LB Nakobe Dean 5'11 231 lb-2a } ($)
    { Quincy Williams 5'10 239 lb-2b } ($)
    Marist Liufau 6'2 240 lb-4
    Shemar James 6'1 228 lb-5

    2of
    (ps) Justin Barron 6'4 235
    (ps)
    (ps)

    Safety (4)
    Malik Hooker 6'2 212 ($)
    { S Geno Stone 5'10 210 ss-1 }
    [ Cole Wisniewski 6'4 220 ] *
    Markquese Bell 6'3 218
    or
    Juanyeh Thomas 6'3 215
    or
    Alijah Clark 6'1 205

    2of
    (ps) Juanyeh Thomas 6'3 215
    (ps) Alijah Clark 6'1 205
    (ps)
    (ps) Julius Wood 6'1 194

    [ 112 S Cole Wisniewski 6'4 220 Tex Tech ] *

    Cornebacks: (6)
    ShavonRevel 6'2 198 cb-1a
    DaRon Bland 6'0.5 200 cb-1b/slot

    [ Keionte Scott 6'0 195 slot ]
    Reddy Steward 5'11 180 cb-6

    [ David Igbinosun 6'2 195 cb-5b ] *
    { Chidobe Awuzie 6'0 203 } cb-4a

    3of
    (ps) vet free agent
    (ps)
    (ps) Josh Butler 6'0 187
    (ps) Trikweze Bridges 6'2 200
    (ps) Robert Rochelle 6'0 195

    [ 41 CB Keionte Scott 6'0 195 Miami ] *

    [ 72 CB David Igbinosun 6'2 195 Ohio St ] *

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