Credit: Steven Bisig-Imagn Images
As the NFL season reaches its final chapter, the Dallas Cowboys are again in evaluation mode — watching the Super Bowl from afar while searching for the missing pieces that can elevate them into championship contention.
For Cowboys executives, scouts, and fans across North Texas, the Super Bowl, if you pay close attention, is more than a spectacle. It is a live study of roster construction and how key players step up in the biggest moments.
This year’s finalists, the Seattle Seahawks and New England Patriots, feature several players who are currently projected to reach free agency and could help address Dallas’ most persistent needs next season.
The Cowboys enter the offseason facing familiar questions: defensive consistency, interior toughness, and reliable depth in pressure moments.Players currently listed on Seahawks or Patriots rosters — including practice squad contributors — fit that profile.Defense Still Drives the Conversation
Dallas’ edge rush remains among the league’s best, but postseason losses continue to expose problems between the tackles and on the second level.
Khyiris Tonga
One potential target is Khyiris Tonga, a defensive lineman on New England’s roster whose contract is expected to expire. Tonga is not a headline name, but his value lies in run defense — absorbing blocks, holding gaps, and allowing linebackers to flow freely. For a Cowboys defense that struggled at times to control the interior, a rotational lineman like Tonga could quietly fill a need.
K’Lavon Chaisson
Another Patriots defender who could draw interest is K’Lavon Chaisson, an edge player who remains a developmental piece but has postseason experience. Chaisson would not replace Dallas’ stars off the edge, but he could add depth and flexibility in sub-packages, something Super Bowl teams rely on heavily late in the season.
Jaylinn Hawkins
At safety, Jaylinn Hawkins, also on New England’s roster and nearing free agency, offers range and coverage ability. Dallas has leaned on playmaking in the secondary, but communication breakdowns and missed tackles have been costly—Hawkins profiles as a steady presence who could stabilize the back end.
Secondary Depth From Seattle
Seattle’s roster includes several defensive backs expected to reach free agency who could appeal to Dallas, particularly given the Cowboys’ injury history in the secondary.
Josh Jobe
Cornerback Josh Jobe, listed on the Seahawks’ roster, brings physicality and special teams value. While not a full-time starter, Jobe fits the mold of depth players who regularly surface on Super Bowl rosters — defenders trusted to execute specific assignments in critical moments.
Coby Bryant
Safety Coby Bryant, another Seahawk approaching free agency, offers versatility and football intelligence. Bryant has experience both in coverage and near the line of scrimmage, traits that would fit Dallas’ hybrid defensive looks.
Offensive Help Without Disrupting the Core
The Cowboys’ offensive nucleus remains intact, but Super Bowl teams often separate themselves through complementary pieces rather than stars alone.
Austin Hooper
One name that stands out is Austin Hooper, the veteran tight end currently on New England’s roster and expected to reach free agency. Hooper is not a dynamic downfield threat, but he remains a reliable route-runner with playoff experience. For Dallas, Hooper could complement the tight end room by providing consistency in short-yardage and red-zone situations.
Rashid Shaheed
Credit: Steven Bisig-Imagn Images
At wide receiver, Seattle’s Rashid Shaheed, listed on the Seahawks’ roster and projected to enter free agency, offers speed and versatility. Shaheed’s ability to stretch the field and contribute in the return game could add a different dimension to Dallas’ offense without requiring a major financial commitment.
Dareke Young
Another Seahawk, Dareke Young, profiles as a depth wide receiver and special teams contributor. Players like Young often find roles on postseason teams because of their willingness to block, cover kicks, and play situational football — areas that grow in importance late in the year.
Line Play Still Defines January
If the Cowboys are serious about closing the postseason gap, the offensive and defensive lines remain central to that mission.
Josh Jones
Seattle’s Josh Jones, a versatile offensive lineman on the Seahawks’ roster and nearing free agency, could provide depth across multiple positions. Jones’ flexibility would allow Dallas to protect itself against injuries — an issue that has derailed promising stretches in recent seasons.
Johnathan Hankins
Interior depth matters just as much. Seattle defensive lineman Johnathan Hankins, a familiar name to Cowboys fans and currently listed with the Seahawks, is also expected to be a free agent. Hankins’ experience and run-stopping ability could offer Dallas a short-term solution inside.
A Familiar Offseason Test
For Cowboys fans across North Texas, the offseason question remains unchanged: Will this be the year Dallas prioritizes substance over splash?
Super Bowl teams are rarely built solely through marquee signings. They are assembled through targeted additions — veterans who understand situational football and raise the roster’s floor.
As the Seahawks and Patriots prepare for the sport’s biggest stage, the Cowboys’ front office is watching closely.
The answers Dallas seeks may not come from stars, but from the kinds of players now performing on football’s biggest stage — players whose contracts are about to expire, and whose experience could matter most when January arrives again.
Mike is originally from Berkeley Heights, NJ. He attended The University of Scranton where he earned a BS in … More about Michael Mazzuca Tags: 2026 NFL Playoffs Austin Hooper Coby Bryant Cowboys Dallas Cowboys Dallas Cowboys Football Dareke Young Jaylinn Hawkins Johnathan Hankins K’Lavon Chaisson Khyiris Tonga New England Patriots NFL NFL analysis NFL Playoffs Patriots playoffs Rashid Shaheed Seahawks Seattle Seahawks Super Bowl
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