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Bradley Chubb could be a Dallas Cowboys target.
It was a busy day for the rebuilding Miami Dolphins, who cut not one but two star players, one of which should get the Dallas Cowboys‘ ears to perk up. The Dolphins let go of receiver Tyreek Hill, but it is a defensive cut they made–two-time Pro Bowl edge rusher Bradley Chubb–that could provide an opportunity in Dallas.
The Cowboys, of course, are trying to revamp a defense that was among the worst in the NFL last season, ranking No. 32 in points allowed and 30th in yardage allowed. While they invested heavily in the interior of the defensive line, with Kenny Clark coming back in the Micah Parsons trade and the team pulling a deadline deal for Quinnen Williams, the team needs help pretty much everywhere else on the defense.
There are two first-round picks that can be used to fill the holes. Or, the team could be aggressive in free agency, and the release of Chubb gives them ample chance to do so–he is only 29, is still an effective pass-rusher and was starring for the Broncos when new coordinator Christian Parker was coaching in Denver.
Cowboys Lacking Pass-Rush Options
In the wake of Chubb’s release, the Cowboys rose to the fore as one of his potential new landing spots. The Cowboys lack pass-rushers under contract, and even if they add one in the draft, they will need more to fill up the depth chart. Veteran Jadeveon Clowney has said he would like to return after a successful 2025 campaign, but even is he does come back, the Cowboys are still lacking in pass-rush options.
Chubb would be a good option to fix that. He had 11.0 sacks in 2023, before undergoing ACL repair surgery and missing all of 2024. He had 8.5 sacks last season.
At CBS Sports, the Cowboys were tabbed one of the top landing spots: “The Cowboys have exactly two edge rushers under contract for 2026: Donovan Ezeiruaku and James Houston. They need to fill out the room with several bodies, and bringing in Chubb could make sense so long as they don’t break the bank, given their other defensive needs.”
The folks at Bleacher Report agree, though they pitch Chubb instead of Clowney, not with him.
The site writes: “Although the Cowboys acquired Quinnen Williams midway through the season, a Micah Parsons-sized vacancy remains in the defense. It’s not a coincidence the team went from third in sacks (52) to a tie for 22nd (35) after trading Parsons to the Green Bay Packers. Chubb would be an upgrade over Jadeveon Clowney, who had the unenviable task of replacing the three-time All-Pro.”
Bradley Chubb Makes Sense
The Cowboys have, over the course of this offseason, rebuilt the team’s defensive coaching structure, which has been taken as a good sign by most observers of the team. But the coaching changes won’t mean much without a reboot of the personnel defensively, and that’s where the Cowboys figure to have a challenge.
They can invest draft capital, and certainly will do so. But they need linebackers and defensive backs, and the draft is well-stocked with both. Most likely, edge rusher will be addressed in free agency.
And if Chubb is affordable, the Cowboys should have interest.
Sean Deveney is a veteran sports reporter covering the NBA, NFL and MLB for Heavy.com. He has written for Heavy since 2019 and has more than two decades of experience covering the NBA, including 17 years as the lead NBA reporter for the Sporting News. Deveney is the author of 7 nonfiction books, including “Fun City,” “Before Wrigley became Wrigley,” and “Facing Michael Jordan.” More about Sean Deveney
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