{"id":710934,"date":"2026-01-28T07:28:29","date_gmt":"2026-01-28T07:28:29","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nfl\/710934\/"},"modified":"2026-01-28T07:28:29","modified_gmt":"2026-01-28T07:28:29","slug":"super-bowl-rosters-highlight-possible-free-agent-answers-for-cowboys","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nfl\/710934\/","title":{"rendered":"Super Bowl Rosters Highlight Possible Free-Agent Answers for Cowboys"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Cowboys<\/a><\/p>\n

\"JanCredit: Steven Bisig-Imagn Images <\/p>\n

As the NFL<\/a> season reaches its final chapter, the Dallas Cowboys are again in evaluation mode \u2014 watching the Super Bowl<\/a> from afar while searching for the missing pieces that can elevate them into championship contention.<\/p>\n

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.<\/p>\n

This year\u2019s finalists, the Seattle Seahawks and New England Patriots<\/a>, feature several players who are currently projected to reach free agency and could help address Dallas\u2019 most persistent needs next season.<\/p>\n

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 \u2014 including practice squad contributors \u2014 fit that profile.Defense Still Drives the Conversation<\/p>\n

Dallas\u2019 edge rush remains among the league\u2019s best, but postseason losses continue to expose problems between the tackles and on the second level.<\/p>\n

Khyiris Tonga<\/p>\n

One potential target is\u00a0Khyiris Tonga, a defensive lineman on New England\u2019s roster whose contract is expected to expire<\/a>. Tonga is not a headline name, but his value lies in run defense \u2014 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.<\/p>\n

K\u2019Lavon Chaisson<\/p>\n

Another Patriots defender who could draw interest is K\u2019Lavon Chaisson<\/a>, an edge player who remains a developmental piece but has postseason experience. Chaisson would not replace Dallas\u2019 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.<\/p>\n

Jaylinn Hawkins<\/p>\n

At safety,\u00a0Jaylinn Hawkins, also on New England\u2019s roster and nearing free agency<\/a>, offers range and coverage ability. Dallas has leaned on playmaking in the secondary, but communication breakdowns and missed tackles have been costly\u2014Hawkins profiles as a steady presence who could stabilize the back end.<\/p>\n

Secondary Depth From Seattle<\/p>\n

Seattle\u2019s roster includes several defensive backs expected to reach free agency who could appeal to Dallas, particularly given the Cowboys\u2019 injury history in the secondary.<\/p>\n

Josh Jobe<\/p>\n

Cornerback\u00a0Josh Jobe, listed on the Seahawks\u2019 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 \u2014 defenders trusted to execute specific assignments in critical moments.<\/p>\n

Coby Bryant<\/p>\n

Safety\u00a0Coby Bryant, another Seahawk approaching free agency,<\/a> offers versatility and football intelligence. Bryant has experience both in coverage and near the line of scrimmage, traits that would fit Dallas\u2019 hybrid defensive looks.<\/p>\n

Offensive Help Without Disrupting the Core<\/p>\n

The Cowboys\u2019 offensive nucleus remains intact, but Super Bowl teams often separate themselves through complementary pieces rather than stars alone.<\/p>\n

Austin Hooper<\/p>\n

One name that stands out is\u00a0Austin Hooper, the veteran tight end currently on New England\u2019s 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.<\/p>\n

Rashid Shaheed\"\"Credit: Steven Bisig-Imagn Images<\/p>\n

At wide receiver, Seattle\u2019s\u00a0Rashid Shaheed, listed on the Seahawks\u2019 roster and projected to enter free agency, offers speed and versatility. Shaheed\u2019s ability to stretch the field and contribute<\/a> in the return game could add a different dimension to Dallas\u2019 offense without requiring a major financial commitment.<\/p>\n

Dareke Young<\/p>\n

Another Seahawk,\u00a0Dareke Young, profiles as a depth wide receiver and special teams contributor. Players like Young often find roles on postseason teams<\/a> because of their willingness to block, cover kicks, and play situational football \u2014 areas that grow in importance late in the year.<\/p>\n

Line Play Still Defines January<\/p>\n

If the Cowboys are serious about closing the postseason gap, the offensive and defensive lines remain central to that mission.<\/p>\n

Josh Jones<\/p>\n

Seattle\u2019s\u00a0Josh Jones, a versatile offensive lineman on the Seahawks\u2019 roster and nearing free agency, could provide depth across multiple positions. Jones\u2019 flexibility would allow Dallas to protect itself against injuries \u2014 an issue that has derailed promising stretches in recent seasons.<\/p>\n

Johnathan Hankins<\/p>\n

Interior depth matters just as much. Seattle defensive lineman\u00a0Johnathan Hankins, a familiar name to Cowboys fans and currently listed with the Seahawks, is also expected to be a free agent. Hankins\u2019 experience and run-stopping ability could offer Dallas a short-term solution inside<\/a>.<\/p>\n

A Familiar Offseason Test<\/p>\n

For Cowboys fans across North Texas, the offseason question remains unchanged: Will this be the year Dallas prioritizes substance over splash?<\/p>\n

Super Bowl teams are rarely built solely through marquee signings. They are assembled through targeted additions \u2014 veterans who understand situational football and raise the roster\u2019s floor.<\/p>\n

As the Seahawks and Patriots prepare for the sport\u2019s biggest stage, the Cowboys\u2019 front office is watching closely<\/a>.<\/p>\n

The answers Dallas seeks may not come from stars, but from the kinds of players now performing on football\u2019s biggest stage \u2014 players whose contracts are about to expire, and whose experience could matter most when January arrives again.<\/p>\n

\"avatar\"Mike is originally from Berkeley Heights, NJ. He attended The University of Scranton where he earned a BS in … More about Michael Mazzuca<\/a> Tags: 2026 NFL Playoffs<\/a> Austin Hooper<\/a> Coby Bryant<\/a> Cowboys<\/a> Dallas Cowboys<\/a> Dallas Cowboys Football<\/a> Dareke Young<\/a> Jaylinn Hawkins<\/a> Johnathan Hankins<\/a> K\u2019Lavon Chaisson<\/a> Khyiris Tonga<\/a> New England Patriots<\/a> NFL<\/a> NFL analysis<\/a> NFL Playoffs<\/a> Patriots<\/a> playoffs<\/a> Rashid Shaheed<\/a> Seahawks<\/a> Seattle Seahawks<\/a> Super Bowl<\/a> <\/p>\n

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