![\"Arlington,](\"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nfl\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/USATSI_27818618-scaled.jpg\")
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tDec 14, 2025; Arlington, Texas, USA; Dallas Cowboys owner Jerry Jones before a game against the Minnesota Vikings at AT&T Stadium.
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tKevin Jairaj-Imagn Images<\/p>\n
The Dallas Cowboys said they would bust the budget in free agency and didn\u2019t. Ahead of the 2026 NFL Draft, it\u2019s time to finally do so. But that likely implies breaking their own rule. <\/p>\n
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\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tDec 14, 2025; Arlington, Texas, USA; Dallas Cowboys owner Jerry Jones before a game against the Minnesota Vikings at AT&T Stadium.
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tKevin Jairaj-Imagn Images<\/p>\n
Heading into free agency earlier in the year, the Dallas Cowboys indicated they would \u201cbust the budget\u201d to fix a defense that was largely responsible for the team\u2019s shortcomings in 2025. <\/p>\n
It\u2019s safe to say, they failed to deliver. And it\u2019s largely because they refuse to break one of their biggest rules: overpaying. <\/p>\n
Ahead of the 2026 NFL Draft, they must come to terms with it. Let\u2019s break it down. <\/p>\n
Another quiet Cowboys free agency<\/p>\n
As of today, the Cowboys rank 25th in free agency spending, per Over the Cap<\/a>. Their biggest signing in March was safety Jalen Thompson. While he\u2019s a very good get<\/a>, Thompson\u2019s contract makes him only the 20th-highest-paid player at his position. <\/p>\n The Cowboys may have spent a little bit more had they not failed to go the extra mile in a couple of free agency negotiations. Multiple reports indicate the team attempted to sign linebackers Quay Walker, Nakobe Dean, and even All-Pro Devin Lloyd. <\/p>\n \u201cWe made a run at some guys in free agency,\u201d head coach Brian Schottenheimer said last week. \u201cSometimes it works. Sometimes it doesn\u2019t.\u201d<\/p>\n Considering how much of a need linebacker still is and how little options remain to do something about it, it\u2019s fair to question if the Cowboys should have gone the extra mile to secure their linebacker. <\/p>\n Dean was reported to receive a \u201csimilar\u201d offer from the Cowboys but that he opted to reunite with Walker in Las Vegas. <\/p>\n How many more dollars would have changed his mind? I\u2019m betting there\u2019s a number. And I\u2019d wager the Cowboys didn\u2019t get to it out of fear of overpaying. Instead, now they\u2019re about to enter the 2026 NFL Draft with no starting linebacker to accompany DeMarvion Overshown at the position.<\/p>\n So, no. I wouldn\u2019t say the Cowboys did a lot of budget-busting in free agency. And it all goes back to that one rule they really don\u2019t want to break. <\/p>\n It\u2019s time for the Cowboys to overpay<\/p>\n We\u2019re under 20 days away from the draft, and the Cowboys still need a linebacker. I\u2019d argue they also need an elite pass rusher and a nickel cornerback. That\u2019s a lot of items on their to-do list and only a few chances to make a home run swing. <\/p>\n Even though they\u2019re armed with two first-round picks, they\u2019re expected to miss out on many of the biggest defensive stars of this year\u2019s class. That\u2019s led to some rumors fueled by insiders about the Cowboys potentially moving up<\/a> in the order, maybe even to No. 3 overall. <\/p>\n That brings me to this: If they want to trade up and land a big-time star, the Cowboys front office needs to be ready to overpay. <\/p>\n Trading up in the first round likely means overpaying<\/p>\n
![\"Jan](\"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nfl\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/USATSI_25278398-200x200.jpg\")
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