The Dallas Cowboys had one of the worst defenses in the NFL last year, and owner Jerry Jones knows it.
I’ll tell you, when you have the challenges we had last year, there’s no place to go but up on the defensive side of the ball,” Jones said earlier this week, according to the team’s official website. “Had we played a lick of defense last year, we would’ve had ourselves, I think, a real playoff run.”
Instead, the Cowboys finished 7-9-1 and missed the playoffs for the second consecutive season.
So far this offseason, the Cowboys missed out on a splash trade for Las Vegas Raiders defensive end Maxx Crosby. Dallas did not sign star unrestricted free agent defensive end Trey Hendrickson, who landed in Baltimore after the failed Crosby trade heard ’round the world.
The Cowboys did trade for Green Bay Packers edge Rashan Gary, but have otherwise remained relatively quiet in free agency. According to the Fort Worth Star-Telegram‘s Nick Harris, Dallas might be quietly plotting a splash move after all.
A Cowboys fan asked Harris on X (formerly Twitter) if he was hearing that the team was pursuing a trade for Pittsburgh Steelers linebacker Patrick Queen, Houston Texans linebacker Azeez Al-Shaair, or Miami Dolphins linebacker Jordyn Brooks. Harris replied, “They've pivoted off Queen. Al-Shaair and Brooks are being discussed, though.”
Al-Shaair was a leader on the Texans’ league-best defense last year. The 28-year-old Pro Bowler led the team in total tackles (103), and he also recorded two interceptions, nine passes defended, and one forced fumble in 16 regular-season games. Al-Shaair is in the final year of a three-year contract.
The Cowboys’ executing a trade for Brooks, a 28-year-old All-Pro, seems most likely, simply because the Dolphins are engaged in a full-blown fire sale. Miami most recently traded wide receiver Jaylen Waddle to the Denver Broncos on Wednesday. That came after the Dolphins released quarterback Tua Tagovailoa, All-Pro wide receiver Tyreek Hill, and Pro Bowl edge Bradley Chubb.
The Cowboys waived veteran linebacker Logan Wilson, whom they traded for at the deadline in November, and he announced his NFL retirement at age 29 on Wednesday.
Dallas could also address linebacker in next month’s 2026 NFL Draft. The Cowboys hold the No. 12 and No. 20 overall picks. ESPN’s Mel Kiper Jr. projects Dallas to take Georgia linebacker CJ Allen at No. 20.
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