If there is anything Jerry Jones is good at, it's talking. For years, Jones has had Cowboys fans on their toes about a possible rebuild. But this week in Phoenix, the Cowboys' owner put his money where his mouth is.
Speaking at the 2026 NFL Annual League Meetings, Jones made it clear that Dallas isn't just talking about change anymore. The Cowboys have aggressively overhauled one of the worst defenses in franchise history, and Jones says the work isn't finished.
"We've been aggressive. We have, relatively speaking, stepped up the financial requirements for what we have done," Jones said in Phoenix. "We may have exceeded, busted, whatever you want to call it, but we're not done. We got some more to do."The
Cowboys' defensive unit is still on Jerry Jones' mind
Dallas made several key moves: they traded for Packers edge rusher Rashan Gary, signed safety Jalen Thompson to a three-year deal worth up to $36 million, and added depth across the secondary and defensive line with cornerback Cobie Durant, safety P.J. Locke, and defensive tackle Otito Ogbonnia.
The Cowboys' defensive unit is now led by first-year defensive coordinator Christian Parker, who took over in January. He faces the challenge of revitalizing a unit that had become one of the worst in the team's history. Jerry Jones and the front office have continued to make significant changes, trading Osa Odighizuwa to San Francisco and Solomon Thomas to Tennessee in exchange for draft capital, effectively resetting the interior defensive line.
The Cowboys had the worst defensive unit in the NFL, averaging nearly 30.1 points per game. Team owner Jones expressed dissatisfaction with the outcome and said he would "bust the budget" to make the necessary changes in the offseason.
The linebacker position is still a hot topic for the Cowboys, but Jones remains optimistic that the NFL Draft can fill some of those voids.
“We’re looking to improve there, personnel-wise. And are continuing to do so right now before the draft as well as the potential in the draft,” Jones said. “We want to get better there with personnel. We’ve been trying very much to make some trades. They haven’t worked out for us there. But that won’t deter us from getting better there.”
Jones at the Annual League Meetings
The question, as always, will loom until the regular season kicks off: Will it be enough to bring the Cowboys back to the playoff conversation?
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