Jerry Jones Dallas Cowboys salary cap
Getty
Jerry Jones and the Dallas Cowboys received some bad news when it came to the 2026 NFL salary cap on Friday.
The Dallas Cowboys and team owner Jerry Jones have gone quiet in the second wave of NFL free agency. After making a few solid moves in the first wave, there are still questions that need to be answered about the roster.
Entering the 2026 NFL offseason, the Cowboys were expected to be very aggressive. Jones made it clear that he was willing to spend big money in order to make a Super Bowl push. So far, that hasn’t happened this offseason.
With the 2026 NFL Draft right around the corner later this month, Dallas will have a chance to add two elite young players in the first round. The Cowboys hold their own No. 12 overall pick, while also having the Green Bay Packers‘ first-round pick at No. 20 due to the Micah Parsons trade last offseason.
A new mock draft from ESPN has been released. That mock draft has Dallas using the No. 12 overall pick to upgrade its pass rush.
Dallas Cowboys Connected to Major Defensive Addition
In ESPN’s new mock draft, Field Yates was in charge of making the Cowboys’ first selection at No. 12. He has the team scooping up Miami Hurricanes standout pass rusher Rueben Bain Jr.
“The mission to fix the Cowboys’ defense should start with the addition of Bain,” Yates wrote. “The ACC Defensive Player of the Year has hands of destruction that will travel to the NFL, and he had 9.5 sacks last season for the Hurricanes.”
Bain would be an instant upgrade for a defense that could use a better pass rush. Even after acquiring Rashan Gary in a trade with the Packers, Dallas could use help.
During the 2025 college football season with the Hurricanes, Bain was a big part of the reason they made a run to the National Championship. They didn’t win a championship, but that didn’t take away from Bain’s impressive season.
He racked up 54 total tackles to go along with 9.5 sacks, a forced fumble, an interception, and a defended pass. Throughout his three-year career at Miami, he totaled 121 tackles, 20.5 sacks, four forced fumbles, an interception, and two defended passes.
Jerry Jones Is Still a Ways Off From Super Bowl Contention
At this current point in time, the Cowboys do not look the part of a top-tier Super Bowl contender. They have improved with the additions of Gary, safety Jalen Thompson, and cornerback Cobie Durant, but no blockbuster move has been made to drastically improve the team.
No one can count Dallas out. Anything can happen during the course of an NFL season. However, it appears that Jones has more work to do.
Having a top-notch draft class would certainly help the Cowboys’ cause. Adding Bain with the No. 12 overall pick would be a nice step in the right direction.