Cowboys NFL Free Agency Predictions: 4 Players to Help Dallas Get Back into Playoffs

We all know the Dallas Cowboys desperately need help on the defensive side of the ball, but they have a major question to address this offseason offensively, too. 

So, how will Dallas thread the needle when it's roughly $30 million above the salary cap (per Over The Cap)? Well, FOX Sports NFL writer Greg Auman believes that the Cowboys will land four players on his top 100 free agents list, including the No. 1 overall player. 

Of course, the Cowboys will need to aggressively hit the open market this offseason after going 7-9-1 in 2025 to miss the playoffs for a second straight season. But they've got two first-round picks in the 2026 NFL Draft as well (No. 12 and No. 20), potentially setting the Cowboys up for a big offseason. 

Let's dive deeper into Auman's free-agent predictions for the Cowboys. 

(95th-best free agent, 11th-best cornerback free agent) 

Auman's thoughts: "Samuel, 26, is a tempting reclamation project, limited to 10 games over the last two seasons due to a shoulder injury, but a late-season cameo with the Steelers showed promise. Samuel once had three interceptions in one playoff game against the Jaguars, and his first three years in the league netted six interceptions and consistent play. Could he land with the Cowboys and his old Chargers position coach, Derrick Ansley?"

(62nd-best free agent, 12th-best edge rusher free agent)

Auman's thoughts: "Clowney, turning 33 next week, is a unicorn of a late-bloomer edge rusher, a former No. 1 overall pick who has played for seven teams in the last eight seasons and somehow has more sacks in his last five years (34.5) than he did in his first seven (32). That includes 8.5 sacks this season for Dallas as an absolute bargain, costing them all of $3.45 million. He