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Dallas Cowboys Face Limited Free Agency Due to Salary Cap Constraints
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- Dallas Cowboys Face Limited Free Agency Due to Salary Cap Constraints
Jerry Jones and the Dallas Cowboys are no strangers to expectations. Often referred to as "America's Team", the Cowboys have an illustrious history, notably with one of the greatest dynasties in American sports history in the 1990's. The current iteration of Dallas is a far cry from those teams in the glory days, yet Jones is doing all he can to bring his team back to prominence.
The Cowboys had a disappointing season last year, finishing No. 2 in the NFC East at 7-9-1 behind the Philadelphia Eagles . Dallas fans were hoping that Jones and the front office would use the 2026 NFL offseason to retool their roster, but a lack of flexibility could spell trouble for the Cowboys' offseason.
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Dallas Cowboys owner Jerry Jones smiles as he answers questions during a press conference at Ford Center at the Star. Mandatory Credit: Matthew Emmons-USA TODAY Sports
From the ESPN Staff's ultimate guide to NFL free agency , the Cowboys are predicted to have a quiet free agency period.
"Sitting out the major part of free agency is generally the Cowboys' M.O," ESPN wrote. "Dallas came into this week $56 million over the cap before restructuring Dak Prescott , CeeDee Lamb , and Tyler Smith to become cap-compliant, and owner Jerry Jones said the team intends to spend more money in free agency. But Dallas has less flexibility than most, is low on cap space in 2027 and Jones has a history of making bold proclamations and falling short of them."
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The Cowboys have attempted to alleviate their cap constraints already this offseason by restructuring the contracts of quarterback Dak Prescott , wide receiver CeeDee Lamb , and left guard Tyler Smith. This reportedly allowed the Cowboys to get under the salary cap before the start of free agency.
Still, even with the adjustment of contracts, the Cowboys have limited cap space to add new players. This lack of spending money will potentially hamper Dallas' ability to retool this offseason, and will place an even greater primacy on the Cowboys' 2026 NFL Draft.
Related: Cowboys Predicted to Pair Quinnen Williams With 12.5-Sack Defensive End
This story was originally published by Athlon Sports on Mar 4, 2026, where it first appeared in the NFL section. Add Athlon Sports as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
