Jerry Jones reveals Cowboys’ philosophical change that led to Christian Parker’s hire – Calvin Watkins, Dallas Morning News
Jerry Jones had to switch things up a bit when it came to finding a new defensive coordinator.
As the 2025 season progressed, Jones returned to the hiring processes of defensive coordinators Matt Eberflus, Mike Zimmer and Dan Quinn — former head coaches with years of experience calling defenses — to find out what went wrong during the season.
All the reflection points led to the Cowboys hiring 34-year-old Christian Parker as their new defensive coordinator. Parker is the youngest defensive coordinator in franchise
history. He’s never called defensive plays before. He has seven years of NFL coaching experience.
Jones said the hiring process is what needed to change. A handful of coaches were interviewed each time the Cowboys hired their previous three defensive coordinators. After head coach Brian Schottenheimer was hired last January, Eberflus was picked 24 hours later.
Jones said his comfort level was high with hiring former head coaches and coordinators. But 2025 made him change that thinking.
“I spent a lot of time looking at the past, when I look at the coaching situation, a lot of times,” Jones said. “I do that on everything, frankly, that I can get my hands on. I’m not trying to be philosophical, but I did less of whatever I’ve been doing [in the past] and a lot more of what I am doing in this process.”
Jones interviewed more coaches. He relied heavily on Schottenheimer. He saw how Schottenheimer put together his offensive staff, not so much relying on people he knew but simply finding good coaches regardless of connection.
The five options the Dallas Cowboys have with George Pickens’ free agency – Nick Harris, Fort Worth Star-Telegram
Which option will the Cowboys ultimately take?
Sign Pickens to an extension
The quickest final conclusion that could possibly happen is the team simply signing him to a long-term extension before March 11.
According to Pickens’ market value via Spotrac, he is expected to land a deal worth $30.6 million per year. If signed to a standard four-year contract, Pickens would make $122.4 million over the course of his deal with this theoretical value. If he is signed before March 11, the team would have clarity on how much cap space would be dedicated to Pickens before heading into free agency so that it knows how much can be spent on other free agents.
Now, this is unlikely. And here’s why.
Apply franchise tag to Pickens, sign him to an extension
Applying the franchise tag to Pickens before signing him to a long-term extension is the leader in the clubhouse as far as scenarios go for how this will play out. It solidifies team control for Pickens for at least 2026, and it allows both sides to continue working toward a long-term agreement.
The Cowboys can place the tag on Pickens anytime from Feb. 17 to March 3 to prevent him from hitting the open market on March 11. The franchise tag is a tool for teams to use by placing it on one player who is set to hit free agency. Dallas has used it in the past on players such as quarterback Dak Prescott, running back Tony Pollard and defensive end DeMarcus Lawrence. It serves as a one-year contract that is expected to be worth $28 million for 2026, according to Over the Cap.
Since the expectation has long been that the team will place the tag on Pickens, the next step would be working out a long-term deal prior to July 15.
Qunnien Williams Could Directly Help Cowboys Fix LB Woes Next Season – Richard Louis, Sport DFW
Quincy Williams is a very possible option for the Cowboys at linebacker during free agency.
Quincy Williams May Be Cowboys Target in Free Agency
Ahead of the trade deadline, ESPN’s Dan Graziano reported that the Cowboys tried to get both Quinnen and Quincy in one deal, but things fell through.
“I heard that at one point, the Cowboys were talking to the Jets about a deal that would have sent Dallas both Williams brothers — Quinnen and linebacker Quincy Williams,” Graziano wrote. “But that didn’t work out, and the Cowboys pivoted to former Bengals linebacker Logan Wilson.”
The decision to get Wilson didn’t work out, as he logged just 224 defensive snaps from Weeks 11-18. In those outings, he had 24 total tackles and a 52.4 overall grade on Pro Football Focus. The Cowboys need to get more athleticism in the middle of the field, and that’s where Quincy can bring some juice.
During his time with the Jets, he developed into a heat-seeking missile, with the speed to fly sideline to sideline. In five seasons with the Jets, he compiled 554 total tackles, 58 tackles for loss, 12.5 sacks, and 27 pass deflections. Quincy earned First-Team All-Pro nods during the 2023 season, displaying what his ceiling can be.
This past season, things didn’t go as planned for Quincy and Jets head coach Aaron Glenn. He was briefly benched but still finished third on the team in total tackles (83).
The two brothers spending time together in New York was something they both loved and didn’t take for granted. The chance to do it again will certainly be at the top of the list for both players. It would also provide the Cowboys with more athleticism and juice at a position of need.
Proposed George Pickens trade suddenly makes prospect of losing star WR less fearsome for Cowboys – Mauricio Rodriguez, AtoZ Sports
A George Pickens for Maxx Crosby trade sparks an intriguing conversation.
With uncertainty will come all kinds of speculation, including trade scenarios. Former Super Bowl champion Jason McCourty is already going at it. The former New England Patriots safety proposed a Pickens trade on ESPN that quite frankly would make a Pickens departure less fearsome for Dallas.
George Pickens for Maxx Crosby?
In a segment from ESPN’s Get Up show on Wednesday, McCourty proposed a player-for-player trade between the Cowboys and the Las Vegas Raiders. If it were to happen, it would involve two of the biggest names in the NFL.
“If you’re gonna ask me to play ‘Madden’ with no consequences, I’m going for the jugular,” McCourty said on live TV. “If I’m the Raiders, why not go out and trade Maxx Crosby? And for the Dallas Cowboys, you franchise tag George Pickens. You don’t work out a long-term deal. You trade him to the Raiders for Crosby in exchange. And for the Raiders, you get a weapon in George Pickens for Fernando Mendoza.”
There’s a lot to unpack here. First of all, McCourty is admittedly proposing a bold—and unlikely—trade. The whole segment was based on coming up with Madden-style trades.
But there is some sense to it. Losing Pickens would sting for the Cowboys after having a Top 5 scoring offense. And frankly, an elite offense is the Cowboys’ shortest path to being a legit Super Bowl contender.
However, Pickens’ demands will be high and if a deal can’t be struck between the Cowboys and Pickens’ agent, David Mulugheta, landing Crosby in return wouldn’t hurt. It’s no secret Dallas missed the pass rush a star like Crosby—who is rumored to be a trade candidate for the Raiders—can provide after dealing Micah Parsons away.
8 combine invites that could make sense for Cowboys – Tommy Yarrish, DallasCowboys.com
Some possible NFL draft options for Dallas.
DL: R Mason Thomas, Oklahoma
The current measurables for Thomas may not necessarily look the best for his position at 6’2, 249 pounds with what appear to be shorter arms. Where he makes up for it is his get off, bend, and speed in his rushes that propelled him to first-team All-SEC honors in 2025 and could lead to a great week in Indianapolis.
While there are some instances where bigger, longer-armed tackles can get set and stonewall Thomas’ rushes, Thomas also has the invaluable trait of stepping up as a closer in big moments of games, generating pressure and getting sacks when the defense needs it.
Should the Cowboys decide to switch things up schematically under new DC Christian Parker, Thomas could be a great fit in an odd front. And the wider he plays off the line, the better chance he has to get those game-changing rushes that Dallas’ defense is searching for.
LB: Jake Golday, Cincinnati
Golday is a massive, athletic defender at 6’4, 240 pounds and still has lots of room for growth. He flies to the football, and while diagnosing plays is something he’ll need the reps to improve at, has all the tools necessary to continue putting up big tackle numbers.
With 104 total tackles in 2025, Golday led the Bearcats’ defense in tackles by a margin of 31. He was also tied for the team lead in sacks with 3.5 and is aggressive to work off blocks both at the second level and when chasing the quarterback in the backfield.
While Golday may not be a first-round option, should the Cowboys acquire a Day 2 pick in some form or fashion and still have a need at linebacker, Golday could be a player that makes sense with good testing numbers at the combine.
DB: Keith Abney, Arizona State
A versatile corner who can play in the slot on the inside or on the boundary, Abney is an aggressive, relentless defender against the run and the pass and is always looking for a way to make a play on the football.
Sometimes, that can look like being a bit handsy in coverage or biting on double moves, which Abney will need to work on. There’ll be questions about his frame, but a good week of athletic testing has the ability to nullify some concerns there.
At the end of season press conference, Jerry Jones said he underestimated how much of an impact Jourdan Lewis made in the slot for Dallas. If they find a way to select Abney, he could be a similar kind of player in terms of competitiveness and physicality that he plays with in the slot, but also is flexible enough to move outside if the Cowboys feel there’s a better option for the slot.
