It is no secret that the Dallas Cowboys enter 2026 determined to reverse their recent fortunes. After beginning the 2025 season with genuine optimism for a rebound, the team instead delivered another underwhelming campaign, finishing 7-9-1 and missing the playoffs for the second consecutive year—following a 7-10 record the season prior.
Cowboys president and general manager Jerry Jones left little doubt about the root cause when he spoke at the Grand Prix of Arlington. “Had we played a lick of defense last year,” Jones stated, “we would’ve had ourselves, I think, a real playoff run.” The message was unmistakable: Dallas must dramatically upgrade its defense if it hopes to contend in 2026.
Free agency now represents the clearest avenue for that upgrade, and the Cowboys are already being connected to one of the most accomplished pass-rushers still available. In a recent CBS Sports analysis, Garrett Podell highlighted five defensive targets worth pursuing—and five-time Pro Bowler Joey Bosa topped the list for good reason.
Bosa is no longer the same dominant force he was in the late 2010s, largely due to injury history, yet his 2025 tape tells a compelling story. Pro Football Focus graded him as the 10th-best edge defender in the league with an elite 85.5 pass-rush grade. More strikingly, he led the entire NFL with five forced fumbles, proving he remains a disruptive presence capable of flipping field position and momentum. Podell described him as “probably the most expensive bargain-bin find among these five in the second wave of free agency,” a characterization that underscores both Bosa’s lingering value and the realistic price point Dallas could target.
Last season with the Buffalo Bills, Bosa appeared in 15 games and delivered 5.0 sacks, 29 combined tackles, and those league-leading five forced fumbles. Those numbers reflect a player who can still generate consistent pressure and create turnovers—precisely the traits the Cowboys’ defense has lacked. Adding a veteran of Bosa’s pedigree would not only bolster the pass rush but also provide mentorship for younger edge defenders already on the roster.
Of course, any pursuit of Bosa will not occur in a vacuum. As one of the most notable remaining free agents, he is drawing serious interest from multiple teams. The San Francisco 49ers, in particular, have been repeatedly linked to the edge rusher throughout the early offseason. Dallas will therefore need to move decisively if it hopes to secure his services.
On paper, the fit is logical: a defense desperate for proven disruption pairing with an edge rusher whose résumé includes five Pro Bowls and a demonstrated ability to destroy opposing offenses. Whether Jerry Jones translates his public frustration into an aggressive offer remains to be seen, but the Cowboys’ clear need and Bosa’s production make this a connection worth monitoring closely as the second wave of free agency unfolds.
