Cowboys Face Defensive End Decisions Ahead of 2026 Season

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The Dallas Cowboys are facing an uncertain future at the defensive end position as they head into the 2026 NFL season. With the departures of longtime starters DeMarcus Lawrence and Micah Parsons, the team addressed the position through free agency and the draft, but now have only two defensive ends under contract going into next year. The Cowboys will need to make decisions on re-signing key free agents like Jadeveon Clowney, Dante Fowler, and Payton Turner, while also potentially looking to the draft to bolster the position.

Why it matters

Defensive end has been a position of strength for the Cowboys for decades, with players like Ed "Too Tall" Jones, Randy White, and DeMarcus Ware making major impacts. The team's ability to find and develop elite pass rushers is crucial to their defensive success, so the decisions they make this offseason will be pivotal in determining the direction of the defense in 2026 and beyond.

The details

In 2025, the Cowboys' defensive end group was led by free agent signees Dante Fowler and Payton Turner, as well as veteran Jadeveon Clowney who was added midseason. The team also drafted Donovan Ezeiruaku out of Boston College and signed James Houston. As a unit, the Cowboys finished with 35 sacks, tied for 22nd in the league, but were 14th in pressure rate. Clowney led the team with 8.5 sacks, followed by Houston with 5.5.

• The 2025 regular season just concluded for the Cowboys.
• Defensive end DeMarcus Lawrence signed with the Seahawks in free agency before the 2025 season.
• Linebacker Micah Parsons was traded to the Packers just before the start of the 2025 season.

What’s next

The Cowboys will need to make decisions on re-signing several key free agent defensive ends, including Jadeveon Clowney, Dante Fowler, and Payton Turner, while also potentially looking to the draft to add to the position.