Cowboys reshuffle the deck with another resource pivot

On the defensive side of the ball, the spending was far more fragmented. Rather than loading up on one specific unit, the front office sprinkled its investments across three different levels. They had money tied up in Trevon Diggs at cornerback, Micah Parsons (still on his rookie deal) and DeMarcus Lawrence on the edge, and Donovan Wilson at safety. It was a diversified portfolio approach to defense, but it never quite felt like they had enough firepower to make an impact. They were paying for stability rather than dominance, which set the stage for the massive pivot to come.

Last season, we saw the pendulum swing hard toward the defense. While Prescott still represented a major piece of the financial pie, everyone was anticipating the massive investment that would become a long-term deal for Parsons, only to watch in amazement as the team went a different direction. The Cowboys did throw big money towards defense, but it went to the interior of the trenches, not the edge. After already handing Osa Odighizuwa a pricey new deal, they went out and traded for more heavy hitters, Kenny Clark and Quinnen Williams. Suddenly, the middle of the Dallas defense was the most expensive real estate in the league. To top it off, they added a second premier salary to the secondary as DaRon Bland joined Diggs as a high-priced corner.

As the defense bulked up last year, the wide receiver moved out of the top four. With Brandin Cooks out of the picture, CeeDee Lamb was left flying solo as the only major investment at the position; however, the team did get a nice boost from the George Pickens trade. This move hardly changed the financials because Pickens was in the last year of his low-cost rookie deal.

And finally, let’s see what they have brewing this season.

Looking ahead to 2026, the pendulum has swung back yet again, and the offense is officially back, holding the top three spots. The big swing here is the added cost of franchise tagging Pickens, whose contract helps push the wide receiver position atop the spending chart. After a big year from Pickens, the team realized they wanted both of their receiving stars, even if it inflates the payroll. By bringing in another high-end target, they have restored that offensive punch that made them so dangerous a few years ago, giving Dak a loaded arsenal to work with.

Even with the offense reclaiming the top spot, the defense is still in a very respectable place. Defensive tackle remains the highest-funded group on that side of the ball, maintaining that identity of strength in the middle. We did see the cornerback spending dip back down following the release of Diggs, but that money did not go to waste. Instead, it migrated to the safety position. With new investments in Jalen Thompson, P.J. Locke, and the highly anticipated Caleb Downs, the Cowboys have built a secondary that is deeper and more versatile than we have seen in years.

It should be noted that the offensive line has been rather stable through these last three years, with two starters signed to bigger deals while the other three are on low-cost rookie deals. The financial transition from Zack Martin to Tyler Smith keeps the offensive line price steady, but expect that to change as some of these rookie deals expire.

When you look at the three-year trajectory, it is clear that the Cowboys are no longer a team that is just patiently willing to roll with who they have. They have been moving money with a specific purpose to ensure no part of the roster stays stagnant for too long. And they have transitioned from a lopsided offensive powerhouse to a more layered, balanced machine. The roster is deeper with resources spread around. There is a genuine sense of momentum building in Dallas, and for the first time in a long time, the plan actually seems to be coming together.