FRISCO, Texas — The shaping of the upcoming 2026 roster of the Dallas Cowboys won't wait for the start of NFL free agency, because it doesn't have to. For players who ended the 2025 season on the practice squad or on the fringe of the roster, for depth and insurance reasons, the days following the conclusion of the 7-9-1 campaign are very important.
That's because it's when the Cowboys are permitted to sign that talent to a futures/reserves deal, guaranteeing their rights remain in Dallas up to and sometimes through training camp and the preseason.
It's an annual beginning of the formation of the offseason 90-man roster, and though the organization will have its hands full, personnel-wise, with headline free agents like George Pickens, Javonte Williams and Jadeveon Clowney, amongst others among a list of 22 pending free agents, they have already begun the work of securing futures deals.
The first eight to land a deal are as follows:
- Israel Abanikanda, RB
- Traeshon Holden, WR
- Parris Campbell, WR
- Nick Everett, OL
- Marcellus Johnson, OL
- Isaiah Land, DE
- Zion Childress, DB
- Julius Wood, S
The group is led by promising young talent like wide receiver Traeshon Holden, a 2025 training camp standout, and Zion Childress, who joined Holden in that capacity before going on to earn some reps as a rookie for the Cowboys when the injury bug made its way around the active 53-man roster.
With these players secured, the next order of roster business will involve trying to make sure NFL free agency ends well, as the Cowboys aim to keep players like George Pickens, Javonte Williams and Jadeveon Clowney in the building; and to allow for the continued development of the more unproven talent signed to futures deals this week.
And, with that, and the decision to move on from defensive coordinator Matt Eberflus, the Cowboys' offseason is officially underway.
