Earlier this week, in a post on X (formerly Twitter), NFL analyst Ryan Fowler claimed that the Cowboys would invite Konga during their top-30 visit.

“Source: The Dallas Cowboys will host Louisville DL Rene Konga for a 30 visit. An Ottawa, Canada native and former Rutgers transfer, Konga was an All-ACC selection in ‘25,” Fowler’s post reads.

However, this is baffling news as Konga is not on the NFL’s Top 100 players list, and teams are allowed to invite up to 30 draft prospects. The Cowboys’ use of a top-30 visit on Konga shows they are serious about the player.

As things stand, that promise of “breaking the budget” in free agency has not quite lived up to the standard. While the Cowboys have made some moves, nothing translates to major spending. 

There are still gaps at linebacker, edge rusher, and cornerback. One thing the Cowboys and Jones are known for is the ability to find players out of college that no one is talking about. Rene Konga might just fit that bill.

The Canadian defensive linemen spent five years in college between Rutgers and Louisville, and the numbers are not that great. The Ontario native has had a total of 64 tackles, of which 33 are solo. Konga also has seven passes defended and six sacks with one forced fumble. 

It is still unclear if the Cowboys will use a draft pick on Konga or sign him as an undrafted free agent (UDFA). However, an NFL analyst believes there is a reason the Cowboys are pushing hard for him.

What Did This Draft Expert Say About Rene Konga?

Ryan Roberts, who is an NFL Draft analyst for CBS and a reporter for AtoZ Sports NFL, made a post on X recently and captioned it, “I will continue to pound the table for Louisville DT Konga (#90).”

Konga started at Rutgers but impressed at Louisville, and that caught Roberts’ eye. “There is a game every year that makes you think he could be a high draft pick and future NFL starter, but he has just been so inconsistent on the field.” 

Surely that is not something Dallas would want after that defensive performance in 2025. But Roberts believes there is an upside to his game, and this could also help the Cowboys. 

Roberts wrote, “Konga has a longer frame with legitimate first-step explosiveness. If Konga can play with consistent pad level and continue adding solid power to his profile, he has some upside to develop into a good rotational player.” 

Roberts further added that a defensive line coach would love to work with a talent like Konga, who has all the raw tools to be a lineman. But they still have to get it out of him.

What do you think about Konga’s prospects? Let us know in the comments.

You can read more at the Dallas Cowboys Community!

After all, Jerry Jones promised he was going to go all out to bring in defensive reinforcements. However, nothing screams bursting the budget. Sturm was asked how he read the moves made by the Cowboys in free agency.

Sturm said, “Well, I read it as the very same reason they sat out free agency for 13 years is the same reason they’re very bad at free agency.”

The Cowboys are a franchise that has never relied on free agency and believes more in the NFL Draft. Sturm also went off on Jerry Jones and his style of management,

“You’ve gotta know, you’ve gotta have one point man, not a committee, you gotta have one guy that can pull the trigger, which is, of course, why so many of us want a general manager at some point as opposed to the game of dress-up that we play.”  

Sturm did not hold back with his criticism. Jerry Jones has been the owner and general manager since he bought the Cowboys back in 1989. Out of all the 32 teams in the NFL, Jones is the only owner who also acts as the team’s GM. 

As for the offseason and free agents only, Dallas has signed safety Jalen Thompson on a $33 million deal, cornerback Cobie Durant on a $5.5 million deal, safety P.J. Locke, defensive tackle Otito Ogbonnia on a $3 million deal, quarterback Sam Howell, edge rusher Tyrus Wheat, offensive lineman Matt Hennessy, and tight end Princeton Fant. There’s also Rashan Gary who got a $32 million contract.

However, these don’t sound like statement signings. The Cowboys had the opportunity to bring in Maxx Crosby, arguably one of the best defensive stars in the league, but they passed on owing to the Raiders wanting two first round picks. And that could be part of the Cowboys’ free agency problem.

Why are the Cowboys so bad at free agency?

Sturm made an interesting take on Jerry Jones and the front office as to why they never succeed in free agency. He said, “They don’t like losing leverage at the table. And when you participate in free agency, you have no leverage.”

This is well-documented this season alone, let alone in the past. The Cowboys lost out on securing the services of Nakobe Dean, who is a top defender and would have helped this Dallas defense. 

There is also another angle where Dallas offered him the same money, but he still chose to sign with the Raiders. 

Sturm further said, “And the problem is, if you haven’t participated in free agency ever, we know what their first bid looks like when they have all the leverage, because we see it all the time.”

Micah Parsons is another example, who ended up being traded, and the franchise’s star QB, Dak Prescott, played on the tag twice before being paid. 

“In every one of these negotiations, which are painfully slow and frustrating and often end in divorce, what happens is they are comically lowballers. You’re not gonna win in free agency, you’re going to overpay. So the question is, do you wanna participate or do you want to feel good about you never lose leverage?” Sturm said further. 

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Trending slideshow: Grading Every Move Made by the Dallas Cowboys in the 2026 NFL Offseason

Arijit Das

Jones said, “When you have the challenges we had last year, there’s no place to go but up on the defensive side of the ball. Had we played a lick of defense, we would’ve had ourselves, I think, a real playoff run.”

The defense was a bitter pill to swallow as the former Bears head coach, Matt Eberflus, was fired mid-season from his position as defensive coordinator. The Cowboys also missed the playoffs for the second year running and finished with a record of 7-9-1. 

And the numbers back Jones. The Dallas defense allowed an NFL-high 511 points. The defense also allowed an average of 30.1 points per game, making them the worst in the league at 32nd place. The team gave up the third most scrimmage yards with 377.0. That’s why the team needed a defensive overhaul.

Since then, Jones hired Christian Parker, who was the passing game coordinator and defensive backs coach for the Philadelphia Eagles. Under Parker, Philadelphia had one of the best defenses in the league, and now he’s going to take over at AT&T Stadium. 

Parker is also viewed as a defensive wizard by his peers, and for the 34-year-old, it’ll be a big jump from his previous role to his current. 

Jones is optimistic about the 2026 season with his new defensive coordinator.

“What we’ve done on defense, plus what we have set up for the draft, plus what we have coming back from our veteran defensive players that really didn’t play that much last year, injury issues, things like that, gives us a lot of promise,” Jones said. 

How has Dallas backed Christian Parker? 

As per head coach Brian Schottenheimer, the Cowboys conducted more than 40 interviews, and that included nine defensive coordinators. Christian Parker eventually received the job and will employ a 3-4 defensive scheme. 

So far, it has been a busy offseason in Dallas. The Dallas Cowboys made a significant move by trading for Rashan Gary from the Green Bay Packers. Parker now has an upcoming star pass rusher as a weapon to use. 

Jones and the front office have bolstered the secondary unit by adding versatile and veteran players like Jalen Thompson, Cobie Durant, and P.J. Locke.

Fan favorite Sam Williams will also return to the AT&T Stadium for one more season after he re-signed with the Cowboys. 

The Cowboys also have the draft to look forward to and hold two first-round picks (12 and 20), and these picks could also be used to strengthen the defense. 

You can read more at the Dallas Cowboys Community!

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Arijit Das

In his recent appearance on The Arena: Gridiron, Bayless criticized Jones’ inability to gather a team that could fight for the Super Bowl.

“If I look at 30 years [of] body of work, if Jerry had just been some other owner’s general manager, he would have been fired 20 years ago, right? He just would have. He would have 10 years after Troy Aikman, and it’d be like, nah, you’re gone.”

Skip Bayless is notorious for his harsh takes, but he still has unwavering support for the Dallas Cowboys. The sports media personality is admittedly friends with Jerry Jones and has been a Cowboys fan since he was a kid.

“I have been a lifelong diehard with this team since I was ten years of age,” said Bayless.

However, Bayless is irked that the Super Bowl drought is now 30 years long. The Dallas Cowboys last won the Super Bowl in 1996. Since then, they have not even made it to a Super Bowl, let alone won one. 

As Bayless has grown up with the team, it is especially hard for him to see his childhood team’s downfall.

“Because when you’ve been there through the 90s, and I was there through that dynasty, and if you saw that Netflix documentary, I was all over it. I all but narrated it. So I lived and breathed that.”

Bayless’ comments come a few days after Jones told reporters that he is feeling good about his defense after acquiring a few players in free agency.

“I feel very good about it. We have nowhere but up to go on defense. That’s not anyone’s fault at all. But we’re going to almost assuredly be much better.”

However, Bayless is not feeling the positivity.

What Grade Did Skip Bayless Give Jerry Jones for His Management?

Although Bayless considers Jones a friend, when it comes to proceedings on the football field, he did not have such kind words for him. 

On The Arena: Gridiron show, Bayless talked about being impressed by the Cowboys’ status as America’s team, calling it the “most valuable” and “most watched” team in the NFL.

But, where he was rather unimpressed was with Jerry Jones’ performance.

“I give Jerry Jones, for the last 30 years, a flat-out F, as in flunk, as in fail,” Bayless declared.

Again, this is in reference to the Cowboys not winning a Super Bowl in 30 years and their poor playoff performance. In the 2024 and 2025 NFL seasons, the Cowboys did not even make it to the playoffs. 

The Cowboys are 5-13 in postseason games since their last appearance in an NFC Championship Game and a Super Bowl. 

Bayless added that Jones was responsible for it.

“He is the owner and the operator. He is the general manager.” 

Maybe a change in the Dallas Cowboys’ luck this 2026 season will change Bayless’ mind.

What do you think about Bayless’ take? Let us know in the comments.

You can read more at the Dallas Cowboys Community!

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Aaron Antony

Talking to Dale Brisby on his show, Aikman had a simple take: the Cowboys’ success came from Johnson being the coach.

Aikman said, “We were so fortunate, and I think it started because of Jimmy. You know, Jimmy assembled those teams. He had a great eye for talent. But in addition to bringing in really talented players, you know, he didn’t put up and tolerate just a lot of bad people, bad character. We had a lot of personalities, a lot of big egos.” 

And we saw that when right after Johnson joined in 1989, the team traded Herschel Walker. At the time, the Cowboys’ offense was built around Walker, but the team also had two young QBs. That’s when Johnson made the call, primarily because the team needed draft picks. Walker ended up being traded, and in return, the team got draft capital. But that wasn’t all.

Aikman further added, “I think there’s a certain amount of ego you have to deal with. But our guys, our best players, were ‌our hardest-working guys. So, it wasn’t a lot of managing it. It is because everyone wanted to do what was best for the team.” 

It boiled down to Johnson’s approach to coaching. Johnson believes the job of a coach is to unlock the full potential of their players and to cultivate attributes they know are there.

In the end, that became the reason the pair won two Super Bowls together and went back-to-back: Super Bowl XXVII (1993) and Super Bowl XXVIII (1994). 

But Why Did The Dynasty End?

Following the successes of two back-to-back Super Bowls with the Dallas Cowboys, on March 29, 1994, Jimmy Johnson and Jerry Jones mutually decided that Johnson would no longer be the head coach of the Dallas Cowboys. 

Johnson moved on and, in 1996, became the head coach of the Miami Dolphins, but never won a Super Bowl again. 

Troy Aikman went on and won another Super Bowl under Barry Switzer, the coach who replaced Jimmy Johnson at the Dallas Cowboys. The quarterback retired in 2000 and began his broadcasting career.

The Cowboys have never made it back to a Super Bowl since 1996, and the quest for one continues till today.

While Jimmy Johnson remains a beloved figure in Dallas, the power struggle with ownership ultimately ended the team’s dynasty.

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While speaking to reporters, general manager Jerry Jones gave this worrying trade decision a positive spin, emphasizing the financial side.

“We needed to spread it around a little bit on what we have available to us with (the salary cap). More importantly, we can put it in some places that probably get more mileage out of what it’s done,” Jones said.

While the Cowboys traded a team captain and a defensive tackle, they did receive a third-round pick in exchange for the defensive tackle, but the worrying note is how they will spend that third-round pick and what they might get. 

Jones also seems to have this third-round draft pick in his mind, which could have been a deciding factor in the Odighizuwa trade.

“We’ve got two outstanding football players (Quinnen Williams, Kenny Clark), we have other backup players, plus we don’t want to rule out drafting a player. So we thought that was the best move (trading Odighizuwa).” 

Odighizuwa rejected the Washington Commanders last year, even after being offered more money. He stuck with the Cowboys and played 84 games as a defensive tackle, making 115 solo out of 216 total.

The Cowboys will likely use that third-round pick to draft a defensive player, but questions still linger about this decision. 

How can Dallas Use This Third-Round Pick Wisely?

After trading the defensive tackle, Osa Odighizuwa, away to the Bay Area. Dallas now holds the 92nd pick in round three of the NFL Draft.

The biggest problem is still the linebacker position, and Dallas will more than likely use their pick on this position. 

Two names that the Cowboys could look at are Oregon’s Bryce Boettcher and Josiah Trotter of Missouri. The third round is where analysts project both linebackers will be selected.

As per CBS’ mock draft by Josh Edwards, Trotter is set to go as the 83rd overall pick, and as per the mock draft conducted by the NFL, Boettcher is set to go as the 94th overall pick. 

The Oregon native Boettcher has had 269 career tackles, 9 passes defensed, 4 sacks, 4 forced fumbles, and 2 interceptions. 

Trotter has played for two years in college, splitting his time between West Virginia University (WVU) and Missouri. In his career, the linebacker has had 177 total tackles, 3 passes defensed, 2.5 sacks, and 1 interception. 

Both of these players could be serious options, but Boettcher might go earlier in round three, Edwards believes.

Whom do you think the Cowboys should go for? Let us know in the comments.

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Sparsh Tiwari

They have strengthened the pass rush and the secondary unit thus far. Sonny Styles, the national champion winner with the Buckeyes, who has declared for the 2026 NFL Draft, could be the solution to the position.

As per Fort Worth Star-Telegram’s Nick Harris, “Whether that be the trade market or trading up for Ohio State linebacker Sonny Styles in the draft, there will need to be a big move made to lock up that gaping hole.”

Styles started as a safety and moved to linebacker. In his four seasons as a Buckeye, Styles recorded 245 total tackles, nine passes defended, nine sacks, and three forced fumbles. The 244-pound defender also had one interception.

“It’s hard to look at him and think that he was ever a safety with that frame. And he’s always been wired like a linebacker,” one AFC regional scout said. 

The Cowboys would love to acquire him, but there is a hiccup. Styles, who was once projected to be a top-15 pick, is now projected to be a top-10 pick unanimously. 

The Cowboys hold two first-round picks (12 and 20), and they would need to trade up, which is not easy. If drafted, Styles would be an immediate starter for the Cowboys.

How does the current LB room look for the Cowboys?

The linebacker room does not look that great for the Cowboys. The LB room consists of Marist Liufau, DeMarvion Overshown, Shemar James, Justin Barron, and Logan Wilson. 

Liuafu is expected to transition to an outside linebacker role under Christian Parker’s 3-4 defensive scheme. 

Overshawn will return to the inside linebacker role, but staying healthy is his Achilles heel and is currently listed as questionable (Q) on the Dallas Cowboys depth chart.

Shemar James, Justin Barron, and Logan Wilson are all inexperienced and will likely serve as depth players.

So what do you think? Should the Dallas Cowboys go all in for Sonny Styles, or should they look elsewhere? Tell us in the comments.

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Trending slideshow: Top 10 2026 Draft Prospects Who Could Be Perfect Fits for the Cowboys

Sparsh Tiwari

According to ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler, the team is still willing to listen to trade offers.

On an appearance on SportsCenter, Fowler said, “Everybody seems like they’re in a good spot, but since they’ve already looked at trading, they’re open to the possibility, potentially if the right offer would come. We’re looking at timelines here; now is gonna be a little slow, but you get closer to the draft, perhaps trade offers will heat up, or even closer to the season.” 

The Dallas Cowboys had initially been in for the star pass rusher and were willing to offer one first-round pick to the Raiders. However, the Raiders subsequently accepted the Ravens’ offer of two first-round picks, as they met the Raiders’ asking price. 

That trade has since been rescinded, and Crosby is back with the Raiders. The Ravens moved on and signed Trey Hendrickson. 

Fowler added, “But right now, he’s a Raider, and that’s expected for at least a little while.” 

The Cowboys and Jones could be back in for him if that asking price comes down, especially since Crosby had not cleared his physical. However, even then, Jones is playing this close to his chest. “We’re pretty far down the road relative to what our plans are. So while I don’t anticipate it, I don’t want to rule anything out.”

The saga is not quite over yet for the Raiders or Crosby, though he deleted his farewell posts to Las Vegas.

Do the Cowboys need Maxx Crosby?

The Dallas Cowboys are definitely a better defensive unit with the star pass rusher. In the 2025 season, Crosby had 73 tackles, 10 sacks, and one interception. T

Trending slideshow: Top 10 2026 Draft Prospects Who Could Be Perfect Fits for the Cowboys

Sparsh Tiwari

The Cowboys have also acquired Rashan Gary via a trade from the Green Bay Packers. Gary is also a pass rusher and plays the same position, and is expected to be the starter. 

The Cowboys did make their peace with the Crosby situation when they traded for Gary. However, in the NFL, never say never.

In any case, if the Cowboys bring Crosby on, they will be dealing with a player who was sidlined with a full meniscus repair. He will likely be out until July.

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Earlier this year, the Miami Dolphins brought in Troy Aikman as a consultant to help them in their search for a new general manager and head coach. Aikman talked about his experience on the Rodeo Time Podcast with Dale Brisby

“This year, the dolphins reached out to me and asked if I would help them in their GM search and head coaching search. It kind of caught me out of left field. I wasn’t expecting that,” said Aikman.

Aikman further added that he loved helping out the Dolphins.

“I dove into it and decided I would do it. Thoroughly enjoyed it and felt like I was of some help.” 

Last year, ESPN’s Marcel Louis-Jacques wrote in his article that the Dolphins were in dire need of a cultural reset. The team was making changes within the ranks, but that was not enough to get back to winning ways.

The Dolphins have now hired Jon-Eric Sullivan as general manager and Jeff Hafley as head coach for the 2026 season. Both have come in to prevent a repeat of Miami’s 7-10 record last season.

Meanwhile, Aikman tested the waters of what it’s like working at an NFL front office, and it seems that he has enjoyed it so much that he would like to continue. 

“Where that might go, I’m not sure. I’m going to continue to work with them in some capacity.” 

As a player, Aikman played for the University of California, Los Angeles. In the NFL, Aikman played only for one franchise, the Dallas Cowboys. 

The Pro Football Hall of Famer had tremendous success as a player, winning three Super Bowls and earning Super Bowl MVP honors in Super Bowl XXVII. 

Presently, the QB might move to the 305 and take on a completely new role. 

Why Did Aikman Have a Change of Heart Now?

Troy Aikman put off front office roles for years and labeled it “selfish” to pursue them as soon as he retired. The goal at that time was to spend more time with his young daughters as a recently divorced single dad. 

The Super Bowl MVP retired from playing football in 2001. Following his playing career, Aikman got into broadcasting. 

The QB currently serves as ESPN’s “Monday Night Football” analyst, working next to Joe Buck. 

Aikman felt now was the right time as his youngest daughter graduated from high school in 2021.

“So it wasn’t until my youngest graduated from high school back in 2021 that if I was going to pursue a front office position, that would have been the time to do it.”

Aikman did confess that his work with the Dolphins had “scratched an itch” he had while working in an NFL front office. However, the QB was never interested in coaching roles at any level.

What did you think about Aikman’s sudden shift in role? Let us know in the comments.

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Sparsh Tiwari

Jones spoke to the Dallas Cowboys media at the Grand Prix of Arlington. He was more eager to talk about the defense his team has gathered than the offense.

“Of course, we actually have touched some offense with a great blocker, but more importantly, what we’ve done on defense,” Jones said.

The Dallas Cowboys have been working around the clock to improve the defense and help Christian Parker with all the weapons he needs in his first season in charge as the defensive coordinator for the Cowboys. 

Jones further added that the Chiefs are counting on their draft picks and returning veteran players to have a promising season.

“That plus what we have set up for the draft, plus what we really have coming back from our veteran defensive players that really didn’t play that much last year, injury issues, things like that, gives us a lot of promise.”

The Cowboys hold two first-round draft picks (12 and 20), and that would come into play very soon. Sam Williams has agreed to return to the Cowboys on a one-year deal, and the Cowboys could be looking to re-sign Dante Fowler.

The defensive statistics for 2025 are by far the worst Jones and his franchise have ever seen. They were at the bottom and near the bottom in almost every defensive statistic in 2025. 

The defense, led by former defensive coordinator Matt Eberflus, conceded an NFL-high 511 points, allowing an average of 31 points per game. 

There is no doubt that the Cowboys had enormous issues on defense last year, but Jones believed there’s only one way forward. 

“I’ll tell you, when you have the challenges we had last year, there’s no place to go up on the defensive side of the ball,” Jones said. “Had we played a lick of defense last year, we would’ve had ourselves, I think, a real playoff run.” 

What did Jerry Jones admit about free agency?

Historically, the Dallas Cowboys are not a franchise that goes all out on free agency. They are more of a draft-first-and-develop franchise. 

Jones believes that has since changed, and all franchises use free agency to make their roster more effective. 

“I don’t know that since we’ve had free agency as we know it today, where it’s really very viable, most teams involved very actively making deals if you will.”

The Cowboys have made plenty of free agent signings, and most of those signings come on the defensive end of the football. They have brought in safety Jalen Thompson with a 3-year, $36 million contract, cornerback Cobie Durant on a 1-year deal, and several other linebackers and safeties.

So, do you think the Cowboys have done enough to strengthen their defense, as Jerry Jones believes? Let us know in the comments.

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