So Jerry Jones is talking about the Dallas Cowboys being incentivized to “bust the budget” this offseason, huh?

Buy into his pitch at your own peril, but I’ve been thinking about those words for a few days now and daydreaming about the Cowboys actually making splash moves in 2026, and I’ve got an idea for them. Though I’m not even talking about landing superstars left and right, but rather getting starting-caliber veterans, there is one Top 5 free agent I think Dallas must pursue. And he plays on offense.

Now, before you stop me by pointing out the many urgent needs on defense, let me hit you with a reality check. Even with the likes of CeeDee Lamb, George Pickens, and Dak Prescott on offense, it was an inconsistent unit when faced against capable pass-rush teams.

To the point of it limiting the game plan and relying too much on max protect concepts to push the ball downfield. Simply put, the pass protection is terrible, and if the Cowboys want an elite offense to make them contenders, it must be fixed. That’s where this particular free agent comes into play.

Disclaimer before diving in: For the purposes of this post, I’m not counting George Pickens as a free agent as he’s a pending free agent for Dallas, and I fully expect him to, at minimum, receive the franchise tag.

Cowboys must go after OT Braden Smith

Among the top 2026 NFL free agents is Braden Smith, right tackle for the Indianapolis Colts. He’s expected to be the best tackle available this March. Per ESPN’s free agency rankings, he’s the only tackle among this year’s Top 15 free agents.

He should interest the Cowboys for an obvious reason: The offense has no certainty at the position, and waiting until the 2026 NFL Draft to address the need would be negligible. Right tackle Terence Steele has declined to the point of being a likely cap casualty, and left tackle Tyler Guyton continues to struggle with injuries and inconsistent play. Late in the season, the Cowboys even flirted with the idea of moving Tyler Smith to left tackle permanently as a result.

For the Cowboys, fixing the defense overnight won’t yield an elite unit. There are too many problems for that. What will make them contenders, however, is the offense. But for that to happen, the tackles can’t keep holding the unit back. Enter Braden Smith.

What Smith brings to the table

For more insight on Smith, I reached out to our own Colts expert at A to Z Sports, Destin Adams. Here’s what he had to say about the potential free agent target.

Adams: “Other top offensive linemen have overshadowed Braden Smith during his career with the Colts. But if you ask me, he’s been the second most consistent starter throughout his career, behind only Quenton Nelson. Smith has taken a bit of a step back as a pass blocker, but remains above average in that regard and remains a net positive in the run game. If a team needs a starter for next season, I believe Smith has multiple good years ahead of him.

“The Colts just have to spend money elsewhere, so they will likely go with Jalen Travis in 2026. There’s been some uncertainty around whether he will be willing to keep playing if it’s not with the Colts, but I think Dallas would be a great fit for him as a player and could help him get the most out of the final years of his career.”

Projected value

Per Spotrac’s market value, Smith is projected to sign a deal worth $40.6 million over three years, with an average salary of $13.53 million.

Such a deal would make him the 15th highest-paid right tackle in the league, which is very fair for a 30-year old starting offensive tackle.

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