The NFL had its own way of telling the Dallas Cowboys it didn’t like its 2025 team, and it will affect how they do business
The Dallas Cowboys face a very unfamiliar situation to them. And it’s the result of NFL teams basically ignoring their 2026 free agent class.
The Dallas Cowboys will face a situation that’s very uncommon for them in 2027: having no compensatory picks in the NFL Draft.
But the reason behind should be looked at closely, as they reveal NFL teams really didn’t like a large portion of the 2025 Cowboys. Let’s dive in.
NFL neglects Cowboys free agents
Before we get into how the NFL told the Cowboys its free agency class wasn’t good at all, there’s a concept we all need to understand. Compensatory free agents.
So let’s all get on the same page with a quick “comp picks for dummies” crash course:
- Each year, the NFL calculates and ranks “compensatory free agents” (CFAs) based on average per year values, snap counts, and other metrics. A standout player signing a blockbuster deal is worth more than a “just solid” starter.
- If a team loses more CFAs than it gains, the NFL awards it a compensatory pick. Hence the name.
- Typically, CFA additions and losses cancel each other out, until teams gain only a few comp picks. The Cowboys, for example, were awarded two comp picks in this year’s draft because they lost six CFAs and gained four in the 2025 CFA window.
Now that we’re on the same page, let’s get to the point.
The Cowboys lost zero compensatory free agents this year, according to Over The Cap’s projections.
To illustrate why that’s a big deal, consider this: They were the only team in the NFL to lose zero CFAs this year. Public Over the Cap data goes back to 2014 and I went down the rabbit hole. You know what I found out?
This is the first time from 2014-2026 that the Cowboys lose no CFAs.
That means out of 13 free agents that weren’t kept by the Cowboys one way or another, all either remain unsigned or they signed minimum-type deals that didn’t qualify them as CFAs.
No comp picks will affect how the Cowboys maneuver
This is no small thing, either. The Cowboys believe in the “draft and develop” mindset. That’s why they’re often comfortable letting players walk in free agency. They know such losses translate to draft picks down the road, and they’re okay with the trade off.
Going into 2027, however, they’ll be more limited in terms of draft capital. Specially after giving up their fourth rounder to acquire edge rusher Rashan Gary from the Green Bay Packers.
That means they’ll be even more inclined to hold on to their picks. That affects how they approach the trade market now until next year’s draft. It may also influence their spending next year and heck, even their approach to contract extension negotiations.
There were a lot of question marks about how the Cowboys built their 2025 roster, mostly on the defensive side of things. Seeing how the NFL responded to its free agency class is no surprise.
The good news? 2026 is already looking a lot better.