The Dallas Cowboys aren’t going out looking for the top free agents on the market. They didn’t trade a game-changing player like Max Crosby, but they did add earlier than in the past and signed a player to the highest contract since the Brandon Carr trade more than a decade ago. They needed secondary help and an edge against Donovan Ezieruaku, and they got those goals.
Dallas traded with the Green Bay Packers to bring in Rashan Gary for a fourth-round pick, then signed safeties Jalen Thompson and P.J. Locke. They then made some minor trades, adding defensive tackle Otito Ogbonya and bringing back Sam Williams and Tyrus Whitt, before moving away Osa Odigizwa and Solomon Thomas. This time in free agency isn’t much different than what the Cowboys have been for the last decade-plus, but that doesn’t mean they haven’t made the defense better in the first few days of free agency.
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How Rashan Gary can help
Minnesota Vikings’ JJ McCarthy (9) evades a sack by Green Bay Packers defensive end Rashan Gary (52) during the fourth quarter of a game on Sunday, Nov. 23, 2025, at Lambeau Field in Green Bay, Wisconsin. The Green Bay Packers defeated the Minnesota Vikings 23-6.
Dallas has been trying to improve its run defense for some time. Quinnen Williams and Kenny Clark were brought in to help in the area. Donovan Ezieruaku was a surprisingly good run defender as a rookie, and now Gary has installed a four-man front with no major holes in its run defense. The idea here is to get the opposing offense into third and long to help the pass defense be more successful.
When Dallas’ defense can shut down opposing passing offenses, the new defensive coordinator can do some fancy things to help try and keep them off the field. This situation allows for more exotic blitzes or screens to get fumbles or force punts.
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How Jalen Thompson can help
November 23, 2025; Glendale, AZ, USA; Arizona Cardinals safety Jalen Thompson (34) against the Jacksonville Jaguars at State Farm Stadium. Mandatory photo credit: Mark J. Rebilas-Imagn Images
Dallas’ safety room is a mess in 2025 and is arguably the team’s biggest need. Thompson brings reliability to the unit. He played under Cowboys secondary coach Ryan Smith in the Arizona Cardinals and didn’t have many weaknesses in his game.
He’s not as impactful a playmaker as Budda Baker, but he doesn’t disrupt defenses, rarely misses tackles, and is versatile enough to allow them to run multiple defenses on the back end. Over the past five years, Thompson has averaged 100 steals per season and has a steal turnover rate of 6% or less.
How PJ Locke can help
November 26, 2023; Denver, Colorado, USA; Denver Broncos safety P.J. Locke (6) sacks Cleveland Browns quarterback P.J. Walker (10) during the fourth quarter at Empower Field at Mile High. Mandatory Credit: Ron Chenoy-USA TODAY Sports
Lock’s contributions began on special teams. Dallas saw a significant drop-off in coverage units last season, and Locke was a standout special teams contributor with more than 1,300 snaps for those units in his career. He did add some defense, though.
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He has started 26 games for the Denver Broncos over the past three seasons and could be the answer to the nickelback problem if Dallas can’t add a corner to get the job done. Thompson could move to the nickel position, with Lock taking over as one of the deep safeties. Lock does a great job against the run in the box and has great range for a deep back. Parker hopes to play the nickel with three safeties without sacrificing the run defense by adding an extra cornerback, which could be a huge strength for the defense.
You can find Mike Crum on Twitter @cdpiglet or the Across the Cowboys podcast on YouTube
This article originally appeared on Cowboys Wire: Cowboys add Gary, Thompson, Lock to help defense in these ways