Buyer's remorse: Cowboys offseason free agent additions going belly up

The Dallas Cowboys made a more aggressive move in free agency compared to last offseason, signing safety Jalen Thompson to a three-year, $33 million deal. This marked their biggest external signing in over a decade and showed the team was serious about improving in 2026. March was an active month for the Cowboys, with nine new free agents joining the team during the opening weeks.

While Thompson, the team's star signing, was expected to be a key player, he is now expected to miss the next four to six weeks due to a hamstring injury. He has already graded out as safety No. 108 after three games, indicating his contributions may not have met expectations. Other signings, such as P.J. Locke and Matt Hennessy, also faced early injuries, with Locke spending one week on injured reserve and Hennessy suffering a season-ending injury before the season began.

This has hurt the Cowboys' depth and versatility. Cobie Durant, a veteran cornerback, was better than expected but has only contributed 87 defensive snaps due to injury, and his return may be delayed. Defensive tackle Jonathan Bullard, who missed most of training camp, has fallen to injury again, facing a 3-4 week absence. Tyrus Wheat, another March signing, has made minimal impacts with only five defensive snaps to date.

Overall, none of the March signings have provided the anticipated impact and consistency. While defensive tackle Otito Ogbonnia has been a steady contributor, there are concerns about the effectiveness of these free agency additions heading into Week 4.