The Dallas Cowboys made headlines recently by restructuring the contracts of defensive tackle Kenny Clark, cornerback DaRon Bland, and tight end Jake Ferguson, which resulted in approximately $19 million in additional cap space.
Prior to these changes, the Cowboys had around $14.2 million in cap space, which was bolstered by the extension of Quinnen Williams. With the new restructures, the total cap space is now approximately $33.2 million, according to ESPN's Todd Archer. Other sources, such as Over The Cap, report slightly higher figures, estimating the Cowboys' cap space at about $34.8 million.
This increase in cap space provides the Cowboys with significant flexibility for the 2026 season, as most teams typically aim for around $8 to $10 million to operate effectively. However, sources indicate that the restructures were not specifically aimed at facilitating an immediate trade.
NFL Network's Jane Slater noted that while the Cowboys have created more cap space, it appears to be a preparatory move rather than a precursor to a trade.
Nick Harris from the Fort Worth Star-Telegram echoed this sentiment, suggesting that the Cowboys are positioning themselves for potential trades closer to the deadline, rather than making moves right now. Joseph Hoyt of The Dallas Morning News also believes that any significant trade discussions will likely occur mid-season, similar to the Quinnen Williams trade from the previous year.
