The Dallas Cowboys are facing a significant roster challenge as they enter the 2026 season, with the departure of key players leaving quarterback Dak Prescott without reliable depth on the offensive line.
Among these losses is Brock Hoffman, who joined the Cowboys practice squad in 2022.
Hoffman, who played at Coastal Carolina and Virginia Tech, went undrafted in 2022 before joining the Cleveland Browns.
After signing with Dallas, he contributed more than 50 games across center and guard positions when injuries struck.
Hoffman‘s one-year, $1.1 million contract concluded after the 2025 season, and he elected to reunite with former head coach Mike McCarthy with the Pittsburgh Steelers, leaving the Cowboys without a versatile veteran capable of stepping in during line injuries.
Compounding the issue, veteran linebacker Logan Wilson announced his retirement at 29 after just seven games with Dallas, creating a gap in the linebacker corps that had already seen turnover in recent seasons and adding to defensive uncertainty.
Acquired for a 2026 seventh-round pick, Wilson totaled 28 tackles, one forced fumble, and a pass breakup in 2025 but opted to retire rather than continue in a limited role, freeing $6.5 million in cap space but leaving Dallas with fewer experienced options.
For the Cowboys, depth behind starters such as DeMarvion Overshown, Shemar James, and Justin Barron now becomes crucial, increasing reliance on draft acquisitions like Malik Muhammad to support both the secondary and overall defensive versatility in the coming season.
The front office faces a balancing act, combining high draft targets with free agency while absorbing the losses of Hoffman and Wilson, all to maintain competitiveness and manage cap space effectively, ensuring Prescott has protection and support.
Cowboys to strike trade deal with Miami Dolphins?
Dallas has shifted attention to Jordyn Brooks of the Miami Dolphins after previously considering Patrick Queen, seeking a veteran presence capable of stabilizing the defense without requiring excessive draft capital.
Brooks, 28, totaled 125 tackles last season and graded 77.8 from PFF, making him a solid floor-raising addition rather than a game-changing star, but he could elevate the Cowboys‘ defense from low-tier to roughly top-20 status while complementing their offensive strengths.
The Cowboys are reportedly prepared to offer a fifth-round pick that could escalate to a fourth-rounder if Brooks meets defensive performance benchmarks, an arrangement appealing to Miami as the franchise continues a full rebuild after parting ways with Tua Tagovailoa and other stars.
A trade for Brooks benefits both sides: Dallas adds a proven contributor to shore up linebacking depth, while Miami maximizes a player unlikely to align with their long-term playoff plans, freeing salary and gaining draft capital to target future starters.
If the deal is finalized, Brooks‘ arrival could directly address the Cowboys‘ roster vulnerability, giving Prescott a more reliable defensive foundation and improving the team’s odds of contending for the postseason despite the offseason setbacks.
Read the full article here
