This just in: the Dallas Cowboys defense in 2025 wasn’t very good. If anyone needs proof, look no further than the free agent market. Turns out other teams don’t think much of Dallas’ players last year either, with five former starters still unsigned and looking for employment. This lack of interest speaks to the legitimacy of Dallas’ struggles last year. Matt Eberflus alone didn’t sink the squad, but the players who played and the people who built the roster share the burden as well.
On the Monday afternoon following the 2026 NFL Draft, free agent signings no long count against the compensatory formula. This means remaining free agents now have a shot at finding teams. But even now these five remain on the market.
With 63 career starts in Dallas, six of which came last season, Trevon Diggs is the Cowboys’ most notable unemployed defender. The former All-Pro’s career fell of a cliff after suffering a pair of knee injuries in 2023 and 2024. His commitment to rehab was questioned in Dallas, leading to his eventual release late last year. After testing the waters in Green Bay for a game, Diggs remains unemployed.
Fowler has had two stints with the Cowboys over the years, totaling three seasons. In 2025, he made 11 starts for the Cowboys collecting three sacks and 20 pressures. At 31-years-old Fowler still has something left in the tank but as of today he remains unsigned.
Donovan Wilson had become a lightning rod for criticism in Dallas. His tendency to hunt for big plays resulted in blown assignments and undisciplined play. Despite making 15 starts and serving as team captain in 2025, Wilson was allowed to enter free agency without resistance from the Cowboys.
The Cowboys traded for Kenneth Murray prior to the 2025 season and essentially handed him a starting job. The former first round pick never lived up to his draft expectations but came with tremendous physical traits the Cowboys adored. Like Wilson, Murray embodied the Cowboys’ problems on defense. Undisciplined play, bad reads and no accountability littered his game each week, yet he still started 16 games for Dallas.
It might be unfair to put Clowney on this list since his time in Dallas was largely seen as a resounding success. Signed midseason, Clowney would go on to start six games for the Cowboys, posting 8.5 sacks and 22 pressures. As a veteran, Clowney is looking for the right situation in 2026, but it stands to reason if he’s not signed already, it’s because a great offer has yet to come around.
This isn’t just an indictment on the past but perspective for the future. Overcoming the awfulness of 2025 is no small task. Christian Parker alone can’t fix things on the defense; it will take personnel and improvement from the front office. If everyone does their part then, maybe, things can turn around in 2026.
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This article originally appeared on Cowboys Wire: Telling Tale: 5 of the Cowboys’ 2025 Def starters remain unemployed