Cowboys news: Dallas 2026 UDFA class has a lot to gain this offseason

The reality is that when OTAs come around, we football fans tend to be a little bit overexcited about the whole thing. Sure, it’s an important time for teams, Dallas Cowboys included. But position battles don’t get sorted out until training camp.

And yet, it’s a great opportunity to hear from players and coaches, as well as learn a little bit about the pecking order across the roster.

But for undrafted rookie tight end Michael Trigg, OTAs are actually a huge opportunity. And he’s already gathering national attention.

The reality is that when OTAs come around, we football fans tend to be a little bit overexcited about the whole thing. Sure, it’s an important time for teams, Dallas Cowboys included. But position battles don’t get sorted out until training camp.

And yet, it’s a great opportunity to hear from players and coaches, as well as learn a little bit about the pecking order across the roster.

But for undrafted rookie tight end Michael Trigg, OTAs are actually a huge opportunity. And he’s already gathering national attention.

Langston Patterson, LB

Linebacker remains one of the thinnest spots on the Dallas roster. Their starters at inside linebacker are DeMarvion Overshown and Dee Winters. Behind them, the Cowboys have rookie third-round pick Jaishawn Barham and second-year linebackers Shemar James and Justin Barron.

There’s a possibility they add another veteran to the mix, especially given Overshown’s injury history. They could also stick with their current group, which would give Langston Patterson a realistic shot of making the team.

Reddy Steward has already gotten over one hurdle in 2026, surviving the purge of “Matt Eberflus guys” from the Cowboys staff and roster. Re-signed this offseason, Steward hopes to impress the new defensive coaches and fight his way back onto the team for another run.

Background

Years in NFL: 2
Acquired by: Waiver claim (2025)

Undrafted out of Troy in 2024, Steward’s first NFL job came as an undrafted free agent with the Chicago Bears in 2024, then coached by Eberflus. He spent most of the year on their practice squad, but the Bears did call him up to play in a single game. At the end of the season, he signed a futures deal with the division-rival Vikings to compete in their offseason program. That same winter, Eberflus became the defensive coordinator in Dallas.

When the Vikings waived Steward at final cuts, his former head coach brought him to his new Cowboys defense. There was a big need as Dallas had multiple injury concerns with their corners. Steward actually started in Week 2 and played significant snaps throughout the season, becoming a key figure when DaRon Bland ended up on IR and Trevon Diggs was released.

Making sense of who played well and who didn’t on last year’s defense isn’t easy. It was chaotic and breakdowns occurred all over the field. And while he struggled along with all of his teammates, Steward at least had moments where he showed toughness and solid coverage instincts. He was a willing tackler despite being undersized, which is key for the slot role he played. It was enough that, unlike most Eberflus guys, Steward got a new contract to return in 2026 and compete for a job.

FRISCO, Texas – One of the most important positions the Cowboys needed to address on defense going into the 2026 season was the linebacker position. During the NFL Draft, the Cowboys picked Michigan’s Jaishawn Barham in the third round.

Before that, the Cowboys made a trade with the San Francisco 49ers for linebacker Dee Winters, a sixth-round pick out of TCU going into his fourth NFL season. In exchange for a fifth-round pick, Dallas added a veteran at their biggest remaining need on defense.

After entering the second day of the draft with questions at linebacker, Dallas provided a pair of answers at the position in Winters and Barham. Is it enough? Only time will tell, but for now, Winters is tied for being the most experienced player at the position.

Malachi Lawrence Poised For Day 1 Impact?

Alexander appeared on 105.3 The Fan when he was asked about the Cowboys’ rookie class, and shared his belief on why new defensive coordinator Christian Parker’s scheme could set Lawrence up for immediate success.

“I look at Malachi Lawrence because I think there is an opportunity for an edge rusher in this,” Alexander said. “I think a lot of people outside of [defensive coordinator Christian Parker’s] system probably think this is a system that wants to have these hybrid edges that they want to be able to drop into coverage.

“And I think over time, one of the things that’s evolved from the system is that you realize those guys aren’t really helping you in coverage. I really need them to either be setting the edge in the run game or to actually get after the passer.”