April 27 is important date, even as Cowboys have thrown comp picks out
· Yahoo Sports
Free agency has been in full effect since mid-March, yet after the initial flurry of top tier signings, things have noticeably slowed down. With less than three weeks to go until the 2026 NFL draft, teams like the Dallas Cowboys have refocused most of their efforts on the draft. The draft is widely considered the single best way to add cornerstone pieces to a roster, so it should be no wonder why it takes pole position in the minds of personnel departments across the NFL right now.
With that said, free agency is far from over. Plenty of useful pieces remain on the market and with so many needs across their roster, the Cowboys don’t expect the draft to singlehandedly satisfy all of said needs. It’s safe to say the positions Dallas fails to address in the draft, will be handled by free agency soon thereafter; specifically on April 27.
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April 27, the Monday immediately following the draft, is the first day of the offseason where free agent additions no longer count towards the compensatory formula. Compensatory picks, extra draft picks awarded by the NFL, are given to teams who lose more qualifying free agents than gain. But the Cowboys, who routinely score compensatory picks each year, are not going to be in that mode this season, even though other teams hitting that phase will impact their negotiations.
The Cowboys officially landed two fifth round compensatory picks in the 2026 NFL Draft, per a NFL announcement.
— Joseph Hoyt (@JoeJHoyt) March 9, 2026
By waiting until the Monday after the draft, teams can add free agents without suffering compensatory consequences. Since most high-end free agents get gobbled up early, the Cowboys are usually taking a hit in quality by waiting. But since waiting can result in a comp pick the following season, it’s a sacrifice Dallas was happy to make. Only this year, nobody wanted the players the Cowboys let walk.
As of this writing, Dallas has signed three comp-pick eligible free agents: Jalen Thompson, PJ Locke and Cobie Durant. They've lost zero. But again, other teams that have been reluctant to sign more than they've lost will suddenly jump back into action, telling veterans where they stand and pushing them towards a decision. That increased activity should also move the Cowboys into action.
Players who are still on the market at this point in free agency are typically content waiting until after the draft as well. The last thing they want to do is commit to a team now, only to see that team draft a player at their position a few weeks later. Waiting until after the draft allows players to gauge various opportunities around the league.
Free agents like linebacker Bobby Wagner, and pass rushers Calais Campbell and Joey Bosa are examples of available free agents who are likely to be pursued on April 27. All three are players play positions of need for the Cowboys and all three are likely waiting until after the draft to see where the best opportunities lie.
Wagner, 35, has been slowing down as of late, but even at a step behind, the former All-Pro brings plenty to the table. As one of the smarter inside linebackers in the NFL, Wagner has a lot to offer outside of the traditional physical ability. Pro Football Focus graded him in the top 10 in each of the last four years making him an excellent consolation prize for Dallas after the draft.
Campbell, 39, has aged like fine wine in the NFL. The 6-foot-8, 315-pound defensive end would be ideal for the Cowboys' 3-4 defense. Campbell has logged five or more sacks in each of the last four seasons and hasn’t missed a game since 2022.
Joey Bosa, 30, has struggled in the durability department throughout his career, but he's trending positively and could be an impactful addition in 2026. His 24 pressures in 2025 were the most he’s logged since 2021. Not to mention, the former No. 3 overall draft pick has strung together two solid seasons in which he played 14 and 15 games, respectively.
Whatever the Cowboys do on April 27 will be heavily linked to what they can’t do in the 2026 NFL draft. The free agent aftermarket can fill holes the draft could not, and it won’t impact the NFL compensatory formula for the next year either. The Cowboys are kicking tires and working the phones right now, but don’t expect anything official to happen until after the draft.
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This article originally appeared on Cowboys Wire: April 27 is important date, even as Cowboys have thrown comp picks out