Cowboys could snatch two Eagles pending free agents to help bolster defense

Improving the defense will be a major point of emphasis for the Dallas Cowboys this offseason.

After all, the Cowboys' defense was the biggest reason Dallas missed the playoffs in 2025. Along with lackluster coaching that got Matt Eberflus canned, Dallas' talent was also lacking.

With the Cowboys hiring former Philadelphia Eagles defensive backs coach and pass-game coordinator Christian Parker as their new defensive coordinator, it's possible Dallas might have their eyes on some Eagles free agents.

In an article naming dream free-agent targets for the Cowboys, On SI's Randy Gurzi named Eagles safety Reed Blankenship and linebacker Nakobe Dean as two of them.

"As Parker installs his system this offseason, it would be nice to have a player who can help the team catch on quickly. That’s why a strong communicator with two years experience under Parker, such as Reed Blankenship, makes perfect sense," Gurzi said of Blankenship. "Dallas needs better play in the secondary and Blankenship would be an upgrade."

"Another free agent target with ties to Parker is Nakobe Dean. The Eagles' linebacker has been impressive when on the field but injuries have held him back. The Cowboys should still roll the dice given his upside," Gurzi said of Dean.

The Cowboys have needs at both linebacker and safety, so Dallas pursuing Dean and/or Blankenship is a real possibility, especially with Parker in tow.

Linebacker Kenneth Murray and safety Donovan Wilson will both be free agents, and it remains to be seen if the Cowboys have linebacker Logan Wilson in their future plans after acquiring him via trade before the deadline.

While both players would be upgrades for Dallas, Dean would amount to a roll of the dice thanks to his injury history. Even still, it wouldn't shock us to see either player end up in Dallas in 2026.

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