Team owner Jerry Jones and the organization have signaled a willingness to spend more in free agency, but critics note that signing outside talent is not the most efficient path to roster improvement. Dallas finished the 2025 season with a defense ranked last in the league, leaving holes across the unit beyond the defensive line and placing extra pressure on new defensive coordinator Christian Parker to engineer meaningful upgrades.
The case for Hendrickson hinges on his recent track record as a productive pass rusher, including back-to-back 17.5-sack seasons prior to an injury-shortened 2025 campaign. Even after core/hip/pelvic surgery limited him to four sacks in seven games, evaluators point to his sustained production when healthy and his proficiency as a disruptive force off the edge.
Forecasts on Hendrickson’s market vary, with projections suggesting a two-year deal in the neighborhood of $51 million, though some models anticipate a more modest one-year contract in the $21 million range with limited guarantees. The Cowboys would likely leverage longer-term protections or incentives to balance risk with potential impact, particularly given the team’s need to bolster theUnit’s edge presence.
Hendrickson’s value is measured not only by sacks but by his ability to apply pressure and stabilize a front that has struggled since significant roster changes. If Dallas signs Hendrickson, it would represent a clear commitment to upgrading the pass rush and strengthening a defense that must improve if the club is to compete more effectively in a crowded NFC landscape. The coming weeks are expected to shape whether Hendrickson becomes a centerpiece of Dallas’s free-agent plan or another option considered in a broader defensive rebuild.
