THIS Might Be The PERFECT Cowboys Free Agent Target Left In 2026 Free Agency

Added: 2026-06-01

[00:00:00]Coming up on today's Cowboys Report presented by Prize Picks. I know I've been rather I don't know about signing this guy and that guy. The player we'll discuss today. It might not be the sexiest name, don't get me wrong. I do think there actually is a pretty strong that it makes a lot of sense for all parties involved that maybe others haven't so far in free agency. Before we dive into that, the most comments on today's show gets a free summer gear raffle entry for our Cowboys Report merchandise giveaway. Most comments gets that free raffle entry.

[00:00:42]I want to give some love and credit to Joe Hoy over at the Dallas Morning News.

[00:00:46]He had mentioned five possible targets for the Cowboys. be a trade or free agency. It was the fifth one on my bunch, by the way, that I thought was my favorite. And the other four were names we've discussed. We spent a lot of time on Jordan Brooks. We've talked about James Connor. We've mentioned Taylor Decker, who is like top guy if Gayton goes down for me. He's like number one on my list. Bobby Wagner, if they want to go get a veteran free agent linebacker. The fifth name that we haven't really spent any time on here, of at least major time, is Jonah Williams, the offensive tackle formerly of the Arizona Cardinals. And it's not sexy. It doesn't drastically change your season, but I do think it's pretty realistic. If certain measurements and thresholds and potential concerns are alleviated, I do think he makes quite a bit of sense for the Dallas Cowboys.

[00:01:36]It's realistic, unlike, you know, maybe some of the names that get banned about like the timing isn't right. Tim timing could be right for Jonah. So, before we dive into it, I want to hear from you guys. Would you sign Jonah Williams? Why for yes and for no? Let me know in the comments section of today's show. Let's dive into a couple different reasons why I think this could make some sense. The first of which is just the connection.

[00:02:02]offensive coordinator Clayton Adams who was the Cardinals offensive line coach for a few years, coach Jonah Williams in Arizona. So there is a natural connection between the player and the coach and if you were going to pursue it in theory that would be because your OC who has a heavy offensive line background has a good feel for like yes this guy can help us. If Clayton says no well then you know it's dead in the water but that connection does matter when it comes to NFL teams making moves.

[00:02:30]you you want to have a sponsor in the building, right? Reason why it makes some sense. Number two, Jonah Williams, unlike a lot of players on this roster and across the NFL, actually has a bunch of experience at both left tackle and right tackle. He has started in all in both of those spots. He is an actual swing tackle proven ability player. It's not an unknown of, well, in theory he could do it. It's like, no, he started at right tackle and left tackle. I think deep down he wants to be a left tackle, but seems like when he went to Arizona, he kind of gave up on those dreams at least a little bit as that contract went along. So, to recap why it makes sense, right, the obvious Clayton Adams connection, the swing tackle ability that very much exists for uh Jonah Williams. And finally, there is a lack of proven depth in the Dallas Cowboys offensive line room, specifically when it comes to tackle. I'm I am knocking on wood hoping that Tyler Gayton stays healthy, which he needs to have happen.

[00:03:35]I think under the radar element because we are correctly so focused on like, hey, is Tyler Gayton gonna be good and stay healthy? If Terrence Steel goes down, the other right tackle options haven't played it. Like Nate Thomas came in for like half a game last year at right tackle. Tyler Smith has only played left tackle. Booker's not a right tackle. TJ Bass can't play tackle. It's a bunch of unproven guys. We'll go more into that here in a little bit, but NFL snaps that have been taken among your backup offensive tackles are 341 total.

[00:04:13]Almost all of them on the left side.

[00:04:15]You're banking on more unknown. And for a team that has aspirations that could go belly up kind of quickly, which is why you kind of saw it last year, frankly, the Cowboys pivoted away from, you know, the unknown Nate Thomas left tackle and put Tyler Smith there and went with TJ Bass. who happens at right tackle to Terrence Steel.

[00:04:35]That's dicey. More to come on those three guys and Jonah Williams. Today's show is made possible by Prize Picks.

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[00:05:02]This was done before the injury news.

[00:05:04]Should be good for camp. We'll see. Uh, more than receiving yards. Jordan Tyson, more than TDs. And of course, got to throw Caleb down. More than 1.5 ins into that one. Prize picks available in most states, including California, Florida, and Texas. New user offer to join the millions of users. Download the prize picks app in the comments and the description. Use code HMA to get 50 bucks in lineups after you play your first $5 lineup. That's code HMA to get $50 in lineups after you play your first $5 lineup. Prize picks. It's good to be right. Let's go to Nate Thomas. And knock on wood again. Knock on wood. If something were to have to have happened to Terrence Steel, I think Nate Thomas would be the first man up to get a crack at right tackle. He's the swing tackle, right? He played 23 snaps last year at right tackle. There's also one six offensive line and snaps.

[00:06:03]So, if you want to count that, that's fine. But like 23 snaps, that's it. He didn't He was not a guy that was getting a bunch of run on the right side. And frankly, I was really disappointed by Nate Thomas. He got a shot to come in and got hurt. And I think his poor play and kind of not wanting to like throw him under the bus for a team that has said a bunch of good things about him was a huge factor in why they made the move to Zed. I don't trust him right now at right tackle. And maybe the Cowboys will differently. If so, you know, they may have the same conversation. Drew Shelton, meanwhile, I would not be surprised if they got if he got some work at right tackle as well, but every single one of his starts came at left tackle. He got a handful of early career backup game, you know, garbage time reps on the right side of the offensive line.

[00:06:51]It's not it's not really a lot going on there for Drew Shelton, who also they're talking about maybe getting some guard work. kind of feels like they're gonna feel it out. But again, fourth round pick who hasn't played in the NFL. Ajani Cornelius was a sixth round pick last year out of Oregon who was a right tackle for for the Ducks as I consult my notes here. Um all 50 career starts came on the right side. He played one game last year, all special teams. So the common trend here is if something were to happen, I think in particular Terrence Steel, man, what are you going to do? And I do think of like guys that maybe want to sign now. Williams could actually fit that mold. You have three roster spots as of filming. So, do the Cowboys need another offensive tackle?

[00:07:37]One for yes, zero for no. Now, in the interest of being fair and balanced, some reasons why it might not make as much sense. Number one, can he stay healthy? He has battled injuries for multiple years of his career, even from his first season. And I do worry like has the decline kind of already set in?

[00:07:55]And part of the reason why he might be okay signing is because I don't think he's gonna start anywhere. Um the the production just it wasn't very good. It it just it really wasn't where it needed to be of like a okay, we can plug him in and start him. That that was not just not where it was. because I mean the pass block grade raid was better at least than you know what Nate Thomas was producing for you and run block grade raid wasn't that far off but still you can kind of see missed a bunch of time the past two seasons was better before he got hurt back in 2024 kind of regressed had just been a I don't know is serviceable the right phrase for General Williams although it's late May serviceable in most cases is kind of all that's realistically available cowboys report is free and we always will be. All you got to do is subscribe.

[00:08:49]Hit that sub button if you haven't already for more free Cowboys YouTube videos. Reason why not number two, as I mentioned, I don't think he's going to find a starting spot, but he goes as a powerful thing in the NFL. I've seen many offensive linemen go, I'm going to start. I'm going to start. I'm not going to be a backup. And then that's kind of it. uh you know David Baktiari, Russell Okokum, guys like those guy, those players like they thought they were still starters and no one picked them up and they never ended up signing anywhere. And then final reason is this is internally for a team that likes their guys and wants to get into camp.

[00:09:26]Do they think they need another veteran swing tackle? You know, they've pushed out the narrative that they believe in Nate Thomas. They've spent draft picks on Ajani Cornelius on a, you know, Drew Shelton. The math gets a bit tough if you're also adding Jonah Williams to who's going to make the roster. It adds more competition, but I would be willing to bet if Williams is going to sign, it's probably he's going to get a good amount of guaranteed money. He still wants to be guaranteed a roster spot.

[00:09:53]The Cowboys might not be willing to make that call just yet, but I think it's a little bit more feasible than say a better player, for example, in Taylor Decker.