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EspañolFRISCO - The Dallas Cowboys were well into their 2026 roster-building preparation as the NFL Scouting Combine got underway in Indianapolis.
It is there where every year, Dallas Cowboys owner Jerry Jones meets with the media on his “Party Bus” to discuss anything and everything.
So, what did Jerry have to say on all things Cowboys in Indianapolis this time around?
Our top 10 takes ... on his top 10 takes ...
1 - ‘Honey and Money’ Jerry and George Pickens’ contract takes center stage this offseason, and Mr. Jones made his feelings clear on George.
“I want our George Pickens relationship to be all honey,” Jerry said.
A reporter then followed up with “Honey and Money,” to which Jerry, with a big smile, stated, “Boy, that’s pretty good.”
For now, GP is tagged at $27.3 million for 2026, with negotiations - and drama - to come. For instance: There is the unlikely possibility that a team could bid on Pickens and give up two first-round picks in a swap.
But when Jerry personally called Pickens to inform him of the plan?
READ MORE: How’s George Pickens Really Feel About Tag? He’s On ‘Cloud 9,’ Cowboys’ Jerry Jones Claims
“I expressed to him how valuable a part of the team that we think he is.’’ Jones said. “The kind of contribution he can make, he’ll continue to get better working with (quarterback Dak Prescott), working with the other receivers. We talked about the future. We both reiterated how good it was for him to be here, and know that what we have in place assures that he will be here.”
All honey.
2 - Jerry confirms ‘Bust the Budget’ approach Color us skeptical on the Cowboys being big spenders in free agency, but “bust the budget” has been a common phrase we’ve heard this offseason, and Jerry once again moved the ball forward on it ... sort of.
“I would bet that we will spend more money in free agency than we have,” Jones said. “I guess what I’m doing is saying, yes, I intend to do that (bust the budget) if given the opportunity.”
Hmm, so there we go. If given the opportunity, Dallas is going to be aggressive.
Maybe.
3 - He’ll mortgage future for 2026 We’ve reported for months on the details here, so you know that the Cowboys have to restructure several contracts to be buyers in free agency, and we know which players the franchise will “flip the switch” on. (Dak Prescott and CeeDee Lamb, for starters.)
And Jerry, it appears, is more than willing to mortgage some of the franchise’s future to get deals done this offseason.
“I want you to know that the only way to push more (money out) is for me to go borrow some of my future, OK?” Jones said. “Expect me to go borrow some of my future.”
4 - Bust it for defense With the offense set and Pickens tagged, for most, the Cowboys should use most of their offseason resources on defense.
And when it comes to spending, Jerry stated that defense is likely where that will happen.
“I think that would be the area (Dallas’ NFL-worst defense) that you would see me bust the budget. Where you would see me do that is what we’re doing defensively,” Jerry said.
5 - No issue with Pickens’ agent Mulugheta One big red flag for fans and the national media when it comes to George’s contract is the fact that David Mulughete is his agent - yes, the same guy who represented Micah Parsons on his way out of Dalllas.
We all know how that played out, and it got ugly, but Jerry wants it to be known he has every intention of making sure that doesn’t happen with Pickens.
“I would want all of our fans to rest assured that I have every intention of working very good with his agent,” Jerry said. “I have no reason to have an issue other than the fact that he represented Parsons.
“I have no issues at all with working with his agent, and I have no issue with the agent, him, not at all.”
6 - Offer on the table for Aubrey Aubrey’s contract debate has been more high-profile than most would have thought. A $7 mil APY offer? A $10 million APY ask?
Can they meet somewhere in the middle?
READ MORE: Brandon Aubrey (And Wife) Scream ‘Fake!’ At Dallas Cowboys Contract Report
Jerry made it clear he wants Aubrey to be the highest-paid, and stated there is an offer on the table.
“I think that you’ve heard that we want to make him the highest-paid,” Jones said of Aubrey, who is a restricted free agent who can be second-round tendered and retained at $5.8 million. “We think he’s outstanding. Love his story. Love the fact that the story is with the Cowboys. We’ve got a good offer on the table for him.”
7 - The biggest ‘challenge’ The task of fixing the defense looms as Herculean for the Cowboys, but with ample cap space and two first-round picks, there is ammunition.
Still, Jerry knows the path forward won’t be easy. But he does have a hopeful prediction.
“It’s a big challenge for us to be where we want to be defensively,” Jerry said. “I don’t want to imply that we’ve got anything set up and or blowing out the candles on the offense. We’ve got a lot of work to do over there, but this will be a real big challenge.
“We’ve got players that are better than they looked that will be playing on our defense this year that were Cowboys. They’ll be better than they looked this year. I predict that.”
8 - Expecting more from defensive duo Two big keys in the defensive improvement under Christian Parker will be DeMarvion Overshown and Shavon Revel Jr.
Both missed the first half of the season due to injury and were slow burns in their return to the field in 2025.
But Jerry expects 2026 to be vastly different.
“I think that Overshown will be healthier when we start, Revel. Jr. will be healthier when we start,’ Jerry said. “I’m mentioning them because the health issue had a lot to do with them being able to elevate from what they totally for the season did last year as opposed to this year.”
There are a number of other key defensive pieces here, led by Quinnen Williams. But it’s notable that Jones singled out this pair.
9 - He’s let fans down with ‘The Drought’ Much has been made of the Cowboys’ shortcomings since the Super Bowl-winning teams of the 90s, to the point that the franchise’s inability to even make the NFC Championship Game has made it a punchline.
And when asked if he feels he’s let down the fans with no success since the 90s, Jerry gave an honest answer.
“Yes. Yes, I do,” Jerry said unequivocally.
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10 - No ‘redshirts’ in draft The franchise doesn’t have any second- or third-round picks (right now, with its next selection after Nos. 12 and 20 at No. 112 in the fourth round.
We have seen the Cowboys select “bargain’’ players with a medical history before, from Sean Lee to Shavon Revel and so many more.
But Jerry made it clear that in this draft, his team won’t do that.
“We can’t afford to have redshirts here,” Jerry said. “You won’t see that this year.”
Take that as a hint that Jones believes this team’s time is now.