The Dallas Cowboys have freed up a lot of cap space for the 2026 season – thanks to restructuring the contracts of three stars. But 2027 could bring a rude awakening.

Until recently, the Dallas Cowboys were still just under $55 million over the cap space – now, according to ESPN, the franchise has restructured the current contracts of several players, freeing up $66 million in cap space for the 2026 NFL season.

With these adjustments, the Cowboys are now expected to fall below the $301.2 million salary cap.

Quarterback Dak Prescott’s base salary for 2026 has been adjusted from $40 million to $1.8 million.

Wide receiver CeeDee Lamb and left guard Tyler Smith will now only receive a base salary of $1.7 million each for 2026. According to ESPN, the difference has been reclassified as a “signing bonus.”

Owner Jerry Jones: Borrowed from the future

Cowboys owner Jerry Jones announced during the NFL Scouting Combine that his organization was seeking such contract adjustments in order to have room to strengthen the defense in free agency. However, there is a catch: “I want you to know that I can only create more room by borrowing from my own future, OK?” Jones said.

And in fact, the cap space situation is likely to become even more precarious for Dallas in 2027. By then, Prescott alone will be costing the salary budget more than $76 million.