FRISCO – This part of the NFL calendar typically sees many moving parts within the coaching carousel, where teams decide who should be the next leaders of their program.
About this time last year, the Dallas Cowboys landed on first-time head coach Brian Schottenheimer, who eventually finished just 7-9-1 in 2025, but impressed the Jones family enough to earn the responsibility of leading this year’s search for a new defensive coordinator.
Schotty and Company landed on Philadelphia Eagles secondary coach Christian Parker. The 34-year-old up-and-comer is now the youngest DC in Cowboys history – which points to not just a schematic emphasis on the defensive backs, but an overall philosophical change, too.
Next up? Some “next leaders” on the field.
Enter Parker and his possible influence in luring free agent Eagles to Big D.
Philly made history winning the NFC East again as the first back-to-back division winner in two decades, but a disappointing Super Bowl title defense ended in a Wild Card loss to the San Francisco 49ers this year.
With frustration boiling over numerous times in the Eagles locker room this season, could this coaching carousel move make an impact on the roster personnel for next year?
Are there guys who want out?
We have suggested in this space that Dallas should poach another rising star from Philadelphia’s defense in versatile linebacker Nakobe Dean, who of course has recent familiarity with Parker and is an unrestricted free agent this offseason.
The linebacker group was one of the Cowboys’ biggest struggles this year, meaning one-year free agent signings Kenneth Murray Jr. and Jack Sanborn may not have a spot on next year’s team. Dallas traded for former Cincinnati Bengals captain Logan Wilson at the deadline, but he struggled finding into a comfortable spot in Matt Eberflus’ unit.
Wilson is now cut.
Other linebackers are being shuffled into new slots in this “3-4 Hybrid” defense.
But Dean?
Dean is just 25 years old, but has already commanded captain responsibilities for the Super Bowl-winning Eagles. This season, he was returning from a patellar injury during the Super Bowl run, but still showed that he’s a piece to build around for whatever team he’s on.
The former Georgia Bulldog was a third-round pick in 2022 and posted a career-high 4.0 sacks in eight games in 2025. This uncertainty due to his injury history could make him a cheaper-than-normal option in free agency, as well, with Spotrac currently giving Dean a $15.5 million AAV market value.
Pair him with a healthy disruptor in DeMarvion Overshown and all of a sudden the Cowboys defense looks that much more ready to compete.
Colleague Clarence Hill is now suggesting that Dallas is whispering “yes” at all of this.
Outside of linebackers, Parker could also be interested in boosting the Cowboys’ shaky secondary in the defensive backfield as safeties Malik Hooker and Donovan Wilson are likely the backside of their career peaks.
Reed Blankenship, a 27-year-old free agent and valuable Eagles starter, is another name to pay attention to if the Cowboys are willing to set Parker up with “his guys” here in Dallas.
And Jaelen Phillips is a free agent edge in Philly, too.
All of this is to suggest the possibility that there is a way for the Cowboys to take some of the Eagles’ best defensive pieces after already hiring their former coach … to weaken Philly while strengthening Dallas.
