Did the Dallas Cowboys try to trade for recently extended Texans LB Azeez Al-Shaair?

Azeez Al-Shaair isn't leaving the  Houston Texans  anytime soon. According to reports , the  Texans  and Pro Bowl linebacker have agreed to a  new three-year extension , keeping him in Houston through the 2029 season. Al-Shaair was entering the final year of his three-year, $33 million extension signed back in 2024.

But before the deal was done, rumors had circulated that the Texans could be looking to move Al-Shaair if the two sides couldn't get a deal done. According to both ESPN's Todd Archer and NFL Network's Mike Garafolo, the Dallas Cowboys were the most interested in landing the 29-year-old standout, but nothing came of it, including an asking price on what they'd be willing to spend. Instead, Dallas pivoted during the draft to trade pick No.

152 in the fifth round to land San Francisco 49ers standout Dee Winters. As a weakside linebacker with some experience up the middle, Winters, 5-foot-11 and 227 pounds, was a sixth-round pick of the Niners in 2023. He finished last season with 101 tackles and returned an interception 75 yards for a touchdown.

As for Al-Shaair, the contract now makes him the heart and soul for the Texans' defense during the prime years of the regime. Last season, he earned his first Pro Bowl nod after leading the franchise with 103 tackles. Al-Shaair, a former undrafted free agent out of Florida Atlantic, turned into a full-time starter with the San Francisco 49ers under head coach DeMeco Ryans, also recorded a career-high eight pass breakups, two quarterback hits, one tackle for a loss, one interception and one fumble recovery.