Roster churn is part of the NFL’s DNA, and the Cowboys are going to run into plenty of fresh faces when the 2026 schedule rolls around. Free agency, the draft, trades - every team has been busy reshaping its roster, and a few of those new additions jump off the page as especially worth watching against Dallas.
The Giants’ most intriguing newcomer in Weeks 1 and 17 is TE Isaiah Likely, not fifth overall pick Arvell Reese. Likely already showed in Baltimore that he can be a go-to receiving threat, and he should be a favorite target for second-year quarterback Jaxson Dart. That makes for a strong early test for Cowboys rookie Caleb Downs.
Washington’s big swing in Week 2 and Week 18 is first-round linebacker Sonny Styles. The Commanders signed Odage Oweh to a major contract to help the pass rush, but Styles is the name that stands out here. He was the seventh overall pick this year, was repeatedly connected to Dallas before the draft, and brings the kind of physical tools that turn heads.
Baltimore’s Week 3 matchup brings a pair of newcomers into the conversation: guard Vega Ioane and DE Trey Hendrickson. Ioane, the top-ranked guard in the draft, is a real candidate, but Hendrickson gets the edge because of the Maxx Crosby situation alone. Even without that backdrop, he’s a force off the edge and one of the league’s most dangerous pass rushers.
When the Cowboys see Houston in Week 4, RB David Montgomery is the newcomer to circle. The Texans used their first two draft picks on Keylan Rutledge and Kaydon McDonald to bolster both lines, but Montgomery is the player who could shape the game. He’s been steady and productive for years, and he’ll put Dallas’ run defense under pressure.
Tampa Bay didn’t make a splash in free agency, which leaves rookie DE Rueben Bain Jr. as the Buccaneers’ most interesting addition for Week 5. He was another player linked to Dallas during the draft process, and he’s the kind of name that deserves attention when these teams meet.
Week 6 against Green Bay brings CB Brandon Cisse into the spotlight. Dallas showed interest in him before the draft, and by this point in the season he should be in the lineup full time. He’ll have a huge assignment trying to deal with CeeDee Lamb, George Pickens, and Ryan Flournoy.
Philadelphia’s Weeks 7 and 12 matchup features WR Makai Lemon as the newcomer to watch. CB Riq Woolen is worth a look too, but Lemon is the bigger storyline because he’s stepping into the role left by A.J.
Brown after Brown was traded to the New England Patriots. The added wrinkle: the Eagles traded up with Dallas to get Lemon.
The Cardinals’ Week 8 newcomer is RB Jeremiyah Love, and that one comes with plenty of buzz. The Notre Dame product is expected to be a generational talent and one of the best backs the league has seen in a while. He can hurt defenses on the ground and as a receiver, which gives Dallas a lot to sort out.
Indianapolis didn’t bring in many notable outside additions, so LB CJ Allen gets the nod for Week 9. The Colts mostly focused on keeping their own players, and Allen stands out because he was linked to the Cowboys throughout the draft process as Dallas searched for help at linebacker.
Against San Francisco in Week 10, the newcomer conversation is split between DT Osa Odighizuwa and WR Mike Evans. Odighizuwa’s trade to the 49ers makes him especially interesting because of his Cowboys past, while Evans is always a player to watch after years of being one of the league’s most dominant and underrated receivers.
Tennessee’s Week 11 matchup puts rookie WR Carnell Tate front and center. The trade for pass rusher Jermaine Johnson deserves mention, but Tate was arguably the top receiver in the 2026 class and is expected to make an immediate impact for second-year quarterback Cam Ward.
Seattle’s Week 13 newcomer is RB Jadarian Price. He spent his Notre Dame days behind Jeremiyah Love, but now he’s expected to take over as the Seahawks’ top back after Kenneth Walker. That’s a big role, and Price has the talent to handle it.
The Rams’ Week 15 answer is simple: Myles Garrett. The trade that brought him over from Cleveland made him impossible to ignore. He’s a future first-ballot Hall of Famer, and Los Angeles made a major investment to land him.
Jacksonville’s Week 16 newcomer is G Emmanuel Pregnon. The Jaguars didn’t do much in free agency, so the former Oregon guard rises to the top of the list. He was one of the top-ranked guards in the draft and is expected to be a key piece in protecting Trevor Lawrence.
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For Dallas, the answer starts with CeeDee Lamb at the top of the chart and George Pickens right behind him, which makes any Diggs conversation more about fit than need. Pickens has already established himself with a huge season and a first Pro Bowl nod, while Lamb remains the clear centerpiece, so the Cowboys would have to decide whether Diggs is the kind of addition who changes the room or simply adds another name to an already complicated debate. [Read more 🡒]