The Dallas Cowboys are heading into 2026 with a very different kind of buzz around them, and it starts with how aggressive Jerry Jones was in the offseason.
For once, Jones didn’t sit back. He attacked free agency and the trade market, made it clear he wanted to overhaul a defense that was a mess in 2025, and moved quickly to back up that promise. Matt Eberflus was out as defensive coordinator, and instead of reaching for one of the usual former head coach types, Jones let second-year head coach Brian Schottenheimer bring in Christian Parker, a young coach with a bright future.
The personnel changes followed fast. Dallas added Rashan Gary, Jalen Thompson, P.J.
Locke, Dee Winters, Von Miller, and Cobie Durant to help reshape that side of the ball. Parker now has a much deeper group to work with as he tries to straighten out a defense that badly needed help.
On offense, the Cowboys are in much better shape. They bring back all 11 starters from last season, with offensive tackle standing out as the lone real concern. Even there, Dallas found a bit of insurance by trading for Broderick Jones from the Pittsburgh Steelers.
That combination has changed the way the league is looking at Dallas. In Bleacher Report’s Week 1 NFL power rankings, the Cowboys come in at No. 14, and Kristopher Knox pointed to the defense as the key to whether this team can move from interesting to dangerous.
"The Dallas Cowboys had one of the NFL's most potent offenses last season. Unfortunately, they also had a historically bad defense that was the first in franchise history to surrender more than 500 points in a season," Knox wrote.
"The good news is that the bulk of last year's offense remains intact, while the Cowboys added several promising pieces to their defense in the offseason. Even moderate improvements on defense should be enough to make Dallas a legitimate playoff threat."
Dallas also caught a break in the opening stretch of the schedule. The Cowboys open with the New York Giants in Week 1 and the Washington Commanders in Week 2, and both NFC East opponents are coming off losing seasons. Those aren’t automatic wins, but they do give Dallas a chance to get rolling early.
If the Cowboys can take care of business in those first two games, they’ll head into a tougher run with some momentum. The schedule tightens up from there with matchups against the Baltimore Ravens, Houston Texans, Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Green Bay Packers, and Philadelphia Eagles.
Handle that stretch with a winning record, and No. 14 could start looking awfully low.
In Other News...
Maxx Crosby Trade Talk Just Raised A Huge Raiders Question
The Cowboys finished their roster cuts for the 2026-27 season and spent the offseason trying to beef up a defense that still has room to grow, but the next big move could come during the season rather than before it. Bleacher Reports Kristopher Knox floated Dallas as a team that might chase Raiders edge rusher Maxx Crosby ahead of the November trade deadline, a swing that would instantly change the look of the pass rush.
Any deal of that size would almost certainly require Dallas to part with Rashan Gary and draft picks, which shows how serious the cost would be for a team hoping to make a playoff push. For the Raiders, though, the more interesting question is whether they would even entertain moving one of their best defensive pieces, especially if trade chatter keeps building as the deadline approaches. [Read more 🡒]
George Pickens Just Changed A Bigger Cowboys Roster Debate
George Pickens has quickly become more than just a useful addition for Dallas - he is now part of the franchises bigger long-term planning. Jerry Jones sounded upbeat about Pickens place with the Cowboys in the years ahead, and the message from the organization is clear enough: they want to keep him around well beyond the 2026 season if they can make it work.
The wrinkle, of course, is money. Dallas is already juggling the kind of salary commitments that make every future decision harder, and there is no confirmed multi-year extension in place yet for Pickens. If the Cowboys decide he is a player they cannot let walk, they may have to lean on the franchise tag again, which only adds another layer to an already crowded roster debate. [Read more 🡒]
Cowboys Backup QB Decision Just Got A Lot More Interesting
The Cowboys quarterback room took a surprising turn when Joe Milton was waived after Dallas initially carried two passers on its 53-man roster, a move that opened the door for a third running back instead. Head coach Brian Schottenheimer addressed the decision, and Milton later acknowledged he was caught off guard, even as the team brought him back on the practice squad.
What makes the move notable is how tight the battle appeared to be between Milton and Sam Howell. The competition was close enough that experience likely became the separating factor in the final roster call, leaving Dallas with a clearer pecking order for now but an intriguing backup picture still worth watching. [Read more 🡒]