How the Cowboys Can Take a Page from the Seahawks’ Super Bowl Blueprint
The NFL has always been a league of imitators. When something works-whether it’s a new offensive wrinkle, a defensive front, or a team-building strategy-you can bet someone else is going to try it. And right now, the Dallas Cowboys would be wise to look toward Seattle, where the Seahawks just steamrolled the New England Patriots 29-13 in the Super Bowl.
What Seattle just pulled off wasn’t magic. It was methodical.
It was smart. And it’s something Dallas can absolutely replicate-if they’re willing to adjust their approach.
Here’s how the Cowboys can borrow from the Seahawks’ blueprint and position themselves for a serious run at the Lombardi Trophy.
1. Use Every Roster-Building Tool in the Toolbox
Let’s start here: roster construction. There are five primary ways to build an NFL team-through the draft, re-signing your own players, bargain-bin free agency, trades, and big-ticket free agency.
The Seahawks used every single one of those tools to build their championship roster. The Cowboys?
Not quite.
Dallas has done a solid job in four of those areas. Their drafts, outside of a couple of 2023 misfires (Mazi Smith and Luke Schoonmaker), have generally produced talent.
They’ve been good about retaining their homegrown stars-though the looming contract decisions around Trevon Diggs and Micah Parsons could complicate that narrative. They’ve also had success plucking value from the scrap heap, like bringing in Jadeveon Clowney and Javonte Williams.
And they’ve shown some aggressiveness in the trade market, with names like George Pickens, Kenny Clark, and Quinnen Williams arriving via deal.
But there’s a glaring omission: big-money free agency.
Seattle didn’t hesitate to spend. They handed quarterback Sam Darnold a three-year, $100.5 million deal.
They brought in longtime Cowboy Demarcus Lawrence on a three-year, $32.5 million contract. They didn’t just dip their toes into the free agency pool-they cannonballed into it.
In 2025 alone, the Seahawks spent $243 million in free agency, third-most in the league. The Cowboys?
They were 20th, shelling out $128 million.
That’s not just a difference in philosophy-that’s a difference in urgency.
Dallas often leans on the “draft-and-develop” mantra, which sounds good in press conferences but doesn’t tell the full story. Every team drafts and develops. The real question is: What are you doing beyond that to push your roster over the top?
Seattle answered that question with aggressive, calculated spending. If the Cowboys want to stop coming up short in January, they need to start playing with all five fingers-not four.
2. Invest Heavily-and Smartly-on Defense
It’s a cliché that defense wins championships, but clichés exist for a reason. Yes, Kenneth Walker III ran wild for 135 yards and the Super Bowl MVP honors, but Seattle’s defensive dominance was the foundation of their title run.
That’s where Dallas has to take a hard look in the mirror.
Over the years, the Cowboys have poured big money into their offense. Dak Prescott has been the highest-paid quarterback in the league.
CeeDee Lamb is among the top-paid wideouts. Zack Martin and Tyler Smith are elite (and expensive) guards.
Tyron Smith has long been a cornerstone at tackle. Jake Ferguson and Ezekiel Elliott have both had their paydays at tight end and running back, respectively.
The result? A high-powered offense that consistently ranks near the top of the league.
But defense? That’s been the Achilles’ heel.
Dallas finished dead last in total defense this season. That’s not a fluke-it’s a reflection of where the resources have gone.
Seattle, on the other hand, built a unit that finished No. 1 in the league. They didn’t just draft well (Devon Witherspoon looks like a future star), they also made smart trades (Leonard Williams and Ernest Jones IV) and spent real money on the defensive side of the ball.
To their credit, Dallas seems to be shifting gears. They’ve got three defensive tackles-Quinnen Williams, Osa Odighizuwa, and Kenny Clark-lined up for major contracts.
That’s a start. But if they’re serious about flipping the script, they’ll need to keep that momentum going and stop treating defense like an afterthought.
The Cowboys have long had a reputation as a “glamour team,” loaded with flashy offensive talent and big-name stars. But if they want to be more than just the most talked-about team in football, they’ll need to get a little grittier-and a lot stingier on defense.
3. Let the Spotlight Find You-Don’t Chase It
Here’s the irony: during Super Bowl week, the three most talked-about teams weren’t the two playing in the game. They were, in order: the Cowboys, the Patriots, and then finally, the champion Seahawks.
That’s the power of the Cowboys’ brand. “America’s Team” doesn’t need to win to dominate headlines.
Jerry Jones knows it. The fanbase knows it.
The media knows it.
But here’s the thing: Seattle didn’t need the spotlight to build a champion. They just got to work.
Most fans couldn’t tell you who owns the Seahawks (it’s the Paul G. Allen Trust, run by Jody Allen).
Most can’t confidently spell their head coach’s name (it’s Mike Macdonald, and yes, that’s two “d”s). They play in the NFL’s most geographically isolated city, and in the 18th-largest media market in the country.
And yet, they’re the ones holding the trophy.
Dallas, meanwhile, continues to be a PR machine. The Cowboys don’t just lead the league in jersey sales and media coverage-they dominate it. But none of that has translated into postseason success.
There’s nothing wrong with being a big brand. But at some point, the focus has to shift from headlines to hardware.
The Bottom Line
The Cowboys aren’t that far off. They’ve got talent.
They’ve got resources. They’ve got a front office capable of making savvy moves.
But if they want to stop being the most talked-about team in February and start being the last team standing, they need to take a cue from the Seahawks.
Use every roster-building tool. Invest in defense like it matters. And let the wins do the talking.
Seattle just showed the league how it’s done. Now it’s up to Dallas to follow suit-or keep watching someone else hoist the trophy.