Week 2 may still be early, but for the Cowboys, the bigger picture is already taking shape through the 2027 draft board. Dallas is not only watching its own results - it’s keeping tabs on Green Bay, Pittsburgh and Houston, because those teams are tied to a huge chunk of the Cowboys’ future draft capital.
Right now, Dallas’ 2027 stash includes its original first-round pick, plus the Packers’ first from the Micah Parsons trade. The team also has its own second-rounder, the Steelers’ fourth from the Broderick Jones trade, its own sixth, and the Texans’ seventh from the Nate Thomas trade.
There’s more movement in the background, too. Pittsburgh owns Dallas’ third-round pick from the Broderick Jones deal a couple of weeks ago and the fifth from the George Pickens trade last year. Green Bay also has Dallas’ original fourth from the Rashan Gary trade, while the original seventh was moved in a pick swap with Philly last April.
And then there’s the Jets wrinkle: the better of Dallas’ two first-round picks is headed to New York from the Quinnen Williams trade. That leaves the Cowboys with only five picks in 2027 as things stand, which is why the Packers, Steelers and Texans matter so much to the overall value of the board.
Green Bay’s first week went sideways fast. The Packers were blown out on the road by the Vikings after an early injury to Minnesota QB Kyler Murray opened the door for old buddy Carson Wentz, who threw three touchdowns in the lopsided win. That left Green Bay as the lone NFC North team sitting at 0-1 after Week 1.
It was a division loss on the road, so the long-term meaning is still fuzzy. For Dallas, the only thing that really matters is that Green Bay finish just a little worse, so the Jets end up with that first-round pick.
Houston also started with a loss, falling at home to Buffalo. The Texans stayed in it for much of the afternoon, but their vaunted had no answer for Josh Allen.
Pittsburgh, meanwhile, survived a home game against a handicapped Falcons team. Even with Cooper Rush starting at QB for an injured Tua Tagovailoa and dealing with his own back issue, Atlanta kept it within a touchdown.
Week 2 brings a tougher set of tests. Green Bay stays on the road and heads to New York to face the Jets, who just pulled off an impressive road win over the Titans. If Aaron Glenn has figured some things out this year, the Jets could be in position to push the Packers into an 0-2 start.
Pittsburgh’s next challenge is a road trip to face the pissed-off Patriots. New England is coming off a loss to Seattle and has 10 days of rest, which only adds to the sense that this one should be more revealing than last week’s escape. Let's hope they take out all their frustrations on Mike McCarthy and Aaron Rodgers.
Houston gets no soft landing either. The Texans now have to deal with Joe Burrow, Ja'Marr Chase, and the rest of the Bengals. If they drop a second straight home game to start the season, that would be an ugly early signal for where things might be headed.
In Other News...
Former Cowboys Pass Rusher Returns With Something To Prove In Dallas
Dorance Armstrong is set to make his 2026 debut Sunday against the Cowboys, a familiar opponent for a pass rusher who spent years in Dallas before moving on to Washington. After serving a one-game suspension and working back from the torn ACL that wiped out most of last season, Armstrong enters the matchup with a fresh chance to reestablish himself in a game that still carries some extra edge for everyone involved.
Washington's staff has said it is confident Armstrong is ready to go, and the plan is to rotate him with the rest of the pass-rush group to keep his workload manageable. For Dallas, that means facing a former defensive end who knows the building, the personnel and the stage, even if the bigger question now is how much of Armstrong's old burst has returned after such a long absence. [Read more 🡒]
Jerry Jones Just Raised The Stakes For Dallas' Shaky Defense
Jerry Jones didnt sound interested in pretending the Cowboys defensive performance in Week 1 was anything close to where it needs to be. The team owner acknowledged Dallas underestimated the Giants in the opener, and with Washington up next, he pointed to the defense as the area most likely to show a better version of itself in a game that already feels important for setting the tone of the season.
The challenge for Dallas is that belief and execution are two different things, and the defense has given plenty of reasons for skepticism already. Jones is framing the Commanders matchup as a chance to reset, but until the Cowboys actually string together a cleaner outing, every promise of improvement comes with a layer of doubt that the schedule will quickly test. [Read more 🡒]
Jerry Jones May Soon Face A Cowboys Decision He Hates
Brian Schottenheimers second season in Dallas already carries the sort of early pressure that tends to come with this franchise, even if the Cowboys have historically shown more patience with head coaches than most. After going 7-9-1 in his first year, Schottenheimer watched the team open a new defensive chapter by moving on from Matt Eberflus and turning the unit over to Christian Parker, a change meant to steady a side of the ball that has been a major point of concern.
Instead, the defense stumbled in Week 1 against the New York Giants, and that is where the unease begins to creep in for a team that cannot afford another losing year. There is already speculation about Schottenheimers seat if the record goes the wrong way again, and for Jerry Jones, the uncomfortable part may be less about making a change than having to consider one at all. [Read more 🡒]