Dallas Cowboys fans have plenty to feel good about heading into the 2026 season, and the biggest reason starts with something that usually doesn’t go this smoothly in Dallas: the offseason has been quiet.
That matters. The Cowboys avoided the contract noise that so often hangs over the franchise, largely because George Pickens chose to play on the franchise tag instead of pushing for a long-term deal right away. Pickens could have taken a different path, but he decided the best move was to report, suit up and make his case for a bigger payday in 2027.
That kind of stability is a welcome change, and it gives the Cowboys a stronger sense of direction as Week 1 approaches. It also helps explain why there’s real optimism around this team, even with a couple of clear warning signs.
One of the biggest reasons for excitement is the overhaul on defense. Dallas has essentially rebuilt the unit, and first-round pick Caleb Downs is right at the center of it. The Ohio State product is expected to line up in the nickel and at safety, giving defensive coordinator Christian Parker a versatile piece to work with from the start.
Downs is only part of the makeover. Fellow first-round pick Malachi Lawrence joins him, and the UCF product is set to work in an EDGE rotation with trade acquisition Rashan Gary and free-agent addition Von Miller. The Cowboys also brought in Dee Winters and Jaishawn Barham at linebacker, Cobie Durant and Jalen Thompson in the secondary, and Jonathan Bullard and Otito Ogbonnia on the defensive line.
That much turnover naturally comes with some uncertainty, but it also gives Dallas a chance to look much better than it did in 2025.
Still, there’s a difference between being improved and being ready to roll right away. Expecting this defense to be elite in Week 1 would be asking a lot, especially with Parker entering his first season in the role.
New pieces, new responsibilities and a new scheme can take time to settle in. The matchup with the New York Giants does help, since their offense isn’t exactly a juggernaut, but the Cowboys will need patience before anyone crowns this group.
On the offensive side, Dak Prescott gives fans another strong reason to be excited. He’s one of the most heavily criticized quarterbacks in the league because of the star on his helmet, and he knows his career will ultimately be judged by what happens in the postseason. Prescott said he won’t run from that pressure and is doing everything he can to "manifest" a Super Bowl in Dallas.
He has the pieces around him, and he has comfort with head coach Brian Schottenheimer. That combination should keep Cowboys fans leaning optimistic.
The clearest concern, though, comes up front. Offensive tackle is the spot that should make fans sweat the most.
The coaching staff keeps saying Tyler Guyton is ready for a major jump at left tackle in his third season, which would be a huge development after two inconsistent years. Even if he takes that step, the right side remains a problem.
Terence Steele has raised just as many, if not more, questions than Guyton. Schottenheimer recently added to the concern by pointing to Steele’s inconsistency.
Dallas brought in Broderick Jones to create competition, but his time with the Pittsburgh Steelers didn’t exactly make him a lock either. The talent is there, but the Cowboys need more than one answer to emerge if they want to avoid putting their offense at risk.
That’s what makes the final piece so important: Dallas is bringing back all 11 starters from 2025. In a league where continuity is hard to keep, that kind of return is a major advantage. Even if the team could have used help at one tackle spot, the offense should have every chance to keep humming at a similar level.
Keeping the group together wasn’t automatic. George Pickens and Javonte Williams were both set to hit free agency.
Williams ended up on a team-friendly deal, while Pickens is on the franchise tag, which only adds to the motivation around him. With the line still carrying some concern, the offense remains the strongest reason for Cowboys fans to feel confident about 2026.
In Other News...
Cowboys Suddenly Have A Real Backup RB Battle Behind Javonte Williams
The Cowboys quietly added another layer to their backfield last week when they claimed Emari Demercado off waivers, giving the team a fresh name to consider behind Javonte Williams. For a roster that has been sorting through its running back depth, Demercados arrival brings some real competition into a spot that had been sitting with Malik Davis by default.
Demercado comes with more NFL experience and a style that could fit alongside what Dallas wants to do on offense, which is why this is becoming more than just a routine waiver claim. Davis still has the inside track for now, but the presence of a new challenger makes the backup job worth watching as the Cowboys try to settle their depth chart. [Read more 🡒]
Malik Davis Adds One Wrinkle To His Surprise Cowboys Rise
Malik Davis preseason became a small but notable storyline for the Cowboys, especially as the running back room kept shifting around him. With Jaydon Blue and Phil Mafah both part of the roster conversation, Davis managed to secure the backup role behind Javonte Williams, giving Dallas a little more clarity in a spot that had looked unsettled not long ago.
The final wrinkle came after the preseason ended, when the NFL fined Davis $6,735 for unnecessary roughness because of illegal use of the helmet against the Arizona Cardinals. He was the only Cowboys player fined over that stretch, a reminder that even a rise up the depth chart can come with a little extra attention attached. [Read more 🡒]
Cowboys Head Into Week 1 With One Risk Fans Can't Ignore
The Cowboys spent much of their offseason making the kind of practical, cap-conscious moves that suggest a front office trying to balance the present with what comes next. Rather than chase more offensive line help for the 2026 season, Dallas is betting on internal growth, with Tyler Guyton among the players expected to take a step forward. The club also reworked the contracts of DaRon Bland and Jake Ferguson to open up space, a set of decisions that helped steady the ledger even as they carried their own questions.
For now, the reaction around those moves has been mostly positive, which says something about how far a little financial breathing room can go with this fan base. Still, the Cowboys are entering Week 1 with the same kind of risk that tends to linger beyond the numbers on a spreadsheet, especially when the plan depends on players developing on schedule and the lineup avoiding unnecessary setbacks. Malik Daviss preseason fine for illegal helmet use was a minor footnote, but it served as a reminder that the margin for error is already thin before the real games begin. [Read more 🡒]