Cowboys Face Crucial Offseason After Middling Rebound Ranking
The Dallas Cowboys may only be one big move away from getting back into the Super Bowl conversation-but heading into 2026, they’re not getting much love from league observers.
In a recent ranking of the 18 teams that missed the playoffs in 2025, Dallas landed right in the middle of the pack at No. 9 in terms of bounce-back potential. That’s not exactly where you'd expect a franchise with the Cowboys’ pedigree to be sitting, especially in a year when several perennial contenders-like the Chiefs, Bengals, Ravens, and Lions-also found themselves on the outside looking in.
The ranking reflects a team caught between contention and transition. There’s talent on the roster, but there are also cracks that need sealing-and fast.
While Jerry Jones has already made some moves to bolster the interior defensive line, there are still glaring holes at key positions. The Cowboys are in desperate need of consistent edge pressure, more athleticism at linebacker, and stability in the secondary.
One offseason-no matter how aggressive-may not be enough to patch it all.
The defense, in particular, is under the microscope. The scheme under Matt Eberflus was described as “atrocious,” and while the Quinnen Williams trade has been a rare bright spot, the overall unit lacked cohesion and bite.
The zone-heavy approach didn’t hide the weaknesses-it exposed them. Even if Dallas were to go all-in on a high-profile pass rusher like Maxx Crosby, it wouldn’t be a silver bullet.
There are too many other areas that need attention, especially in the back end.
The secondary is a major question mark. Trevon Diggs, once viewed as a cornerstone, appeared disengaged before his late-season release.
Starting safeties Donovan Wilson and Malik Hooker may not return, with Wilson hitting free agency and Hooker potentially becoming a cap casualty. That leaves the Cowboys thin and uncertain at one of the most important levels of the defense.
Linebacker Kenneth Murray, who logged 870 snaps last season, is also expected to move on. That leaves another hole in a defense already short on proven playmakers.
There is, however, some optimism on the draft front. Ohio State standouts Caleb Downs and Sonny Styles have both been linked to Dallas in early mock drafts. Either would bring immediate upgrades in tackling and coverage, and more importantly, inject some much-needed youth and energy into a defense that looked gassed and disconnected down the stretch.
Still, being ranked just ahead of the New Orleans Saints-who are in full rebuild mode around young quarterback Tyler Shough-isn’t exactly a vote of confidence. The Cowboys are supposed to be in a different tier.
They have a franchise quarterback, a veteran core, and an owner who’s never been afraid to spend. But at this point, they’ve lost the benefit of the doubt.
Dallas isn’t far off. But “not far off” doesn’t win playoff games. If they want to shake off the disappointment of 2025 and reassert themselves as contenders, they’ll need to hit on every move this offseason-draft, free agency, and maybe even a bold trade or two.
The talent is there. The urgency has to match.