The Cowboys’ Week 5 loss to the 0-4 Tampa Bay Buccaneers did more than sting. It forced a hard look at a roster that was supposed to be improved on defense and, according to the results, has gone the other way.
Dallas came into the game as a heavy favorite, facing a Buccaneers team starting an undrafted free agent at quarterback. Instead, Jalon Daniels, who had struggled in his first start against the Green Bay Packers, handled the short week just fine and looked sharp against the Cowboys. The defeat landed as a frustrating one, and it reads like a reality check for a team that retooled its defense in the offseason only to see that unit look worse than it did a year ago.
If the Cowboys keep sliding, the front office may have to start thinking less about who fits long term and more about who can be moved before the roster turns over again. That puts a few names on the board.
Luke Schoonmaker is one of them. The second-round pick from 2023 has basically slipped out of the picture this season, with only three catches for 30 yards.
He is under contract through 2027, but the expectation is that he won’t be back in Dallas. The return wouldn’t be huge, though a late-round pick from a team hunting for a young tight end could still make sense for the Cowboys.
It might make sense for Schoonmaker, too, since he has flashed at times as a receiver and could use a fresh start.
James Houston belongs in the same conversation. He was a breakout player for Dallas in 2026, finishing with 35 tackles and 5.5 sacks while playing all 17 games.
This year has gone in the opposite direction. He has been inactive for two of the team’s five games and has only two tackles overall.
As a pass-rushing specialist, Houston could draw a Day 3 pick from a team looking for a rotational EDGE.
George Pickens is the biggest name to watch, even if the Cowboys are not at the point of making that move yet. He reminded everyone on Thursday night that he can still change a game, piling up nine catches for 130 yards and a touchdown.
Still, it is hard to picture him in Dallas beyond 2027. There was a time when an extension seemed possible, but after the Cowboys traded for Joey Porter Jr., they now have another high-profile free agent to sort through in the coming offseason.
Moving Pickens would hurt, no question. But it could also bring back a solid pick from a receiver-needy team, and Dallas has already shown it has another option behind CeeDee Lamb in Ryan Flournoy, who has proven capable of handling the WR2 role.
In Other News...
Bucs Upset Win Left Dak Prescott Seething After A Wild Postgame Scene
The Cowboys home loss to Tampa Bay on Thursday night already had the feel of a damaging one, and the night only got stranger after the final whistle. In the tunnel at the stadium, a viral exchange unfolded when a stadium worker called Dak Prescott embarrassing, turning a rough defeat into the kind of postgame scene that tends to linger long after the score is forgotten.
Prescott was clearly bothered by what happened and addressed it in his postgame press conference, explaining why the comment struck a nerve. For Dallas, the frustration went beyond the upset itself, spilling into a moment that put the quarterback in the middle of an unexpected confrontation and added another layer to a night the Cowboys would rather move past quickly. [Read more 🡒]
George Pickens Said What Had Him So Frustrated After Cowboys Loss
George Pickens had one of his best games of the season in the Cowboys 24-16 loss to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers at AT&T Stadium, finishing with nine catches for 130 yards and a touchdown. Even with that production, the evening ended the way too many Cowboys losses do lately, with a missed chance to turn a strong individual performance into a much-needed win.
Pickens was visibly frustrated afterward, and it was easy to see why. Dallas never managed to put together a late push strong enough to seriously threaten Tampa Bay, leaving the receiver to walk off with the kind of stat line that usually feels good and the kind of result that does not. The bigger concern for the Cowboys is how often that gap has shown up when they need a comeback most. [Read more 🡒]
Dak Prescott Debate Just Got Even Worse After Cowboys Loss
The Cowboys loss to the Buccaneers dropped them to 2-3 and only sharpened the conversation around Dak Prescott, whose uneven night fit into a debate that has followed him for years. He finished 24 of 42 for 316 yards with one touchdown and two interceptions, a performance that gave Dallas plenty of offense in stretches but not enough clean play to escape Tampa Bay with a win.
Stephen A. Smith added another layer to the scrutiny on ESPNs First Take, saying Brock Purdy has been better than Prescott because of his success in the biggest moments and Prescotts limited playoff track record. For the Cowboys, it is the kind of comparison that tends to linger when the results are coming up short, and every rough outcome only makes the discussion around Prescott harder to quiet. [Read more 🡒]