ESPN’s No. 14 ranking for the Cowboys feels about right when you look at the full picture. Dallas attacked its biggest problem area all offseason, but there’s still enough uncertainty on this roster to keep the optimism in check.
The offense is not where the concern starts. Dak Prescott still has plenty to work with, thanks to CeeDee Lamb and George Pickens giving him a pair of top-end receiving threats. Jake Ferguson also gives the passing game a dependable option at tight end, which keeps this unit from having to carry the entire load on talent alone.
The real overhaul came on the other side of the ball. Dallas made a major push to repair a defense that was battered last season, starting with safety Jalen Thompson, who got the team’s biggest free-agent contract since 2012.
Then the Cowboys traded up in the first round to land Ohio State safety Caleb Downs, a player many viewed as the best defensive prospect in the draft. They also added pass rusher Rashan Gary, making it clear the front office was determined to address the damage from last year.
That damage was severe. The Cowboys finished dead last in defensive EPA, ranked 29th in opponent QBR, and came away with only six interceptions. Clay pointed to cornerback as the biggest warning sign on the roster.
DaRon Bland is still the QB1 at the position, but injuries limited him last season, and the depth chart behind him is unsettled. Cobie Durant and Derion Kendrick, both former Rams corners, are in the mix with second-year player Shavon Revel Jr. and fourth-round pick Devin Moore for playing time.
So while Dallas looks stronger on paper than it did a year ago, the No. 14 spot makes sense. The Cowboys are ranked ahead of three playoff teams from last season, plus the Bengals and Buccaneers, but the roster still has to translate into results once the games begin.
In Other News...
Former Cowboys Defender Linked To Disturbing New Allegations
Former Cowboys defensive end Marcellus Wiley is back in the news for the wrong reasons, with his name now attached to a Florida domestic violence arrest and a separate set of allegations from his wife, Annemarie, that have pushed the situation well beyond a routine legal dispute. For Dallas fans who remember Wiley from his time on the edge, the story has taken on a deeply personal and unsettling tone as it moves from an alleged hotel altercation into family court and public accusations.
Annemarie has filed for divorce and sought a restraining order, while Wiley has denied the allegations and said he is focused on protecting their children as the legal process plays out. The case has already become more complicated with the couples family at the center of it, and the next developments are likely to matter as much for the personal fallout as for whatever comes next in court. [Read more 🡒]
Cowboys Have One Clear Answer To Washingtons Rasul Douglas Move
Washingtons addition of Rasul Douglas gives the Commanders another experienced option in their cornerback room, and it naturally puts a little more focus on how Dallas stacks up on the back end. The Cowboys have their own reasons to keep looking at the position, especially with the NFC East always turning roster moves into a measuring stick, and the contrast between the two teams corner groups is hard to ignore.
One name that keeps surfacing in that conversation is Kenny Moore, the veteran slot corner who was released by Indianapolis in May after the Colts were unable to find a trade partner. Moore has been one of the leagues more reliable nickel defenders for years, with a track record of handling a heavy workload inside and enough versatility to give a defense some flexibility. For Dallas, that kind of profile makes sense as the secondary continues to take shape around a division rivals latest move. [Read more 🡒]
Cowboys Pass Rush Just Sent A Message Fans Needed To See
A handful of Cowboys defenders are heading to Las Vegas next week for a pass-rush summit that says plenty about where this team wants its edge to come from. Rashan Gary, Donovan Ezeiruaku, Quinnen Williams and Kenny Clark are set to join coach Brandon Jordan at the 2026 Sack Summit, a three-day gathering built for NFL rushers to trade technique, ideas and the kind of details that can change a season.
The timing matters, too, with training camp opening July 28 and Dallas still trying to bounce back from a defense that never found enough answers last year. For a unit that needs more disruption up front and better resistance against the run, the trip is less about offseason networking than it is about showing up with a plan, a sharper toolbox and a clearer sense of what the Cowboys need from them once camp begins. [Read more 🡒]