Dak Prescott has spent a decade playing under Jerry Jones, and this offseason is the first time he’s really sounded like the Cowboys are moving at his speed.
That was the message Prescott delivered when he spoke with Fort Worth Star-Telegram reporter Nick Harris, making it clear that the front office’s aggressiveness has changed how he views the team heading toward 2026. The Cowboys quarterback said the moves around him have given him real belief in what’s next.
"I can't give enough credit, honestly, to [Schottenheimer] and the Joneses," Prescott said. "I don't think I'd be saying the goals and saying them as confidently and trying to manifest without the things that they've done, the decisions they've made, the signings they have [made], the extensions they've given to certain guys.
They understand what we're trying to do and the urgency in it. I think it's as much as Jerry ever has in my tenure here."
Prescott’s confidence didn’t come out of nowhere. Dallas finally treated the offseason like a team that knew it had wasted a huge year from its quarterback.
Last season, Prescott put together MVP-level numbers, throwing for 4,552 yards, 30 touchdowns and only 10 interceptions. Even with that kind of production, the Cowboys stumbled to a 7-9-1 finish and missed the playoffs for the second straight year.
The problem was on the other side of the ball. Dallas’ defense unraveled, allowing a league-worst 30.1 points per game and surrendering the third-most yards in the NFL. That collapse cost Matt Eberflus his job after just one season as coordinator.
The Cowboys tried to patch things together during the 2025 season by trading for Logan Wilson and Quinnen Williams before the deadline, but those moves weren’t enough. This offseason, they went after the problem with much more force.
Dallas hired 34-year-old former Eagles staffer Christian Parker as defensive coordinator, making him the youngest in franchise history. The roster build continued with the re-signing of Dallas native Von Miller and a major commitment to Williams, who got a three-year, $105.9 million extension.
Then came the draft, where the Cowboys traded up to take Ohio State safety Caleb Downs at No. 11 overall and paired him with fellow first-round pick Malachi Lawrence.
Prescott still had to carry plenty of weight on the field. He dealt with constant tight coverage, posting the second-highest tight-window throw rate in the league, and he did it while working with CeeDee Lamb and George Pickens. Even behind an inconsistent line, he took 31 sacks and kept the offense moving.
For Prescott, the numbers and the roster changes point in the same direction: this time, the front office finally seems to be keeping pace with the quarterback.
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Williams is fighting through a crowded edge rusher room, Bell brings the kind of versatility teams like but also has off-field issues hanging over his case, and Milton is locked in a backup quarterback battle with Sam Howell. Coaches have already weighed in on their performances, but nothing is settled yet, which is exactly what makes these calls worth watching as roster cuts draw closer. [Read more 🡒]
Jerry Jones Makes Clear Cowboys Are Not Taking This Lightly
The Cowboys heated joint practice with the Saints carried a real cost, with the NFL fining both clubs $500,000 after multiple fights broke out between the two teams. Jerry Jones called the penalty significant and said Dallas plans to appeal, a sign the organization is taking the leagues response seriously even as training camp intensity spills over the line.
Donovan Ezeiruaku is also expected to face an individual fine for his role in the incidents, adding another layer to what was already an ugly day on the practice field. For a Cowboys team trying to build momentum in camp, the episode is a reminder that the league is watching closely when emotions run high, and the fallout could linger beyond the field work itself. [Read more 🡒]