The Dallas Cowboys have their work cut out for them this offseason if they want to end their two-year playoff drought. A key focus will be retaining wide receiver George Pickens, who just wrapped up a stellar season. Additionally, they need to bolster a defense that ranked last in the NFL for points allowed.
Talent isn't the issue for Dallas. With CeeDee Lamb among the elite wide receivers in the league, and Javonte Williams, fresh off a 1,201-yard, 11-touchdown season, signing a new three-year deal, the offensive firepower is evident.
Tight end Jake Ferguson, defensive lineman Quinnen Williams, and defensive back DaRon Bland are also crucial pieces. At the heart of it all is quarterback Dak Prescott, recently named to his fourth Pro Bowl.
ESPN analysts have been buzzing about Prescott's potential for the 2026 NFL MVP award. Matt Bowen notably predicted Prescott could take home the honor, citing his impressive 4,500 passing yards and 30 touchdowns last season. With expectations that the Cowboys will use the franchise tag on Pickens, Prescott is poised to put up big numbers again, especially if the defense steps up to make the Cowboys contenders for the NFC East title.
Prescott is no stranger to the MVP conversation, having thrown for over 4,400 yards in four of the past seven seasons. In 2023, he even finished second in MVP voting, leading the league with 36 touchdown passes. His 2025 performance was strong, with 4,552 yards and a 67.3% completion rate.
However, Prescott's struggles in high-stakes games and playoffs have been a recurring theme. The Cowboys dropped four of their last five games in 2025, including a crucial Week 14 loss to the Detroit Lions where Prescott threw two interceptions and was sacked five times. This came on the heels of a three-game winning streak with notable victories over the Philadelphia Eagles and Kansas City Chiefs, the previous season's conference champs.
For Prescott to secure an MVP award, the Cowboys need to rack up wins, which means the entire team must step up. The challenge is compounded by financial constraints, as they're currently over $25 million above the salary cap, according to spotrac.com. Upgrading a squad that finished 7-9-1 will require some savvy maneuvering.