Will McClay has spent nearly a quarter-century inside the Cowboys’ building, so when he talks about where this team is headed, it carries weight.
The Dallas vice president of player personnel has seen the whole parade of eras in Arlington, from Dave Campo to Bill Parcells to Wade Phillips to Jason Garrett to Mike McCarthy and now Brian Schottenheimer. He has watched the highs, the crashes and everything in between. That’s why his view of the 2026 Cowboys stands out: he believes this group has a real chance to go further because it looks more like a team built around “more Dak Prescotts.”
McClay made that case Thursday on the Doin' Alright podcast with Bryan Broaddus and Voch Lombardi, and his praise centered on Prescott’s staying power and leadership. The 32-year-old quarterback, McClay said, has been a special part of the franchise since Dallas made him a fourth-round pick in the 2016 NFL Draft.
"Being a part of that decision and being very proud of it because of the uniqueness of the dude. To be able to carry a franchise and all the different things that he has gone through on his shoulders and still be the same dude, that's remarkable. And then the ability to lead people and talk to people, like, that's unique."
That kind of respect for Prescott goes beyond what he does on Sundays. Cowboys fans know the impact he has had in the locker room, around the city of Dallas and in conversations far beyond football, including mental health awareness. McClay’s point, though, was about what Prescott represents inside the building: steadiness, leadership and a kind of presence that can hold a roster together.
That’s where the 2026 Cowboys, in McClay’s view, separate themselves.
"And so this is where I think that we are different and have a chance now is because -- no shade on anybody else that's been here [or] players that Dak's been with -- It's just situations in time. And I think that there are more people, the Rashan Garys, the Kenny Clarks, the guys that have been around and done things that can help him shoulder some of that that give us a chance to even go further. ... And I may be wrong about it, but at least the people in the building and the process and the way we're going through it, you see some positives on that because there's a lot more Dak Prescotts."
That line - “a lot more Dak Prescotts” - says plenty. McClay’s not just talking about talent.
He’s talking about players who bring the same kind of professionalism and steadiness Prescott has made his trademark. The Cowboys have moved on from players who could be distractions, and outside of George Pickens, who seems to be maturing every day, the roster has been reshaped with that in mind.
It’s not as if Dallas has lacked ability. The bigger issues have been coaching, roster cohesion and the usual NFL injury grind. But McClay’s confidence is rooted in something he clearly values just as much as raw ability: character.
He has seen 13-3 teams fall in the divisional round and he has seen 4-12 seasons, so he knows better than most that the Cowboys’ ceiling is never just about names on paper. For him, the promise of this 2026 team is that leadership is no longer concentrated in one place. It’s spread around, and it looks a lot more like the kind of group that can carry Prescott instead of asking him to carry everything himself.
In Other News...
Cowboys Fans Are Loving This Embarrassing Giants Coaching Moment
A preseason hype speech is supposed to stir a team, but John Harbaughs latest moment with the Giants did the opposite. The head coach leaned hard into the New York Giants message, only for the players reaction to fall flat enough that the clip quickly became a punchline online, with plenty of fans and commentators treating it as more awkward than inspiring.
For Cowboys fans, it was the kind of sideline stumble that is easy to enjoy from a distance, especially with the Giants carrying extra attention into the season. The bigger question now is whether that disconnect was just a bad viral moment or a sign of a team still trying to find the right edge before the games start to count. [Read more 🡒]
Cowboys Were Quietly Tied To A Quarterback Story Fans Did Not See Coming
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For Dallas, the connection is easy to understand even if the timing is not. The Cowboys have Dak Prescott atop the depth chart, but they are always looking ahead at the position, and a player like Sorsby could have fit as a long-term backup or eventual successor if the process had moved differently. For now, the story is less about a fit than a missed opportunity, with the leagues decision leaving open whether the Cowboys will circle back when Sorsby is eligible again. [Read more 🡒]
Cowboys May Already Be Losing Faith In Their Latest QB2 Fix
The Cowboys still have a real question behind Dak Prescott, and it is one that did not get any easier once the offseason dust settled. Joe Milton, who was the primary backup last year, is now in a camp battle with newly signed Sam Howell for the QB2 job, giving Dallas a competition that feels less like a formality and more like a test of which passer can steady the position.
Howell brings more experience and a financial commitment that could help him stick on the active roster, while Milton is still trying to show he can be more accurate and consistent. His preseason work last year left room for doubt, and if that does not change quickly, the Cowboys may have to decide whether he is better suited for the practice squad than for the role they hoped he could fill. [Read more 🡒]