Head Coach Brian Schottenheimer was a somewhat questionable hire last year, as an internal promotion who had never really received serious head coaching consideration before. In Year 1, though, he proved to be a solid offensive head coach. He runs a pro-style offense that stands out in the modern NFL. The Cowboys lean on an older brand of football with a heavy emphasis on the power run game, something that has become much less common across the league.
The Cowboys also used their offensive coordinator position well. With Schottenheimer calling the offense, the title is really just that, a title. They essentially used the promotion to poach offensive line coach Klayton Adams from the Cardinals. Adams is one of the more respected offensive line coaches in the league and one of the more promising offensive minds. He comes from the Shanahan system and brings a fresh wrinkle to Schottenheimer’s offense.
Dallas moved on from Matt Eberflus after a disastrous defensive season and brought in Christian Parker from Philadelphia. He’s part of the Fangio and Ejiro Evero coaching tree. Philadelphia leaned heavily on Cover 1 and Cover 6 last season, but those are difficult coverages to live in consistently because they require a talented cornerback group. I don’t expect Parker to rely on them to the same extent in Dallas, but it’s worth noting. The Fangio-style Cover 6 will still serve as the foundation of the defense, built around match coverage and disguising looks both before and after the snap.
Special Teams Coordinator Nick Sorensen joined Schottenheimer’s staff in 2025 after coming over from San Francisco, where he had actually served as the defensive coordinator. He’s held a variety of coaching roles on both defense and special teams throughout his career, but he lands on the special teams side here. You would expect his coverage units to be the strength of the group, but they were only average in that area last season.
GM, Owner, and President Jerry Jones has been one of the league’s most controversial general managers for years. He’s been running the Cowboys since 1989, and some believe the game has passed him by and that his desire to wear multiple hats has held the franchise back. I actually think he’s still at least an average general manager based on the moves he makes, but I also understand why so many Cowboys fans are frustrated with him.
Quarterbacks (9th)
Like his GM Jerry Jones, QB Dak Prescott is a controversial figure among Cowboys fans. He’s one of the last remaining field generals who stands in the pocket, reads the defense, and delivers the ball. He may not have been worth the contract the Cowboys had to give him, and his playoff shortcomings are well documented, but he’s consistent and you generally know what you’re going to get from him. He’s too good of a quarterback for the Cowboys to willingly move on from, but he’s also not going to carry a bad roster to a Super Bowl. Dallas has to continue building around him. I also think he’s an ideal fit for Brian Schottenheimer’s offense, and with a second year in the system, he could take a small step forward.
The backup room is pretty solid and interesting as well. Joe Milton III is a big-armed athlete who needed to develop as an actual quarterback, but he looked the part in Week 18 as a rookie. That performance convinced the Cowboys to trade for him, although he didn’t show that same magic in Week 18 last season with Dallas. Even so, he’s the type of developmental quarterback teams dream of and is absolutely worth keeping around. Behind him is Sam Howell, a once highly regarded prospect who has settled into a backup role. As he showed with the Commanders, he’s a reckless, high-volume passer who can still make plays. There’s a reason no one is asking him to be their full-time starter, but as a backup, if the starter goes down for the season, he gives you hope that you can steal any given game. A team starting Sam Howell is probably going to lose more often than not, but he provides a level of upside that a traditional backup playing it safe and slowly losing simply doesn’t.
Running Backs (27th)
I’ll be the first to say I was incredibly low on this group last season. Javonte Williams had been injury prone and looked like he had lost a step following those injuries. Last year, though, he looked like he turned back the clock and earned himself an extension. I still have my questions about Javonte. He runs with a physical style that fits this offense, but it’s also part of what has made him injury prone. Ideally, with an RB1 like Williams, you’d have a strong backup group behind him. That just isn’t the case in Dallas.
The primary backups are two 2025 draft picks, Jaydon Blue and Phil Mafah. Blue generated plenty of offseason hype as someone who could potentially win the starting job last season. He was part of a timeshare at Texas, and that’s probably his best role in the NFL as well. Injuries slowed him down, but he earned more playing time as the season went on. He got the Week 18 start and showed impressive tackle-breaking ability along with surprisingly good vision for a smaller back running between the tackles. I’m not sold on Blue just yet, but he flashed some potential and theoretically complements Javonte well. Phil Mafah is a backup power back who could also earn snaps in pass protection, but he missed almost his entire rookie season due to injury.
2022 UDFA Malik Davis was the primary backup for most of last season, but he lacks the high-level ability you’d like to see from the position. Israel Abanikanda is a traits-based receiving back, but he clearly has something missing from his game, as he’s been unable to stick with a team for years. Dominic Richardson was a UDFA who intrigued me coming out of Tulsa, but he’s probably more of a practice squad option than someone expected to contribute.
The player who received the second-most snaps in the backfield behind Javonte last season wasn’t Blue, Davis, or any of those backs. It was fullback Hunter Luepke. Dallas’ power run system loves using a fullback, and Luepke even saw his share of snaps at halfback. Even when lined up at HB, he’s used primarily for his blocking, but he can also handle carries up the middle, especially in short-yardage situations. If something were to happen to Javonte Williams, I imagine Luepke would take on a larger role as the bigger back alongside Jaydon Blue.
As long as Javonte stays healthy, this running back room should be better than 29th. However, the lack of proven depth behind him and Williams’ durability concerns are enough to keep this group in the No. 29 spot. If everything goes according to plan, the rushing attack shouldn’t be a major weakness. The opportunity is there for it to become one quickly if things start to go wrong.
Weapons (2nd)
Wide Receivers (2nd)
CeeDee Lamb is the best player on this team, even if he hasn’t matched the raw production of some of the other elite wide receivers around the league. When healthy, and with a healthy QB1, Lamb has been one of the most complete receivers in football. If there’s one area he can still improve, it’s his drops, which have popped up at times throughout his career. What makes this room rank second, though, isn’t just Lamb. It’s having George Pickens as the best WR2 in football. Pickens is a ridiculous playmaker who seemed to win every contested catch opportunity last season while adding another dimension to the offense alongside Lamb. He also took a step forward after the catch, becoming a more complete receiver. The scouting report on Pickens had always been that he possessed WR1 talent but was too inconsistent to fully trust in that role. In Dallas, he isn’t asked to be the true No. 1 option, and he also cleaned up his game and played with much more consistency last season.
The top duo is so good that the rest of the room almost doesn’t matter. Even so, while the Cowboys have adequate depth, they do lack a true slot weapon at WR3. Ryan Flournoy is a traits-based former sixth-round pick from Southeast Missouri State who the Cowboys hope can take the next step as the starting slot receiver. If he doesn’t, they still have KaVontae Turpin, whose speed and gadget ability can create the occasional explosive play.
Those four should make up the primary rotation. Seventh-round pick Anthony Smith should earn the fifth spot on the roster, but he’s still an unproven rookie out of East Carolina, and I don’t expect him to have a major role right away. Marquez Valdes-Scantling was signed in free agency as a vertical threat, but his unreliable hands and limited skill set make him difficult to trust. Personally, I’d rather give Turpin those snaps and save the roster spot, but Valdes-Scantling is firmly in the mix. Jonathan Mingo is a former second-round pick whom the Cowboys traded a fourth-round pick for, but that move hasn’t paid off, and he’s likely headed for the practice squad.
2025 UDFA Traeshon Holden has generated a little buzz in training camp, but he probably ends up on the practice squad as well. Tyler Johnson is a depth option I liked with the Rams, but he doesn’t offer much upside and will likely struggle to earn a roster spot. Jaden Smith, Jordan Hudson, and Camden Brown are all undrafted options, though Hudson is someone I had a draftable grade on because of his run-after-the-catch ability and gadget potential, even if his testing numbers were disappointing. I think he’s at least worth keeping around on the practice squad. Finally, the Cowboys brought in Denzel Mims from Dallas’ crosstown UFL team, the Renegades. Mims is a former draft bust and faces an uphill battle to make the roster, but he showed in the UFL that he still has enough ability to warrant a look.
Tight Ends (18th)
Jake Ferguson is the perfect safety net in this offense. He’s a quality in-line tight end who leans more toward being a receiving threat than a blocker. He’s not going to be the focal point of the passing game, but as a reliable short-yardage target who is always available, he adds another wrinkle to this group of weapons. Former UDFA Brevyn Spann-Ford serves as the TE2 and is primarily a blocker. He rarely gets involved as a receiver and does most of his work in the run game. Luke Schoonmaker is a former second-round pick. He’s built like an in-line tight end but hasn’t developed as a blocker. He’s a serviceable depth option, but nothing special.
Beyond the top three, Princeton Fant is the only other returning option. He’s a 2023 UDFA who has stuck around but has never really been given much of an opportunity in Dallas. He played just 11 special teams snaps and didn’t see the field on offense in 2025. The Cowboys round out the room with two undrafted rookies. Michael Trigg is the bigger name of the pair. He was a highly recruited prospect who at one point looked like an early-round NFL pick, but several red flags caused him to fall completely out of the draft. He’s probably the weakest and least interested blocker in this tight end class, functioning more like a big wide receiver than a traditional tight end. There were also football character concerns that hurt his pre-draft process. If he isn’t coachable or doesn’t put in the work, he’s obviously not making an NFL roster. If he does what’s expected of him, though, he’s talented enough to make this team. It also helps that Dallas doesn’t already have a big slot receiving option in its tight end room.
The other undrafted addition is DJ Rogers. He was high on my priority free agent list and fits a similar mold to Jake Ferguson as a big-bodied tight end with reliable hands. He isn’t an overly exciting prospect, but he’s the type of player who can quietly carve out a role if given the opportunity. That said, he’ll still have an uphill battle to earn a roster spot.
Offensive Line (22nd)
Offensive Tackles (32nd) & Interior Offensive Line (5th)
First things first, the offensive line as a whole is much better at run blocking than pass blocking. Tyler Guyton is the starting left tackle and is very much on the hot seat as a developmental tackle option that has not worked out as of yet. He was a 1st round pick in 2024, but has played two partial seasons and has not shown the ability to pass protect and is likely to be a liability in that phase again this year. As a run blocker, he’s serviceable but still needs to develop. He looked better in his last few games before going down with an injury, but it was an easier group of opponents in that small sample size. The other tackle, Terence Steele was a UDFA back in 2020 and has been consistent as an adequate tackle. He’s always struggled in pass protection, while being a great run blocker. When he was the weak link in pass protection and a star run blocker that was fine, but now that this line has other questions in pass protection, Terence Steele just adds to that and hurts this passing game.
Tyler Smith is an athletic guard who is a solid pass blocker and a fantastic run blocker on the left side. He’s likely their best lineman in all phases but really helps this run blocking. Cooper Beebe has proven to be a good 3rd round pick and is headed in the right direction as a strong run blocking center, even if he still has room to grow. Tyler Booker is a high floor technician at Right Guard who is a good scheme fit in this inside run system. His lack of athleticism led some to question the draft pick, but this offense doesn’t punish his lack of athleticism. The best depth option on the roster is also on the interior in T.J. Bass. Bass is pretty much the only proven backup on the roster, but he’s also more of a run blocker as well.
The swing tackle may be 4th round rookie Drew Shelton. He’s a decent pass blocker and athlete who could be the answer to the Cowboys prayers on that side of the ball if he develops. 2024 7th rounder Nate Thomas is probably the day 1 backup at tackle though, and he’s another strong run blocker with questions in pass protection. 2025 6th rounder Ajani Cornelius may be the odd man out here, but if he shows some development from last year he could easily be in the mix here.
On the Interior, I have Trevor Keegan making the roster as a guard, but center Nick Leverett is an option as well as provides a floor in the pass game. Backup center Matt Hennessey would’ve been in contention as well but he’s been placed on season-ending IR.
The remaining offensive line depth is unproven. UDFA tackle Shiyazh Pete and guard DJ Wingfield were not on my radar. Marcellus Johnson and Chris Glaser are also veteran guard options but have never really stuck on a roster.
Offense (13th) – Pass Game (8th) – Run Game (29th)
Simply put, the way my formula works causes it to underrate the Cowboys’ run game because of the low running back ranking and the offensive line’s overall ranking, even though the line excels as a run-blocking unit. All in all, though, I think the No. 13 offense is a fair ranking for a team with some clear strengths on that side of the ball.
Defensive Line (19th)
Interior Defensive Line (5th)
Quinnen Williams is the star of this defensive line, something the Cowboys desperately needed following the Micah Parsons saga. Williams is an elite run defender and a very good pass rusher, even if he’s not quite the type of player you want leading your pass rush by himself. For an interior defender, he’s outstanding at generating pressure, but ideally he’d be paired with a true No. 1 edge rusher to take some of that burden off his shoulders. He’s exactly what you want from your top defensive tackle, but the Cowboys are still waiting for someone off the edge to develop into that long-term running mate.
The second-best pass rusher on the roster right now might actually be Williams’ fellow interior lineman, Kenny Clark. Clark’s best football is probably behind him, but he’s still a quality second defensive tackle who can also line up at nose tackle when needed. His run defense has never been elite, but he’s a solid fit next to Quinnen on the interior.
The Cowboys will likely spend most of their time in a four-man front, but if they shift into a 3-4 look, their hybrid defensive end replacing Osa Odighizuwa will likely be Otito Ogbonnia. Ogbonnia isn’t anything special as a pass rusher, but he’s a solid rotational piece. Dallas likely hopes converted edge rusher LT Overton eventually takes over that role. He entered the league as a bigger, slower edge rusher and is now adding weight to move inside. Even so, he still brings an edge rusher’s skill set and could make an impact as a fourth-round rookie in that role. Jonathan Bullard is another quality run defender who should continue rotating in on early downs across the interior.
2025 seventh-round pick Jay Toia returns as the backup nose tackle, though with the scheme shifting toward using two interior defensive linemen more often, that role may not even be worth carrying on the 53-man roster. Adedayo Odeleye is part of the International Player Pathway Program, so he won’t count against the practice squad limit if that’s where he ultimately lands. The Cowboys also signed three undrafted free agents, Tommy Dunn, D.J. Withers, and Kelvin Gilliam, but none of them were really on my radar.
Edge Rushers (26th)
Donovan Ezeiruaku was a second-round pick last year and had an excellent rookie season. He doesn’t have the physical upside of a true superstar edge rusher, but he was productive right away and should continue to be. Cowboys fans just shouldn’t expect him to become Micah Parsons or anything like that. Across from him is Rashan Gary, whose play as a pass rusher has regressed quite a bit since his time in Green Bay. He’s still a very good run defender and fits well alongside Ezeiruaku, but his pass rush isn’t anywhere close to what it was in his prime. As the fourth pass rusher in this defense, though, he’s a quality option.
First-round rookie Malachi Lawrence is the player the Cowboys hope eventually emerges alongside Ezeiruaku as their long-term edge duo. As I said, Ezeiruaku is probably at his best as the second edge rusher on a team, and Lawrence has the physical traits to develop into a true No. 1. He’s still very raw, though, and doesn’t offer much against the run at this stage. As a designated pass rusher rotating with Gary and Ezeiruaku, he could make an impact as a rookie while developing into a long-term starter.
Sam Williams is a former second-round pick whose career was knocked off track by injury. He’s back in Dallas, but it’s unclear how large of a role he’ll have in his return. If Williams isn’t part of the rotation, James Houston likely will be. Houston isn’t the run defender Williams is, but he can create pressure as a rotational pass rusher when given the opportunity.
The Cowboys are also converting Marist Liufau from linebacker to edge rusher in a hybrid Fangio role that can still drop into coverage. It’s a unique position, and we’ll have to wait and see how much Christian Parker chooses to utilize it. Another option there is Charles Snowden, a player I really liked coming out of the draft who ultimately went undrafted before carving out a role in Las Vegas. He was a somewhat surprising cut by the Raiders and will have a chance to compete for that role in Dallas. He’ll unfortunately be suspended for the first three games of the season, but that could actually improve his chances of making the team since the Cowboys won’t need to carry him on the initial 53-man roster. Rounding out the edge group are Tyrus Wheat and Isaiah Land. Wheat has generated some training camp buzz as someone who could compete for a roster spot, but I expect the other names in this room to beat him out when the final roster is set.
Linebackers (24th)
2023 third-round pick DeMarvion Overshown has become one of the more injury-prone players in the league. He has all the instincts and athleticism you want in a linebacker, but he just hasn’t been able to stay on the field. When he does play, though, he looks like a future LB1. Dee Winters came over in a draft-day trade and is expected to start in Dallas. He’s a former developmental athlete who flashed some promise in coverage with the 49ers last season. He’s far from a proven starter, but he appeared to be trending in the right direction.
Shemar James was forced into significant playing time as a fifth-round rookie last season, but he struggled both in coverage and against the run. His development is worth monitoring, but based on what we saw last year, he shouldn’t be expected to be a difference maker just yet. Third-round rookie Jaishawn Barham is making the transition from a 3-4 edge rusher to an off-ball linebacker, though he could also slide into the Marist Liufau or Charles Snowden hybrid edge role if needed. He’s a complete unknown as an off-ball linebacker, but he should be an effective blitzer from Day 1.
Curtis Robinson provides depth after coming over from San Francisco, where he was teammates with Dee Winters last season. He’s likely nothing more than a depth piece and special teamer, but I think he can hold his own if called upon. 2025 UDFA Justin Barron should also be in the mix for one of the final roster spots. Finally, UDFA Langston Patterson rounds out the room, though he wasn’t someone who was on my draft radar.
Cornerbacks (26th)
DaRon Bland is the CB1 here, but he’s played his best football in the slot. Dallas has asked him to move outside, where the results have been more inconsistent. He’ll give up some plays in coverage, but he’s also one of the biggest playmakers at the position, sacrificing some consistency for game-changing takeaways. He’d be the perfect No. 2 corner, but as a CB1, you’d rather have a more reliable coverage player. Cobie Durant is more of that steady zone corner. He raises the floor of this group, but he isn’t someone you want matching up with opposing No. 1 receivers every week. Former first-round caliber prospect Shavon Revel Jr. fell to the third round after suffering an ACL injury in college and will get every opportunity to win that outside job. He didn’t look great in his return from injury last season, but after a full healthy offseason, the Cowboys are hoping he starts to show why he was once viewed as a first-round talent.
I’ll talk about him more in the safety section, but it’s worth mentioning here that first-round pick Caleb Downs will likely be the starting slot corner in this defense. Reddy Stewart will be the backup in the slot if Downs shifts toward safety. Stewart played admirably last season while the rest of the secondary struggled around him. He’s solid in that role, but he’s best suited as a backup and injury replacement. Fourth-round rookie Devin Moore is an intriguing prospect. I liked his instincts in zone coverage and think he’s a natural fit for this scheme. He’ll begin the season as a depth piece, but I could see him earning playing time fairly quickly.
Trikweze Bridges is an athletic developmental project and core special teamer who will likely be on the roster bubble. 2024 fifth-round pick Caelen Carson has flashed at times but hasn’t shown enough consistency to lock down a roster spot. Derion Kendrick comes over from the Rams and has been a name a lot of people expect to make the roster. He’s buried deep on the depth chart, but I liked what I saw from him in LA, if he makes the team he’ll be solid depth behind his former teammate Cobie Durant. He also adds another slot option in the event Downs ends up at safety long-term. Josh Butler, Zion Childress, and Ameer Speed round out the room. Of that group, I’m probably most interested in 2023 UDFA Josh Butler, but at this point we’re probably talking about practice squad competition more than anything else.
Safeties (7th)
Coming from the cornerbacks section, I’ll start with Caleb Downs. Downs was a blue-chip safety prospect in this draft and my No. 1 overall player in the entire class. Some injury concerns popped up late in the pre-draft process, but all signs point to him being ready for Week 1. When you think of a generational defensive back prospect, you probably picture elite physical traits, rare size, or devastating hit power. Downs isn’t really any of those things. He’s a good athlete with an average frame and isn’t exactly an enforcer. What makes him special is his coverage ability, especially in zone, along with his next-level instincts in both the passing game and, more importantly, the run game. He recognizes plays so quickly that he often looks like the fastest player on the field. He’ll likely spend a lot of time in big nickel packages, but he should also be one of the starting safeties in the base defense.
Jalen Thompson is actually a very similar type of player. He learned from Budda Baker in Arizona and does all the little things well. He’s a floor-raiser on the back end of the defense who takes good angles and always seems to be in the right position. The Cowboys signed him to a great value contract to be one of their starting safeties. Alongside him should be Malik Hooker. Hooker is an aging veteran whose play has started to decline. He’s lost a step and isn’t the same coverage defender he once was, but he can still make an impact against the run. Because of his age, and because I think he’s the weakest of the three safeties, I would take Hooker off the field in nickel packages and let Downs and Thompson handle the two safety spots. That said, Thompson signed such a modest contract, and his skill set overlaps quite a bit with Downs, so I wouldn’t be surprised if Dallas instead kept Hooker and Downs on the field together.
If one of the starters suffers a long-term injury, Downs could slide back to safety full time while someone else fills his role in the slot. If that’s not the plan, P.J. Locke is the next safety up. Locke has shown limitations in coverage, but he’s a solid run-defending strong safety. He’s perfectly adequate depth, though not someone you’d want starting for an extended period. Markquese Bell is another option. He’s been with the Cowboys since joining as a 2022 UDFA and is more of a traditional box safety. This new defensive scheme doesn’t really ask its safeties to play that type of role, so I think his value comes more on special teams than on defense. Alijah Clark, a 2025 UDFA, also appears on some roster projections and would likely make the team primarily for his special teams value. Finally, Julius Wood rounds out the room. He originally joined Dallas as a 2024 UDFA and returned last year after a stint with the Titans. The Cowboys seem to like him, but he’s probably competing for a practice squad spot.
Defense (23rd) – Front Seven (22nd) – Coverage Unit (22nd)
This defense was the worst in the league in 2025, and with a new defensive coordinator and several new faces, the Cowboys are hoping to take a step forward in 2026. Don’t get me wrong, this is still an offense-first football team, but if the defense can avoid being the massive liability it was last season, they’ll have a chance to compete. Neither the front nor the secondary looks primed for a major breakout, but they also don’t look like the ticking time bombs they were a year ago. If this unit can simply be average, that may be all this offense needs.
Specialists (1st)
Dallas’ special teams as a whole was a bit disappointing last season, especially in the coverage department, but as far as the specialists go, they were always going to rank No. 1. Brandon Aubrey is the best kicker in the league, and that’s been clear for the last few seasons. At this point, I don’t think it’s even up for debate. Bryan Anger is a solid veteran punter. He’s no longer one of the league’s elite, but he consistently gets the job done. What really pushes Dallas over the top isn’t just Aubrey, though. It’s return man KaVontae Turpin, who has consistently been one of the most dynamic kick and punt returners in the NFL. Long snapper Trent Sieg has only been with the Cowboys since 2023, but he’s handled snaps for both Aubrey and Anger the entire time and provides another reliable piece to the unit.
Nick Sorensen should be on the hot seat if he can’t put together a better overall special teams unit with this group of specialists. At the same time, I do think Dallas lacks some of the designated special teamers that many other franchises typically carry, which has likely contributed to the coverage issues.
Win Prediction (Under 9.5)
I really expected to pick the over on the Cowboys this season, but seeing the line at 9.5 made me pause. They have some brutal scheduling quirks, including road games against Houston, Philadelphia, Seattle, and the Rams, while also losing a true home game by facing Baltimore in Brazil. I think 9-8 is the most likely outcome. There are plenty of winnable games on the schedule, but their toughest matchups are about as difficult as they come. I also think they’re more likely to slip up against a weaker opponent than they are to consistently pull off those difficult road upsets. Even a rough start against the Giants and Commanders over the first two weeks would put their chances of reaching 10 wins on life support.
I believe in this team more than most, and I think they’ll be in the playoff conversation for much of the season. I just don’t see them getting to 10 wins, which is why I’m unfortunately taking the under.
