Is Dallas A Playoff Team?

This is Fourth of July Weekend, a fitting time to discuss America’s Team. The Cowboys missed the postseason in each of the past two years, but a couple of their key figures have expressed optimism they will return to contention in 2026. Quarterback Dak Prescott said in June that making the playoffs is the “minimum” expectation. Meanwhile, second-year head coach Brian Schottenheimer has his sights set on the Cowboys’ first championship since 1995.

“Super Bowl 61, February 14th, 2027, that’s where we plan on being,” Schottenheimer declared in May.

First things first, clinching a playoff berth would represent a sizable step forward after back-to-back seven-win campaigns. By now, everybody knows the main culprit for the Cowboys’ subpar finish in 2025. It was a defense that lost superstar edge rusher Micah Parsons in a late-August trade with the Packers. They allowed 511 points, worst in the NFL and the most in their 66-year history as a franchise.

The Cowboys’ abysmal defense undermined a high-octane offense that ranked second in yards and seventh in points. Prescott bounced back from a severe hamstring injury from the prior year to produce outstanding results over a full season. The tremendous receiver tandem of CeeDee Lamb and George Pickens helped his cause, as did 1,200-yard running back Javonte Williams, 82-catch tight end Jake Ferguson and No. 3 wideout Ryan Flournoy.

The Cowboys’ offense faced the potential departures of Pickens and Williams at the outset of the offseason, but owner Jerry Jones retained both players. There was some drama involving Pickens, whom the Cowboys did not lock up for the long haul. They instead slapped the former Steeler with the franchise tag in late February. Although the Cowboys have publicly ruled out an extension by the July 15 deadline, Pickens will report to training camp and play for $27.3MM. He should have plenty of motivation in his second consecutive platform season, while Williams will lead the Cowboys’ backfield again after re-signing on a three-year, $24MM pact.

With Pickens and Williams sticking around, the Cowboys are essentially running it back on offense. The main question is whether Tyler Guyton, Nate Thomas or even left guard Tyler Smith will start at left tackle. No matter who wins that job, there is little doubt Dallas’ offense will put up numbers if its skill players stay healthy.

Naturally, there are more concerns on the defensive side after last year’s horrid performance. As mentioned, nobody gave up more points than the Cowboys. They also came in last in pass defense, 30th in total yards and takeaways, 26th in sacks, and 23rd against the run.

The Cowboys prioritized keeping Pickens and Williams, but improving the defense was their most important offseason task. It began with firing defensive coordinator Matt Eberflus and hiring first-time DC Christian Parker. A Vic Fangio disciple, the 34-year-old Parker is considered a rising star on the heels of a two-year run as the Eagles’ defensive pass game coordinator/DBs coach.

Parker should have a better cast to work with than Eberflus did in 2025, though edge defender Jadeveon Clowney remains unsigned after recording a team-high 8.5 sacks last season. The Cowboys do not appear likely to re-sign Clowney. They also lost defensive tackle Osa Odighizuwa in a trade with the 49ers. Already featuring two other expensive D-tackles, Quinnen Williams and Kenny Clark, the Cowboys shipped out Odighizuwa for the 92nd pick in the draft. They used it on Jaishawn Barham, an off-ball linebacker who showed promise as a pass rusher at Maryland and Michigan.

Barham is a member of a position group that also welcomed Dee Winters in another trade with the 49ers. Winters and DeMarvion Overshown are set to start at inside linebacker in Parker’s newly installed 3-4 base. Overshown has flashed when healthy during his three-year career, but injuries have dogged him. Although he has played just 19 of a possible 51 regular-season games, the Cowboys are counting on Overshown to stay healthy and wear the green dot on his helmet.

Despite last year’s woes, the Cowboys view Williams, Clark, Overshown, edge defender Donovan Ezeiruaku, cornerbacks DaRon Bland and Shavon Revel, and safety Malik Hooker as part of the solution on defense. All of them are returning to fill important roles. However, along with Barham and Winters, there are several other new faces on defense.

The Cowboys believe they found a capable replacement for Clowney in Rashan Gary, whom they acquired from the Packers. In free agency, they reeled in safeties Jalen Thompson and PJ Locke, cornerback Cobie Durant and linemen Otito Ogbonnia and Jonathan Bullard. They also spent both of their first-round picks on defenders, 11th overall selection Caleb Downs and 23rd choice Malachi Lawrence.

Downs excelled as a safety at Ohio State, but he could see more time as a slot corner during his rookie season. If so, Thompson, Hooker and Locke still give the team credible options at safety. Meanwhile, the athletic Lawrence will join Ezeiruaku, Gary, Shemar James and Sam Williams in the Cowboys’ committee of edge rushers. Acquiring Raiders star Maxx Crosby would have been far splashier than picking up Gary or Lawrence. Dallas did make a large offer for Crosby early in the offseason, but after a failed physical canceled a Las Vegas-Baltimore swap, the Cowboys backed off their pursuit.

The Cowboys have not made any blockbuster acquisitions this offseason, but they expect the combination of a potent offense and a better (no longer historically bad) defense to lead them back into contention in 2026. They will aim to dethrone the back-to-back NFC East champion Eagles or at least earn a wild-card spot. Are you buying Dallas as a playoff team? Vote in PFR’s latest poll and weigh in with your thoughts in the comments section.