The Cowboys have had a big shift defensively both on and off the field, but is it enough?
FRISCO - The Dallas Cowboys are heading toward the mandatory part of this offseason in good shape roster-wise, buoyed here inside The Star by the positivity of change.
And a look at the starting lineup from a year ago compared to a 2026 projection explains why.
After the free agency additions of Rashan Gary, PJ Locke, Jalen Thompson, and Cobie Durant, coupled with the addition of draftees Caleb Downs, Malachi Lawrence, Jaishawn Barham, LT Overton and Devin Moore, plus the draft-time trade for Dee Winters, there are some theoretically upgraded pieces now in place.
The coaching staff under new coordinator Christian Parker has also been lauded, with the Cowboys aware of the possible growing pains for the 34-year-old rookie boss ... but still steadfast in the belief that Parker is "special.''
Given the defensive changes and the fact that the offense, at least right now, appears to be running it back with the same explosive and effective Dak Prescott-led crew, there is reason to think the Cowboys could have something positive brewing.
Of course, the football gods will be watching over training camp, and injuries happen. So do failures.
But ...
The Cowboys are using every tool in the toolbox to fix the defense. ... Big-money free agency (relatively speaking.) Scrap-heap free agency. The draft. Trades. And sign-your-owns.
Good for them ... and suddenly it looks like Dallas acquired as many as six projected defensive starters in recent weeks in an attempt to put the 2025 effort - which saw the Cowboys post NFL-worst numbers on defense - behind them.
So, let's shop and compare. What did the lineup look like to start 2025? And what does it look like now?
And is it really better?
2025 DE Sam Williams - 2026 EDGE Rashan Gary
2025 DE Dante Fowler - 2026 EDGE Donovan Ezeiruaku/Lawrence
2025 DT Osa Ogighizua - 2026 DL Quinnen Williams
2025 DT Kenny Clark - 2026 Clark
2025 LB Kenneth Murray - 2026 DeMarvion Overshown
2025 LB Jack Sanborn - 2026 Dee Winters
2025 LB Damone Clark - DB Caleb Downs
2025 CB DaRon Bland - 2026 Bland
2025 Kaiir Elam - 2026 Shavon Revel/Cobie Durant
2025 Malik Hooker - 2026 Hooker
2025 S Donovan Wilson - 2025 Jalen Thompson
That is a lot of change on the defensive side of the ball.
Now, there is a bit of fudging here, some of it due to injury. Overshown and Revel were on the team a year ago but were injured. And sack leader Jadeveon Clowney came to Dallas later in September and became a key helper.
But Cowboys Nation has reason to believe that a full season of Quinnen, a complete overhaul of a poor linebackers group, and the outright ouster of some DBs (and guys at other spots) can revitalize this defense.
How much better will, say, Caleb Downs be at safety than Damone Clark was at linebacker? How much better will the new guys be over an incredible total of eight 2025 Week 1 starters who have been jettisoned out of Dallas?
Yes, there is still enough positivity around the defense to think that this group will be vastly improved.
But this study demonstrates more than "positivity,'' and more than, "Well, the bar from last season is so low.''
This is owner Jerry Jones and his team fulfilling a promise to change. That, they have inarguably done.