Despite an aggressive offseason, recent rankings slot America's Team's defense near the bottom, sparking debate about their true potential.
The conversation around the Dallas Cowboys' defense isn’t lacking confidence internally—but outside evaluations are telling a different story.
In a recent post-draft ranking of all 32 NFL defenses, Bleacher Report's Gary Davenport ranks America's Team at No. 26, a placement that reflects lingering concerns despite an aggressive offseason focused on that side of the ball.
"The Dallas Cowboys were abysmal defensively a year ago... To be fair, the Cowboys were aggressive in both free agency and the draft trying to fix that leaky defense," Davenport writes. "If (Malachi) Lawrence is a quick study, the front four in Big D could actually be pretty solid. But there are just too many potential issues behind them—both against the run and in coverage. Hope the Dallas offense is ready for some shootouts."
That ranking comes after a draft where Dallas clearly made defense a priority. The team used premium picks on players like safety Caleb Downs and edge rusher Malachi Lawrence, signaling a commitment to reshaping a unit that struggled with consistency.
Still, the skepticism centers on what the defense currently is—not what it might become.
Dallas is coming off a season where results didn’t match expectations, and the roster has undergone significant turnover. They allowed the third-most yards in the league, while allowing the most passing yards.
At the same time, there are reasons to believe this group could outperform that No. 26 spot.
The draft class, headlined by Downs, has already drawn praise for its upside and versatility, giving Dallas a foundation to build around moving forward. And considering the team's secondary in 2025, getting Downs at No. 11 was imperative.
There’s also established talent still in place. Dallas will have a full season of All-Pro defensive tackle Quinnen Williams, and they also just made a trade with the Packers for veteran edge rusher Rashan Gary.
Ultimately, the ranking says more about uncertainty than ceiling.
For now, analysts are waiting to see how quickly the new pieces come together. A unit with multiple new starters, a reshaped defensive line, and a heavy reliance on young talent is difficult to project with confidence. That’s why Dallas finds itself in the bottom tier—at least on paper.
But that also creates opportunity.
If the young additions develop quickly and the new-look defense finds its identity early, the Cowboys could rise well above that 26th ranking. The pieces are there. The question is how fast they come together once the season begins.