Bolstered by the arrival of George Pickens and a revamped defense featuring Caleb Downs, Dallas is shedding its "pretender" reputation to challenge the NFC’s elite in 2026.
The Dallas Cowboys entered the offseason facing major questions after another disappointing year, but there are absolutely reasons to believe that Dallas can turn it around.
In a recent post-draft breakdown from Bleacher Report, the Cowboys were labeled as a legitimate contender rather than a pretender following their aggressive offseason moves and strong draft class.
"The Dallas Cowboys are the NFC equivalent of the Cincinnati Bengals: all offense and no defense," BR's Gary Davenport writes. "It's not a stretch to say that the Cowboys have the most potent offense in the NFC East. If that new-look defense can be even average, Dallas will be players in the division."
That optimism starts with the talent Dallas already had in place.
As long as Dak Prescott is healthy, the Cowboys believe they can compete with anyone offensively. The organization also made a major splash by surrounding him with even more firepower like George Pickens, giving Dallas one of the more dangerous offensive groups in the NFL heading into 2026.
But the bigger story may be what the Cowboys did defensively during the draft.
Dallas attacked one of its biggest weaknesses by adding multiple impact defenders, headlined by first-round safety Caleb Downs and edge rusher Malachi Lawrence.
Downs, widely viewed as one of the safest prospects in the entire class, immediately gives the Cowboys a versatile chess piece in the secondary. His ability to cover, tackle and play multiple roles could completely change the flexibility of Dallas’ defense.
Lawrence adds another explosive athlete to the pass rush rotation, something the Cowboys have consistently prioritized during their most successful seasons. Adding young defensive speed and depth was clearly a point of emphasis for the front office, and Bleacher Report viewed those moves as enough to push Dallas back toward contender status.
The NFC remains loaded with teams like Philadelphia, Detroit and San Francisco all expecting to compete for a Super Bowl. Dallas also has to prove it can handle the pressure that comes with expectations after several recent seasons ended in frustration.
But this roster looks deeper and more balanced than the version that stumbled through parts of last year.
The Cowboys still have plenty to prove once games begin, but the overall direction of the franchise has clearly changed over the past few months. Between the defensive additions, the offensive talent already in place, and renewed optimism around the roster, Dallas is beginning to look like a team capable of making serious noise in the NFC again.