The offense has remained intact, while the defense, on paper, has upgrades everywhere, so how improved can this team be?
The offseason is only just getting going, but there is a lot of hope and optimism surrounding Brian Schottenheimer's Dallas Cowboys.
After a 7-9-1 2025 season with an elite offense and a putrid defense, the only way is up for Dallas, and it's been on a steady climb since hiring Christian Parker as defensive coordinator.
Add in the free agent signings of Jalen Thompson, PJ Locke, Cobie Durant, the trade for Rashan Gary, and the centerpiece to it all, draftee Caleb Downs, and the good vibes are flowing.
The offense is expected to be one of the better units in football again, but all eyes, and perhaps all of the pressure, are on the defense.
How will Parker call plays? How long will it take for his vision to come to life? Will the players be able to execute his plan? All of that is up in the air, but that is also what makes it exciting; we have no idea how it's going to go.
But for ESPN's Matt Bowen, he's named the Cowboys as one of the five most improved teams in football after this offseason.
"The Cowboys can score points," Bowen wrote. "With QB Dak Prescott, WRs CeeDee Lamb and George Pickens, and the run game balance, Dallas averaged 26.6 points per game last season. But the key for 2026 is the defensive upgrades.
"New coordinator Christian Parker will bring elements of Vic Fangio's system to Dallas. Edge rushers Rashan Gary and Malachi Lawrence, as well as safety Caleb Downs, boost the Cowboys' impact play ability. This team should compete for the NFC East title."
Given that we haven't had a training camp practice, all of this is a projection, and most feel the same, simply because the defense was so bad last year that it can't get worse.
So, the bar for improvement isn't exactly set too high.
As for the offense, are we taking what was accomplished last year for granted? Given that we are just expecting it to remain the same? You could make that case, but the weapons are all returning, and even if there is a dip in stats, Dallas still boasts a top unit.
But complementary football is what the Cowboys need, and no, I'm not talking about Parker's defense being a top five unit, but if it can be middle of the pack? Then good things could happen.
We truly don't know how the Cowboys will fare in 2026, and for once, the hope and optimism aren't centered around Dak and the offense; it's Parker's defense.
Will they be up to the task?
If Dallas wants playoff football, they'll have to be.
