The Cowboys have been hell-bent on improving the defense this offseason, but has the franchise done enough to return to the playoffs?
In Brian Schottenheimer's first year as Dallas Cowboys head coach, the issue with finishing 7-9-1 was glaringly obvious. The defense was horrible.
Dak Prescott and the offense were elite under Schotty (still had warts in the second half of the season), but Matt Eberflus' defense was one of the worst in football.
So, this offseason, Dallas went through the defense with a broom and cleaned it out.
A new coordinator in Christian Parker, along with a handful of new coaches, and then the additions.
Rashan Gary, Jalen Thompson, PJ Locke, and Cobie Durant were the "big" signings in free agency, plus Otito Ogbonnia.
Then the draft, and the Cowboys managed to somehow get Ohio State star Caleb Downs, and UCF's Malachi Lawrence in the first round.
Then, linebacker Jaishawn Barham was selected in the third round, and a trade for San Francisco 49ers starter Dee Winters followed. Not to mention the late-round selections of LT Overton and Devin Moore, further bolstering the defensive stocks.
So right there are at least five new starters for Parker. That's a big change. ... led by Downs, who owner Jerry Jones is comparing to Dak Prescott as a "Pied Piper'' sort of leader.
But the big question we have for Jones is, is that enough?
"We've done enough to improve where we ended up last year," Jerry said. "Now that's a trick because we need a lot more than just improve on what we did last year. We can materially improve to where if we should be able to be as effective on offense, to start talking about getting up there where we try to be.
"I think if we play the defense that we dream of playing with the changes we've made and we can continue improving or doing what we did offensively last year, we've got a heck of a future around here."
So, Parker has gotten over 10 new players on defense to help bring his defensive vision to life. Now, it's all about getting them on the same page.
We stated so many times last season that with the way the offense was playing, if the defense was just average, not even good, that Dallas was a playoff team in 2025.
Now, after the early part of free agency and the draft, the Cowboys have all the makings of having a competent defense in 2026.
Will that be enough for Dallas to return to the postseason? Jerry thinks so.