Not every position battle is created equal. Some determine depth, while others could shape the Cowboys’ ceiling in 2026. Let’s analyze some of the position battles that could determine the Cowboys’ fate this season. We know Brian Schottenheimer has declared left tackle an open competition, but it’s hard to believe he isn’t using a motivational technique on Tyler Guyton, so we’re skipping it here.
Running Back
This is the only offensive group on this list, and it’s on here because of the question marks behind Javonte
Williams. Williams accounted for 52% of the Cowboys’ rushing attempts last season, 56% of rushing yards and 61% of the Cowboys’ rushing TDs. The term bell-cow is used a lot, but there is no denying how important Williams is not only to the run game, but to the entire offense.
The next rusher in 2025 after Williams was Malik Davis, and although he has proven to be a serviceable back, the dropoff in stats is immense. Davis gained 250 yards on 52 carries and scored two touchdowns last season, a 951-yard difference in yards gained and a difference of over 200 attempts.
Williams is not going to get 300 carries. Another one of these backs needs to emerge like Davis, Jaydon Blue or Phil Mafah, to not just spell Williams, but bring a different dimension to the run game that complements him. Both the floor and the ceiling for this offense, that was already an exceptional unit in 2025, will be taken to new heights if they get an explosive RB2.
Inside Linebacker
It is no secret how bad Dallas’ defense was last year. Defensive coordinator Matt Eberflus paid for it with his job. Linebacker was one of those positions that was constantly getting exposed. Perpetual missed gap assignments and a lack of speed and athleticism exposed this corps. They were among the reasons Cowboys fans were despondent of the defensive performance in 2025.
Now the energy has shifted. Christian Parker’s move to a base 3-4 has insulated the interior linebacker position and afforded the would-be starters, DeMarvion Overshown and Dee Winters, the opportunity to shine. Outside of those two, the position will be defined by depth. Solid depth will allow Overshown and Winters to stay fresh when they need a spell, without having a huge drop-off. There is also the specter of Overshown’s injuries which means someone needs to be ready to step in.
This will all depend on whether the second and third unit can develop. As it stands, Jaishawn Barham, Justin Barron, Shemar James, Curtis Robinson and Langston Patterson are penciled in as the backups behind Winters and Overshown. It’s a safe assumption Barham will be playing all over the line of scrimmage and the second level; his ceiling is high, but he still might be a project. Can Barham and James make enough noise to solidify their standing on the roster? If that happens, the second level that saw so much turbulence last year could finally gel and get the Cowboys the stops they couldn’t last season.
Cornerback
Another maligned position group in what was a terrible defense, the cornerback battle will be a contest where multiple positions are up for grabs. The projected starters are DaRon Bland and Cobie Durant. Durant will be trying to establish himself in Dallas as a first-year Cowboy; Bland is trying to bounce back from another injury-riddled season.
The Cowboys’ secondary allowed the second-worst defensive passer rating last season, as opposing QBs averaged 109.6; only the Jets were worse, averaging 110. The Cowboys will look to make something out of a healthy mix of veterans like Bland and Durant, along with youngsters like Shavon Revel Jr., Caelen Carson, and Devin Moore.
The key here for the cornerbacks is simply improving on what was bottom-of-the-barrel defense from a year ago. With reinforcements along the front seven and help on the back end with Caleb Downs, who will be seeing a ton of action at the nickelback position, this proposition isn’t far-fetched. The corners will be pushed by facing a great Cowboys receiving corps in practice. They could make the biggest turnaround as a position group one year to the next.
Edge/OLB
Dallas is rebuilding its defensive identity, and as the old trope goes, “football is won and lost at the line of scrimmage.” And for the Cowboys, they are looking for more than just replacing their leading sacks leader, Jadeveon Clowney, with 8.5, at edge. Unlike the other positions, the defensive edge can set the tone from the ground up, thereby affecting every level behind it, either positively or negatively. This is something last year’s defensive edge position failed to do consistently.
Now, buoyed by the arrival of players like Rashan Gary and first-round pick Malachi Lawrence, the Cowboys have fresh blood to build upon. Joining those two are James Houston, last year’s No. 2 sack leader, and Donovan Ezeiruaku, who many are expecting to see a big leap from.
If the edge position can feed off the defensive interior, anchored by Kenny Clark and Quinnen Williams, then the rest of the defense could fall into place like dominoes. That, however, will start in training camp, and these battles could be among the most physical and intense of any positional battles.
Which of these battles is most important for the Cowboys?
