Eagles, Rams not among Cowboys Top 5 toughest opponents in 2026 – Mike Crum, Cowboys Wire
Which games should Dallas already have circled?
No. 4: Week 10 vs San Francisco 49ers
This is just about the opponent. The San Francisco 49ers are the Cowboys’ boogie man. Kyle Shanahan has owned Dallas, and until they show up and beat them, this will remain one of the toughest games.
No. 3: Week 5 vs Tampa Bay Buccaneers
The Tampa Bay Buccaneers game at Dallas seems too high, but it isn’t when you look at the overall schedule. The Cowboys travel from Brazil to Houston, playing back-to-back physical
AFC teams with nearly 4,000 miles of travel. Then the Tampa Bay game is on a short week, Thursday night. Dallas will not have their typical rest after a brutal travel schedule and two tough opponents.
No. 2: Week 3 Baltimore Ravens at Dallas Cowboys (Brazil)
After back-to-back division games, the Cowboys have to travel to Brazil to face off with Lamar Jackson and the Ravens. Baltimore is 2-0 against Dallas with Jackson at quarterback, and they were up by double-digits both games.
Cowboys just got the best kind of Caleb Downs validation yet – Jerry Trotta, The Landry Hat
If there was any question, there is no reason to be concerned with the Caleb Downs slide.
In a recent article, Graziano underlined 10 “lingering” offseason questions, and one of them was, “Why didn’t the Giants draft Caleb Downs with the 10th pick?”
“I think there’s a chance they’d have taken Downs at No. 5 if Reese had been picked in the top four. But what became clear to me after the draft in talking to people around that situation is that the Giants were determined to use one of their two top-10 picks on an offensive player in an effort to support second-year quarterback Jaxson Dart,” Graziano wrote.
A national insider questioning why the Giants didn’t draft Downs — setting the stage for the Cowboys to grab him one pick later after New York took Francis Mauigoa? That’s the highest form of validation.
The Dallas Cowboys shouldn’t stop thanking the Giants for gifting them Caleb Downs
Mauigoa should have a long career, but all signs point to him starting at guard. If the Giants had used that pick on a franchise left tackle instead of passing on Downs, this would be a different conversation. Landing a starting guard, even one with potential at right tackle, doesn’t move the needle.
Higher or Lower: Will These 3 Cowboys Stars Top Their 2025 Production?- Mark Heaney, Inside The Star
Let the 2026 predictions begin.
1. George Pickens: Will Breakout Wide Receiver Continue Trajectory?
2025 Stats: 93 Receptions, 1,429 Yards, 15.4 YPC, 9 Touchdowns.
One of the largest looming questions in general for the 2026 Cowboys is whether George Pickens can continue to play at an All-Pro level.
Dallas didn’t move a first or second-round pick for the former Steelers wide receiver, but there were still questions at the time of the trade over whether the Cowboys were making a mistake in acquiring him.
Those questions were eliminated almost immediately, and it now looks like the steal of the century.
Here’s the issue, however, for the ultra-talented Pickens in 2026: Dallas likely won’t need to throw the ball so much, CeeDee Lamb is poised for a bounce-back, and other targets may start to emerge that lessen Pickens’ workload.
93 catches for 1,429 yards is an insane number, and it will be very hard to improve on that.
Verdict: Statistical Regression is Likely for George Pickens This Season.
4 New Dallas Cowboys Players Who Could Make or Break the 2026 Season- Randy Gurzi, Sports Illustrated
The 2026 season needs help from a handful of new faces.
Dee Winters, LB
The linebacker position was one of the weakest on the roster last season for Dallas, which is why they swung a trade for Dee Winters. He’s slated to be the starting inside linebacker next to DeMarvion Overshown, who recently said the league hasn’t seen him at his best yet.
Overshown has been a difference-maker, but his durability is concerning. That’s why Winters is such an important addition. He’s been far more durable than Overshown and is coming off his best season with 101 tackles, eight tackles for loss, and one interception. Dallas will look to Overshown and even rookie Jaishawn Barham for splash plays, but Winters is the steadying force they need.
Cobie Durant, CB
Cowboys On SI writer Mike Moraitis named the addition of Cobie Durant the “most underappreciated move” the Cowboys made this offseason and his assessment is spot-on. Durant is coming off a strong season that saw him record 40 tackles, seven pass breakups and three interceptions. He brings much-needed coverage skill to the secondary, earning a 67.4 from PFF, which was 38th out of 114 qualified cornerbacks.
Durant continued to excel in the postseason, recording three more interceptions and breaking up another seven passes in three games. He’s overly confident and even with DaRon Bland and Shavon Revel on the roster, Durant will be on the field often this season and will help determine the trajectory of their defense.
Daily discussion question: With the draft over and schedule out, do you feel like this truly is the offseason now?
