The New York Giants have struggled against the Dallas Cowboys throughout the Dak Prescott era. New York did defeat Dallas 34–17 in a Week 18 matchup last season—its first win over Prescott since his rookie year — but overall, the Giants have not consistently threatened the Cowboys in nearly a decade.
Prescott and the Cowboys scored 27.7 points per game last season, ranking them seventh in the NFL. With Goerge Pickens set to return after signing the franchise tag, Prescott and company will look to continue
their offensive production, while the defense of Dallas receives an upgrade in personnel and a different coach coordinating the unit.
Christian Parker relieved Matt Eberflus after spending years with Vic Fangio in Denver and Philadelphia. Parker receives several defensive upgrades in free agency, but – especially – in the draft. Ohio State safety Caleb Downs brings his insanely high football IQ to a defense that should be improved, albeit still recovering from the loss of Micah Parsons prior to last season. Let’s get into the Cowboys off-season.
Key additions: CB Cobie Durant, edge Rashan Gary, DT Otito Ogbonnia, S Jalen Thompson, C Matt Hennessy, WR Marquez Valdez-Scantling, QB Sam Howell
Key subtractions: Edge Jadeveon Clowney, edge Dante Fowler Jr., DT Osa Odighizuwa, LB Logan Wilson
2026 NFL Draft
Round 1, Pick 11: Caleb Downs, Safety, Ohio State
Round 1, Pick 23: Malachi Lawrence, Edge, UCF
Round 3, Pick 28: Jaishawn Barham, Edge, Michigan
Round 4, Pick 12: Drew Shelton, OT, Penn State
Round 4, Pick 14: Devin Moore, CB, Florida
Round 4, Pick 37: L.T. Overton, Edge, Alabama
Round 7, Pick 2: Anthony Smith, WR, East Carolina
Dallas’ defensive front looks entirely different from what they had at this time last year. They acquired Kenny Clark in the Parsons trade with Green Bay and Quinnen Williams mid-season, giving Dallas two quality players – with the latter arguably being a top-five player at defensive tackle. Jadeveon Clowney and Dante Fowler Jr., as well as DT Osa Odighizuwa, are no longer in Dallas, but Rashan Gary, Jonathan Bullard, and Otito Ogbonnia look to replace the ageing veterans.
Dallas didn’t get younger in free agency and the trade market, other than Williams, but the selection of Malachi Lawrence gives the Cowboys another high-side rusher with upside. Lawrence will now play opposite of Donovan Ezeiruaku on passing downs, as fourth-round selection L.T. Overton will look to spell Clark and Williams on the second unit up front.
Dallas has a solid defensive front, but Clark is getting old and Gary has seemingly lost a step. Linebacker DeMarvion Overshown is one year removed now from his devastating injury, and 25-year-old Dee Winters – who came over from San Francisco in a trade – gives the Cowboys more juice at the second level.
Additions like Cobie Durant and Jalen Thompson also provide Dallas’ struggling secondary with much needed nickel help, and P.J. Locke will provide depth behind Thompson and Malik Hooker. The Cowboys ranked last in passing yards allowed in 2025, so these upgrades help; the projection of Shavon Revel Jr’s development should also help now that the 2025 third round pick is more than a year removed from his torn ACL suffered at ECU.
DaRon Bland will operate as the team’s number one cornerback and the fourth-round selection of Devin Moore gives depth on the outside; Caelen Carson had good tape in his career as well, and will provide good depth for Dallas
It seems likely that Dallas will be much better in the secondary with Caleb Downs in Parker’s defense, which was the most significant issue in Eberflus’ defense. Still, can the edge pass rushers consistently get after the quarterback?
The defense is improved, but the offense is relatively the same. The offensive line remains solid, but key development from Tyler Guyton and Tyler Booker would allow the unit to take the next step. Dallas selected Penn State OT Drew Shelton to possible push Terrance Steele for snaps at right tackle.
Third-year wide receiver Ryan Flournoy had a strong end to his 2025 season, and he figures to be the third wide receiver in 11 personnel, but Marquez Valdez-Scantling was added to the roster, and provides a field stretching element that may open the middle of the field for Pickens and star wide receiver CeeDee Lamb.
Prescott has battled through injuries in his career, so Jerry Jones and the Dallas Cowboys added former Washington quarterback, Sam Howell, to back up Prescott. He’ll battle with Joe Milton III for the second quarterback spot.
Final thoughts
The Cowboys only spent two draft picks on their offense and one of them was a seventh-round pick. It was obvious that Dallas needed to upgrade its defense – and the Cowboys did that. Caleb Downs is a franchise-changing addition, and a player who can set the tone from the safety position – that’s rare, but he has that capability.
Still, the offense – which was good in 2025 – did not get better, they’re about the same. Overall, the defensive coaching change and upgrades made this offseason a success for Dallas.
Grade: B
