With the Dallas Cowboys transitioning from a disappointing 2025 season that was defined by a porous defense, it appears they have made changes for the better that will have them competing for an NFC East crown, if not more. Dallas has changed its defensive philosophy and bolstered that side of the ball with numerous additions.
That sounds good because the offense is expected to be as potent as it has been the last few seasons under Dak Prescott’s direction. Yet, for as optimistic as the Cowboys can
always be, you can never get too comfortable. We’ve been burned before.
What might possibly hamstring the Cowboys and be their undoing? Here are the potential powder kegs that could implode the Cowboys’ season.
Tyler Guyton & Terence Steele fail to protect Dak
When things are clicking, the Cowboys’ offense can stand toe-to-toe with any opposing offense in the NFL. Unfortunately, because the defense has played so badly in recent years, the offense has been forced to do just that, often playing in shootouts.
Prescott has more than proven that he can shoulder the offense and put up prolific numbers. Yet, what can make things come crashing down is the offensive tackles. Tyler Guyton is heading into his third season and hasn’t proven that he can be a reliable starter. He has struggled with penalties and has too often allowed immediate pressure on Prescott. Dallas added Drew Shelton during the draft, but can one expect him to be ready to fill in if Guyton sputters again? Reasonably, the Cowboys have hitched their wagon to Guyton being better than he has up to this point.
When you look at the right side of the line, Terence Steele has to be better as well. Per PFF, he graded out among the worst offensive tackles in pass protection, and Dallas cannot afford to have two offensive tackles to allow easy access to their franchise quarterback.
Contract drama causes a distraction
Must be the money. Ever since George Pickens arrived in Dallas, he has exceeded what the Cowboys could’ve hoped for. Pickens put up terrific numbers last season and proved that the Cowboys have two #1 receivers. He was a model citizen amongst the team for the most part and got along with everyone.
As phenomenal as he was on the field, the team couldn’t come together on a contract to make sure that Pickens was part of the team’s long term future. Instead, the Cowboys placed the non-exclusive franchise tag on Pickens, leaving the possibility open that somebody could show interest in a trade for the talented receiver. However, no deal ever materialized, contractual or otherwise, and now Pickens will play this season out on the tag.
Part of the reason he’s with the Cowboys in the first place is the perception that he could be a distraction. Imagine that possibility magnified by playing in Dallas with millions at stake. As far as what could go wrong, this seems to be more unlikely than the other possibilities on this list due to how he has comported himself up to this point. Still, you can’t completely rule out that disgruntled Pickens could cause some inner turmoil.
The young pass rushers don’t show up
It’s been discussed ad nauseam what the Cowboys were lacking at edge rusher when they traded away Micah Parsons, but it’s true. The Cowboys lost an explosive edge rusher when Parsons was dealt away, but even before that, they lost DeMarcus Lawrence to the Seattle Seahawks, who now has a championship after proclaiming he’d never win one with the Cowboys.
Jadeveon Clowney joined the team after the start of the season in 2025 and led the team in sacks. That shows the players whom the Cowboys are counting on in the post-Parsons era have to do more. Rashan Gary was added to the mix, but he has never been a double-digit sack guy in the NFL. However, Donovan Ezeiruaku and Malachi Lawrence have the potential to do it.
Lawrence is an explosive athlete with exceptional closing speed to get off the edge and close in on quarterbacks. Ezeiruaku exploded for 16.5 sacks his senior year at Boston College. Ezeiruaku didn’t have much success in his first year with the Cowboys, although he put a lot of pressure on quarterbacks. Both players have the potential, but they need to deliver this year for Dallas to have a successful defense. If both stagnate, Dallas could be forced to commit extra numbers in blitz packages to dial up the heat and put more challenges on a new look secondary.
DaRon Bland continues to be a shell of his former self
Although the Cowboys’ cornerback status is better than a year ago after adding veterans Derion Kendrick and Cobie Durant, none of them have reached the same level as DaRon Bland did during his All-Pro season. For a moment, the Cowboys appeared to have bona fide star cornerbacks in Bland and Trevon Diggs, known for taking the football away. Diggs had a peculiar fiasco with the front office and coaching staff that culminated in his late-season release from the team last year and still isn’t on an NFL roster as June approaches.
Meanwhile, Bland has battled injuries and inconsistent play. The continuous foot injuries are alarming, but what’s even more so concerning is that the Cowboys just paid Bland a sizable contract last year. If he can’t do better than he was last year, that leaves the Cowboys tasking Shavon Revel with taking a giant leap forward, as well as perhaps Devin Moore, along with the veterans acquired this offseason.
Dallas would be happier if Bland were at least above in 2026. If he continues to trend downward, it could have a significant impact on the rest of the secondary.
What do you think will be the Cowboys biggest issue in 2026?
