The Dallas Cowboys and Los Angeles Rams have two of the more dangerous offenses in the entire NFL, but they both had significant defensive issues to address this offseason. The two clubs went going about making their fixes in different ways. While the Rams made big moves, the Cowboys took a more subtle approach. Was it ultimately the more logical and better one?
Here's why the Cowboys' approach might just put them in a better position than the Rams in 2026.
Despite all the defensive hype Dallas has built throughout the offseason, it has been overshadowed by the Rams' manuevers. The additions of Myles Garrett, Trent McDuffie, and recently un-retired Aaron Donald make the Rams a formidable defense on paper, but the Cowboys have made significant
changes of their own. After hiring Christian Parker as defensive coordinator, Dallas replaced 17 of its 26 defensive players from last season, a 70% roster turnover.
While the Rams' wide-sweeping changes caught everyone off guard, the Cowboys' defensive overhaul was expected after finishing the 2025 season dead last in both pass defense and scoring defense.
Parker's roster building approach was two-pronged: rather than targeting the biggest names in free agency or on the trade market, he focused on adding quality starters who fit specific roles within his defensive scheme. More importantly, Parker prioritized rebuilding their depth at all three levels. Their emphasis on depth could help Dallas withstand the inevitable injuries that face teams, perhaps better than the Rams, who are currently viewed as favorites to represent the NFC in the Super Bowl.
Los Angeles lost several depth players at every level of the defense and is counting on its star additions to offset those departures. But those expectations could quickly change if one of those stars goes down. Garrett is already reportedly dealing with knee swelling and lower-body soreness and has not practiced for several weeks. Losing Garrett at any point during the season could significantly impact the Rams' defense.
The same can't be said about the Cowboys.
Dallas' depth is what gives the defense its best chance to surprise the rest of the NFL. Parker built a versatile secondary loaded with young talent, including Caleb Downs, Shavon Revel Jr., Ameer Speed, and Alijah Clark, while adding proven veterans such as Jalen Thompson and Cobie Durantto play with DaRon Bland and Malik Hooker, stabilizing the group. On the defensive line, the Cowboys now have an improved rotation with Rashan Gary, Donovan Ezeiruaku, Von Miller, James Houston, Kenny Clark, Quinnen Williams, Jonathan Bullard, and Osa Odighizuwa, without a significant drop-off in production.
The Rams may have more star power at the top of the roster, but Dallas has assembled a deeper and more balanced defensive unit. The Cowboys' depth could prove more valuable than any one superstar and ultimately be the difference between simply having a talented defense and fielding one capable of making a championship run.
This article originally appeared on Cowboys Wire: Despite star power, can Cowboys defense outperform Rams in long run?
