The Dallas Cowboys finished last season 7-9-1, despite fielding one of the NFL's best offenses. The defense was historically bad, and quarterback Dak Prescott said so, in his own way, after the final game.
According to Yahoo Sports, Prescott made a comment after the season that drew attention briefly before fading from the news cycle. He told reporters that it had been "one of the first seasons, if not the first of my career where I can't directly correlate my play to the wins, the loss, or the end of the season or overall success of the season. So that makes it frustrating."
That was not a small statement. NFL quarterbacks rarely separate their own performance from a team's record, at least not publicly. Prescott finished the year with 4,552 passing yards and 30 touchdowns. The defense gave up 450 yards and three touchdowns to Russell Wilson in a single Week 2 game. The Cowboys ranked last in the NFL on defense and, statistically, last in franchise history.
The Cowboys did not wait to hear Prescott's words before moving. The offseason overhaul began quickly. Defensive coordinator Matt Eberflus was fired after one season and replaced by Christian Parker, who had been the Eagles' passing game coordinator. Six new players are expected to go directly into the starting lineup.
The biggest changes came at safety. The Cowboys signed Jalen Thompson as their most expensive free agent addition, at $33 million over three years. They also traded up one spot in the draft to select Caleb Downs at No. 11 overall. New defensive pieces were added at each level.
The offense, which was already among the league's best, did not stand still either. The Cowboys acquired receiver George Pickens in a trade. Pickens is playing on a one-year franchise tag, which is below what he would have earned as a free agent on the open market, and his history of off-field distractions is a known factor. Still, he was one of the most dangerous receivers in the NFL last season.
CeeDee Lamb remains a star at receiver. Running back Javonte Williams had a strong season, which earned him a three-year, $24 million extension. The offensive line is considered solid. Kicker Brandon Aubrey provides a reliable option at long range past 50 yards.
The Cowboys enter the 2026 season with a rebuilt defense, a proven offense, and a quarterback who made clear he held up his end of the deal last year. Whether the new pieces are enough remains to be seen when the regular season begins.
