Are the Cowboys Finally Ready to Take Back the NFC East in 2026?

After a disappointing season for the Dallas Cowboys, where they missed the playoffs for the second season in a row, they are making changes to make sure it is not a third. They hired Christian Parker from the Philadelphia Eagles to be their new defensive coordinator. They have added over five new players so far in the offseason, and with the NFL draft still left, they have two first-round picks. The Cowboys won seven games last year with the help of Dak Prescott and an elite offense all around, despite having the worst defense in the entire league. If Dallas can find a way to turn around the worst defense in the league, can they win the NFC East?

Last season, the Cowboys had multiple games that were close and winnable. However, their defense, which ranked last in several categories, struggled to make crucial stops at the end of games, leading to significant losses that hurt their playoff push later in the year. Losses to the Panthers, Cardinals, and Vikings were avoidable if Dallas had simply had a better defense. Despite the clear weakness, Dallas, late into the season, was still alive in the playoff picture because the Eagles looked shaky at the end of the season. Even though the Eagles remain the favorites to win the division this upcoming season, they will face a challenging first-place schedule next season. Coupled with uncertainties surrounding the team's coaching staff and player culture, the Cowboys have an opportunity to sneak in and potentially steal the division title.

Obviously, the first key component to winning the NFC East for the Cowboys is to improve the defense, which they started to do. They traded for Rashan Gary and signed several players on defense, and with the two aforementioned first-round picks, they can continue to add to that. Next season, they also play a weaker division, the AFC South, and play a second-place schedule compared to the Eagles' first-place schedule. They also made sure to keep players on offense who were going to hit the market, such as re-signing Javonte Williams and franchising tagging George Pickens. With a new defensive coach, new players on defense, and being able to keep the offense intact for another season, the Dallas Cowboys are more than capable of winning the NFC East next season; the question is whether they can.