Is 2026 the Year for the Dallas Cowboys?
The Dallas Cowboys made headlines on NFL trade deadline day with two significant acquisitions. They kicked off the day by acquiring linebacker Logan Wilson from the Bengals, a player they had been monitoring for some time. Jerry Jones had teased fans the day prior, hinting that another trade was coming, and he delivered. The Cowboys pulled off a blockbuster deal for former All-Pro defensive tackle Quinnen Williams from the Jets, sending a 2027 first-round pick, a 2026 second-round pick, and 2023 first-rounder Mazi Smith. With the addition of these two defensive standouts to an underperforming Dallas unit, the team is making a strong push at the end of this season in hopes of reviving it. However, could 2026 truly be the year for the Cowboys?
First and foremost, the Cowboys need to focus on finishing the current season, which is proving challenging as they sit at a 3-5-1 record. Following their Bye Week, the Cowboys will head to Las Vegas for another Monday Night Football matchup; this time against the Raiders. What follows is a brutal stretch of games against the Eagles, Chiefs, Lions, Vikings, and Chargers. Even the most optimistic Cowboys fans would admit that going undefeated through that gauntlet is unrealistic; even one additional loss could derail their postseason hopes. If Dallas finishes the season with a 9-7-1 record, it would be a respectable turnaround. However, given the current NFC standings, a playoff berth will be difficult, especially with early-season losses to the Panthers and Bears potentially coming back to haunt them. Regardless of how the rest of this season unfolds, the organization’s eyes are already set on 2026.
The Cowboys plan to use their two first-round picks in the 2026 NFL Draft to strengthen their defense. With Williams anchoring the line and a now-healthy DeMarvion Overshown expected to return, Dallas aims to build a defensive unit capable of ranking at least in the middle of the league. That goal is attainable given the potential talent available in the draft, the players already on the roster, and possible additions in free agency. On offense, the adjustments will be fewer, but the re-signing of George Pickens remains a priority. Dallas could also look for a new running back if they opt not to re-sign Javonte Williams, but that position is easier to solve than the rest. With improvements at all three levels of the defense, one of the league’s most explosive offenses, and a growing sense of culture under head coach Brian Schottenheimer, Cowboys fans can reasonably look toward 2026 as a defining year, one that could finally bring a resurgence in Dallas.
