The 2025 season was anything but desirable for the Dallas Cowboys. They finished with a disappointing 7-9-1 record, surrendered a franchise-record 511 points, and missed the playoffs for the second consecutive year.
With a season this underwhelming, a rebuild isn’t just expected, it’s necessary. And the Cowboys are already moving in that direction.
In this article, we’ll take a look at five major offseason moves the team has made as they gear up for the 2026 season.
Massive Defensive Staff Overhaul
When you look at the numbers, the Dallas Cowboys actually had a very good offense last season. They ranked 2nd in total offense with 6,663 yards and 7th in scoring with 27.7 points per game.
They also finished 2nd in the NFL in passing yards per game (266.3), and ranked 9th in total rushing yards with 2,136.
Whether you are an NFL bettor or you bet on IPL and other leagues, stats like this would suggest a much stronger season. However, while all the offensive stats are undeniably impressive, they ultimately meant little in the face of 511 points surrendered.
And of course, it looks like the team got the memo, as they have begun a full-scale reconstruction of their defensive core, starting with the coaching staff.
They brought in Christian Parker from the Philadelphia Eagles to replace Matt Eberflus as defensive coordinator. And Parker has since built an almost entirely new staff, leaning heavily on young, fresh-minded coaches from the college ranks, including:
- Scott Symons (Inside LBs): Formerly SMU’s defensive coordinator
- Chidera Uzo-Diribe (Outside LBs): Hired from the University of Georgia
- Marcus Dixon (Defensive Line): Joins to lead a revamped front
Parker, at 34, is the youngest defensive coordinator in franchise history.
However, despite his age, he has built a strong reputation for developing young secondary talent. For example, many would credit him for helping shape Patrick Surtain II into an All-Pro during his time in Denver.
More recently, he coached rookies Quinyon Mitchell and Cooper DeJean to First-team All-Pro honors during the Eagles’ 2025 Super Bowl season. In 2025, while serving as the Eagles’ passing game coordinator, Parker’s unit also allowed the fewest passing touchdowns in the NFL.
But beyond just Parker, the staff he has assembled also brings serious pedigree. Scott Symons previously led an SMU defense that finished 5th nationally in turnovers gained and 5th in red zone defense in 2025.
Chidera Uzo-Diribe is regarded as a top-tier recruiter and developer from Georgia, where he helped the 2022 Bulldogs lead the nation in rushing defense.
Then there’s also Marcus Dixon, whose defensive line with the Minnesota Vikings finished top-five in sacks in back-to-back seasons (2024–2025).
Defensive Line Shakeup
Still in a bid to fix the defensive issues that haunted them last season, the Dallas Cowboys have also made some notable changes to their defensive line. They traded defensive tackle Osa Odighizuwa to the San Francisco 49ers for a 2026 third-round pick, a move aimed at clearing cap space.
In addition, they signed defensive tackle Otito Ogbonnia and defensive end Jonathan Bullard to one-year “prove it” deals to add much-needed veteran size to the front.
That trade came on the heels of two bigger interior additions made during the 2025 season, defensive tackles Kenny Clark (acquired in the Parsons deal) and Quinnen Williams (acquired from the Jets at the trade deadline), both of whom project as starters heading into 2026.
Bullard is a 10-year NFL veteran entering his 11th season, who has built a reputation as a reliable journeyman, thanks to his consistency and massive 290-pound frame. He has played 131 career games with 59 starts across six different teams and is widely regarded as a strong run defender with a high football IQ.
Interestingly, he’s reuniting with his former Vikings coach, Marcus Dixon, and fits perfectly into the “big, powerful” mold Christian Parker is looking to establish in his new 3-4 front.
Otito Ogbonnia, on the other hand, is a younger, 320-pound powerhouse. He previously played for the Los Angeles Chargers. Known for his elite raw strength, he brings the kind of physical presence and veteran size that Dallas noticeably lacked last season.
Besides these two additions, the defensive reconstruction is expected to continue.
More reinforcements are expected, especially through the 2026 NFL Draft from April 23–25, where Dallas holds two first-round picks.
Rebuilding The Pass Rush
In 2025, the Cowboys traded Micah Parsons away after a prolonged contract dispute. He was definitely missed in this just-concluded season.
While they wouldn’t be getting Parsons back, it’s safe to say that they have now found a replacement in Outside Linebacker Rashan Gary, who is coming in from the Green Bay Packers. In return, Green Bay gets a 2027 fourth-round pick.
Rashan Gary cannot be what Micah Parsons was to this team. However, he is expected to be a primary impact player in Christian Parker’s new multiple-front scheme. He recorded 15 sacks over his previous two seasons and has consistently ranked as a top-20 run defender at his position.
Gary also has a bit of familiarity with Defensive Coordinator Christian Parker, who was in Green Bay when he got drafted in 2019.
Secondary Reinforcements
Besides Rashan Gary, Otito Ogbonnia, and Jonathan Bullard, the Dallas Cowboys have put some more reinforcements in place. Specifically, the team has made some key free agency signings to improve depth and versatility.
They’ve signed Jalen Thompson to a three-year, $33 million deal worth up to $36 million, Cobie Durant to a one-year deal, and P.J. Locke also signed a one-year deal.
Thompson is the star signing of this group. In 2025, he recorded 95 total tackles and 6 passes defended, playing 98% of the snaps in games he started.
As for Cobie Durant, he is a fast, playmaker-style cornerback who led the NFL in postseason interceptions during the 2025 playoffs with 3.
And Locke, having spent years in Parker’s system, can contribute on special teams and as a rotational safety.
Major Financial Restructuring
The Cowboys are also fixing the financial side of things this offseason.
In February, the Cowboys were $55 million over the salary cap. They have, however, cleared a total of $66 million since then, which means the team has roughly $16 million in remaining cap space heading into the draft.
They were able to do this after successfully restructuring some contracts on their roster. Notably, Dak Prescott, CeeDee Lamb, and Tyler Smith had their contracts restructured.
Prescott’s base salary dropped from $40 million to $1.8 million, Lamb’s was lowered to about $1.75 million, and Smith’s dropped to $1.7 million.
Conclusion
The Dallas Cowboys are well aware of last season’s failure and have been working to fix their issues with major proactive moves this offseason.
Hopefully, with all these new additions and restructuring, the team will have a better season in 2026.
Was this helpful?
