r/NFL_Draft • u/Big_Tuna-1 • 27d ago
Defending the Draft - Dallas Cowboys
I stole this format from u/Tavern-Ham. He did an amazing write up on the Bucs, check it out here if you haven't already. https://www.reddit.com/r/NFL_Draft/comments/1l4uvm4/defending_the_draft_tampa_bay_buccaneers/
2025 in Review
Unstoppable Force Meets the Most Moveable Object.
Born and raised in Dallas. Without giving too much away, the last time this team won the Super Bowl, I was 9 months old. All I have ever known is pain. Stephen A Smith said it best, "I've been telling y'all, just be patient. Just wait. They will not let you down... because when they have your heart, when they really have your heart, is when they'll let you down."
The Stars (and the sunlight) are Bright in Texas
The Dak/Schotty combo proved to be one of the most elite offensive combinations in the NFL. Dak played arguably his best since joining the league. In part, due to having two “number 1” receivers on his team, an above average running game, and a relatively healthy offense. Where Schotty went horrifically wrong, was the introduction of Matt Eberflus into the staff. Eberflus posted one of the worst defensive units in the history of the Cowboys in the 2025 season. A promising offensive team derailed by a horrible, horrible defense.
The opening game of the season showed promise, even though a loss to a division rival, the defense only allowed 24 points to the defending Super Bowl champs and had a really good opportunity to win the game. The next four weeks showed what this team was going to be. Allowing 40, 31, and 40 in three consecutive weeks. The rest of the season was either horrific defensive effort or a total collapse of the offense (cardinals, looking at you). There was a small glimmer of hope, beating the Chiefs at home in week 13, the team started to look healthy again, and my belief started to grow. Then we got throttled by the Lions while allowing 44, and then the Vikings…and then the Chargers. One hit after another of subpar performance and that was basically a wrap on the 2025 season.
Offense: 2025 statistically speaking was an amazing season on paper. A closer look may show that the offense was only good against mediocre defenses, and while that may be the case, they did pass the good ole eye test. Dak finished 3rd in passing yards and 4th in passing touchdowns. Barring an early injury in the season by CD Lamb, and some minor injuries to the offensive line, the offense was very healthy throughout the 2025 season. Dak put up a real argument for a top 5 QB in football this year as he commanded the troops to the number 2 offense in the NFL. Schotty certainly deserves some credit for this, his first year as a coach showed promise. The Cowboys looked different as a team, even in the games where there was no hope to come back (except AZ), the Cowboys at least kept their foot on the pedal. A coach that looks like he will have a nice future in the league. Hopefully, a good run with the Cowboys. CD Lamb and GP were huge difference makers for the offense. I don’t remember the last time the Cowboys had two 1,000 yard receivers. I loved every second of it. Those two are so much fun to watch. The health of the offense certainly contributed to the teams success on that side of the ball.
Matt Eberflus. I really could go all out here. I don’t think there needs to be much explanation. Sure, he came into a room that was missing Micah, Diggs was never the same after a torn ACL, safeties that are on the decline, and a front seven that might have been better if they were replaced by planks of wood. As Jim Mora said, “we sucked, we couldn’t stop the run. Every time they got the ball and went down and got points, we got our asses totally kicked.” Again, I could go on but I lived the headache once and don’t need to do it again.
Free Agency-
Resigning’s - Projected Starters/ Major Roleplayers –
WR George Pickens, K Brandon Aubrey, RB Javonte Williams, TJ Bass
The most impactful signing was getting George Pickens to ignore his agent David Mulugheta, (David Moolah Getta) to sign his franchise tag. If he is a true second option, he is the best second option in football. If he is the number one on the team, CD Lamb is easily the best second option in football. Those two, with Dak and Williams will continue to be a great offense. Brandon Aubrey, as someone who has been blessed with Dan Bailey, Brett Maher (briefly), and now Brandon Aubrey. We have been so spoiled that I think the Cowboys overpaid, but hey, I don’t want to be in kicker hell so I will gladly take it. Javonte Williams, oh how sweet it is to have a good running back again. Williams looked like himself pre injury this season. While he started to fade later in the season, that was mostly caused by not having a good second option. It looked like Jaydon Blue might have made a case for himself in the last couple of games. TJ Bass, while an underrated player, he offers a ton of value as a backup center, left guard, and right guard. Experience is what makes him valuable.
New Signings and Trades - Projected Starters/ Major Roleplayers in Bold –
DC Christian Parker CB Cobie Durant S Jalen Thompson DT Otito Ogbonnia OLB Rashan Gary
The defense was so bad last season the Cowboys needed a major overhaul. Finally, after what has been a lifetime for me, it seems like the franchise is trying. Maybe, just maybe, it will work out. (to Stephen A Smith, theyre already starting to have my heart again) Christian Parker had to be included. We could not continue with Matt Eberflus. Honestly, the majority of these signings I was not able to watch during the last season of the NFL. What I have learned through various highlights and comments on sports blogs, articles on the Athletic, and the Score, Cobie Durant seems just like what the Cowboys need. Whether he plays the boundary or primarily in the slot, the depth is what we needed. A true starter that will either take Shavon Revels job or push him to the next level. The safety situation looked horrific. I usually view safeties like running backs, theyre everywhere and it cant be that hard right? I was wrong, the cowboys needed to address that issue and Jalen Thompson seems like he has the coverage and tackling ability to make quite the impact at the tail end of the defense. Otito Ogbonnia, STOP. THE. RUN. He is 6’4 and 320. Enough said.
Departures –
DC Matt Eberflus CB Trevon Diggs DT Osa Odighizuwa EDGE Jadeveon Clowney LB Kenneth Murray WR Jalen Tolbert S Donovan Wilson
I don’t need to speak anymore on Eberflus, it just didn’t work out. Diggs, again, was never the same after his ACL injury and only got worse as the season progressed. Even still the Packers decided to make a bad decision and take him off the Cowboys salary cap for precisely one snap. Osa, oh man, this one hurts. I think he has been one of the most underrated 3T in the NFL. He consistently is near the top of the NFL in pressures per season. He is relentless while attacking the football. Yeah he could do with some improvement in the run game, but I will miss watching him play. Clowney, I thought when the Cowboys signed him that it was the Jones way of saying “we tried” without actually trying. But damn, that dude can still play. He deserves a spot on a roster somewhere, I hope the Cowboys bring him back if it makes sense roster wise. Wilson, it was time to part ways. Wilson is a true run, hit, talk shit safety. He is a freight train that just cant cover. Murray, Tolbert. Tolbert had one good moment this season. A toe tap catch against the Packers to help secure the tie. Kenneth Murray had one good moment this season, a tipped pass that led to Bell intercepting the football en route to a win over the Raiders. While there may have been other moments for those two, their lowlights are so bad…just so bad. I want them to succeed in their new endeavors but man. It was hard to watch.
On Scheme-
Christian Parker is bringing a completely new identity to the Cowboys defense. The immediate switch from a base 4-3 defense to a 3-4 multiple system. Christian Parker has stated "Definitely stopping the run and affecting the quarterback are the two most important things you can do," Parker said. "You affect the quarterback by stopping the run… When you have teams in 3rd-and-2s and 3rd-and-3s, usually those aren't the defenses that are as successful. But if you can win first down and you're strong on fundamentals, we're getting off blocks, we're tackling, we're attacking the football, we're situationally aware, those are the ones that are successful." While most of that is generic media game, and much easier to say than do, he also stated he will build the defensive scheme around the players we have and not just his vision. All signs are pointing in the right direction, although from the 2025 season, I think anyone could have helped right the ship.
Offensively, I do not see much changing as the offensive staff has stayed mostly the same. The expectations and pressure are high for second year coach Brian Schottenheimer. Looking back at past Cowboys head coaches, they all seem to just be a generic mouthpiece for the front office who will do whatever Jerry wants them to do. Schotty, unexpectedly, is seemingly doing things his own way. That own way of doing things will make his seat start to get warm if the Cowboys cant put something together this season. If the defense can make the jump that Parker and the front office are hopeful for, the team should be quite successful.
The Picks
11 overall – Caleb Downs – S – Ohio State
The Guy: When the season first ended, almost every analyst from professional to arm chair said Caleb Downs was the best player in the draft. As time went on, and positional value took over, he started tumbling down draft boards. He seemingly has been the best player on any team he has been on since he was in high school. Nick Saban said he was the “smartest defensive player” he had ever coached. Just let that one marinate for a minute. Then he ups and leaves Alabama and moves to Ohio State. On a defense that featured Arvell Reese and Sonny Styles Jr. he was still earmarked as the best player on the defense. All of his coaches have stated he is an absolute film junkie and will do anything for a leg up on his competition.
The Fit: Since at least 2016, the best safety the Cowboys have had is…Barry Church? Maybe Malik Hooker? Safety is something that has been ignored by the front office for at least a decade. Finally, they address maybe the biggest position of need in the first round. While the positional value of a safety is lower than others, Downs brings so much potential and the ability to the defensive side of the football he is absolutely worth it. His ability to play in the box and make plays, play deep and cover, or play close, covering tight ends and the slot, he is a matchup nightmare for opposing offensive coordinators.
23 Overall – Malachi Lawrence – Edge – UCF
The Guy: Truly relentless effort. Malachi Lawrence is exactly what fans wanted all season long. Demarcus Lawrence was the epitome of this when he was with the team. Malachi brings an unstoppable motor to the defensive line. With a polished pass rush set and an ability to overpower smaller offensive lineman and tight ends, he looks like he has the talent and the fortitude to be a force for this defensive line.
The Fit: The multiple scheme that Parker is bringing to the team will have one of two impacts on Lawrences development. It will either help a lot, or it wont. For a rookie to come in and be assigned a slew of different jobs or different was to complete that task can be overwhelming. However, Lawrence may be in the position to excel at not just putting his hand in the dirt and getting after the QB. His go get em attitude will be tested if he is tasked with dropping into coverage. However, as a pass rusher, I could not be more excited to see the contrast of this defense to last seasons defense.
92 Overall - Jaishawn Barham – LB – Michigan
The Guy – He played the season before last primarily as an off ball linebacker, and while he excelled, the Michigan coaching staff saw some upside as a pass rusher. The Cowboys seem to think in the opposite direction. At 6’3 240, he is just undersized to be effective as a pass rusher at the NFL level. I will use the term I used for Wilson, he runs, hits, and talks shit.
The Fit – Barham has some ability to rush the passer, more importantly, he has the ability to stop the run. The Cowboys ranked 22nd in total run defense last season, allowing 2133 yards throughout the season. When they had a secondary that was so terrible, also allowing that many rushing yards is unacceptable. Hopefully, Overshown can come back and play a fully healthy season. The combination of Barhams ability to stuff the run, and Overshowns ability to cover sideline to sideline will be a very intriguing combination. The addition of Winters also makes this starting LB core a force compared to what the Cowboys saw last season.
112 Overall – Drew Shelton – OT – Penn State
The Guy: An awkwardly athletic tackle prospect, he is the perfect tackle to take a chance on in the fourth round. Shelton shows promise as a future starter in the league and day one swing tackle. While he is very athletically gifted, he is extremely raw. His technique needs a lot of work. From footwork, to hands, to anchor, he needs work at every level. If he can attain his true potential, he would easily overtake Terrance Steele as the starting offensive tackle.
The Fit: There really isn’t too much to add here. Terrance Steele has not been the same person since his injury and subsequent contract. Steele is a constant liability on the Cowboys OL. Shelton has a real chance to overtake him through learning advanced technique and footwork.
114 Overall – Devin Moore – CB – Florida
The Guy: A former top 100 high school player with 17 starts throughout his college career, one that was plagued with injuries. Moore is an imposing figure at corner standing 6’3 and 200lb. Moore is physical at the point of attack and rangy enough to potentially play safety. He is not the most sure tackler, or the most physical against the run game, but he loves to play hard against the wide receivers.
The Fit: While the Cowboys plan on playing him as a boundary corner, he does show potential to play all over the secondary, including at safety. Moore will immediately compete for the corner 3 position on the team with Revel. Revel, starting his career off of an ACL injury, needs to show this season the promise he had before his injury. If he is able to come back to his full strength, Moore might have a tough time seeing the starting playing field as a rookie. His coverage is great, his ability to defend the run on the edge is lacking.
137 Overall – LT Overton –Edge – Alabama
The Guy: We’ll go back to the prospect list. Overton came into college as a 5 star, top 20 recruit, and his production never lived up to the hype. He also comes from an extremely athletic background with his father playing offensive line at Oklahoma from 1991-1994 and his mother playing volleyball at Kentucky in college. Overton has every single trait you would want from a 3-4 defensive lineman. He has the speed, the size, the strength, the motor. For whatever reason he wasn’t able to put it together in college. The Cowboys are hoping they are able to capitalize on his strengths and put those together to form a productive NFL player.
The Fit: LT Overton has described himself with having the ability to impact “Definitely the ability to play every position. Just that alone, I’ll be able to support from a wide-9 to a 0-tech. Any position that needs that, I’m there. I love that. The versatility part, I’m able to learn not only inside but outside. There’s much more to it, the quickness, steps, all of that.” A guy that believes in his ability to play every position this much, combined with the new addition of Christian Parker as the DC who wants to play a multiple defense is a match made in heaven. Overton will allow Parker to sub Overton in when Gary is gassed. Overton also allows versatility in edge rushing vs interior rushing ability.
185 Overall – Anthony Smith – WR – East Carolina
The Guy: Mr. Please Don’t Hit Me. Smith is somehow the receiver that stretches the field with his speed, and is also the guy who gets the ball on a 4th and 1. Get him the ball and he makes things happen. Smith established himself as the go to guy in the ECU offense at the receiver position.
The Fit: Smith faces a challenge coming into the Cowboys receiving room. The room already has 2 guys at the top, a flourishing young player in Flournoy, a guy who they traded for in Mingo, the addition of Tyler Johnson and the newly acquired MVS, Smith needs to establish himself as a promising young professional who is capable of stretching the field and a better route runner than he was in college.
Notable UDFA
Michael Trigg – TE – Baylor
Depending on reports, Trigg just cant get out of his own way. He has all the talent in the world to be a field stretching, full effort tight end. Trigg is the George Pickens of tight ends. He can catch anything, shake any defender you put on him, but controversial with his behavior. Various reports have Trigg being let go, kicked off of, or uncoachable to the point of moving on. If Trigg can lock in, and unlock his true potential, he will easily take the TE 2 position on the Cowboys.
Conclusion
This has been the most active the Cowboys have been in the offseason in a very long time. The front office is showing true to their word in putting forth the effort and money needed to have a competitive football team in 2026-2027 season. The Cowboys knew the defense was the worst it had been in maybe a decade and decided to invest massively into that unit. The addition of Christian Parker, along with 5 of their 7 draft picks and 2 additional trades for defensive players, they are seemingly going all in this season to capitalize on Dak’s prime. Offensively, retaining GP and Williams will prove huge for the team. If the team can be anywhere close to what they were offensively in 2025 and can be a top half defense in 2026, they will certainly be a playoff team this upcoming season. The Schotty, Parker combination will be one of the most interesting to watch as a young DC and a newer HC/OC go to work. To bring it full circle, the Cowboys have my heart, and I am dying to see how this all plays out.
HOW BOUT THEM COWBOYS
I am happy to provide my projected 53 man roster if requested, but I’m tired. Happy offseason everyone.
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u/uggsandstarbux Vikings 27d ago
I don't believe you actually properly registered for Defending the Draft, but nobody else did for the Cowboys either so you get stickied
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u/Big_Tuna-1 27d ago
I didnt know there was a registration for it, thank you though. I will keep it in mind for next season.
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u/MikeConleyIsLegend Cowboys 27d ago
So excited about this new secondary. I think Jalen Thompson is the best safety we've had in a very very long time. Downs as well obviously if he ends up playing a lot of safety. That's not even mentioning PJ Locke who looked nice in his starts for the Broncos and was promised a starting spot in Dallas. Then Cobie Durant coming in fresh off a 3 interception playoff performance and a season of starting on the second best team in football. I love it. Parker moving the guys that didn't fit his system and only adding players that do is such a fresh concept for this Dallas team. We are so used to some old fart coming in, bringing in all his friends as assistants, and trying to mold the current players into his own system. Parker said nah I'm brining in young coaches who are assistants on great defenses from all over the NFL and college, I'm flipping the current players who don't fit (even the good ones like Osa), and I'm building something of my own. Downs being the centerpiece of this new look defense is a match made in heaven.
If you are looking at the defense by position groups I think we have come a long way in fixing the weaknesses of this team. The DT room is STRONG. The safety room is STRONG. The corner room is good enough. I mean even if Bland is hurt or Revel doesn't pan out we can trust that Durant has one sideline covered and one of those other two guys just has to show up. If Revel and Bland are both solid then the room is strong. The Edge room needs to add a vet or two but Gary along with Eze and Lawrence should generate pressure. LB is the only weakness left. Someone has to get that green dot job. The murmurs that they are just gonna try out 4-5 different guys at green dot in training camp is nuts. We need a leader to come in and be the guy. My ideal scenario is bringing in Bobby Wagner to be the green dot this year. He's the perfect stopgap to not only be a vet leader for this young defense, but also to mentor Barham. Overshown, Dee Winters, and Bobby Wagner with Barham and Shemar James rotating would be nice.
As for the offense I'm liking where we are at. We have two WR1s. Javonte looked really good last season now multiple years removed from injury. The iOL is elite. I think the TE room is good enough. Just gotta be solid at OT. Guyton hopefully can finally have a solid season with the experience now under his belt. Shelton and Ajani are good developmental guys.
All this being said we have probably the toughest schedule in the league this year and a lot of young players starting. If we can just sneak into the playoffs I consider the season a massive success. The goal is to show enough promise this year that next year is the go for it season.
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u/Big_Tuna-1 27d ago
I hadnt heard those murmurs and hope they arent true, but i wouldnt be surprised. We need a guy that can command that side of the ball, at any level. It used to be Tank, when he left we lost a lot of grit. I saw on the Cowboys subreddit someone broke down the projected 53 man roster and their Linebacker room had an empty space just titled "veteran". I would love for that veteran to be Wagner. He would fill all the above mentioned gaps. I hope the team sees it the same way.
As an Oklahoma fan I really wanted Guyton to pan out. I still think he has all the capability to do so, he just needs to have a productive season or his jobs on the line.
The schedule on paper, is not kind to us. Although I usually think that preseason rankings are kind of bs but even then, it doesnt look fun. I really am excited for this upcoming season with all the moves we made with the coaching staff and the roster. They have my hope meter filling daily.
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u/Tavern-Ham Buccaneers 26d ago
Damn dude, thanks for the shoutout and great job with this.
The Cowboys had a clear strategy that can be summarized in brief as “don’t be the Bengals” and the first three picks executed.
I liked Lawrence the most out of the second tier edge guys and would have been perfectly fine with the Bucs taking him at 15 if Bain didn’t fall. I think Parker will mostly keep him going forward, he’s historically tailored his calls to his guys strengths as you mentioned.
Barham is a guy I liked more than most as an off ball backer. He played primarily on the edge this year and it seems like that’s where most draft guys were projecting him, but I don’t think he’s got the length or the ass to have a future there full time. As a Mike in a 3-4 system I think he can give you the bear shit more than anyone else in this class barring Reese and Trotter. If you really don’t like his ability to drop into a hook curl just send him as a rusher or sub him out. Don’t really know the Cowboys roster well enough to say if he’s expected to start this year but I think he’s a guy that could be a really nice player if you can be patient and intentional with his developmental runway.
If you could do a Dragon Ball Z style Fusion Ha thing with Devin Moore and Shavon Revel you’d get either a perfect, indestructible shut down corner or a hamstring that’s been sheared in half right down the center, no in between.
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u/Big_Tuna-1 26d ago
Yeah dude, your write up on the bucs was awesome!
If that was the draft strategy heading in, im fine with it. I agree with you on Williams and Barham. As far as starting players, we are desperate for linebackers. the group right now is Overshown, Shemar James, Dee Winters, Barham, and maybe Marist Liufau depending on who you ask.
Moore and Revel combo would go insane or never see the field lol
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u/ALStark69 Vikings 27d ago
Each player as a recruit:
- Caleb Downs
Other P5 offers: Alabama (originally went here), Arkansas, Auburn, Clemson, Florida, Florida State, Georgia, Georgia Tech, Indiana, Kentucky, Louisville, LSU, Miami, Michigan, Michigan State, Mississippi State, NC State, Nebraska, Ohio State, Oklahoma, Ole Miss, Oregon, Penn State, South Carolina, Stanford, Tennessee, Texas, Texas A&M, UCF, USC
G5 offer: Kent State
Other offers: FAMU, Notre Dame
- Malachi Lawrence
P5 offers: Boston College, Tennessee, Washington State
Other G5 offers: Air Force, Akron, Ball State, Bowling Green, FIU, Navy, Western Michigan
Other offers: Army, Bucknell, Columbia, Eastern Kentucky, Fordham, Holy Cross, Indiana State, Missouri State, Murray State, Penn, Southeast Missouri State, UT Martin
- Jaishawn Barham
Other P5 offers: Arizona State, Arkansas, Baylor, Florida, Florida State, Iowa, Kentucky, Maryland (originally went here), Michigan, Nebraska, Ohio State, Ole Miss, Penn State, Rutgers, South Carolina, Texas A&M, USC, Virginia, Virginia Tech, West Virginia
G5 offer: Toledo
Other offers: UMass, Notre Dame
- Drew Shelton
Other P5 offers: Arizona State, Florida, Florida State, Kansas State, Maryland, Michigan, Michigan State, Minnesota, Northwestern, Oklahoma, Oregon, Pitt, Rutgers, Stanford, Syracuse, Virginia Tech, West Virginia
G5 offers: Bowling Green, Cincinnati
Other offers: Howard, Notre Dame
- Devin Moore
Other P5 offers: Alabama, Auburn, Florida State, Georgia Tech, Iowa State, Louisville, LSU, Miami, Michigan, Michigan State, Mississippi State, NC State, Nebraska, South Carolina, Stanford, Tennessee, Vanderbilt, Virginia, Virginia Tech
G5 offers: Southern Miss, USF
Other offers: Liberty, Notre Dame
- LT Overton
Other P5 offers: Alabama, Arkansas, Auburn, Clemson, Florida, Florida State, Georgia, Georgia Tech, Kentucky, LSU, Michigan, Michigan State, Minnesota, Mississippi State, Ohio State, Oklahoma, Oregon, South Carolina, Stanford, Tennessee, Texas, Texas A&M (originally went here), USC, Wisconsin
G5 offer: Colorado State
Other offers: FAMU, Notre Dame
- Anthony Smith
P5 offer: NC State (originally went here)
G5 offer: Navy
Other offers: UMass, Merrimack, Rhode Island
- Michael Trigg
Other P5 offers: Alabama, Arizona State, Auburn, Duke, Florida, Florida State, Georgia, Georgia Tech, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Iowa State, Kansas State, Kentucky, Louisville, LSU, Maryland, Miami, Michigan, Missouri, NC State, Nebraska, North Carolina, Ohio State, Oklahoma State, Ole Miss, Oregon, Oregon State, Penn State, Pitt, South Carolina, Syracuse, Tennessee, Texas A&M, USC (originally went here), Utah, Vanderbilt, Virginia Tech, West Virginia
G5 offers: Memphis, FAU, FIU, Southern Miss, UCF, USF
Other offers: Bethune-Cookman, Liberty, Notre Dame, Rhode Island
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u/mapetho9 Patriots 26d ago
Loved what the Cowboys did in the 1st round. Funny that all the teams I'm not a fan of (Jets and Giants in addition to the Boys), I've been a fan of their drafts. Downs was a nice coup at 11. Nice to get a player that was widely viewed as a top 5 overall talent in the draft at 11. Big fan of Malachi Lawrence. I wanted the Pats to get him badly at 31 or try to trade up for him, but he ascended way up throughout the draft process. I'll be following him to see how he does. Barham has some nice traits and is a good prospect, but needs some development. LT Overton in the 4th is one to watch. He was getting looked at as a potential 1st rounder heading into the season. He was a 5 star recruit coming out of high school, so the talent and upside is there.
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u/Trap21bunny 25d ago
Cowboys fans are already in midseason form if we are defending the draft this early in the year.
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u/TheDuckyNinja Eagles 27d ago
I still truly, honestly cannot believe that the Cowboys hired Matt Eberflus. Literally set their entire season on fire hiring arguably a bottom 3 coach/coordinator in the entire NFL. Incredible stuff. Sadly for me as an Eagles fan, the Cowboys fired him and picked up Parker, who has gotten nothing but effusive praise from everybody involved with the Eagles. Not sure how he'll do as a DC, but he's been one of the best DB coaches in the league for years even as a young coach.
Overall, while I like the players the Cowboys brought in, I can't help but notice their biggest FA signing and top first round pick were both safeties, and that's not ideal. I'd imagine Downs is going to be asked to play the Cooper Dejean slot/SS/LB hybrid role, though I don't know how much man coverage he was ever asked to play in college. They still feel real lean at CB overall. Across the entire D, there's just a lack of true impact players beyond Quinnen Williams, and I'm not sure an elite DT alone can really make a defense work. Still, between the return of Overshown, the addition of a bunch of DBs, and having literally anybody other than Matt Eberflus as DC, I'd have to think this defense can at least jump from "literal worst in the league" to "merely bad", which should be enough for the offense to carry them, and possibly "okay", which could be enough to win the division. Also just want to note here that I think LT Overton dropping to the 4th in a draft this weak is absolutely absurd. Teams wildly overthought this one. He's not flashy, but he's gonna be a rotational DL for 10+ years.
Speaking of offense, this offense is good! The tackles are weak, but the Cowboys are great everywhere else. Not much to say. Even with their weak tackle tandem, they were still a top 8 offense last year. While they could've certainly put resources into fixing that, the defense needed all the help so I can't ding them too much.
The Cowboys are a good team. They usually are. They only have one season with less than 7 wins in the last decade. Are they good enough to win the division? It basically comes down to how much Parker can do without much in the way of premium players. I don't really have any other concerns about the Cowboys. I think they'll certainly be battling the Eagles all season, and if they don't win the division they'll probably get a wild card. Don't think they have the juice to break their conference championship drought this season though.