Dak Prescott (Photo by Luke Hales/Getty Images)
Dallas spent last season fielding one of the NFL’s best offenses and one of its worst defenses, a combination that produced a wildly inconsistent year in Arlington. This offseason looked different from the usual Cowboys news cycle. Aside from routine contract talks with George Pickens and Brandon Aubrey, the organization stayed out of the kind of headlines that have followed the franchise for years, choosing instead to spend its resources rebuilding the roster’s weakest unit.
Dak Prescott says the Super Bowl talk is real
Prescott enters 2026 believing this roster gives Dallas its most realistic championship path in years, calling the team’s Super Bowl expectations “absolutely” fair heading into camp. The Cowboys added an unexpected piece to the coaching staff when former backup quarterback Will Grier, who had signed with Carolina before retiring in July, returned to Dallas as an offensive assistant. Grier and Prescott built a close relationship during their time together, and head coach Brian Schottenheimer believes Grier’s understanding of the offense gives him a real chance at a coaching career.
A defense getting a full overhaul
Dallas moved on from defensive coordinator Matt Eberflus after last season’s unit ranked among the worst in franchise history, promoting Christian Parker away from Philadelphia to try to fix it. Parker was part of the Eagles’ coaching staff that won Super Bowl LIX, and he inherits a defense that got real investment this offseason. The Cowboys traded for edge rusher Rashan Gary from Green Bay and linebacker Dee Winters from San Francisco, then used five of their seven 2026 draft picks on defense, headlined by first-round edge rusher Malachi Lawrence out of UCF and third-round linebacker Jaishawn Barham.
The secondary saw the biggest transformation. Dallas signed safety Jalen Thompson and cornerback Cobie Durant in free agency, then traded up in the draft to land Ohio State safety Caleb Downs in the first round, a move regarded as one of the steals of the offseason. How quickly Parker’s new-look unit gels will determine whether Dallas’ improved Super Bowl odds hold up.
The strength stays on offense
Prescott’s supporting cast returns largely intact, with Pickens entrenched as the No. 1 receiver and Aubrey remaining one of the league’s most reliable kickers after both had contract situations resolved with relatively little friction this offseason. That continuity, paired with an offense that already produced one of the NFL’s most productive scoring seasons a year ago, gives Dallas a chance to lean on its strength while the new defense finds its footing.
Full 2026 Dallas Cowboys scheduleWeekDateOpponentTime (ET)TV1Sept. 13at New York Giants8:20 p.m.NBC2Sept. 20vs. Washington Commanders4:25 p.m.FOX3Sept. 27vs. Baltimore Ravens4:25 p.m.CBS4Oct. 4at Houston Texans1 p.m.FOX5Oct. 8vs. Tampa Bay Buccaneers8:15 p.m.Prime Video6Oct. 18at Green Bay Packers8:20 p.m.NBC7Oct. 26at Philadelphia Eagles8:15 p.m.ESPN/ABC8Nov. 1vs. Arizona Cardinals1 p.m.FOX9Nov. 8at Indianapolis Colts1 p.m.FOX10Nov. 15vs. San Francisco 49ers4:25 p.m.FOX11Nov. 22vs. Tennessee Titans1 p.m.FOX12Nov. 26vs. Philadelphia Eagles4:30 p.m.FOX13Dec. 7at Seattle Seahawks8:15 p.m.ESPN/ABC14—BYE——15Dec. 20at Los Angeles Rams4:25 p.m.CBS16Dec. 27vs. Jacksonville Jaguars8:20 p.m.NBC17Jan. 3vs. New York Giants1 p.m.FOX18TBDat Washington CommandersTBDTBD
Dallas opens the preseason on the road against Seattle on Aug. 15, followed by a road trip to Arizona and a home game against New Orleans.
Cowboys odds and best bets for 2026
At Caesars, Dallas is priced at +2200 to win the Super Bowl and +1200 to win the NFC. The playoff market is essentially a coin flip, with the Cowboys priced at -105 to reach the postseason against -115 to miss it, a reflection of how much uncertainty still surrounds a defense in transition.
Prescott’s passing total is set at 3,975.5 yards, with the Over priced at -115 and the Under at -115, a number that reflects the confidence oddsmakers still have in Dallas’ passing attack regardless of how the defensive rebuild plays out.
Check RG.org’s NFL sportsbooks hub throughout the season for updated lines and matchup previews.
Final outlook
Dallas enters 2026 with its most complete roster in years, an elite offense that no longer has to shoulder the entire load and a defense that received the kind of investment it hasn’t seen in recent memory. The drama-free offseason is itself a notable shift for this organization, and if Christian Parker’s new-look unit comes together even close to the timeline Dallas needs, the Cowboys have the pieces to make Prescott’s Super Bowl talk more than just offseason optimism.