Pro Football Hall of Famer and ESPN Monday Night football commentator Troy Aikman made a guest spot on ESPN’s “Get Up” this week to talk about all things NFL ….. and, of course, the Dallas Cowboys. Here are some highlights from his Tuesday appearance:

With the acquisitions Dallas has made this offseason, will the defense improve to a level where the Cowboys can compete better in the 2026 season?

Aikman: “I think so. I mean, that is the big question. They can only get better. And it’s early, I understand that, but I do like the hire of Christian Parker. I think sometimes you bring in a young assistant who now is getting his opportunity after having coached under some really good people over the course of his career, he comes in with a good resume, all indications are that the players are excited about it. I think what they’ve done, starting with the draft, to address some of those needs on the defense has been positive.

“What I think gets lost a little bit, the offense was so prolific last year, and then you’ve got a healthy Dak Prescott, and unfortunately for them, we saw it with Joe Burrow on the Bengals a couple of years ago. When you have that kind of play at the quarterback position, typically, that means good things when the season comes to an end. And yet, for Dallas, they failed even make the postseason. Can that offense continue to play at the level that they did last year? And that’s a big if. It was one of Dak Prescott’s best years. It was George Pickens’ career year. It was Javonte Williams’ career year. There was a lot that happened on the offensive side of the ball. The numbers may not look as good. In fact, I think if you’re a Cowboys fan, you hope the offensive numbers don’t look as good, because that would then mean that the defense is better and playing a much bigger role in the success of that
team.”

On George Pickens and the franchise tag…

Aikman: “As it relates to George Pickens, he comes in, he knows he’s in a contract year, he puts up a huge year, and I know that all players would feel this way. They would then expect to be rewarded for that, and it’s a letdown then when you get franchise tag. So, I would have to believe that George is less than thrilled about that, that he wanted a long-term contract. … Stephen Jones comes out and says that they are not going to sign him to a long-term contract. So what does that do for his frame of mind as far as him going into this season? Time will tell. But if he can go out and have the year that he had last year, along with CeeDee (Lamb) and keep him healthier than what he was. Yeah, they won’t need a lot out of that defense. And I would expect that for those that are optimistic and feel like you said, ‘Hey, if they’re just average.’ I would believe that this is a defense that, at minimum, would be average.”

On the dynamic of being a QB with two top receivers who require getting their hands on the football…

Aikman: “Well, I only had one, that was Michael Irvin. Michael was the only one who was lobbying for the ball. I think that Dak handles it really well, him being a veteran guy. I think also his leadership skills come out in those situations because, you know, all receivers, they do want the ball. The running backs want the ball. And as a quarterback, especially when you’re as prolific as what they were last year, there’s a lot of conversation, but I think Dak manages that exceptionally well. And also a credit to CeeDee Lamb and George Pickens, I felt that last year they were on the same page from Day 1. And there was always a question, I think, when they came in and when they picked up Pickens, as to what was that dynamic going to be between those two? Was CeeDee going to be upset that maybe you’ve got another No. 1 WR in many people’s eyes coming in? And yet, those two, by all accounts, worked well together. And then, of course, the play on the field spoke for itself. So I think it was a good setup. And Dak again, he’s been a facilitator, and he’s done a great job of it.”