The Dallas Cowboys find themselves right in the middle of the pack in ESPN's projected starting lineup rankings heading into the 2026 NFL season. In their latest rankings, Mike Clay, Aaron Schatz, and Seth Walder recognized the talent on both sides of the football, placing Dallas 14th among all 32 NFL teams.
It's not hard to see why the Cowboys landed where they did. This roster has talent, depth, and plenty of upside. Clay highlighted Dallas' wide receiver room as the biggest strength among the team's projected starters.
The Cowboys led the NFL in passing yards in 2025, thanks in large part to a dangerous receiving group led by CeeDee Lamb. Add in the arrival of George Pickens, the emergence of Ryan Flournoy as the third receiver, and the explosive playmaking ability of KaVontae Turpin; Dallas has the luxury of attacking defenses in different ways. The front office also bolstered the group's depth by signing veterans Marquez Valdes-Scantling and Denzel Mims, adding some insurance should injuries occur. On paper, this receiver room may be even more dangerous than the one that helped lead the league in passing a season ago.
ESPN says cornerback is the team’s biggest weakness; a fair ******* sment for a secondary that struggled to slow down some of the league's weakest passing attacks in 2025. The Cowboys finished last in defensive EPA, allowed a 58.4 QBR to opposing quarterbacks, and managed just six interceptions all season.
There are still questions surrounding the outside cornerback spots as well. DaRon Bland is looking to bounce back after foot injuries slowed his progression, while Shavon Revel Jr. enters the season one year removed from an ACL tear and a poor rookie season. The Cowboys did not ignore the problem this offseason, though, adding players to create competition and more skill in the secondary.
It's not hard to see why the Cowboys landed where they did. This roster has talent, depth, and plenty of upside. Clay highlighted Dallas' wide receiver room as the biggest strength among the team's projected starters.
The Cowboys led the NFL in passing yards in 2025, thanks in large part to a dangerous receiving group led by CeeDee Lamb. Add in the arrival of George Pickens, the emergence of Ryan Flournoy as the third receiver, and the explosive playmaking ability of KaVontae Turpin; Dallas has the luxury of attacking defenses in different ways. The front office also bolstered the group's depth by signing veterans Marquez Valdes-Scantling and Denzel Mims, adding some insurance should injuries occur. On paper, this receiver room may be even more dangerous than the one that helped lead the league in passing a season ago.
ESPN says cornerback is the team’s biggest weakness; a fair ******* sment for a secondary that struggled to slow down some of the league's weakest passing attacks in 2025. The Cowboys finished last in defensive EPA, allowed a 58.4 QBR to opposing quarterbacks, and managed just six interceptions all season.
There are still questions surrounding the outside cornerback spots as well. DaRon Bland is looking to bounce back after foot injuries slowed his progression, while Shavon Revel Jr. enters the season one year removed from an ACL tear and a poor rookie season. The Cowboys did not ignore the problem this offseason, though, adding players to create competition and more skill in the secondary.
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