The Cowboys were one of the most explosive offenses during the 2025 season, but they still managed to finish below .500 and miss the playoffs because they had arguably the worst defense in the NFL that allowed the most points in the regular season. After moving off veteran defensive coordinator Matt Eberflus the team has onboarded a rookie defensive coordinator in the name of Christian Parker who the fanbase should be cautiously optimistic about. However, Dallas’ personnel on defense was a large part of their undoing last season as well and their defensive roster will need to step its game up in order for the Cowboys to turn things around on defense. Here I will go into detail assessing the personnel that the Cowboys have on the defensive side of the ball as the 2026 season approaches.
Set to start at the first of the two primary edge defender positions is star veteran former first rounder Quinnen Williams who was acquired midseason from the Jets last year. Williams is one of the premier defensive lineman in the sport today and Williams was even graded 2nd among all qualified players at his position a season ago by Pro Football Focus. Williams has made four Pro Bowls and one First-team All-Pro team during his time in the NFL and could only get better next season as Dallas’ defensive coordinator position potentially improves.
Former 5th rounder Otito Ogbonnia is set to start at nose tackle for the Dallas Cowboys and is unfortunately the current sole weak link on Dallas’ starting defensive front. Ogbonnia in all four seasons he has played thus far in the NFL has graded in the below average to poor range among players at his position according to Pro Football Focus. However, Ogbonnia has yet to put together a full season of snaps and showed improvement during the 2025 season which was the best of his career. The Dallas coaching staff must see something in him to still list him as the starter despite his consistent subpar play. Perhaps Ogbonnia can become a solid starter next season for the Cowboys but likely not a star. But as of now Ogbonnia remains the weak link up front for Dallas and is a prime candidate to move to a reserve role as the season progresses. Additionally, Dallas standouts Quinnen Williams and Kenny Clark have both played on the interior of the defensive front for long stretches in their career and could transition to take Ogbonnia’s place. While Dallas also has several players capable of replacing either Williams/Clark at the edge defender positions where they current preside.
Set to start at the other edge defender spot is the aforementioned long time Packer Kenny Clark who was acquired prior to last season in the Micah Parsons trade. Clark, the former first rounder and three-time Pro Bowler is a very strong player starting up front for the Cowboys. Clark has graded in the well above average to elite range among players at his position according to Pro Football Focus in all ten seasons he has played in the NFL thus far.
Rashan Gary who was also acquired in the Micah Parsons trade before last season is set to start at the first of the linebacker spots. Gary has also graded in the well above average to elite range in every season he has played outside of his rookie season according to Pro Football Focus. Gary has made a Pro Bowl and even warranted being graded as a top five overall player at his position in one season as well.
Starting at the second of the linebacker spots is 2023 3rd rounder DeMarvion Overshown who has a lot of talent, but who has struggled to stay healthy thus far in the NFL. Overshown, a five-star recruit entering college, missed the entirety of his first season in the NFL and missed most of the 2025 season as well. Overshown looked decent in year 1 in 2024 ranking just slightly below average among players at his position and then showed improvement in year 2 in 2025 ranked in nearly the top third among players at his position in limited snaps. If Overshown can stay healthy he can potentially become a very good player up front for the Cowboys.
Set to start at the third linebacker spot is Dee Winters who is likely better suited as a backup but could become a solid starter for Dallas. Winters, a late round draft pick before 2023, looked poor in very limited rookie snaps, but then was slightly above average in reserve snaps in year 2, and then slightly below average in starter snaps in year 3. Winters has consistently been a middle of the pack player thus far in the NFL but has only put together one season of starter snaps. As he heads into his second season as a starter, he could certainly become a good if not a very good starter. However, if he does not improve then he will be a prime candidate to move to a reserve role as the season progresses, especially with the Cowboys investing a 2026 1st rounder into Malachi Lawrence who could take his starting spot at linebacker.
Rounding out Dallas’ starting front seven is 2025 2nd rounder Donovan Ezeiruaku who had a remarkable rookie season and could break out as a star next year. Ezeiruaku graded in the top third among players at his position despite being a rookie which is rare and based on his elite collegiate play, his high draft selection, and his very strong rookie season, he will be in line to become a potential star up front for the Cowboys.
From a depth standpoint on the defensive front the Cowboys have several notable names that could serve the team well as high end backups and/or could eventually step into the starting lineup. 2023 undrafted free agent edge defender Tyrus Wheat struggled to start his career but then played at an elite level during the 2025 season in very limited snaps. The Cowboys drafted linebacker Jaishawn Barham quite high in the third round of the 2026 NFL Draft. 2024 3rd round linebacker Marist Liufau was also drafted quite high and although he has looked poor thus far in the NFL, he has not had enough of a chance to put together enough snaps to totally prove himself. The Cowboys drafted linebacker Malachi Lawrence in the 1st round of the 2026 NFL Draft. Linebacker/edge defender James Houston has played at a borderline elite level at times in the NFL although lacking consistency. 2022 2nd round linebacker/edge defender Sam Williams looked very strong in his first two NFL seasons before struggling with his health/consistency the next two years, he could certainly bounce back next year. While edge defender Charles Snowden is also a potential starting caliber player in Dallas’ reserve front seven unit.
The Cowboys have a very talented front seven that has a few very answerable question marks headed into next season, and I like their chances of fielding an elite front seven next season. A breakdown of Dallas’ front seven heading into the 2026 season can be found below.
Projected Cowboys’ 2026 Starting Front Seven
LDE – Quinnen Williams – A to A-
NT – Otitio Ogbonnia – C to C-, current weak link as of now, still improving, could move to reserve unit
RDE – Kenny Clark – B+
WLB – Rashan Gary – B+
LILB – DeMarvion Overshown – B-, still improving
RILB – Dee Winters – C+ to B-, still improving
SLB – Donovan Ezeiruaku – B to B+ as rookie, 2025 2nd rounder
Notable 2026 Cowboys’ Reserve Front Seven PlayersÂ
ED – Tyrus Wheat – C+ to B-, could grade much higher than this but too small of a sample size of elite play thus far
LB – Jaishawn Barham – 2026 3rd rounder
LB – Marist Liuafu – 2024 3rd rounder, poor so far, but still has not had enough time to prove himself
LB – Malachi Lawrence – 2026 1st rounder
LB – James Houston – C+ to B-, very high ceiling, but very inconsistent
LB – Sam Williams – 2022 2nd rounder, C+ to B-, very strong start to career, has struggled with health/consistency since, could grade higher
ED – Charles Snowden – C+ to B-, still improving
