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 assessment 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.
Dallas added veteran cornerbacks Cobie Durant and Derion Kendrick, both of whom will compete with Revel for a starting role opposite Bland, and also have the ability to play the nickel position if needed. The team also invested in depth by adding rookie cornerback Devin Moore.
They added safeties Jalen Thompson and P.J. Locke to help ensure better play on the back end of the defense. Just as importantly, the organization made changes to the coaching staff to develop and maximize the talent already on the roster. The front office clearly saw upgrading the secondary as a priority, and the expectation is that this unit will improve in 2026.
Walder highlighted rookie nickelback/safety Caleb Downs as the Cowboys’ biggest X-factor heading into the season.
His versatility, instincts, and playmaking ability give him a chance to make an immediate impact. Walder believes Bland, if healthy, could once again be the team’s interception leader, but if he doesn’t, Downs has the talent to fill that role. Two other potential X-factors mentioned were rookie edge rushers Donovan Ezeiruaku and Malachi Lawrence. Both defenders possess the tools needed to generate pressure off the edge, and each could benefit from the attention offenses will dedicate to Rashan Gary and Quinnen Williams. If Downs becomes the playmaker many expect him to be and the pass rush takes a step forward in 2026, this defense could look drastically different from the one that struggled last season.
The final Cowboys player highlighted in ESPN’s rankings was Turpin. Schatz noted that despite a relatively quiet season by his standards, Turpin is still one of the NFL’s best return specialists. Combined with his ability to consistently generate explosive plays in the passing game, making him one of the more unique weapons on the roster.
Overall, the Cowboys have built a roster that’s better than a lot of people are giving it credit for. There’s talent on both sides of the football, a strong mix of veterans and young players, and several newcomers who could make an immediate impact. If the offense continues to put up points and the defense takes a step forward, Dallas could quickly prove that a middle-of-the-pack ranking was too low.
This article originally appeared on Cowboys Wire: Cowboys’ 2026 roster in middle-of-the-pack in ESPN’s latest rankings
