Improved Cowboys D keeps hopes alive and options open in 2026 draft

The Dallas Cowboys’ 31-28 win over the Kansas City Chiefs on Thanksgiving Day is the headline of the NFL's weekend. With both teams in must-win situations, it was the Cowboys who reigned triumphant. The win kept Dallas’ slim playoff hopes alive and changed the overall narrative of the 2025 campaign.

For weeks the Cowboys had the unpleasant distinction of having the NFL’s worst defense. They were a masterclass in ineptitude, failing at all three levels and against both phases of the game. Every position on the defense demanded an upgrade, making the front office to-do list a daunting task.

For the better part the season it’s been a forgone conclusion the Cowboys will be carpet bombing the defense in the 2026 NFL draft. Dallas’ defense has been so poor most of the year, logic offered no other direction. But after the bye week additions of Quinnen Williams, Logan Wilson, DeMarvion Overshown and Shevon Revel seemingly changed everything, that prior draft conclusion doesn’t seem so forgone.

Dallas’ resurgence on defense doesn’t just save their 2025 season, but it situates them for a more successful offseason as well. Going into the draft with nonnegotiable needs is never a good idea. It forces teams to fill holes at positions regardless of who’s on the board. An open mind is a powerful thing in the draft.

Looking ahead to the 2026 NFL draft, defense still tops the needs list. The Cowboys still need a defensive end to pair with Donovan Ezeiruaku, not to mention a starting linebacker and a starting caliber safety. What’s changed is the degree of need and scope of the need on defense. The Cowboys don’t need to rebuild their entire defense but rather upgrade and plug a few holes. That’s a much more feasible task than what it looked like they were facing a few weeks ago.

The Cowboys can now entertain the idea of using one of their top picks on offense if a steal happens to drop into their laps. Offensive tackle is still a mess, running back is a mystery long-term and receiver could be a massive issue if George Pickens can’t be retained.

The point is, the Cowboys are no longer required to invest all of their resources into one side of the ball. Defense still takes priority, but it no longer threatens to steal an opportunistic mindset from the Cowboys personnel department.

It just goes to show playing winning football isn’t just about the current season, but about future seasons as well because of its impact on the decision-making process.

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This article originally appeared on Cowboys Wire: Improved Cowboys D keeps hopes alive and options open in 2026 draft