FRISCO, Texas — Bleacher Report ranked the Dallas Cowboys 14th in its Week 1 NFL power rankings, published Monday, with Kris Knox writing the Dallas entry.
Four Bleacher Report NFL analysts ordered all 32 teams from worst to first entering the regular season. Gary Davenport, Knox, Maurice Moton, and Brent Sobleski made up the panel.
Knox wrote that Dallas had one of the NFL’s most potent offenses last season and a defense that became the first in franchise history to allow more than 500 points. The bulk of that offense returns, and Knox wrote that the Cowboys added several promising defensive pieces in the offseason. Moderate improvement on defense should be enough to make Dallas a legitimate playoff threat, Knox wrote.
Bleacher Report Panel Places Dallas Cowboys Behind Philadelphia Eagles
Knox also wrote the Philadelphia Eagles entry. Philadelphia landed ninth, ahead of every other NFC East team, with the New York Giants 24th and the Washington Commanders 25th.
Cowboys coach Brian Schottenheimer finished 7-9-1 in his first season, the franchise’s second consecutive losing record. The defense allowed 511 points, the most in the league, at 30.1 per game. The offense scored 471 points, an average of 27.7 per game and seventh in the NFL. Dallas led the league at 278.5 passing yards per game.
Dak Prescott threw for 4,552 yards, 30 touchdowns, and 10 interceptions across 17 games.
Christian Parker Takes Over Rebuilt Dallas Cowboys Defense
Dallas hired Christian Parker as defensive coordinator in the offseason, his first job as a coordinator. He replaced Matt Eberflus, who ran the unit for one season.
The Green Bay Packers traded edge rusher Rashan Gary to Dallas on March 9 for a 2027 fourth-round pick. Gary had 7.5 sacks and 45 tackles in 16 games for the Packers last season.
Dallas signed safety Jalen Thompson to a three-year contract worth up to $33 million. The Cowboys had not spent that much on a free agent since 2012, when cornerback Brandon Carr signed a five-year, $50 million deal. Safety P.J. Locke signed a one-year deal worth $4 million after leaving the Denver Broncos. Cornerbacks Cobie Durant and Derion Kendrick also signed, along with defensive tackle Otito Ogbonnia and defensive lineman Jonathan Bullard.
Thompson spoke with reporters in March, in comments reported by the Fort Worth Star-Telegram.
“I just feel like we have all the right pieces,” Thompson said.
The Cowboys traded defensive tackle Osa Odighizuwa to the San Francisco 49ers for a third-round pick. Defensive tackle Solomon Thomas went to the Tennessee Titans. Quinnen Williams signed a three-year, $105.9 million extension that keeps him in Dallas through 2030.
Dallas moved up one spot on April 23, sending the 12th overall pick and two 2026 fifth-round selections to the Miami Dolphins to draft Ohio State safety Caleb Downs 11th overall. The Cowboys spent their second first-round pick, the 23rd, acquired from Philadelphia, on UCF edge rusher Malachi Lawrence. Michigan linebacker Jaishawn Barham went in the third round.
The next day, Dallas acquired linebacker Dee Winters from San Francisco for a fifth-round pick. Winters started all 17 games for the 49ers last season and recorded 101 tackles, five passes defensed, and an interception he returned 74 yards for a touchdown.
“We’ve changed this defense,” Jerry Jones said April 24, via the team’s website.
The Cowboys open at the Giants on Sunday, a 7:20 p.m. CT kickoff on NBC at MetLife Stadium.
