Cowboys shockingly low in The Athletic’s NFL post-draft roster rankings

Sure, the Dallas Cowboys’ roster isn’t perfect. But they are very likely to hang on to George Pickens. And if you look at the overall picture, the Cowboys are shockingly low in The Athletic’s NFL post-draft roster rankings.

At the top of the list are the Rams. That’s understandable. The Seahawks and Bills fall in line at No 2 and No. 3, respectively. But at this point, The Athletic gets way off line.

The Cowboys should be much higher than No. 13

The Athletic has the Chiefs in the No. 4 spot. They are followed by the Chargers, Broncos, Eagles, Ravens, Packers, Jaguars, 49ers, Patriots, and Lions.

The deeper that list goes, the more laughable it becomes with the Cowboys not in there. Here’s the explanation for the Cowboys’ ranking.

“It starts with the offense,” Austin Mock wrote. “The Cowboys are set at quarterback and wide receiver, and they should be good along the offensive line. The tandem of CeeDee Lamb and George Pickens is arguably the league’s best one-two WR punch.

“Defense is the problem. My model believes the Cowboys need a lot at edge rusher, where they’ll be leaning on second-year player Donovan Ezeiruaku and rookie Malachi Lawrence. The interior defensive line is great, and recent No. 11 pick Caleb Downs should help in the secondary, but there are still some major holes.”

OK, that’s a snippet evaluation. But let’s take a look at reality for the Cowboys.

DT Quinnen Williams will be a difference-maker

Let’s not put too much stock in Williams’ seven games with the Cowboys in 2025. The team has a new defensive coordinator. And Williams is fully integrated into Jerry’s World.

He’s on a run of four straight Pro Bowl appearances. And he will get there again in 2026. He will set the tone for Christian Parker’s defense, according to dallascowboys.com.

“His ability to dominate both run defense and the pass rush makes him formidable,” Patrik Walker wrote. “Even in the face of the best guards in the league, and earning his fourth Pro Bowl nod despite playing for two different teams last season, tells you all you need to know about what he should be able to do now that he’s settled in with the Cowboys.”

Teaming up with Kenny Clark for a full season, the Cowboys are going to threaten to be top 10 against the run. They were No. 22 last year.

A full healthy season from linebacker DeMarvion Overshown will make a big difference, too. And here’s the tricky thing about ranking rosters. You can’t look at a guy like Overshown and bake in injury history. The roster is as it stands. You can’t predict any injuries unless the player will clearly not be available for Week 1. And for now, Overshown is expected to be ready from the get-go.

Another player that fits into this conversation is cornerback Shavon Revel Jr. He needs to be viewed as what he is capable of, as if he’s fully healthy for the season.

The Cowboys’ defense is underrated

Mock’s argument is that the Cowboys still need edge rusher help. But there’s a weakness in that argument.

If the Cowboys get what they expect from Rashan Gary, they will have enough QB pressure from that side. Even though he trailed off late last season, Gary has reached at least 7.5 sacks in four of the past five seasons.

On the other side, the Cowboys have a pair of high-potential players in Donovan Ezeiruaku and rookie Malachi Lawrence. Those guys don’t have to get 12 sacks each. But if they combine for 12-14 sacks, the Cowboys will be in good shape.

And here’s the flat-out truth. If the Cowboys get pressure on the quarterback, they are going to be good enough on the back end to make life very tough for opposing offenses.

The biggest reason is Caleb Downs. His addition to the roster makes a world of difference for the defense. He is considered to be the type of player to make an immediate impact, according to The Athletic.

“Downs sees the field like it’s a chess board and plays with an exceptional combination of intelligence, urgency, and toughness, allowing him to be disruptive from anywhere on the field,” Dane Brugler wrote. “His intangibles and on-field versatility will make him an impactful NFL starter early in his career.”

Cowboys’ offense is the NFL’s best

Last year, they ranked a few yards per game behind the Rams in total yards per game. It won’t take much for them to get over the top in 2026.

They didn’t do much for the offense in the draft. They didn’t need to. The offense is going to score around 28 points per game. The roster is that good.

And now they have a defense good enough to help the team move back to the NFL elite level.

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