Rating each position on Cowboys’ roster heading into 2026 NFL training camp

The Dallas Cowboys will be ready to make some noise during the 2026 NFL season. Dallas made some excellent additions this offseason, adding much-needed reinforcements on the defensive side of the ball. Now the Cowboys have all the talent they’ll need to make a run at the playoffs this fall.

But how good is Dallas’ roster following the offseason? And which positions on the roster are the strongest?

Here are ratings for each position on the Cowboys roster heading into training camp. Each position will be rated on a scale from 1-10 with 10 being the best.

Quarterback

Players: Dak Prescott, Joe Milton III, Sam Howell

Rating: 9

Dallas does not have much to worry about at the quarterback position.

Prescott is a great starter who is coming off an excellent 2025 season. He logged 4,552 passing yards with 30 touchdowns and only 10 interceptions. That kind of production is up there with his 2019 and 2023 seasons, unquestionably the best years of his career. Could Prescott have another impressive season in 2026?

If something does go wrong, Milton a capable backup. The Cowboys would be wise to keep him around this fall, even if they get tempting trade offers for him. They would be fools to give up on Milton after just one season.

Finally, Dallas could do a lot worse than Howell as a QB3. He is capable of running the offense at a decent level in the event of a major calamity.

The only addition that Dallas could make is adding a trusted veteran to share reps during training camp. Otherwise, the Cowboys are set at quarterback and could easily roll into the regular season with those three players.

Running back

Players: Javonte Williams, Malik Davis, Jaydon Blue, Phil Mafah, Hunter Luepke, Israel Abanikanda, Dominic Richardson

Rating: 6

The lack of depth certainly contributes to the rating here.

Williams deserves a lot of praise after an impressive 2025 campaign. He managed 252 carries for 1,201 rushing yards and 11 touchdowns, making it his best season in the NFL. His three-year extension was well earned.

But behind Williams, there are plenty of questions.

Davis was a capable RB2 last season, but he does not project as a long-term piece in Dallas. The Cowboys have high hopes for Blue during his sophomore season, but it is too early to place too much hope in the youngster.

Finally, kudos to Luepke for proving that the fullback position can still be valuable in the modern NFL.

Wide receiver

Players: CeeDee Lamb, George Pickens, Ryan Flournoy, KaVontae Turpin, Marquez Valdes-Scantling, Jonathan Mingo, Tyler Johnson, Anthony Smith, Traeshon Holden, Denzel Mims, Camden Brown, Jordan Hudson, Jaden Smith

Rating: 7

Dallas is blessed to have both Lamb and Pickens in their wide receiver room. Both are alpha wide receiver who could each be the WR1 on almost any team in the league.

Unfortunately, the depth behind those two is quite troubling.

Flournoy had a breakout campaign last fall, logging 40 receptions for 475 receiving yards and four touchdowns. He is firmly WR3, but Valdes-Scantling and Turpin both projecting as role players too.

Go any lower than that on the depth chart and each player is a big question mark. But that still gives the Cowboys five solid receivers to work around.

Ultimately, the Cowboys get a high rating because Lamb and Pickens are both elite receivers.

Tight end

Players: Jake Ferguson, Luke Schoonmaker, Brevyn Spann-Ford, Princeton Fant, DJ Rogers, Michael Trigg

Rating: 5

This is the Ferguson show when it comes to anything other than blocking ability.

Ferguson is a solid contributor as a receiver, logging 82 receptions for 600 yards and eight touchdowns in 2025. He will continue as Prescott’s security blanket in 2026.

Everyone behind Ferguson is most useful as a blocker. That is not to say they aren’t valuable players, but their lack of receiving ability can make their usage pretty predictable.

It remains to be seen how big of an issue this is in Schottenheimer’s offensive scheme. Dallas did not seem too bothered by their tight ends last season.

Offensive tackle

Players: Tyler Guyton, Terence Steele, Nate Thomas, Drew Shelton, Marcellus Johnson, Ajani Cornelius, Shiyazh Pete

Rating: 6

This rating all comes down to depth.

Guyton and Steele are solid starters for the Cowboys. However, none of their reserve players are talented enough to replace a starter without it becoming a major headache.

Dallas has to hope that Guyton and Steele stay healthy in 2026. If either is sidelined for multiple weeks, it could be a problem.

At least the Cowboys have plenty of bodies to try out during training camp.

Guard

Players: Tyler Smith, Tyler Booker, Trevor Keegan, T.J. Bass, Chris Glaser, DJ Wingfield, Nick Leverett

Rating: 8

Fortunately, the Cowboys have better depth on the interior.

Smith and Booker are both excellent starting guards. Dallas has nothing to worry about from either player.

As for depth, the Cowboys should have a fierce competition between their five backups for roster spots. None of these guys are starting-caliber players, but it is easier to get by with backups at guard as opposed to tackle.

Dallas could add a veteran before training camp, though they can survive without one.

Center

Players: Cooper Beebe, Matt Hennessy

Rating: 6

Matt Hennessy was placed on season-ending injured reserve on June 18th. That leaves Beebe as the only player on the roster with a true center designation, at least according to ESPN.

Leverett projects as the obvious backup at center, which could guarantee him a roster spot. But it would not be surprising to see the Cowboys add another body or two before training camp for more depth.

This rating assumes that Beebe will remain the only true center at the start of the regular season.

Defensive tackle

Players: Quinnen Williams, Kenny Clark, Jonathan Bullard, Tyrus Wheat, Jay Toia, Otito Ogbonnia, Tommy Dunn Jr., Kelvin Gilliams Jr., D.J. Withers, Adedayo Odeleye

Rating: 8

The interior of the defensive line is actually looking great on paper.

Williams and Clark are excellent starters and backups like Bullard and Wheat have had their moments in the NFL. The Cowboys should easily be able to clog up the middle with both Ogbonnia and Toia at nose tackle.

Dallas has a little bit of everything in this position group. A superstar in Williams, reliable veteran depth in Clark. Plus plenty of role players and career backups to fill out the depth chart.

Cowboys fans should be excited about the spine of their defense headed into training camp.

Edge rusher

Players: Rashan Gary, Donovan Ezeiruaku, Malachi Lawrence, Sam Williams, James Houston, LT Overton, Charles Snowden, Marist Liafau

Rating: 6

There’s no Micah Parsons anymore, but at least Dallas has some options at edge rusher.

Gary, Ezeiruaku, and Lawrence gives the Cowboys at least three solid players to build around. But Gary could easily be a year-to-year proposition at this point in his career.

The Cowboys deserve some credit for having intriguing role players like Houston and Overton as depth pieces. Though it is fair to question how much that actually moves the needle this fall.

This group is simply good, not great. But that could still be a big improvement for Dallas after last season.

Linebacker

Players: DeMarvion Overshown, Dee Winters, Jaishawn Barham, Sehmar James, Curtis Robinson, Justin Barron, Langston Patterson, Isaiah Land

Rating: 5

Overshown, Winters, and Barham give the Cowboys some promising players to build around at linebacker. That said, the rating here suffered because there are so many unknowns about this position group.

Can Overshown finally stay healthy after only playing six games in 2025? How long will it take before Barham fully adjusts to the NFL game?

This position group could easily outperform their rating this fall. But it is just as likely that they are the position group that gets picked on the most by opposing offenses.

Cornerback

Players: DaRon Bland, Cobie Durant, Shavon Revel Jr., Devin Moore, Caelen Carson, Josh Butler, Ameer Speed, Derion Kendrick, Trikweze Bridges, Zion Childress, Reddy Steward

Rating: 7

There’s a lot of promise at this position.

Bland, Durant, and Revel all have question marks heading into the new season. But each player’s upside is through the roof, which makes this position very difficult to figure out before training camp.

Carson and Kendrick could make the final roster thanks to their veteran savvy. They will be players for Cowboys fans to watch throughout the summer.

Finally, the Cowboys are lucky to have Steward. He can fill in at slot cornerback whenever rookie safety Caleb Downs is not filling that role.

Speaking of…

Safety

Players: Caleb Downs, Malik Hooker, Jalen Thompson, Markquese Bell, P.J. Locke, Julius Woods, Alijah Clark

Rating: 8

Downs gives the Cowboys an identity in the secondary. He is a versatile chess piece who can play in almost any coverage role the Cowboys could think of.

Hooker and Thompson project as down-to-down starters at free safety and strong safety respectively. Their presence should help free up Downs to play wherever Dallas wants him in any given game.

Bell and Locke also give Dallas some admirable depth at the position.

Special teams

Players: Brandon Aubrey, Bryan Anger, Trent Sieg

Rating: 10

Aubrey is doing a lot of the heavy lifting here. He is arguably the NFL’s best kicker and gives the Cowboys a legitimate edge on special teams. Dallas paid Aubrey $28 million to cement himself as their kicker of the future.

Meanwhile, both Anger is a solid punter and Sieg does a good job at long snapper. Nothing more to see here.

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