Machota: Dallas Cowboys who need to elevate their game the most this season

Cotton

Cotton

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Dallas Cowboys cornerback DaRon Bland on the field, holding his helmet, during training camp on July 22, 2025.
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Cornerback DaRond Bland is one of the Cowboys’ highest-paid players. They need him to perform like it. Kirby Lee / Imagn Images
Jon Machota
By Jon Machota
July 1, 2026

It’s a big year for every NFL player. There’s a lot of truth behind the saying that those three letters mean “Not For Long.” But some need a big year more than others. The Dallas Cowboys have plenty of players who qualify.

Of course, to make a deep playoff run, Dak Prescott, CeeDee Lamb and George Pickens all need to play well. But if they can at least repeat what they did a year ago, a jump from some of the players mentioned below could go a long way toward filling the gaps.

Here are 10 Cowboys who need to step up most this season:

1. Tyler Guyton, left tackle​

Left tackle is the biggest question mark on the Cowboys’ offense. Dallas used the 29th pick on Guyton in 2024. Over the last two seasons, he has struggled with consistency and staying healthy. He started 11 games in 2024 and 10 last season. He’ll enter this year’s training camp battling Nate Thomas for the starting job. The biggest issue for the Cowboys is that if neither proves he can hold the job down, All-Pro left guard Tyler Smith will likely have to move out to left tackle, weakening the interior of their line.


2. DeMarvion Overshown, inside linebacker​

Inside linebacker is the biggest question mark on the defense. Overshown and recently added veteran Dee Winters are the expected starters in Dallas’ new 3-4 scheme. Overshown has shown glimpses of his talent over the last three seasons. But he has struggled to stay healthy, missing 32 games. Entering a contract year, there’s no better time for him to stay healthy for a full season. That would also go a long way in helping the Cowboys at a position that was a major issue last season.
https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/73...on-blue-backup-running-back-javonte-williams/

3. DaRon Bland, cornerback​

Bland is one of the Cowboys’ highest-paid players at $22.5 million per season. That number is also seventh highest among all NFL corners. Dallas needs him to be a quality starter. But foot issues have become a significant concern. Bland says he’s fully healed from his January foot surgery. He’s expected to be a full participant at the start of training camp after working off to the side with athletic trainers during organized team activities and minicamp. Bland had 14 interceptions in his first two seasons. He’s had only one over the last two.

4. Jaydon Blue, running back​

Somewhat surprisingly, Dallas didn’t do more at running back in the offseason. Javonte Williams is the clear No. 1. But he needs a complementary back. Blue is the ideal fit because of his ability as a pass catcher. His rookie season did not meet expectations. Blue appeared in only five games. There has to be a notable Year 2 jump. The depth chart is far from loaded at the position. Blue has a great opportunity to benefit on an offense where far more attention will be paid to Lamb, Pickens, Williams and tight end Jake Ferguson.

2026-06-16T225450Z_152519017_MT1USATODAY29210614_RTRMADP_3_NFL-DALLAS-COWBOYS-MINICAMP-scaled.jpg

Luke Schoonmaker has slipped to the Cowboys’ No. 3 tight end, and quarterback Dak Prescott wasn’t shy about demanding more from him.Chris Jones / Imagn Images

5. Luke Schoonmaker, tight end​

The Cowboys used a second-round pick on him in 2023. Since then, Schoonmaker has started only 13 games. He caught only 14 passes last season. Ferguson is the clear No. 1 tight end, and Brevyn Spann-Ford has moved up to the No. 2 spot. Schoonmaker needs to take a big jump in the final year of his rookie contract. “He’s just got to show up,” Prescott said. “Make sure that he’s bringing the energy. Catch every ball that’s thrown to him. Block with the physicality that he has. Use his big frame. Make sure that any time his number is called, he’s got to step up. The more you do that, the more opportunities you get.”


6. Joe Milton, quarterback​

He was Prescott’s backup last season, appearing in only four games. The Cowboys obviously wanted to see more because in March, they signed Sam Howell to a guaranteed $2.5 million deal to compete with Milton for the backup job. Milton showed enough upside during his rookie season in New England for Dallas to trade a fifth-round pick for him in April of 2025. His arm strength is special. But he needs to be more consistent. If Howell beats him out for the No. 2 spot, Milton could still make the roster. However, he wouldn’t be getting many reps during the week as the No. 3 QB on the depth chart.
https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/73...inicamp-takeaways-caleb-downs-george-pickens/

7. Donovan Ezeiruaku, outside linebacker​

Ezeiruaku showed glimpses during his rookie season, but a hip injury caused him to need surgery to repair a torn labrum. The only reason he makes this list is that the Cowboys could really use a second-year jump at the position. They traded for Rashan Gary and drafted Malachi Lawrence in the first round, but they need more from their edge rusher group. A big season from Ezeiruaku would go a long way in Christian Parker’s first year as defensive coordinator.

8. Shavon Revel, cornerback​

Similar to Ezeiruaku, the Cowboys need more in Year 2 from Revel. Last year’s third-round pick didn’t make much of an impact as he was working his way back from a season-ending knee injury during his final year of college. There are a lot of questions at cornerback. Dallas really needs Revel and Bland to be solid starters.

9. Marist Liufau, outside linebacker​

He’s making the move from inside linebacker to pass-rushing outside linebacker this offseason. He made a bigger impact during his rookie season than he did last season. A third defensive coordinator in as many seasons probably hasn’t been great for his development. But Liufau has some playmaking ability. There has to be a way to find a package for him.

10. Sam Williams, outside linebacker​

The Cowboys thought so much of Williams that they used a second-round pick to draft him in 2022. He had 8.5 sacks in his first two seasons, but only one since. Dallas brought him back on a one-year, $2.5 million deal in March. He says the move to a 3-4 scheme is an ideal fit for him because it’s similar to what he did in college. If Parker can get some solid depth production from Williams, the Cowboys might be better at edge rusher than expected.
 
That's a pretty good list and refreshing in that it didn't include Dak Prescott or either WR like so many similar lists before hand.

I'm more pumped for a season than I have been in forever. Quinnen Williams, Christian Parker, and the top to bottom defensive makeover have given me hope.
 
Yeah, I want to see how good Quinnen can be with a full offseason, getting comfortable here, and not having the Eberflus anchor around his legs. Haven't had a top DT in forever.

Also, putting that number on Bland is dumb. Most likely he never sees most of that money and Machota should know that.
 
ravidubey said:
That's a pretty good list and refreshing in that it didn't include Dak Prescott or either WR like so many similar lists before hand.

I'm more pumped for a season than I have been in forever. Quinnen Williams, Christian Parker, and the top to bottom defensive makeover have given me hope.
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I’m coming in with cautious optimism… trying not to get sucked… they always find a way to fuck it up .
 
The Eagles defense the last few years has been predicated on squeezing space with the front 7 (not flying recklessly upfield like the Quinn defenses and something closer to 2-gapping) and playing a flexible zone behind it to confuse QB's and avoid getting beat over the top.

I think we more or less have the talent to do that since you don't really need elite edge rushers given that style of play, we have legit DT's and some nice depth/variety in the secondary. The key will be whether or not Parker is actually legit, and if so, how quickly he can get the secondary up to speed to be able to consistently execute the nuances of the various coverages.

We have the interior DL who can control the A/B gaps, the edge group is a nice mix of veteran consistency and upside, and the LB's are fine enough as long as we don't have catastrophic injuries.

I don't expect an elite defense but I'll be disappointed if they aren't somewhere around league average, with the potential to possibly crack the top 10 if the offense is about as good as last year.
 
Simpleton said:
I don't expect an elite defense but I'll be disappointed if they aren't somewhere around league average, with the potential to possibly crack the top 10 if the offense is about as good as last year.
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I’ll be seriously disappointed if they are not improving at the end of the year, barring a rash of injuries.

I believe Quinnen is a quicker and overall better pass rushing talent vs Jalen Carter, and that Fangio might not know how to feature such a talent. Parker and Marcus Dixon have to figure that one out, because it’s a rare guy that can be both stout at the point of attack and quick to the QB
 
ravidubey said:
I’ll be seriously disappointed if they are not improving at the end of the year, barring a rash of injuries.

I believe Quinnen is a quicker and overall better pass rushing talent vs Jalen Carter, and that Fangio might not know how to feature such a talent. Parker and Marcus Dixon have to figure that one out, because it’s a rare guy that can be both stout at the point of attack and quick to the QB
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If Parker is all he's cracked up to be I think we could very easily have a defense that's playing like a top 10 unit by the end of the year, even if they aren't statistically top 10 due to a slow start/needing to acclimate to the scheme.
 
ravidubey said:
it’s a rare guy that can be both stout at the point of attack and quick to the QB
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No homer, but that is what Lee Hunter is. He is the main reason Tech had a top 3 rushing defense in the nation last year. And, he could get to the QB.
 
Cotton said:
No homer, but that is what Lee Hunter is. He is the main reason Tech had a top 3 rushing defense in the nation last year. And, he could get to the QB.
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The Panthers have always understood that. They are going to be sneaky good this year, really only limited by their QB
 
Sounds like they traded away Johnny Mingo at just the wrong time.
 
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