Cowboys position group improvement battle: Defensive line vs. secondary
The Dallas Cowboys defense was atrocious last year. In 2026, Dallas is banking that several additions to two key units on the defensive side will make the group, and the team, much more dangerous. We’ll break it down between the defensive line and the secondary.
Defensive line
Rashan Gary, Malachi Lawrence and Otto Ogbonnia are some of the most notable names the Cowboys brought in to bolster a defensive line that struggled to do anything positive last year. Dallas, however, has multiple issues on defense. Both the run and pass defense struggled last year, and over the last few years, the run defense has been an issue. That was bolstered after the trade for Quinnen Williams last year, and the move to the base 3-4 is designed to have more beef up front.
Gary is a veteran who is a plus defender in run defense. Lawrence is a fantastic athlete, a pass rusher who is going to be a part of a rotation that can get after the quarterback. Ogbonnia will be asked to eat up blockers and plug up the middle along with Kenny Clark and Williams. These moves give the 2026 iteration of the Cowboys defense a chance to improve mightily.
With that said, the pass rush must improve. Gone is sack leader Jadeveon Clowney, who had 8.5 sacks, 41 tackles and a forced fumble. Donovan Ezeiruaku is being counted on to fill that hole in his second year. This defensive front is a long way from being dominant, but if they can make a significant leap they could make life easier for their corners, leading to more turnovers and more stops. Pressure up front along with stout run defense would equal more wins.
Secondary
The interesting thing about these discussions, in particular this one, is how connected they are. A good defensive line helps the secondary and vice versa. The idea is to get both units playing at a high level to compete for a championship instead of using one to cover up the flaws of the other, which is still good but doesn’t hold up for long.
The defensive line has been injected with talent, both veteran and young, and the secondary’s biggest additions are along the same lines. Cobie Durant and Jalen Thompson are the biggest veteran additions to the secondary. Caleb Downs is the guy all eyes will be on after the Cowboys made him their first-round pick in the 2026 draft. They are joining a secondary that only secured six interceptions in 2025 and allowed a 67.7 completion percentage to opposing QBs, one of the worst marks in the league.
So, who improved the most?
For me, it’s the secondary.
Why?
Because even though the defensive line may have added bigger names, Caleb Downs completely changes Dallas’ outlook for the defensive backfield. With Downs in the fold, there is more legitimate flexibility in coverage packages, and you now have a game-breaker that moves the needle. Yet the defensive line will determine whether the defense reaches its ceiling.
Great defenses rarely rely on one position group. A disruptive defensive front and a disciplined secondary are complementary pieces as mentioned earlier. The Cowboys spent the offseason investing in both, and training camp will provide the first real glimpse of whether those investments have produced a more complete defense.
Over to you BTB. Who is the winner here and why? Let us know in the comments.
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