Power ranking the Cowboys roster before training camp
The Dallas Cowboys begin their odyssey towards the 2026 season next week with the opening of training camp. A lot of new pieces have been added to the roster, and bad players from last year are no longer with the team.
Brian Schottenheimer’s first season as head coach ended with a losing record, but there were a lot of great moments. Those moments were usually headlined by Dallas’ high-powered offense with Dak Prescott, Javonte Williams, CeeDee Lamb, and George Pickens.
The players added on the defensive side of the ball in Rashan Gary, Caleb Downs, Jalen Thompson, P.J. Locke, and Malachi Lawrence will help execute Christian Parker’s vision. Kenny Clark and Quinnen Williams have their first full offseason with the Cowboys. A lot will be riding on their success this year.
Training camp is an exciting time because it’s when fans and media learn more about what the season could look like, which star players shine brightest, and which unsung heroes might rise to the top from competition. Before camp gets kicked off in just a few days, here is the current power ranking of the Top 60 Cowboys on the roster.
Tier 1: All-Pro caliber players
1. Tyler Smith
2. Dak Prescott
3. Quinnen Williams
4. CeeDee Lamb
5. George Pickens
6. Brandon Aubrey
All six of these players are, no doubt about it, the most highest-ceiling players who have proven it on the Cowboys team. Tyler Smith has taken the crown as the best player on the team, following the footsteps of his mentor, Zack Martin. There was a lot of back-and-forth trying to figure out whether Pickens should be above Lamb, but considering last year was a down year due to injuries, 88 got the nod above him based on his usual reliability.
Tier 2: Pro Bowl-level
7. Tyler Booker
8. Javonte Williams
9. Kenny Clark
10. Rashan Gary
11. Caleb Downs
12. Jake Ferguson
13. DeMarvion Overshown
14. Malik Hooker
15. Bryan Anger
16. Jalen Thompson
17. DaRon Bland
The players who have the biggest chance to jump from this list to the one above are Tyler Booker, Caleb Downs, and a healthy DeMarvion Overshown. Booker showed amazing things as a rookie, which puts him just outside tier one, but another strong year and Dallas might have the best offensive guard duo in the NFL.
Bryan Anger is usually the forgotten man, but he didn’t have a single touchback in any of his punts last season. That’s pretty impressive. Given the down year across the board on defense, betting on bounce-back years from DaRon Bland and Malik Hooker put them in this category. Bland could be the biggest rise or fall candidate, depending on whether he stays healthy.
Jalen Thompson was given a hefty free agent contract this offseason. He should have a big role in Parker’s defense, being his Swiss Army knife, along with Downs. Missing most of the offseason workouts so far with a pectoral injury could have lowered Thompson to the tier below, but the money says he should be one of the best secondary players in 2026.
Tier 3: The Twilight Zone
18. Terence Steele
19. Cooper Beebe
20. Donovan Ezeiruaku
21. Cobie Durant
22. Ryan Flournoy
23. KaVontae Turpin
24. Dee Winters
25. Malachi Lawrence
26. P.J. Locke
27. Otito Ogbonnia
28. Trent Sieg
This tier is the Twilight Zone of the power rankings. Terence Steele, Cooper Beebe, and Donovan Ezeiruaku sit at the top because they are all starters when healthy, but Dallas wants to see them take a huge step forward. Consistency is key.
Malachi Lawrence and P.J. Locke earned rave reviews coming out of OTAs and minicamp, but can that momentum carry over into August? Cobie Durant, Otito Ogbonnia, and Dee Winters are veteran players that could have big roles for Dallas on defense this year. Will any of the young players beat them out? That’s what we’ll find out in camp.
Long snappers are never valued until the kicking operation is mishandled. Trent Sieg has been a steady Eddy for Dallas in the snapping department, which gets him in tier three.
Tier 4: Ross and Rachel (will they, won’t they)
29. Tyler Guyton
30. Shavon Revel
31. Jaishawn Barham
32. James Houston
33. Brevyn Spann-Ford
34. Reddy Steward
35. Sam Williams
36. Malik Davis
37. Jonathan Bullard
38. Markquese Bell
39. T.J. Bass
40. Nate Thomas
41. Jonathan Bullard
42. Hunter Luepke
43. Jaydon Blue
44. Joe Milton III / Sam Howell
Will they or won’t they? The question often asked of the popular sitcom couple from Friends. Every player in tier four feels like 2026 is a pivotal year for them with Dallas, none more important than Tyler Guyton and Shavon Revel. Both players are walking on the same ice as Commissioner Gordon in The Dark Knight Rises.
Some players, like Jonathan Bullard, Sam Williams, Reddy Steward, and T.J. Bass, are all on one-year deals. They could stick around for the entire season or be cut after camp, with the exception of Bass.
Where do things stand with Brevyn Spann-Ford, Nate Thomas, Hunter Luepke, Markquese Bell, and Jaydon Blue? If things don’t work out for these young players, maybe how Dallas develops their players should start coming into question.
Joe Milton and Sam Howell are the only two players who share a spot on this list, considering one of them will end up being the backup behind Prescott. Cooper Rush is no longer around to have his name penciled in this spot, or maybe he comes back for Act III?
Tier 5: Depth players in the Danger Zone
45. Phil Mafah
46. Marist Liufau
47. Luke Schoonmaker
48. Caelen Carson
49. Shemar James
50. LT Overton
51. Drew Shelton
52. Curtis Robinson
53. Derion Kendrick
54. Josh Butler
55. Ajani Cornelius
56. Alijah Clark
57. Jay Toia
58. Devin Moore
59. Trevor Keegan
60. Tyrus Wheat
Once the roster gets past tier four, this section becomes more about the depth of the roster and who can crack the final back part of the 53 come September. Phil Mafah is certainly a fan favorite, but will the Cowboys carry five running backs (that includes Hunter Luepke) to start the year? It might come down to who can contribute on special teams, and he could be in a training camp battle with Malik Davis.
A lot of the secondary players here should be fighting for depth as well. The flashes from Josh Butler in 2024 were a pleasant surprise, but a torn ACL derailed his momentum and sidelined him for most of 2025. Can lightning strike twice for him? He could be in a battle with 2024 draft pick Caelen Carson and Derion Kendrick for the fourth and fifth cornerback spots.
How does Christian Parker feel about Jay Toia and Shemar James, who were draft picks last year? They were drafted by the previous coaching staff. Does Parker view them as integral pieces in what he’s developing, or are they no longer a fit?
Marist Liufau and Luke Schoonmaker might be running out of runway to show something for Dallas. Both players had high hopes as rookies, but that feels so long ago at this point.
Tyrus Wheat rounds out the Top 60, considering he made the team as an undrafted free agent once upon a time and is in his second stint with the team. Maybe he can show the makings of a solid special teams player with the upside as a depth piece at defensive end. He had his best year as a pro last year with the Detroit Lions, so maybe the arrow is pointing up.
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