Jerry Jones' offseason overhaul comes down to one Cowboys question

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Jerry Jones spent the offseason rebuilding the Dallas Cowboys' defense, which finished among the NFL's worst in 2025. One NFL analyst believes those changes could determine whether Dallas returns to playoff contention or endures another disappointing season.

Jerry Jones' offseason moves will decide Cowboys' future

Jones made defense the Cowboys' top priority after Dallas allowed an NFL-worst 30.0 points per game last season. According to Bleacher Report's Gary Davenport, the team's outlook now depends on whether its new defensive pieces can come together quickly enough to lift the unit back to league-average production.

Davenport wrote that Dallas' best-case scenario is simple. If veteran edge rusher Rashan Gary, first-round rookie Malachi Lawrence, linebacker Dee Winters, safety Jalen Thompson and rookie Caleb Downs perform close to expectations, the Cowboys could become a legitimate threat in the NFC East. An average defense paired with Dallas' proven offense would make the team much more competitive.

Jones reshaped nearly every level of the defense during the offseason. Gary adds another experienced pass rusher, Lawrence brings first-round talent off the edge, Winters arrives after a breakout season with the San Francisco 49ers, and Thompson and Downs give Dallas two new starters in the secondary.

The challenge is that Dallas is asking several newcomers to fix one of the league's weakest defenses in a single offseason. If those additions need time to adjust or fail to produce, the Cowboys could remain near the bottom of the NFL on that side of the ball, making another playoff push difficult.

Jones already knows his offense can compete with anyone when healthy. The bigger question is whether his rebuilt defense can hold up over a full season. If the offseason investment pays off, Dallas could return to the postseason. If it does not, the Cowboys may find themselves facing many of the same problems that derailed their 2025 campaign.