ESPN NFL power rankings barely have Cowboys as top half team

ARLINGTON, TEXAS - OCTOBER 19: Ceedee Lamb #88 and Dak Prescott #4 of the Dallas Cowboys celebrate after Lamb's receiving touchdown in the first quarter of a game against the Washington Commanders at AT&T Stadium on October 19, 2025 in Arlington, Texas. (Photo by Stacy Revere/Getty Images) | Getty Images

The Dallas Cowboys have significantly improved their team this offseason. Consider what they had to improve upon, though.

The Cowboys finished the 2025 season with a 7-9-1 record, and did so despite fielding arguably the worst defense in franchise history. Regression to the mean alone suggests that things will stabilize there, but the offseason has certainly been devoted to defense with the bulk of free agency and the team's draft picks belonging to that side of the ball.

As is always the case, nothing about who the Cowboys are going to wind up being will be known until they start playing actual games. We can be excited about Caleb Downs, believe that the Rashan Gary trade is going to work out, or any number of other things, but results are what paint the full picture.

ESPN has Cowboys barely inside top half of latest power rankings

Given that the NFL draft has concluded, we know what each team is going to look like for the most part. The games have to happen as noted, but we can at least start to draw some mild conclusions.

The worldwide leader attempted to do this on Tuesday as they launched a set of power rankings under the premise of who improved this offseason." They ranked each team and noted the specific position group that they improved the most at. You can also see where each team moved from the way-too-early" rankings that ESPN did earlier this offseason.

ESPN has the Dallas Cowboys at number 16 at this moment in time.

16. Dallas Cowboys

Way-too-early ranking:18

Most improved position:Safety

The Cowboys signedJalen Thompsonto their richest free agent deal since 2012 (three years, $33 million). They alsoaddedP.J. Lockein free agency. But they tripled down at safety,trading upone spot to take Ohio State'sCaleb Downs. He not only was the best safety in the draft but also was considered perhaps the best overall prospect. A large part of new coordinator Christian Parker's scheme will be based on versatility; Thompson, Locke and, certainly, Downs can and will play multiple spots.

A year ago, the Cowboys hadMalik HookerandDonovan Wilsonas their starting safeties. Hooker remains, but Wilson is still unsigned. The backups wereMarkquese BellandJuanyeh Thomas. Bell is still there, but his role will be altered by the 2026 additions.- Todd Archer

It is fun to remember that the Cowboys added all sorts of players to the secondary besides Caleb Downs. We should also recall that Dallas swam further into free agency waters than they ever have since the Brandon Carr deal a decade and a half ago as noted.

Christian Parker has essentially assembled his avengers in the secondary and that will go a long way to improving the defense as a whole, not just the safety position. Does 16 feel fair, though? Should the Cowboys be ranked higher than any of these other teams that ESPN had ahead of them?

1. Seattle Seahawks
2. Los Angeles Rams
3. Denver Broncos
4. Buffalo Bills
5. Philadelphia Eagles
6. New England Patriots
7. Green Bay Packers
8. San Francisco 49ers
9. Chicago Bears
10. Baltimore Ravens
11. Detroit Lions
12. Kansas City Chiefs
13. Houston Texans
14. Los Angeles Chargers
15. Jacksonville Jaguars

It is going to be interesting to see how the Cowboys move throughout the summer in this overall regard. Whether or not you think their ranking is fair it stands to reason that this could be the lowest that they are ever ranked and/or perceived as we expect the offense to play well and the improved defense to sustain the overall group's play.

Consider how FanDuel Sportsbook views the NFC East at present moment, though. These odds are as of May 5th to be clear.

Odds to win the NFC East

• Philadelphia Eagles, +140
• Dallas Cowboys, +200
• Washington Commanders, +400
• New York Giants, +600

As has been the case for most of the last decade, the Eagles and Cowboys have separated themselves from the rest of the division. Unlike the last couple of years though, he Cowboys are right on the Eagles' tail. It isn't necessarily a coin-flip proposition, but oddsmakers think the Cowboys have a chance to win the NFC East for the first time since 2023.

What do you think? Should the Cowboys be ranked higher? Will they win the division?

Let us know in the comments down below.