Cowboys news: How Dallas can compete for the NFC East

SAN FRANCISCO, CALIFORNIA - FEBRUARY 03: Dak Prescott #4 of the Dallas Cowboys warms up before the 2026 NFL Pro Bowl game between the AFC and the NFC at the Moscone Center South on February 03, 2026 in San Francisco, California. The NFC won 66-52. (Photo by Alika Jenner/Getty Images) | Getty ImagesDak Prescott's Cowboys Can Contend For NFC East With Major If' - Adam Schultz, Yahoo Sports

The Cowboys can reclaim the NFC East crown if....

As we turn for training camp, theDallas Cowboys hope train is full steam ahead to Oxnard after an offseason that you could make the case has been one of the better ones in recent memory. There's no contract drama, the franchise nailed the draft (at least in the early stages), and made a handful of outside free agent signings, coupled with the hiring of Christian Parker, which, for most, is a home run. Now, there are some unknowns, like Parker's ability to call a game as he hasn't before in the NFL, plus how long it will take for his scheme to take shape and how well his players adjust.

But for the most part, there is every reason to think the Cowboys should" be a better prospect than they were a year ago under Brian Schottenheimer. Some even think the playoffs are well within reach, which could mean a division title is also forthcoming, with the Cowboys not having won the NFC East since 2023. For Sports Illustrated's Albert Breer, the Cowboys have the tools to claim the division, with one big if attached.

One of the biggest position battles in any camp isTyler Guytonvs. Nate Thomas to be the Cowboys' left tackle,"Breer wrote. If Brian Schottenheimer and Klayton Adams can make that spot a strength, then the line can be the team's foundation, andDak Prescottwill have everything he needs around him to have a career year. And with Christian Parker a potential difference-maker as defensive coordinator, Dallas would be positioned to take advantage of a wide-open NFC East."

There's no denying that the left tackle position, and even right tackle as well, are big storylines to watch in Oxnard, but the offensive line was serviceable last season, so if it can get a little uptick in improvement, Dak Prescott should be able to do what he does best. But for me, the pressure is all on Parker and his defense.

4 Dallas Cowboys players with true boom or bust potential ahead of training camp-Mauricio Rodriguez, A to Z Sports

The outcome of these players is truly 50/50.

The Dallas Cowboys enter the 2026 NFL season with a roster full of unknowns, and several players on the bubble could either emerge as key contributors or find themselves off the 53-man roster entirely. That's right, we're looking at boom or bust players ahead of training camp. Let's dive in.

LB Marist Liufau

The tea leaves are not great for Cowboys linebacker Marist Liufau. He's being asked to start at a different position than the one he played during his first three years in the league, moving from inside linebacker to edge rusher in a contract year. That combination makes him a significant cut candidate. When you're asked to switch positions three years into your career, it's usually not a good sign. The immediate questions about his size are obvious. Does he have the kind of body to take on offensive tackles at the NFL level and hold up against the run? We know he has explosiveness and strength, but surviving in the trenches is a different challenge.

However, there is upside. His background at inside linebacker means he can drop back into coverage and serve as a versatile chess piece in Cowboys defensive coordinator Christian Parker's scheme. Parker's defense is built around multiplicity and disguised coverages, where outside linebackers sometimes rush the passer and sometimes drop into zones. Early in the offseason, Parker revealed that the position switch came from conversations with coaches who were with Liufau during his time at Notre Dame. Some who covered the Fighting Irish believed his skill set translated better as a pass rusher.

Cowboys national scout Ross Wuensche also said on a podcast recently that they believeLiufau can be a really cool matchup piece"for Dallas. That sounds like a team excited about a concept. If it works, he makes the roster and plays a unique role. Add in his special teams value, and there's a path to the 53-man roster - but the margin for error is razor thin.

Colts authority provides crucial access to Cowboys' late-season foe - Levi Dombro, The Landy Hat

It's never too early learn your opponent.

The Dallas Cowboysdon't exactly have an easy drawduring the 2026 NFL season. Not only is the NFC East much-improved, but facing off against the NFC West and AFC South, which boasted a combined five playoff teams and a Super Bowl champion last year, will be no small task. Dallas has to face perennial powers like the Seattle Seahawks, San Francisco 49ers, Los Angeles Rams, Baltimore Ravens, Green Bay Packers and Philadelphia Eagles (twice), as well as rising teams like the Houston Texans and Jacksonville Jaguars.

Yes, the Cowboys have some easier" games, if such a thing exists in the NFL, with matchups against the Arizona Cardinals, Tennessee Titans andNew York Giants on the docket. Some of Dallas' opponents, however, are quite difficult to figure out, namely the Indianapolis Colts. Luckily, for readers ofThe Landry Hat,we went across the conference and behind the curtain to speak toLee Vowell, the site expert atHorseshoe Heroes, which is FanSided's hub of Colts info. Vowell is an authority on the Colts and provided some premier access to the Cowboys' Week 9 foe.

Dallas Cowboys can't know what version of Indianapolis Colts they'll face in Week 9

Q: The Colts started out hot in 2025, but their season got derailed by injuries, among other things. Is there faith in the building and fanbase that the 2026 Colts will be more like the fall version of last year, as opposed to the winter version?

A: The simple answer is yes. In fact, ownership is betting on the team resembling the fall edition, which is why there was such a great need to re-sign quarterback Daniel Jones and wide receiver Alec Pierce, as the team didn't do much else in bringing in high-impact free agents from other teams.

Injuries did take a brutal toll on the team midway through last season and the rest of the way (Jones was lost in Week 14, Charvarius Ward suffered three different concussions and missed a chunk of time, DeForest Buckner only played in one game after Week 9, and Sauce Gardner missed four of the eight games he could have been involved in after the team traded for him). The team is counting on better health, meaning better success.

3 Cowboys' prop bets worth taking a flyer on for 2026 - Matthew Holleran, Blogging the Boys

How much you wanna bet the Cowboys make the postseason?

The dog days of summer are here. While the Dallas Cowboys do not report for training camp for another month, it's never too early to take a look at some prop bets for the upcoming season. With that thought in mind, today we take a look at three 2026 Cowboys bets worth taking a flyer on before the start of the regular season. All odds viaFanDuel Sportsbook.

1) CeeDee Lamb to win AP Offensive Player Of The Year (+2200)

CeeDee Lamb was once again dominant last season when healthy. While the veteran wideout got off to a bit of a shaky start, dropping four passes in Dallas' first two games, he still put together another outstanding season. After those four drops in two games, Lamb went on to drop just four passes in the remaining 12 games he would play throughout the course of the regular season. Despite playing in just 14 games, one of which he only played two offensive series in, Lamb surpassed 1,000 receiving yards (1,077) for the fifth consecutive season. The wideout surpassed 100 receiving yards in a single game six times while catching six or more passes in a single game eight times.

Lamb is on track to have another dominant 2026 campaign, and taking a chance on him to win Offensive Player Of The Year at this number is a worthwhile bet. If Dak Prescott is healthy, Lamb is almost a lock to be one of the most productive receivers in the entire NFL. There is a real chance Lamb could replicate his 2023 production this upcoming season. If he does so, he will certainly have a chance to take home this award.

2) Dak Prescott OVER 4050.5 Passing Yards (-114)

Since 2019, in every season that Dak Prescott has played in 13 or more regular-season games, he has easily surpassed 4,000 passing yards. It may be a bit shocking to see Dak's O/U at 4,050, but this seems like the oddsmakers are betting that the veteran quarterback will not stay healthy all season. If he plays in even 14-15 regular-season games, it's a virtual lock that Prescott will surpass this number. Taking this bet is not as much about the number as it's about believing that Dallas' signal-caller will stay healthy throughout the course of the regular season. At nearly even odds, taking a 50/50 shot that Prescott will remain healthy is a worthwhile bet.

Daily discussion question: What part of training camp are you looking forward to the most?