What happened: The Dallas Cowboys used the 2026 offseason to overhaul a defense that ranked among the worst in report/article/myles-garrett-follows-micah-parsons-as-latest-nfl-star-trade-2026-06-02">Micah Parsons</a>. Dallas signed Jalen Thompson and added veterans Rashan Gary and Dee Winters, then used draft capital tied to the Parsons trade to select safety Caleb Downs and add Malachi Lawrence. Quinnen Williams remains the primary veteran anchor up front.

Why it matters: The Cowboys are betting on a new scheme under Christian Parker built around unproven, young players rather than established stars, a departure from last year's approach. Ceedee Lamb has publicly voiced concern about what he saw from that defense during OTAs, adding uncertainty heading into training camp.

What to watch: Training camp and preseason reps will show whether Downs, Lawrence and the retooled front seven can hold up before the regular season opens.