The Dallas Cowboys have a clear goal in 2026: get back to the playoffs. After back-to-back seven-win seasons, the No. 1 objective for Dallas is to get back to the postseason and become a contender again.
This is a modest and realistic ambition because the Cowboys boast one of the best offenses in the entire league under Brian Schottenheimer, and their efforts won't be spoiled with all of the changes and improvements made on defense.
But for the Cowboys to become a contender, they will need multiple players to have career years. The good news is that there are plenty of players who should have their best seasons of their career. Here are three players who could make their first-ever All-Pro team in 2026:
3 Dallas Cowboys who could become All-Pros in 2026
Tyler Booker, RG
The Cowboys spent the No. 12 pick in the 2025 NFL Draft on Booker because they believe he can be an All-Pro caliber player who can change the culture in Dallas. Booker got off to a slow start as a rookie and missed multiple games due to a high-ankle injury, but when healthy, he was brilliant.
Booker was the No. 10 graded guard in the NFL from Week 8 on last season, according to PFF. His run-blocking grade of 76.8 ranked fifth in the league and was only two spots behind Tyler Smith. He is still improving as a pass-blocker, but it’s easy to see why the Cowboys fell for him before the draft.
The expectation is that Booker will become a Pro Bowl-caliber guard in Year 2. But there is a non-zero chance that he flies past that goal and becomes the best guard in the league as soon as this season. Don’t count out the possibility of the Cowboys having two All-Pro guards in 2026, and if that’s the case, it’s hard to see a scenario where this isn’t a playoff team come January.
DeMarvion Overshown, LB
This one couldn’t be more obvious, as the stars have aligned for Overshown. Not only will he be playing behind the best defensive line of his career, but he is fully healthy and has had a full offseason to get ready. Entering a contract year, Overshown has a chance to be a true star in Dallas.
Fans saw flashes of his All-Pro potential in 2024, but a devastating knee injury against the Bengals put an end to his season. It was a surprise that he even played in 2025, and it took some time for him to get back to the level he was previously playing at.
Christian Parker and the Eagles coaching staff turned a former pass-rusher (Zack Baun) into an All-Pro linebacker in 2024, and Parker is hoping to do the same for Overshown. Talent won’t be the issue, as we’ve certainly seen plenty of glimpses before with the former Texas star.
All he needs to do is stay healthy and make a few timely plays, and he will be right in the conversation among the best linebackers in the league. And with Overshown likely to be the green-dot player in Dallas, he should be in line to have great production and play the most snaps of his career.
Caleb Downs, DB
The Cowboys believe they have a superstar on their hands in Caleb Downs, and it’s not hard to understand why. He’s been impressive every step of the way since being drafted, and he’s expected to play multiple positions right away for Dallas.
But could he actually become an All-Pro player as a rookie? It’s only happened twice in NFL history where a rookie safety was a first-team All-Pro selection: Derwin James (2018) and Ronnie Lott (1981). That would be some company for Downs to join, but that is the level of expectation (fair or not) the Cowboys have for their young defensive star.
Downs will be coached by one of the league’s top defensive back coaches in Christian Parker, who turned Quinyon Mitchell and Cooper DeJean into All-Pro caliber players. With the Cowboys playing so many primetime games, a few big moments by Downs and a playoff berth for Dallas could help Downs when it comes to the voters.
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