The Dallas Cowboys knew they wasted a premier offense with one of the worst defenses in the entire NFL last season, and they put a ton of resources into making sure that such a fate would not befall them in the 2026 campaign. As such, a host of new players are challenging many of the holdovers from yesteryear.
This could make for some very awkward decisions on Brian Schottenheimer's depth chart. Positions like quarterback, defensive tackle, and wide receiver are seemingly set in stone, but many other spots are going to be the subject of both rigorous debate and some heated competitions over the summer.
These four positions will be of major interest to Cowboys fans in the next few weeks, as there could be some major issues that stem from one or more expected starters failing to perform up the level this coaching staff expects from them.
4 Cowboys position groups that face uncomfortable questions
4. Offensive Tackle
It sounds like Dallas isn't just having a competition in name only, as there is a legitimate chance that former first-round pick Tyler Guyton could lose his spot to a seventh-round pick from the same Draft in Nate Thomas. Terence Steele is still the starting right tackle, but after using a fourth-round pick on Drew Shelton in the NFL Draft, there is a viable backup behind him as well.
3. Edge Rusher
This position's inclusion on this list is not due to a lack of talent, but rather the lack of clarity as to how all of these players will be deployed. Rashan Gary will likely be a starter, but what is the plan for splitting snaps between Malachi Lawrence and Donovan Ezeiruaku? Will third-round rookie Jaishawn Barham get some snaps on the edge?
2. Tight End
Jake Ferguson might be the starter, but the Cowboys may finally be able to par with disappointing former second-round pick Luke Schoonmaker. Brevyn Spann-Ford and highly-touted undrafted free agent Michael Trigg may have more juice as pure pass-catchers, especially Trigg, potentially leaving Schoonmaker on the outside looking in.
1. Cornerback
The cornerback room was a hot mess last season, and the biggest additions Dallas has made to address that problem were to hand Cobie Durant a short-term deal and use a fourth-round pick on a pure outside DB in Devin Moore.
2025 third-round pick Shavon Revel Jr. is 100 percent healthy, but was poor during his rookie season, and it's fair to question if Dallas is willing to give him a long runway. Durant may have an inside track to the CB2 job next to DaRon Bland, but how the room shakes out behind that is anyone's guess.
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