Thursday's upset loss to the Buccaneers is something all Cowboys fans would like to stop thinking about, but we can't. There's still so much of the season left, and plenty of time for Dallas to make up for a blown opportunity. But if they're going to change the trajectory of this 2026 season, some tough questions need answering.
3 urgent questions stemming from Cowboys' Week 5 loss
Is it time for Dallas to make a change at TE?
Jake Ferguson has had a rough start to his fifth season. He only had 15 catches for 102 yards in five games. Both rates would put him well short of his career bests, including last year's 82 catches while sharing the field with CeeDee Lamb and George Pickens.
On top of not being productive overall, Ferguson really hurt the team against Tampa Bay with two bad drops. The second one got tipped up and into the hands of a Bucs defender for a game-sealing interception.
While still in his prime and supposedly healthier than he's been in a while, Ferguson is just not contributing as you'd expect. Granted, he's far from the highest-paid TE in the NFL, making a little more than half of the top earners. But in an offense led by two elite receivers, TE1 should be thriving.
If Ferguson stays in this slump, at what point should Dallas turn to Brevyn Spann-Ford? At 6'6" and with plenty of athleticism, Spann-Ford could be a mismatch for most defenders. He's also the best blocker in the TE room, which could allow for more effective run plays and offensive versatility.
While Spann-Ford was an undrafted free agent in 2024, Ferguson was only a Day 3 pick himself. He did enough to knock Dalton Schultz off the roster, but it's not like he's ever been an elite TE compared to the NFL's best. He'd have never made a Pro Bowl if not for the now-extinct alternate system.
If the Cowboys are going to save this season, some tough decisions will need to be made and strong messages sent. Everyone, regardless of seniority or contract, should feel accountable and vulnerable. Given how Ferguson's playing and Spann-Ford's potential, TE may be a spot where Dallas can effect change.
Did the Cowboys make mistakes with Jake Ferguson and DaRon Bland's contracts?
Not to pile on Ferguson, but he and CB DaRon Bland were two of the worst players in the Bucs game. They're also two guys whose contracts got restructured this offseason, making it harder to release them in the near future.
Bland has simply never returned to his record-breaking form from 2023. While injuries have cost him a lot of playing time and on-field effectiveness since then, he's supposedly healthy this season but looks less like a former All-Pro and more like a former fifth-round pick.
This isn't so much about dropping that likely pick-six late in the game. It would've been great, and perhaps game-saving, but Bland still gets credit for at least being in position with his read and nearly making a great play. We'd love to see more of that! The problem right now is how often the opposing receivers are making plays against him.
With the contract restructuring, Dallas is probably stuck with both guys through at least 2027. If the team gets completely blown up in a couple of years, the Cowboys might go ahead and eat the dead money earlier. But if they're going to try to stay competitive at least through Dak Prescott's contract, they'll have to wait until it's somewhat cap-friendly to move on from these veterans.
In Bland's case, the best move might be to get him back to the slot. It's where he started in the NFL and shined early on. If Joey Porter Jr. and Cobie Durant can both play next week, they might be the best outside corners now. Moving Bland to the slot and then putting Caleb Downs in a true safety role could be an adjustment that gets the most out of everyone involved.
Does Christian Parker need outside help?
We all know the defense stinks right now, and there's no denying that Christian Parker appears to be having his own rookie issues as a coordinator. Injuries have been a huge factor, but it's not like the defense looked good in Week 1 before the medical tent filled up.
What can Dallas do? They're not going to fire Parker this early, but can they get him some help?
Defensive backs coach and passing game coordinator Derrick Ansley has some experience. He was the defensive coordinator for the Chargers in 2023 and for the University of Tennessee from 2019-2020. While already a prominent assistant, perhaps there's more Ansely could do to help Parker with defensive play-calling.
Another option might be to bring in an outside consultant. Longtime NFL defensive coach Jim Schwartz is out there, still a free agent after resigning from the Browns last February. Even if Parker remains DC, Schwartz could offer a fresh set of eyes and an opinion backed by proven success.
While we hope getting guys like Joey Porter, Cobie Durant, and DeMarvion Overshown back soon will help, it still seems like scheme and strategy are holding this defense back. This isn't to say Parker still doesn't have great potential, but his youth and inexperience may need to be mitigated if we're going to make something of 2026.
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