In so many ways, Will McClay is the Dallas Cowboys. The team's Vice President of Player Personnel has been with the organization in some capacity for 24 seasons, going on his 25th, which means that his tenure with America's Team is older than almost a quarter of the Cowboys' roster.
That also means that McClay has seen quite a bit, from the last Dave Campo season to Bill Parcells to Wade Phillips to Jason Garrett to Mike McCarthy and finally to Brian Schottenheimer. Simply put, McClay has been around the block a time or two, and he knows the highs and lows of this league.
So, when McClay speaks, fans should listen with intent. And while it can be easy to let praise about this team fall on deaf ears, especially in an offseason like the one Dallas has enjoyed, the longtime exec has a belief in the 2026 Cowboys that is tangible, centering around one promising reality.
Will McClay thinks Cowboys' 2026 team can "go further" with a team of "more Dak Prescotts"
McClay was kind enough to speak to Bryan Broaddus and Voch Lombardi of the Doin' Alright podcast on Thursday, and it was a fascinating look into the inner workings of Jerry Jones' empire. But what really stuck out was McClay's conviction in the roster they've built for the 2026 NFL season.
To explain why he is so optimistic about this squad, McClay had to take a brief detour to the 2016 NFL Draft to talk about the selection of Dak Prescott and why he is so thankful that the 32-year-old is the face of the league's biggest franchise.
"Being a part of that decision and being very proud of it because of the uniqueness of the dude. To be able to carry a franchise and all the different things that he has gone through on his shoulders and still be the same dude, that's remarkable. And then the ability to lead people and talk to people, like, that's unique."
Prescott is obviously a fantastic player, but Cowboys fans also appreciate his candor off the field with issues like mental health awareness. The impact he has made on his teammates, the city of Dallas and folks all across the country really can't be quantified.
It will excite Cowboys fans, then, to hear why McClay believes that Dallas has a chance to go far during the 2026 season. And it isn't simply about this offense being loaded with stars or the defense hiring a new coordinator and making personnel upgrades.
"And so this is where I think that we are different and have a chance now is because -- no shade on anybody else that's been here [or] players that Dak's been with -- It's just situations in time. And I think that there are more people, the Rashan Garys, the Kenny Clarks, the guys that have been around and done things that can help him shoulder some of that that give us a chance to even go further. ... And I may be wrong about it, but at least the people in the building and the process and the way we're going through it, you see some positives on that because there's a lot more Dak Prescotts."
A lot more Dak Prescotts.
In no way could that be construed as a negative thing. And it is not hard for fans to read between the lines a bit and understand the deeper points that McClay is making. Past players like Micah Parsons or Trevon Diggs weren't necessarily everybody's cup of tea.
They either didn't get along with Prescott, each other, or just generally ruffled feathers. But outside of George Pickens, who seems to be maturing every day, the Cowboys have gotten rid of players who are distractions. They've replaced them with guys like Gary and Clark, who fit the Prescott mold.
Talent hasn't really been an issue for Dallas in recent years. Coaching has, and a lack of general roster cohesion has as well, in addition to the never-leaving injury reality that is the NFL. But the fact that the Cowboys have equipped themselves with strong character is promising. Even more so than talent.
McClay has seen 13-3 seasons that lead to the divsional round, and he's seen 4-12 campaigns. Nobody has a better grip on what this Cowboys team can do than him, and his belief in this 2026 Dallas squad is based in the reality that the team is more mature and the leadership is spread out.
Who are we to argue?
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