Cowboys news: Where Dallas can improve before training camp

“And first-rounder Malachi Lawrence is a promising rookie, but he’s still a rookie.”

Here is how the Cowboys can make their offseason better – Brandon Loree, Blogging the Boys

What moves can the Cowboys make to make their offseason even more of a win.

1. Trade for another running back

Javonte Williams finally had the career year he’s been starving for since battling severe knee injuries. The Cowboys’ starting running back earned himself a well-deserved contract extension and comes back to the team as the clear-cut No. 1 back this offseason. But who is the backup Dallas should trust behind him?

Right now, the Cowboys’ depth chart behind Williams is Malik Davis, Jaydon Blue, Phil Mafah, Israel Abanikanda, Dominic Richardson, and Hunter Luepke. Davis is the only back on the list to have at least 400 yards rushing in his career. Unless Brian Schottenheimer has full confidence in rolling with young backups this year, Dallas should go after a running back who has experience.

Last season, the team brought in Miles Sanders, who was competing with Williams for the starting job. Schottenheimer wanted to have veteran voices in the room to pair with the young rookie backs at the time, Blue and Mafah. Sanders ended camp as the team’s No. 2 back and had some decent moments before exiting the first month of the season on injured reserve.

The free agent market is a barren wasteland right now at the running back position. Joe Mixon, Najee Harris, Austin Eckeler, and the ghost of Nick Cubb are the only names that Dallas could sign and say, “That makes sense.” Outside of those options, Dallas could move a late-round draft pick next year for a back with experience.

Tape Talk: Breaking down 3 big plays on film from Malachi Lawrence – Tommy Yarrish, DallasCowboys.com

Check out this breakdown of what Malachi Lawrence can bring to the Cowboys defense.

There’s a lot of things that are intriguing about Malachi Lawrence’s game that are very intriguing. The measurables certainly stand out, as Lawrence measures in at 6’4″, 253 pounds with 33 5/8″ arms, and an 81 5/8 inch wingspan.

The biggest separator, however, is his get off. At the NFL Combine, Lawrence posted a 1.59 second 10-yard split, the third-fastest time at his position in the 2026 class behind Ohio State’s Arvell Reese and Texas A&M’s Cashius Howell, who tied with a 1.58 second split. That quickness is on full display in this clip, as Lawrence blows right past the left tackle and into the backfield.

What Brian Schottenheimer and Christian Parker will love about Lawrence is his effort to always swat at the ball during his rushes in an attempt to pop the ball free. Lawrence has forced three fumbles in the last two seasons for UCF, largely in part because of the seemingly conscious effort to attack the football in his rushes. Even when the swats don’t land on the football, Lawrence continues to make an effort to finish the play. He ends up on the ground after missing the sack, but still finds a way to grab the quarterback’s ankle and bring him down.

Dallas Cowboys Finally Have Chance to Sign Pro Bowl CB Kenny Moore – Zach Dimmitt, SI.com

Does newly released cornerback Kenny Moore make sense for the Cowboys?

The Indianapolis Colts announced Thursday that they have released Pro Bowl cornerback Kenny Moore after failing to find a trade partner for him. The Colts had been trying to trade Moore prior to the NFL Draft, potentially allowing the team to package him with picks, but they were unable to do so.

The Cowboys were one of the teams rumored to be interested in Moore, something that shouldn’t come as a surprise considering the lack of production Dallas had in the secondary last season. The team addressed this with multiple signings in free agency but Moore could now be the final addition that the Cowboys have been looking for.

He would immediately join the roster with the expectation of being a starting cornerback on a defense that already includes first-round rookie Caleb Downs, former Arizona Cardinals safety Jalen Thompson and former Los Angeles Rams cornerback Cobie Durant.

Moore, 30, went undrafted in 2017 after playing at D-II Valdosta State, but it didn’t take him long to produce with the Colts after getting his big break.

COWBOYS DEFENSE PROJECTION: HOW MUCH BETTER CAN DALLAS BE IN 2026 – Cody Warren, InsidetheStar.com

How much better will the Cowboys defense be in 2026?

We will start this Dallas Cowboys defense projection with one ugly truth.

Last year was terrible.

Dallas gave up 30.1 points per game, dead last in the NFL. They allowed 377.0 total yards per game, which ranked 30th. The pass defense got cooked for 251.5 yards per game, also dead last. Even the run defense was below average, giving up 125.5 rushing yards per game.

So no, I’m not going to sit here and pretend this defense was one lucky bounce away from being good. It was bad, really bad.

The good part? Dallas did not treat it like a minor problem this offseason. The Cowboys changed the whole feel of the defense. They got heavier up front, added some pass rush, got younger at linebacker, and brought in more range on the back end.

Now we get to the real question.

How much better can the Cowboys defense be in 2026?

I think they can make a big jump. I’m not talking about top-five, but a defense that’s capable of punching back instead of getting dragged all over the yard.

Daily Discussion Question: Who do you hope the Cowboys play in the opener?