Cowboys' 2026 offseason grades: Did Dallas fix its defense?

The Dallas Cowboys entered the 2025 NFL season hoping to emerge as a Super Bowl 60 contender. However, a decision to trade Micah Parsons one week before the season began ultimately undermined their chances of achieving that goal.

The Cowboys sputtered to a 7-10 record despite a strong, all-around season from their offense. The problem? Dallas' defense was the league's worst, allowing 30.1 points per game and ranking dead-last in defensive EPA per play, according to the NFL's Next Gen Stats.