After revamping their defense and strengthening the roster around quarterback Dak Prescott during the offseason, one analyst believes the Dallas Cowboys have run out of excuses for failing to make a deep playoff run.

During an episode of ESPN’s First Take on July 22, former NFL safety and current ESPN analyst Louis Riddick said that the Cowboys are legit Super Bowl contenders considering their powerful offense and the defensive overhaul made this offseason. 

"There really aren't any excuses for Dallas anymore," Louis Riddick said during ESPN’s First Take. "I personally am picking them to win the division. I think they are the favorite in the division because of the work that they've done this offseason, because of Brian Schottenheimer's influence on this football team, and the fact that I think, just man for man, I think they're better than Philadelphia right now."

Under head coach Brian Schottenheimer’s influence and the significant changes made to the defensive unit by hiring defensive coordinator Christian Parker, Riddick believes that the Cowboys could win the NFC East division title in the 2026 season.

“I believe at any time during the season, Christian Parker has to be huge,” Riddick said during the July 22nd episode of ESPN’s First Take. “But offensively, they have one of the best offensive lines in football. They have one of the best wide receiver duos in football. Dak is one of the best quarterbacks in football. They have depth at running back.”

Riddick credited Will McClay, the Cowboys’ Vice President of player personnel, for working with the team to execute the defensive overhaul. 

The franchise brought in veteran pass rusher Rashan Gary, along with drafting safety Caleb Downs, DE Malachi Lawrence and LB Jaishawn Barham as part of the process.

Riddick believes that under DC Parker, the defensive unit could overturn the Cowboys' defense, which ranked at No. 32 in scoring defense, where they allowed 511 points in the 2025 season (30.1 points per game).

Riddick believes the Cowboys have no excuses for falling short of the postseason, citing a potent offense led by elite pocket passer Dak Prescott and wide receiver duo CeeDee Lamb and George Pickens. 

Kimberly A. Martin believes a "decent" defense could transform Cowboys

During the same episode of ESPN's First Take, NFL reporter Kimberly A. Martin said that if the Cowboys defense turns out to be "decent", they could enter the NFC East title conversation.

"And the expectations for that unit is to go from one of the worst - I just need them to be decent," Kimberly A. Martin said during the same show. "I just need them to be decent. If you have a decent defense paired with that offense, then I think they have a legit shot to win the division like Louis is saying."

Martin believes the Cowboys have assembled a roster strong enough to "go deep into the playoffs", considering their lack of NFC Championship appearance since the 1995 season.

All in all, analysts believe that the defensive overhaul should deliver an average performance for the Cowboys to elevate into legitimate Super Bowl contenders.

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Written by

Archana Ramakrishnan

Edited by

Arundhoti Palit