The Dallas Cowboys revamped roster has raised the expectations for 2026, with one bold prediction backing Cowboys quarterback Dak Prescott for an MVP-caliber season and a run to the NFC’s No. 2 seed.

Jarrett Bailey of SB Nation projected Prescott to finish among the NFL’s top five MVP candidates in the 2026 season, leading the Cowboys to a 12-win season and an NFC East title.

“Cowboys win NFC East,” Jarrett Bailey of SB Nation wrote in his article on July 22. “The offense will be one of the best and most explosive in the NFL and their defense will be much better under new defensive coordinator Christian Parker, along with a plethora of new faces. Dak Prescott finishes top five in MVP voting as Dallas wins 12 games to take the No. 2 seed.”

Jarrett Bailey of SB Nation's prediction came in his list of 61 NFL predictions ahead of the 2026 season. He pointed out that the Cowboys' offensive unit is "one of the most explosive" in the league, with an impactful wide receiving duo in CeeDee Lamb and George Pickens and an elite pocket passer in Prescott.

Bailey wrote that with the significant changes in the roster, Prescott could enter the MVP conversation for the 2026 season.

Prescott previously trailed the Baltimore Ravens quarterback Lamar Jackson in the 2023 MVP race. Bailey believes the defensive overhaul made during the offseason could transform the Cowboys' defensive unit, which allowed 511 points (30.1 points per game) last season, ranking at the bottom of the league, as compared to 468 opponent points in 2024.

The Cowboys added veteran pass rusher Rashan Gary, who accumulated 45 sacks last season with the Green Bay Packers. Dallas also added former Los Angeles Rams cornerback Cobie Durant and signed former Arizona Cardinals safety Jalen Thompson in free agency.

“Caleb Downs, Jalen Thompson, Cobie Durant, Rashan Gary - this defense is going to look a lot different than it did in 2025 when it gave up the most explosive plays in the league,” Bailey wrote.

Bailey believes that new draft picks such as first-round pick Caleb Downs and Malachi Lawrence could boost the defense, making it different and above average compared to last season.

If the offseason additions deliver and Prescott continues to perform at an elite level, Bailey believes the Cowboys could enter the Super Bowl conversation. It already puts Philadelphia Eagles on high alert.

Cowboys projected as Eagles' biggest threat in NFC East

Kurt Daniels of DallasCowboys.com believes the Cowboys are a "firm second" in the NFC East division, emerging as the strongest contender to the defending division champion Philadelphia Eagles.

"Right now, I think they're a firm second in the division but coming up fast on the Eagles," the analyst wrote in an article on July 9. "If Dak Prescott and company can continue the offensive fireworks, and the defense rises from the dregs of the NFL cellar, Dallas should give Philly a run for its money."

With the Eagles entering the season under new offensive coordinator Sean Mannion and following the departure of wide receiver A. J. Brown, Daniels believes the Cowboys have an edge over their division rivals in fielding one of the league's top-two offenses.

With an explosive offense and an improved defense, the Cowboys could finally be in a position to challenge the Eagles for the NFC East crown in 2026.

What are your thoughts on the bold Cowboys prediction? Let us know in the comments.

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Written by

Archana Ramakrishnan

Edited by

Soheli Tarafdar