Former quarterback and NFL analyst Dan Orlovsky believes that the Cowboys are a few pieces away from potentially contending in the upcoming NFL season. 

The former QB said, “I firmly believe that less than 5% of the money that the Cowboys have presently allocated to their team is spent on free agents.” This is quite a small amount of spending for an enormous team like the Dallas Cowboys. 

From the last season alone, Dallas ranked 29th when it comes to money being spent amongst the 32 NFL teams. The team that was the most aggressive was the New England Patriots, and, hint, hint, they played the Super Bowl against the Seahawks. 

To contend again, Jerry Jones and the front office will need to spend more money on quality free agents, and that number needs to be more than five percent. 

“They’re two or three players away on defense from all of a sudden becoming real contenders,” said Orlovsky. This is the meat of the problem, and this is where the front office needs to pay the most attention, entering the draft and free agency. 

Orlovsky said, “If they can get a backer, an edge rusher, and a secondary player that are high-end players, that defense gets solid.”

What did the NFL analyst say about the Cowboys' offense?

As much as Dallas has their woes on defense, one cannot forget that they also have a stacked offense. 

“Totally agree on their offense, they got to get Pickens to at least play on the tag, they’ll figure that out hopefully,” said Orlovsky. 

With Dak Prescott and CeeDee Lamb restructuring their contracts, they are the present and future of this Dallas football team. 

Javonte Williams, the running back who enjoyed a good 2025 season, will return to the Cowboys for three more years as he signed a $24 million deal. 

The only question mark when it comes to the offense is George Pickens, their leading wide receiver from the 2025 season. And if they find a way to make him play in the next season, that offense will deliver.

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Written by

Samvruth Raj

Edited by

Joyita Das