After a disappointing 2025 season, finishing 7-9-1, the Dallas Cowboys’ goal is clear: improvement. Be better than they were last season.
After completely overhauling its coaching staff and defense from last season, it finally looks like the Cowboys are trending in the right direction.
But what they need most is for their returning players to improve after disappointing 2025 seasons. If the team doesn’t see the improvements they hoped for from these players, this could be their last season as a Dallas Cowboy.
Malik Hooker
Since 2021, Malik Hooker has been a clear-cut starter for Dallas. While he hasn’t been the best player on the field, he hasn’t been the worst. From when he first arrived in Dallas, Hooker’s jobs were clear: mentor young players, let nothing get behind him, and help communicate coverages.
He’s never been the most elite player on the field, but he’s been the dependable veteran presence the Cowboys asked him to be, until the 2025 season. He had by far his worst statistical Cowboys season in 2025, giving up 11.8 yards per target and a 131.7 passer rating.
With the arrival of P.J. Locke and Jalen Thompson via free agency and Caleb Downs via the draft, Hooker’s career with Dallas is in question.
DaRon Bland
Everyone remembers DaRon Bland for his legendary, record-breaking season in 2023. He recorded nine interceptions, 15 pass breakups, and an astonishing five pick-sixes.
But after suffering a stress fracture in his left foot during 2024 training camp, which has persisted, Bland has recorded only 1 interception in 19 games over the past two seasons.
Now, he’s entering his fifth season with the Cowboys and three years removed from his legendary season. With so much time passed, Bland’s future in Dallas is heavily reliant upon his upcoming 2026 performance.
DeMarvion Overshown
To say that the start of DeMarvion Overshown’s career has been underwhelming would be an understatement. Right away, fans fell in love with Overshown; he embodied what it meant to be a Dallas Cowboy immediately when he got drafted.
But due to injuries, fans have seen him play in only 19 games over two seasons. In December 2024, Overshown suffered a horrific knee injury, tearing his ACL, MCL and PCL. This forced him to sit out the remainder of the 2024 season and miss more than half of the 2025 season. In the brief time he played in 2024, his potential showed immediately.
In just 13 games as a rookie, he managed to record 90 tackles, five sacks, eight tackles for loss, one pick-six and one forced fumble. Safe to say, when healthy, Overshown can do it all. But that’s the problem: Overshown’s lack of availability makes it hard for the Cowboys to keep him on the team. If Overshown misses any more time in 2026, the Cowboys might be forced to say goodbye.
Tyler Guyton
Tyler Guyton was the Cowboys’ first-round pick in the 2024 NFL Draft, primarily as the replacement for All-Pro tackle Tyron Smith. But after just two seasons with the Cowboys, his future with the team is already in jeopardy.
On paper, Guyton should be the clear-cut starter with the team; he’s a 6-foot-7, 322-pound swing tackle who ran a 5.19 40-yard dash at the NFL Scouting Combine. Guyton is an extremely athletic offensive tackle who excels at exploding out of his stance and can cover a lot of ground from his kick slide while still mimicking speed rushers around the edge.
Those physical gifts have never been the problem with Guyton; the concern is whether he can consistently translate them into dependable play. After two years as a starter in the NFL, inconsistent footwork, incorrect hand placement, and health concerns have led to costly holding penalties and sacks allowed.
Entering his third year in the NFL, if Guyton doesn’t step up and be the player Dallas drafted him to be, it could lead to him losing the starting job to emerging offensive tackle Nathan Thomas.
Terence Steele
Terence Steele has been the Dallas Cowboys’ starting right tackle since entering the league in 2020. Steele is currently the longest-tenured starting offensive lineman on the Cowboys’ roster, but his six-year streak could be coming to an end if things don’t change.
According to Pro Football Focus, Steele posted the worst pass-blocking grade of his career last season. He earned a 54.9 pass-blocking grade that ranked 76th out of 89 eligible linemen.
In Steele’s six-year career, he has never posted a pass-blocking grade higher than 63.7. Throughout that span, he has been a liability in pass protection, with his experience and durability consistently keeping him in the starting lineup.
With the recent addition of Drew Shelton in the 2026 NFL Draft, this could be the last season we see Terence Steele in a Cowboys jersey.
KaVontae Turpin
KaVontae Turpin burst onto the scene in 2022 as one of the most dynamic return men this league has seen in recent years. In just his first year in the league, Turpin managed to rack up 837 all-purpose return yards while also getting a nod to the 2022 Pro Bowl as just a rookie.
Turpin didn’t stop there; by 2026, he had racked up three Pro Bowl honors and one first-team All-Pro in just four seasons in the league. But recently, Dallas has started asking a little more of Turpin than just returning kicks; how effective a receiver can he be?
Last season, Turpin showed flashes of what he can do as a receiver. He racked up 396 yards for two touchdowns, but Dallas needs to see more. KaVontae Turpin is what many would call a “gadget” receiver, meaning he isn’t a traditional, go-to wide receiver. Still, he has athleticism and the ability to be deployed creatively to confuse the defense.
As of right now, Dallas’ current WR4 position is up for grabs, with names such as Marquez Valdes-Scantling, Jonathan Mingo, and Traeshon Holden all looking to secure that spot. If Turpin doesn’t improve more as a receiver, and not just a “gadget guy,” Dallas might be forced to move on from the dynamic return man.
2026 Season May Decide Their Cowboy Futures
The Dallas Cowboys have already made plenty of changes this offseason, but sometimes the biggest changes happen during the season.
Every player on this list has proven they have the talent to be an important part of Dallas’ future. With more competition across the roster and a new coaching staff evaluating every position, the 2026 season will play a big part in deciding who will remain with Dallas and who will be looking for a fresh start elsewhere.
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