The Dallas Cowboys are trying to figure out how to get the most out of their defense before the 2026 season implodes. Playing in a division ripe for the taking, now is the time to adjust quickly, and Brian Schottenheimer indicated that changes will be coming. 

Two of those have already been announced; defensive coordinator Christian Parker will be up in the coaches booth (allegedly) instead of on the sidelines, and the team brought in Mike Pettine to work with Parker’s defense. While both changes may help, what the team desperately needs on the defensive side of the ball isn’t likely to be found this season.

Simply put, the Cowboys need more talent. 

What’s more, the organization knows it. That’s why they tried to trade for Las Vegas Raiders defensive end Maxx Crosby, were successful in dealing for cornerback Joey Porter, and why owner Jerry Jones keeps talking about upgrading the talent on defense. 

It’s not a big secret, Dallas’ defense doesn’t have enough good players, and injuries have robbed them of depth. Cornerback, linebacker and pass rusher were all areas of concern heading into the offseason, and they’re still problems five weeks into the 2026 campaign. 

Some of this was easy to see coming and can be traced back to Parker. Growing pains were expected from a first-time DC, but some of his scheme and decisions are fair to criticize. Dropping edge rusher Von Miller into coverage too often and the final defensive call against the Baltimore Ravens are among the examples that are fair to question.

Parker also had a large role in selecting the players who were tasked to rebuild the defense, and most of those additions have been a disaster. The Cowboys traded for Rashan Gary, who the Green Bay Packers thought was done. Gary has been bad, as have Dee Winters, prized free agent Jalen Thompson, and Miller. 

The young DC is also on the hook for who has gotten the playing time thus far. Gary and Miller getting snaps over rookie Malachi Lawrence continues to be a questionable decision, and why pass rusher James Houston hasn't been active this season is another. The positive news is that Schottenheimer has relayed that Lawrence has earned more playing time moving forward.

In the secondary, keeping DaRon Bland and Shavon Revel on the field instead of trying other options, like Ameer Speed, also remains puzzling. 

These are all valid questions for Parker, but it’s also an indictment on the talent level for Dallas’ defense. Besides defensive tackle Quinnen Williams, Caleb Downs and Jaishawn Barham, who is a top-level defender for the Cowboys? Two of those players are rookies, and while Porter will hopefully be another addition to the list, he hasn’t played enough to know for sure.

Of the players the Cowboys were counting heavily on this season, many have failed to live up to expectations. Gary, Winters, Miller, Thompson, Bland, Kenny Clark, Donovan Ezeiruaku, and DeMarvion Overshown (in limited snaps) are all among the guys who haven’t been good enough.

Cowboys fans can complain all they want about the defensive coordinator and scheme, but the players have been a big part of the problem. The failures on defense go hand and hand with the players the DC has to work with, even if he’s the one who selected them.

Parker, Pettine, Parcells, pick a name, it’s likely no one would be getting great results with the talent the Cowboys currently have on defense. The organization knows it, and so do Parker and Schottenheimer, it’s part of the reason Jones continues to talk about adding pieces to a unit that has few top options.

A return to health might help, as may a few lineup changes and Pettine’s arrival, but until there’s more talent on the field, Dallas’ defense will continue to struggle. That’s the reality of the situation.