The Dallas Cowboys may have found a new path back to contention after the 2026 NFL Draft, according to Pete Prisco. Speaking on CBS Sports, Prisco backed Dallas as a serious Super Bowl threat following key defensive additions.
“I love it,” Prisco said during the broadcast. “And by the way, I’m gonna sit here in late April and say it, the Dallas Cowboys are not only going to win the damn division, they’re gonna be a legitimate Super Bowl contender.”
Prisco pointed to a reshaped defense and a high-scoring offense as reasons behind his bold call. Dallas used its first-round picks on Caleb Downs and Malachi Lawrence. Downs, selected at No. 11, brings versatility and strong awareness to the secondary. Lawrence, taken at No. 23, adds speed and pressure off the edge.
The franchise made aggressive moves to secure both players. Dallas traded up with the Miami Dolphins to draft Downs. It later traded down with the Philadelphia Eagles before selecting Lawrence and adding extra picks.
MORE: 2026 NFL Draft results, full list of picks for Round 1
Talking about the first round moves, Prisco highlighted improved pass rush and better coverage as key upgrades.
“For all the criticism that Jerry Jones has taken, and believe me, a lot of it is deserved, when this team takes the field, and the way they’re constructed right now, new look defense, you add those guys to that defense, you add a pass rusher with Twitch, you add the guy in the back end, the Dallas Cowboys are gonna score a ton of points on offense,” Prisco said. “That team is going to be a Super Bowl contender, and they will win the East.”
The 2026 NFL Draft marked the first time since 2005 that Dallas selected two defensive players in the first round. That year included stars like DeMarcus Ware, a name now used as a comparison for Lawrence’s pass-rush traits.
The Cowboys needed defensive help after a poor 2025 season. The team finished 7–9–1 and missed the playoffs again. Despite ranking seventh in scoring, Dallas allowed a league-worst 30.1 points per game.
MORE: 2026 NFL Draft biggest winners & losers from Round 1
Head coach Brian Schottenheimer now has fresh tools to rebuild that unit. The defense lost key pieces, including Micah Parsons, who was traded, and veteran guard Zack Martin, who retired.
The NFC East remains competitive, but Prisco sees Dallas rising to the top. His prediction has generated hope for a team searching for playoff success.