After finishing the 2025 season as one of the league’s worst overall defenses, there are high expectations for the Dallas Cowboys to improve this year under new defensive coordinator Christian Parker. Through free agency, the 2026 NFL Draft, and trades, they’ve invested heavily this offseason on that side of the ball in the hopes for a quick defensive turnaround.
The Cowboys defense is a good mix of veteran leadership and young, talented players who are all expected to help things turn around quickly. Whether it’s players who are expected to immediately step in as starters or those playing a backup role, there are a handful of who could potentially have breakout seasons this year with the Cowboys. Below are the ones with the best chance this year.
OLB Donovan Ezeiruaku
New year, new number (No. 6) brings new high expectations for the Cowboys second-round draft pick from a year ago. With a year under his belt, Donovan Ezeiruaku is expected to take a big jump in Year 2 after finishing the 2025 season as one the best rookie pass rushers. According to TruMedia, Ezeiruaku finished his rookie season with a 11.3% pass-rush win rate, third behind only Abdul Carter (14.0%) and James Pearce Jr. (13.6%). He’s expected to be even better and Christian Parker’s versatile 3-4 scheme, a more natural fit for him.
LB DeMarvion Overshown
Unfortunately, DeMarvion Overshown has had a rough go of it since joining the Cowboys. He’s sustained two different season-ending knee injuries, which has hampered is development. Now 100% healthy once again, and entering a contract year, he is expected to be a big part of Dallas’ defense this season. His sideline-to-sideline speed and playmaking ability is tailor-made for Christian Parker’s scheme. Because of that, he has a really good shot of having a breakout year. That could potentially earn him a contract extension with the Cowboys.
DB Caleb Downs
Caleb Downs may have not been the first player drafted this year, but many believed him to be the best player in the entire 2026 NFL Draft. Due to his playmaking ability and football IQ, he’s is expected to make an immediate impact for the Cowboys defense. That’s especially true considering he’s playing the ever important, versatile safety/slot role in Christian Parker’s versatile 3-4 scheme. He’s receiving rave reviews at OTAs and should be a true difference maker in what is expected to be his breakout rookie season.
CB Shavon Revel Jr.
A first-round talent who slipped to the Cowboys in the third-round last year due to a season-ending ACL injury, Shavon Revel was never quite 100% last season. Now fully healthy and not wearing a knee brace, he’s looked like an entirely different player so far at OTAs, moving around well and playing with much more confidence. This could earn him a starting job at some point this year, and if so, could lead to a breakout season. With so many questions currently at the CB position, this would be an ideal scenario for the Cowboys defense.
LB Jaishawn Barham
It’s still a bit of the mystery what type of role Jaishawn Barham will play with the Cowboys in his rookie season, but there’s a lot of scuttlebutt he will be a big part of their defense. His ability to play as an off-ball LB or rush off the edge as an OLB in Christian Parker’s scheme could make him a versatile chess piece type of weapon. Whether he earns the full-time starting job right away or later on this season, No. 55 has a really good chance of having a breakout rookie season.
Who do you have as the breakout player on the Cowboys defense?
