Although preseason projections suggested the Dallas Cowboys would miss the playoffs last season, it is always considered a failure when this team does not make the postseason – and that was the case in 2025. For the second consecutive year, they missed the playoffs, and they have now gone 30 years without reaching the Super Bowl.
As if expectations were not already challenging, just one week before the season began, the team announced the shocking news that they had traded their best defensive player – and perhaps their best overall player – Micah Parsons to the Green Bay Packers for two first-round picks. The defense was already struggling, and after that move, it became the worst in the NFL in points allowed per game.
In the end, the Dallas Cowboys, led by a top-10 offense in the NFL, managed to win some games, but not enough. They finished second in the NFC East, far behind the teams that made the playoffs. Now the goal is to return to the postseason, but the defense must improve no matter what.
Cowboys to target defensive talent in the Draft
Throughout the season, the Dallas Cowboys allowed 511 points, averaging 30.1 points per game – the worst mark in the league. With statistics like that, it is extremely difficult to compete in a demanding league like the NFL. Although they attempted to improve by acquiring Quinnen Williams at the trade deadline, it was not enough.
The Cowboys hold the 12th overall pick in the Draft, and in a mock draft exercise by ESPN’s Jordan Reid, Jerry Jones and company would once again make a trade with the New York Jets, similar to the deal for defensive tackle Quinnen Williams. In this scenario, Dallas would move down to pick No. 16 while sending pick No. 12 to the Jets, who would then select USC wide receiver Makai Lemon.
With the 16th overall pick, the Cowboys would select Oregon safety Dillon Thieneman, addressing a major need. Not only did they allow the most points in the league, but they also surrendered 377 yards per game on average – the third-highest total in the NFL.
Dillon Thieneman is an aggressive, versatile safety who could make an immediate impact on a defense that has been heavily exposed in recent seasons. Offensively, with Dak Prescott, CeeDee Lamb, and George Pickens, the team should remain a top-10 unit. The goal now is to rebuild the defense and become competitive again in 2026.
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