The Dallas Cowboys are continuing to move different in their question to put a winner on the field in 2026 with a focus on production and culture over pedigree.

It certainly has been born out in the numbers on the final roster that their has been an upgrade in talent from the team that finished 7-9-1 in 2025 and fielded the worst defense in franchise history and one of the worst in league history.

15 players from the 26 players they kept on last year’s opening day roster on defense are not even in the league.

That’s how bad it was last year, spurring wholesale changes from the coaching staff to the individual talent.

“I think we’ve done a great job and maybe that’s me in year two or maybe it’s just the way it was built with Owners Jerry Jones and Stephen Jones being involved from the hiring of defensive coordinator Christian Parker to the process of getting these players,” coach Brian Schottenheimer said. “You put them right there, last year’s roster, this year’s roster, anybody, even yourself could see the difference. Kudos to the front office ownership and it’s a remarkable difference.”

Continuing to compete and get better was is at the root of the decisions and changes the Cowboys are still making as their begin to work toward the Sept. 13 season opener at the New York Giants.

Consider the decision to acquire former first-round pick Broderick Jones from the Pittsburgh Steelers via trade on Sunday. Coach Brian Schottenheimer said Jones would be competing with Terrance Steele for the starting spot at right tackle.

He is not here to be depth piece or swing tackle.

He is here to push Steele, who has struggled consistency and has been disappointment, for the starting job.

“Broderick’s a guy, a lot of talent,” Schottenheimer said. “When we made the trade, the first thing I did was I reached out to Terrence Steele and told Terrance that Broderick’s coming here to compete with him to be the starting right tackle. We’re not going to move Broderick around. So Broderick will be competing with Terrence to be the starting right tackle of this football team. And five star athlete, Georgia, high draft pick, elite feet. There’s some fundamental things that we’re excited that we feel like we can kind of tighten up.

“And I know he’s really excited to be here. And again, it goes to that same thing. Sometimes a change of scenery is a good thing.”

Jones didn’t fit in Pittsburgh and was a first-round bust. He is coming off neck surgery but he does have 38 starts.

“You watch the film, he’s playing on the right side, the left side’s pulling, he’s hitting people, stuff like that,” Schottenheimer said. “So went through all the physical stuff that we needed to get done and we’re very, very comfortable and confident that he’s good.”

The Cowboys also bolstered the running back position claiming Emari Demercado off waivers from the Kansas City Chiefs.

Demercado has experience with Cowboys offensive coordinator Klayton Adams from their days together with the Arizona Cardinals.

“Clayton has some exposure to him, good veteran, plays special teams, and there’s a lot of things that we like about him,” Schottenheimer said. “So we’re excited that we’re awarded him in the claiming system.”

His presence is a testament to the work of Malik Davis as the primary backup to starter JaVonte Williams.

It’s also example of the team’s disappointment in the play and performances of running backs Jaydon Blue and Phil Mafah, who were picked the fifth and seventh rounds of the 2025 NFL Draft.

The same can be said for the release of edge rusher Sam Williams, a 2022 second-round pick, and the decision to keep Tyrus Wheat on the roster.

Wheat was released last year on final cuts. He made the team this year.

“I think it’s what you do when you’re playing real football,” Schottenheimer said. “Again, a lot of these guys, I’ll be honest with you, some of the guys that we’ve moved on from, they were excellent in shorts. OTAs. Wow. Look at this. This is us in meetings, but real football is real football. And so I think the importance of what you do in pads and what you do in training camp matters, what you do in the joints matter, and that’s real.”