The Dallas Cowboys are entering the 2026 season with high expectations after returning all 11 offensive starters from last year. Head coach Brian Schottenheimer is in his second season, and the team has overhauled the defense while keeping the offensive core intact. Here is a complete position-by-position breakdown of the Cowboys’ depth chart as of August 10, 2026.
Who is the Cowboys’ full depth chart by position?
The full offensive depth chart lists Dak Prescott as QB1, Javonte Williams as RB1, CeeDee Lamb and George Pickens as the top two wide receivers, Jake Ferguson as TE1, and an offensive line of Tyler Guyton (LT), Tyler Smith (LG), Cooper Beebe (C), Tyler Booker (RG), and Terence Steele (RT).
The defensive depth chart features a retooled front with Quinnen Williams, Kenny Clark, and Otito Ogbonnia on the defensive line. The Cowboys spent much of the offseason overhauling their defense after a disappointing 2025 campaign. Key defensive additions include former first-round picks on the defensive line.
Cowboys offense projected starters for the 2026 NFL season:
| Position | Starter (projected) |
| QB | Dak Prescott |
| RB | Javonte Williams |
| WR1 | CeeDee Lamb |
| WR2 | George Pickens |
| WR3 | Ryan Flournoy |
| TE | Jake Ferguson |
| LT | Tyler Guyton |
| C | Cooper Beebe |
| LG | Tyler Smith |
| RG | Tyler Booker |
| RT | Terence Steele |
Cowboys defense projected starters for the 2026 season:
| Defensive position | Starter |
| Defensive tackle | Quinnen Williams |
| Defensive tackle | Kenny Clark |
| Edge rusher / OLB | Rashan Gary |
| Edge rusher / OLB | Donovan Ezeiruaku |
| Inside linebacker | DeMarvion Overshown |
| Inside linebacker | Dee Winters |
| Cornerback | DaRon Bland |
| Cornerback | Cobie Durant |
| Nickel Cornerback/ safety | Caleb Downs |
| Safety | Malik Hooker |
| Safety | Jalen Thompson |
Who is the Cowboys’ starting quarterback?
Dak Prescott is the undisputed starting quarterback for the Cowboys.
Prescott is entering his 11th season in the NFL and will kick off the year as the starter for the 11th time. He was one of the NFL’s top quarterbacks in 2025, completing 67.3% of his passes for 4,552 yards, 30 touchdowns, and 10 interceptions. Prescott is playing on a four-year, $240 million extension he signed in 2024. When healthy, the Cowboys have boasted one of the league’s top offenses. Prescott has also named the offense as GOTI- Greatest Offense There Is.
Who is the Cowboys’ backup quarterback?
Joe Milton III and Sam Howell are the Cowboys’ backup quarterbacks. However, according to recent reports, Howell is currently leading the backup quarterback competition over Milton III.
Howell signed a one-year, $2.5 million deal with Dallas this offseason and has started 18 games in his career, including all 17 for the Washington Commanders in 2023. Through two weeks of training camp practices in Oxnard, Cowboys beat reporters have noted that Howell is clearly ahead of Milton.
ESPN’s Todd Archer reported that Howell may have had his “most decisive practice” after throwing five touchdown passes in redzone drills. Jon Machota of The Athletic echoed this, stating, “Sam Howell, to me, is clearly ahead of Joe Milton right now”.
Who is the Cowboys’ starting center / right guard / right tackle?
Cooper Beebe is the starting center, Tyler Booker is the starting right guard, and Terence Steele is the starting right tackle for the Cowboys.
Beebe returns for his third season at center after taking most of the first-team snaps. Booker comes off a strong rookie year and will be back at right guard. Steele is the veteran of the group with 91 career starts and still has three years remaining on his contract. Tyler Smith, a Pro Bowler, stays at left guard while Tyler Guyton anchors the left tackle spot.
Who is the Cowboys’ kicker/punter/ long snapper?
Brandon Aubrey is the kicker, Bryan Anger is the punter, and Trent Sieg is the long snapper for the Cowboys.
Aubrey made 36 of 42 field goals in 2025 with a long of 60 yards. He is scheduled to become an unrestricted free agent in 2026 and is due for an extension. Anger, a two-time Pro Bowler with the Cowboys, agreed to a two-year deal this offseason. Sieg is locked in through 2027 after signing a three-year extension. All three specialists currently have no one challenging them for their jobs.
Who is the Cowboys’ punt returner / kick returner?
KaVontae Turpin is the primary punt and kick returner.
Turpin re-signed with the Cowboys on an $18 million, three-year contract. He returned a kickoff and a punt for touchdowns last season on his way to his first All-Pro nod.
Turpin led the NFL in kickoff-return yards with 1,814. He has also worked with the first-team offense throughout training camp and caught a career-high 420 yards receiving with two touchdowns last season.
Who is the Cowboys’ starting QB if Dak is out?
If Dak Prescott is unavailable, Sam Howell or Joe Milton III would be the starting quarterback based on the current training camp competition.
Howell has clearly separated himself from Joe Milton III through two weeks of practices. Howell brings starting experience with 18 career starts, while Milton has struggled with accuracy and pocket presence. The Cowboys could decide to carry three quarterbacks on the 53-man roster, but some analysts project they will keep only Prescott and Howell while leaving Milton off the active roster.