From a media perspective, George Pickens reporting to June minicamp and agreeing to play for the Dallas Cowboys on the franchise tag is a major blow. For the team, it’s a victory that could set the tone for a new level of stability. Now the Cowboys are a little boring. Ironically, the lack of controversy makes Dallas more interesting from a football perspective. A dull Cowboys team is far more dangerous to the rest of the NFC.
Owner Jerry Jones said he wants to operate the team like a soap opera… when things get slow, he stirs it up. His constant commentary on players – both good and bad — is dizzying. This summer already feels different. Maybe Jones will manage to grab headlines when they report to training camp on July 28. For now, he’s left with a steady locker room and a roster that appears ready to focus on football.
Head coach Brian Schottenheimer came in under the radar last season and while the results were disappointing — 7-9-1 — he handled himself well. Quarterback Dak Prescott is 32 and seems comfortable in a leadership position. The two star receivers — Pickens and CeeDee Lamb — are excited to get to work. Dallas ranked second in total offense last season and there’s no reason to think it takes a step back.
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The biggest difference is on defense. Beyond new coordinator Christian Parker revamping the scheme, the personality of the unit has changed. Trading Micah Parsons removed one of the league's best pass rushers — and one of its loudest personalities. The defensive line is now anchored by veterans Quinnen Williams and Kenny Clark on the inside. With rare exceptions, defensive tackles don’t generate the same kind of buzz. But strengthening the interior of that unit is exactly what they needed even if it’s not great television.
Dallas has had success when it keeps Jerry to the side. Drafting guard Zack Martin at No. 16 overall in 2014 when Jones wanted quarterback Johnny Manziel helped usher in a sustained period of success in the late 2010s. The Cowboys have tried to recreate that success by drafting offensive linemen in the first round three out of four years from 2022 to 2025. As the three Tylers — Smith, Guyton and Booker — mature, O-line could return to being a major strength.
The media attention has always made evaluating this team difficult. Every flaw is magnified and every positive attribute over-hyped. The overall effect has been negative because they’ve had trouble managing their payroll. This season could be a brief calm in the storm. Obviously, Dallas is still popular. But with fewer distractions and a focus on building a more well-rounded team, new possibilities open up for a team that keeps hitting a ceiling in the early rounds of the playoffs.
Hoping that Jones and the Cowboys keep it together all summer may seem like a pipe dream. But Jerry is going to have to get creative and might not find a worthy topic to blow up. We’re running out of Dallas storylines. Now it’s time for everyone, including the rest of the NFC, to focus on what’s happening on the field.
5 teams that are soap opera candidates this summer
If the Cowboys’ circus really does slow down, TV producers need a new go-to team for their A-block. Other candidates will soon emerge to take Dallas’ place. Here are five teams that could take over the news cycle in 2026….
1. Kansas City Chiefs
The Chiefs are already matching the Cowboys’ television ratings, in large part because of the Travis Kelce-Taylor Swift relationship. Now that Kelce is likely entering his final season and they’re reportedly getting married on July 4 weekend, expect a traveling circus along the lines of the “Last Dance” Bulls. Patrick Mahomes’ recovery from ACL surgery isn’t a bad subplot, either.
2. Chicago Bears
Quarterback Caleb Williams is fun to watch and knows how to generate a headline. He was on the cover of Madden this offseason and just this week his effort to trademark “Iceman” was shot down because it conflicted with a boot that was trademarked in 1988. With head coach Ben Johnson entering his second season, they have a real chance to make an impact in the standings as well.
3. Cleveland Browns
The Deshaun Watson-Shedeur Sanders QB competition could evolve into the biggest training camp story. Whichever quarterback ends up playing will be polarizing. Watson because of his past and his enormous contract and Sanders because of his last name and his infamous draft fall. The Browns are famous for under-delivering on hype … like when Baker Mayfield was paired with Odell Beckham Jr. But they do have a Cowboys-like ability to get attention.
4. Philadelphia Eagles
Something was boiling under the surface throughout the entire A.J. Brown trade saga. Is Jalen Hurts beloved by his teammates? Is Nick Sirianni in control of this team? Brown was a lightning rod but now that he’s in New England, more drama could come out in South Philly. The intensity of the fan base adds to the drama, whether the Eagles are playing well or not.
5. Pittsburgh Steelers
The Steelers have the history to match the Cowboys. And they have a new coach for the first time since 2007 and the chance to make a huge splash offensively. They added actual targets for Aaron Rodgers this season. In addition to last year’s No. 1 receiver, DK Metcalf, Rodgers can turn to receiver Michael Pittman Jr. and running back Rico Dowdle. Or… Rodgers struggles and that becomes one of the biggest stories in the league. Tomlin achieved a level of consistency in Pittsburgh. Now the Steelers are an unknown in a way that makes them more fascinating than they’ve been in years.
