The Cowboys players who will likely exceed expectations in 2026

It is difficult to be underrated as a member of the Dallas Cowboys given how much attention the team receives. It does happen from time to time. Today we are looking at something in that overall realm.

So many players disappoint us as Cowboys fans because of the aforementioned hype, but this means that so rarely are there players who actually exceed expectations. It is important then to understand the proper context. Someone like CeeDee Lamb is unlikely to exceed expectations because they are so high.

Here are three players who have the chance to clear that proverbial bar.

Also relative to context, there have been so many changes to the Cowboys this offseason that it is sort of hard to keep track of them all. We aren’t used to this type of thing.

Rashan Gary is the new War Daddy (to use an old school Jerry-ism) in town and his arrival was quickly pushed down the list of changes as players like Jalen Thompson and particularly Caleb Downs arrived. Gary has a familiarity, even if a brief one, with new defensive coordinator Christian Parker which means that he was chosen for a reason. That in and of itself is exciting.

Some fans were a bit down on this trade when it happened which means that expectations here are likely not too high. He is going to have every opportunity to work and thrive though, and rushing the passer with Quinnen Williams absorbing so much attention on the inside is going to be a situation where he has a chance to really impress.

Tyler Booker

This is one of those where the bar is high, but the player involved is the type who is likely going to clear it.

Last season was so lost for the Cowboys that it was hard to take away anything good that happened because it felt like nothing of that variety happened. The Cowboys drafted another all-world offensive lineman and it feels like at season’s end it will be virtually understood that they have the best pair of interior linemen across the entire NFL.

Tyler Smith has already made that name for himself, but Tyler Booker is no longer a rookie who has to live in any kind of shadow. This season provides an opportunity for Booker to really put on display who he was at Alabama and more specifically who he was last season. He is quietly one of the better players on the team already. Now it’s just a matter of turning up the volume.

Like with Rashan Gary, Quinnen Williams is going to be a rising tide to lift a lot of boats. One of those vessels is Kenny Clark.

The Cowboys chose to keep Clark in tow this offseason, and perhaps some of the reason why is the narrative of how it would have looked to part with the player they acquired in the Micah Parsons trade. Whatever the case, it is fair to believe that they really value Clark and want him to be a part of what they are building.

With teams giving so much attention on the inside to Williams, you need only be a normally talented individual (relative to NFL standards here) to capitalize and pounce. The situation is ripe for Clark in that sense, almost the polar opposite of the one he was thrust into last year.

2026 could be huge for him.

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