Executives send warnings to NFL after Bengals, Cowboys improve defenses

The defenses of the Cincinnati Bengals and the Dallas Cowboys have long been seen as liabilities for those clubs. Both units should be improved later this year, and that fact has NFL executives impressed with how Cincinnati and Dallas have handled business over the past handful of months. 

Bengals, Cowboys are better today than they were this past January

"They had to address their defense in a big way, and they did," one unnamed longtime NFL personnel evaluator said about the Bengals and the Cowboys during a chat with Jason La Canfora of FanSided. "There was an intent to what they did. I think they both got a lot better." 

Specifically, the Bengals acquired safety Bryan Cook, safety Kyle Dugger, edge-rusher Boye Mafe and defensive tackle Jonathan Allen before the AFC North club completed a blockbuster trade to land defensive tackle Dexter Lawrence II from the New York Giants ahead of the 2026 NFL Draft. The Bengals then selected edge-rusher Cashius Howell in the second round before Cincinnati grabbed cornerback Tacario Davis in the third round. 

"Their defensive line might be the most improved unit in the league," one general manager said about the Bengals. 

Cowboys needed to spend on defense

The Cowboys made a massive change to their defense when they traded pass-rusher Micah Parsons to the Green Bay Packers for two first-round draft picks and defensive tackle Kenny Clark last summer. Since that time, Dallas has added defensive tackle Quinnen Williams, pass-rusher Rashan Gary, safeties Jalen Thompson and P.J. Locke, cornerback Cobie Durant, defensive lineman Otito Ogbonnia, linebacker Tyrus Wheat, promising rookie safety Caleb Downs, rookie pass-rusher Malachi Lawrence, rookie cornerback Devin Moore, first-year defensive lineman LT Overton and rookie linebacker Jaishawn Barham. 

"They probably drafted their way into the playoffs," the evaluator said about the Bengals and the Cowboys. "They stuck to their plan." 

On paper, Cincinnati and Dallas have starting quarterbacks who could emerge as Most Valuable Player candidates if they stay healthy in Joe Burrow and Dak Prescott. In the past, both signal-callers have been let down by the defenses assembled by their employers. If both of those defenses are as good as advertised later this year, Burrow and Prescott could potentially meet up on the final Sunday of the season in February.