It's deep into the offseason for the 2026 Dallas Cowboys, as they have started rolling the ball on OTAs this week. Cowboys fans may not have to worry about any repeat nightmares of 2025, as CeeDee Lamb assured fans that Christian Parker's defense is not the same.
In fact, it's not even close, as Lamb was all over Parker's disguised defenses, and he's already frustrating the Cowboys' star WR. Here's what Lamb told NFL Network's Jane Slater when preparing to face his peers on the defensive end.
"It's annoying. It's been annoying to prepare against...It's kind of unique just seeing different guys communicate and being able to understand and take what they learn from the meeting room and being able to easily translate it on the field. It's very tricky, but as for offenses, we just got to play fast and get to our spots."
The Cowboys' defense has been tricky for the Cowboys' offense during OTAs
Not to completely disrespect Eberflus because the players had to be good enough too, and they weren't. But this is beyond anything we've heard about a Cowboys defense in a while. The bar is far higher than 2025, and it's easy to see that now.
If Lamb, a veteran WR, is already taking note of the defense and feels "annoyed," it's going to be a more competitive defense than last season. No doubt.
With All-American safety Caleb Downs, he's the premium package who can cover, tackle and blitz if need be. Downs may be the green dot one day, but the Cowboys shouldn't rush into anything they aren't prepared for. The rookie from Ohio State will likely line up next to P.J. Thompson and Cobie Durant in the secondary, with DaRon Bland looking for a bounce-back year.
Not to mention the Cowboys' OL will have to worry about Rashan Gary, Malachi Lawrence and Jaishawn Barham. Lamb didn't say anything about the big fellas up front, but if Donovan Ezeiruaku is already praising his pass rush specialist, Brandon Jordan, let's say Lamb and the offense have a lot more to worry about.
As long as Parker's defense isn't 31st, or heck, he can be the 18th best defense and have a legit chance to do something special. They don't have to be the 1985 Chicago Bears, and the offense is already one of the best in the world.
Of course, we all want the Cowboys' offense to be successful, and last year they were ranked No. 2 in total offense. But if they make the same effort, and the defense steps far up from dead-last, this will be a Cowboys team with a ton of juice.
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