The Dallas Cowboys are looking to reboot their defense after a rough 2025 season. Dallas ranked toward the bottom of the NFL in several statistical categories under defensive coordinator Matt Eberflus. After tabbing Christian Parker as his replacement, it wouldn’t be a shock to see some new faces on that side of the ball when they return to the field in 2026.
Some of the Cowboys’ investments could be made during the draft, but the heavy lifting may come during free agency. Dallas has to make some difficult decisions before then to eliminate the $39.4 million they currently stand over the cap heading into next season and create some space to add an impact free agent or two this spring. But the Cowboys may already have a target after current New Orleans Saints linebacker Demario Davis told FanDuel TV’s Kay Adams that he plans to return for the 2026 season.
“I’m coming back to the NFL. And I’m excited about that, I am super excited about that,” Davis said during an appearance on The Up & Adams Show, via Kole Noble of A to Z Sports. “I keep training all of the way through the Super Bowl so my body feels great. I’m just excited. I’m excited for the offseason and then I’ll get into my offseason training regimen and prepare to do it all over again. How that plays itself out, we shall see.”
Demario Davis Makes Plenty of Sense as Cowboys FA Target in 2026
Davis may not be appealing to Cowboys fans entering his age-37 season, but he’s still effective enough to get the job done. Playing in the middle of the Saints’ defense last season, he collected 143 total tackles and six tackles for loss, along with three pass deflections. This also marked the ninth straight season and the 11th time during his 14-year career that he’s notched a campaign with over 100 tackles.
But statistical dominance is only one piece of the puzzle. David Howman of Blogging the Boys noted that Davis had one of the best years of his career playing under defensive coordinator Brandon Staley in New Orleans last season, and Staley cut his teeth under Philadelphia Eagles coordinator Vic Fangio. Connecting the dots further goes back to Parker, who coached under Fangio the past two seasons and will likely bring his scheme to fix the Cowboys' defense.
Looking at the current linebacker room, it’s not quite the trio of Nakobe Dean, Zack Baun, and Jihaad Campbell that Parker was coaching in Philadelphia. Kenneth Murray was a disaster, recording a 38.8 overall grade according to Pro Football Focus, and Shemar James was also a liability with a 39.9 overall grade before the Cowboys traded for Logan Wilson midway through the season. Wilson didn’t solve the problem, so it is likely time to give someone else a try.
Davis had plenty of issues in coverage, allowing 45 catches for 363 yards and two touchdowns. He also recorded a pair of pass breakups on 49 targets. But he is an effective pass-rusher when called upon, logging an 18.5 percent pressure rate on 70 snaps.
Perhaps his most intriguing quality to the Cowboys is his ability to tackle, registering an 11.2 percent missed-tackle rate last season. By comparison, Kenneth Murray had Dallas’s lowest missed-tackle rate at 11.5% while DeMarvion Overshown (14.7 percent), Jack Sanborn (18.4 percent), and Marist Liufau (28.0 percent) all cleared that number with ease.
Overshown returned late in the 2025 season after a multi-ligament knee injury and should be able to help the cause next year. That being said, Davis would at least be a stopgap who allows the Cowboys to invest in other areas to ensure Parker’s first year is a success.
As Cowboys fans can attest, the bar is low, and Davis could turn into a perfect signing if the two sides can work out an agreement this spring.