The only game played so far in Week 5 of the NFL season ended with a major upset as the winless Tampa Bay Buccaneers knocked off the Dallas Cowboys Thursday night. A major reason for Tampa Bay's victory was another disappointing performance by the Cowboys defense, which allowed undrafted free agent Jalon Daniels to complete a career-high 76 percent of his passes for 189 yards and a 110.2 passer rating.
Dallas was also dominated at the line of scrimmage, surrendering 241 rushing yards while allowing Tampa Bay to average more than six yards per carry.
Unfortunately for Dallas, this was not an isolated performance. The Cowboys defense has struggled throughout the season and currently ranks among the worst units in the NFL. They are allowing a league-worst 120.5 opponent passer rating, have recorded just six sacks in five games, and are surrendering an NFL-high 168 rushing yards per game.
Those numbers highlight two major weaknesses Dallas must address, but with limited draft capital in 2027, finding the right players could be just as challenging as fixing the defense itself.
Cowboys must find defensive difference-makers in 2027 NFL Draft
So, what can the Cowboys do to address these issues moving forward? The first step is playing more disciplined and fundamentally sound football under new defensive coordinator Christian Parker.
However, even if the defense improves its execution, the lack of talent on this unit remains glaring. Dallas will need to address those shortcomings in the 2027 NFL Draft, although that could be challenging given that the Cowboys currently have just three total draft picks.
With so few selections available, Dallas must make its opportunities count by targeting a true difference-maker at either edge rusher or cornerback.
At edge rusher, the Cowboys have received mediocre production from first-round pick Malachi Lawrence, who currently owns a disappointing 34.6 PFF run-defense grade and remains second on the depth chart at right outside linebacker despite Dallas' struggles to generate pressure and stop the run.
One player the Cowboys would love to land in the 2027 NFL Draft is Texas' Colin Simmons, but selecting him could be difficult since he is projected to be a top-five pick.
Dallas owns the Packers' first-round pick, meaning Green Bay would likely need to finish near the bottom of the NFC for the Cowboys to have a realistic shot at landing Simmons. If Simmons is off the board when Dallas is on the clock, another prospect to watch is South Carolina's Dylan Stewart, who could see his draft stock affected by his suspension earlier this year.
Lived in the backfield, 5 sacks for Simmons🤘 pic.twitter.com/nXsMQxQeWD
— Texas Football (@TexasFootball) September 26, 2026
Cornerback is another glaring weakness, even after Dallas traded for Joey Porter Jr.
Daron Bland has struggled this season, allowing opposing offenses to find success through the air and giving up at least 75 receiving yards in each of his last two games.
If the Cowboys want to improve a pass defense that ranks among the NFL's worst, adding another cornerback in the 2027 NFL Draft should be a priority. Two prospects to watch are Clemson's Ashton Hampton as a potential first-round target and Michigan's Jyaire Hill as a second-round option.
No matter how you look at it, the Cowboys appear headed for another disappointing season defensively. There is still hope that the unit can improve as it becomes more comfortable in Christian Parker's system, but coaching adjustments alone are unlikely to solve every problem.
The bigger question is whether Dallas will have enough draft capital to make a meaningful difference. With edge rusher and cornerback emerging as major needs, the Cowboys may have to decide which position gives them the best chance to turn their defense around in 2027.
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