4 young Cowboys ready for expanded roles in 2026

When the Dallas Cowboys take the field for training camp next week, the time for talking is over. Every offseason brings optimism for the next breakout star, but once the pads come on, players have to prove they belong. While the front office was more aggressive in free agency this year, the Cowboys are still counting on their younger players to step up and perform. Finding a few breakout contributors could go a long way toward helping Dallas rebound from last season and return to playoff contention.

Opportunities are there for the taking, but earning them won't be easy. Their competition has far more experience in games, giving them a leg up, so every snap in training camp and the preseason matters. Whether it's a young defender pushing for a larger role, or an offensive player looking to climb the depth chart, these four Cowboys have a chance to make a significant impact in 2026.

If they can capitalize on that opportunity, Dallas could utilize new contributors capable of strengthening both sides of the football.

Phil Mafah

When a running back brings the size and power Mafah does to the table, it's only natural to find ways to get him on the field and let him wear down opposing defenses. Fans likely would have seen more from the young back last season if not for the shoulder injury that sidelined him until the season finale, in which he punched in a goal-line touchdown. That's the type of role Mafah needs to carve out for himself as he battles for more snaps this year.

Dallas would love to keep starting running back Javonte Williams fresh and healthy throughout the season, and one way to accomplish that is by handing more of the goal-line work to Mafah. At 6-foot-1 and 232 pounds, he has the frame to punish defenders and move the pile in short-yardage situations. It benefits everyone involved. Williams takes fewer unnecessary hits, while Mafah gives the Cowboys a true battering ram in the red zone, someone capable of turning tough yards into touchdowns.

Brevyn Spann-Ford

Like Mafah, Spann-Ford enters the season behind an established starter in Jake Ferguson. However he managed to carve out a role for himself last year as Dallas' primary blocking tight end. This season presents an opportunity to expand that role. With Luke Schoonmaker's standing on the roster far from secure, Spann-Ford has a chance to climb the depth chart if he proves he can be a more consistent receiving threat. The red-zone portion of training camp could be the perfect place to make that statement.

Standing 6-foot-7, Spann-Ford presents matchup problems few defenders are equipped to handle near the goal line. Rather than limiting him to blocking duties in those situations, Dallas should look for ways to take advantage of his size and create mismatches in the passing game. He's shown reliable hands when given opportunities, and expanding his role as a receiver could help the Cowboys become more efficient inside the 20. Before that happens, though, he'll need to overtake Schoonmaker and establish himself as the clear TE2.

Shemar James

On the defensive side of the ball, linebacker remains one of the biggest question marks. Shemar James could be one of the answers. As a rookie, he was thrown into action before he was fully ready, but still managed to emerge as one of the few bright spots of 2025. In six starts, James totaled 91 tackles, two tackles for loss, and 1.5 sacks while gaining valuable experience on the fly.

With so much uncertainty at linebacker, James has a real opportunity to work his way up the depth chart behind DeMarvion Overshown and Dee Winters. His biggest competition comes from rookie Jaishawn Barham and Marist Liufau, but both could spend time at edge rusher depending on the situation. If James can show improvement in coverage and become a more complete defender, he has a legitimate chance to be the next man up and provide much-needed depth at a position many still view as a concern.

Shavon Revel Jr.

Revel may have the most at stake after the Cowboys added Cobie Durant and Derion Kendrick this offseason. Revel found himself in a difficult situation last year. Not only was he working his way back from a significant knee injury, but he was also inserted into a secondary plagued by communication issues. Given those circumstances, it's not hard to understand why he struggled to consistently find his footing.

This season represents a clean slate. Revel says his knee is fully healthy, and now he has an opportunity to show the new defensive coaching staff exactly what he can bring to the table. His size gives him an advantage over Durant and Kendrick, but he'll need to overcome their NFL experience if he wants to hold onto a starting role opposite DaRon Bland. If he can recapture the form he displayed before the injury, Dallas could finally get the player many draft analysts believed had first-round talent before his stock took a hit because of his knee.

This article originally appeared on Cowboys Wire: 4 young Cowboys ready for expanded roles in 2026