NFL Analyst Doubles Down on Cowboys' Contention Prediction

ESPN's Dan Orlovsky believes Dallas is just a few defensive pieces away from opening a Super Bowl window.

Mar. 2, 2026 at 1:47pm

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ESPN analyst Dan Orlovsky recently claimed the Dallas Cowboys were on the verge of opening a Super Bowl window, and he has now doubled down on that prediction. Orlovsky believes the Cowboys are just two or three defensive players away from becoming legitimate contenders, praising the job done by team executive Will McClay in building a solid roster despite the team's conservative approach in free agency.

Why it matters

The Cowboys have been a consistent playoff contender in recent years, but have yet to reach the Super Bowl under head coach Mike McCarthy. Orlovsky's bold prediction that the team is close to contention could generate excitement among Cowboys fans and put pressure on the team's front office to be aggressive in free agency and the draft to capitalize on the team's current window.

The details

Orlovsky made his initial claim that the Cowboys were on the verge of a Super Bowl window during a recent appearance on ESPN. He has now doubled down on that prediction, stating that the team is just two or three high-end defensive players away from becoming real contenders. Orlovsky praised the work of Cowboys executive Will McClay, who has built a solid roster despite the team's conservative approach in free agency.

  • Orlovsky made his initial claim about the Cowboys on a recent edition of ESPN's 'Get Up'.
  • Orlovsky reiterated his prediction on the March 2, 2026 edition of 'Get Up'.

The players

Dan Orlovsky

A former NFL quarterback who is currently an analyst for ESPN.

Will McClay

The executive vice president and director of player personnel for the Dallas Cowboys, who Orlovsky praised for building a solid roster despite the team's conservative approach in free agency.

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What they’re saying

“I really think a new window is starting if [the Cowboys] hit this offseason the right way. … They're two or three players away on defense from all of a sudden becoming real contenders.”

— Dan Orlovsky, ESPN Analyst

What’s next

The Cowboys will need to be active in free agency and the upcoming NFL Draft to address their defensive needs and capitalize on Orlovsky's prediction that they are close to contention.

The takeaway

Orlovsky's bold prediction about the Cowboys' proximity to contention puts pressure on the team's front office to be aggressive this offseason in addressing defensive needs. If the Cowboys can make the right moves, they could open a new Super Bowl window sooner than many expect.