Dallas Cowboys Expected NFC East Champions Despite Parsons Trade, Roster Rebuild

The Dallas Cowboys have entered the 2025 NFL season in a complicated position, having traded away star defender Micah Parsons, which many see as a setback for their defensive strength. Despite this, the team’s offense, anchored by Dak Prescott, CeeDee Lamb, and newly acquired George Pickens, demonstrates a strong commitment to immediate success, as reflected in their substantial investments and aggressive roster moves. While some view the defense as weakened, especially following the Parsons trade to the Green Bay Packers, ESPN’s season simulations surprisingly predict the Cowboys to win the NFC East with a 9-8 record, capitalizing on the division's overall mediocrity and stepping up on defense with young pass rushers Donovan Ezeiruaku and Sam Williams filling larger roles. The Cowboys open their season against the Philadelphia Eagles, a game loaded with tension given the recent trade and rivalry. Although the team is expected by many to struggle, these projections highlight the possibility of a playoff berth, marking a notable if modest success in a season shadowed by offseason disruption.