The Dallas Cowboys enter the 2026 offseason with plenty of familiar names generating buzz as breakout candidates. That’s fine, but there’s something I don’t like about those “breakout” conversations we have every offseason. And it’s that they often center on players who already started their ascent.

Brevyn Spann-Ford, for example, already flashed as a blocker and pass catcher in 2025, and most fans expect him to seize the No. 2 tight end role behind Jake Ferguson.

The more compelling exercise is identifying Cowboys players who haven’t made that initial jump yet. So let’s do that instead, shall we? Here are three non-obvious breakout candidates on the 2026 Cowboys roster.

Linebacker Shemar James

I think we’ve been a little unfair to Shemar James. He was the leading tackler on the 2025 Cowboys, and while that came with a grain of salt because the linebacker position was a revolving door between Kenneth Murray and Jack Sanborn, James was always there. Murray played most of the season and wasn’t good. I’m not going to sugarcoat it.

The problem was context. James was a fifth-round rookie who was supposed to sit on the bench, learn the system, and develop. Instead, the Cowboys didn’t have enough quality linebacker play to afford him that luxury. They had to throw him out there right away.

If you look at the film, you see a player who moves fast and hits hard. The athletic upside is real. What he didn’t do well was read the offense, stay patient, and avoid over-pursuing. He got lost on several plays. But all of that happened as a rookie who wasn’t supposed to be a starter.

Year two under defensive coordinator Christian Parker’s scheme could be where things click. James has a middle linebacker build, maybe more so than Dee Winters or DeMarvion Overshown, who profile as weakside linebackers (though it’s starting to look like Overshown will start at MIKE). 

James played a lot of middle linebacker in 2025, and that could be his long-term home. The athletic tools are there. If the processing catches up, he’s a legitimate breakout candidate.

Running back Phil Mafah

The Cowboys’ running back conversation has centered around Jaydon Blue as the primary backup to Javonte Williams. Head coach Brian Schottenheimer recently offered promising words about Blue, and the trust issues that ESPN’s Todd Archer reported on appear to be resolved. At least for now. 

But if you ask me, we’ve forgotten about Phil Mafah. The Clemson product dealt with a shoulder issue as a rookie, spent most of 2025 on injured reserve, and the Cowboys may have taken advantage of the situation to stash him. When healthy, though, Mafah showed legitimate promise. He had a strong training camp and preseason before the injury.

He’s not going to compete for RB1 snaps with Williams. That’s not the point. The point is that Williams was a workhorse for Dallas in 2025 because they had no choice. It was either that or give Malik Davis more carries, and while the Cowboys clearly like Davis, leaning on him that heavily wasn’t the ideal plan. Dallas wants more of a committee approach.

Mafah fits that vision. In his second year, he’s someone the Cowboys clearly trust, and if he’s healthy through training camp and the preseason, he could carve out a meaningful rotational role. He gets lost in the Jaydon Blue hype, but don’t sleep on him.

Safety Alijah Clark

This one is a little more complex because I’m not projecting Clark as a breakout safety in the traditional sense. I’m talking about special teams.

Remember that insane play against the Philadelphia Eagles in November? Clark was a gunner, got thrown to the ground multiple times, and still made the forced fumble tackle that helped the Cowboys come back. That play alone showed what he’s capable of.

The Cowboys need to replace CJ Goodwin’s special teams snaps and production. When Clark did play, his special teams snap count sat between 50% and 60%, with one game exceeding 75%. He has the makings of a special teams ace. If the final roster spot for a Cowboys safety comes down to Clark and Markquese Bell, Clark’s special teams upside could be the deciding factor. Keep an eye on him.