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[Dallas Cowboys]

How Marist Liufau fits with the Cowboys new defensive coaching staff

The Dallas Cowboys enter the new season facing a harsh reality at the linebacker position. Last season was a defensive catastrophe as the team surrendered 125 rushing yards per game, ranking them in the bottom 10 of the league. They also committed 112 missed tackles, the most in the NFC. The second level of the defense often looked dazed and confused while ball carriers bounced off defenders as if they were in a Disney movie.

With the Cowboys currently holding two draft picks in the first round, the front office may take a shot at one of the top collegiate linebackers to help stabilize the defense. Ohio State’s Sonny Styles could be a player given heavy consideration as he checks off a lot of boxes and brings a potential star in the mix. Or, the team may trade back and go after one of the handful of readymade starters available on Day 2 of the draft. They definitely have options if they position themselves correctly.

How important the linebacker position is largely depends on what the new coaching staff thinks of the current linebackers already on the roster. The Cowboys have a few of their own young draft picks still on their rookie contract, and how they fit with the new staff should dictate how aggressive the team is to upgrade this position. Marist Liufau is one of those players.

Liufau remains an interesting figure in this rebuilding effort. After two seasons of wildly inconsistent play, it’s not really clear if he’s going to take a step forward or continue the course as a backup/special teamer. His rookie season looked promising. He played all 17 games, logging 47% of the defensive snaps. He recorded 50 tackles, had 1.5 sacks, three passes defended, and two forced fumbles. Last year, his defensive snap count dropped to just 17% as he struggled to maintain a consistent spot in the rotation. Despite the statistical dip, his high motor and special teams contributions keep him in the conversation for a depth role under the new regime.

The former Notre Dame linebacker is defined by his relentless energy. He’s an aggressive attacker and plays with violence. He has an explosive first step that allows him to get into the backfield before the ball carrier has a chance to put his foot in the dirt. While the good can be really good, the bad can also be really bad. His glaring weakness remains his lack of diagnostic instincts, as he frequently bites on play-action or takes poor angles in run support. He has some physical tools to be an impact player, but he also has the frantic energy of a squirrel trying to cross a six-lane highway.

New defensive coordinator Christian Parker is expected to implement a scheme that emphasizes versatility and speed, which makes one wonder what that will mean for Liufau. Parker has a history of utilizing athletic linebackers in simulated pressures to confuse quarterbacks and create free runs at the passer. For Liufau to be a contributor, he’ll need to be a chess piece rather than a traditional middle linebacker, where the coaches can hide his processing issues while exploiting his closing speed.

The transition to a five-man front in certain packages will also benefit Liufau by keeping him clean of interior offensive linemen. If his responsibilities can be simplified and he can play downhill, his effectiveness should improve. He has proven he can be an aggressive runner in both the right and wrong directions.

With a new scheme, it could mean fewer linebackers on the field, and the ones who are there need to have their act together. Parker is known for demanding high situational awareness from his defenders, which will be the ultimate litmus test for Liufau in his third season. The staff will likely use him in situations where he can focus on a single target and mask his play diagnosis deficiencies. And if the coaches can find a way to marry his strengths with a better understanding of NFL offensive concepts, he could become a valuable rotational asset.

The range of outcomes for Liufau’s future in Dallas is rather wide. He is sitting between a breakout third year and a one-way ticket out of the facility. He has the raw materials to work with, but the production must eventually match the potential if he wants to be a part of this hopefully new-and-improved unit. Better decision-making, improved tackling, and more consistent play are necessary if he’s going to be part of this new solution on defense.

Can Marist Liufau cut out a meaningful role in Christian Parker’s defense? Hit the comments and let us know.

Source: https://www.bloggingtheboys.com/dal...defensvie-scheme-christian-parker-linebackers

 

[Dallas Cowboys]

Looking at possible trade up scenarios for the Cowboys in the 2026 NFL Draft

Dec 31, 2025; Arlington, TX, USA; Ohio State Buckeyes safety Caleb Downs (2) celebrates a defensive stop during the 2025 Cotton Bowl and quarterfinal game of the College Football Playoff at AT&T Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jerome Miron-Imagn Images | Jerome Miron-Imagn Images

With the 2026 NFL Draft quickly approaching, mock drafts and draft conversation are at their peak. For the Dallas Cowboys, who currently do not own a day two pick in the draft, many fans and analysts are looking at potential trade back scenarios from the 12th or 20th overall pick to pickup an additional second- or third-round pick on day two.

But Zach Wolchuk of 105.3 The Fan asked an interesting question on Twitter on Thursday that got the brain spinning. Could the Cowboys use their two first-round picks this year to move up in the draft, while also picking up a day two pick with their trade partner?

In Wolchuk’s scenario, he asked if people would be okay trading the 12th and 20th overall pick to the Cleveland Browns for the 6th and 39th overall pick? In most draft classes, the 20th overall pick is right on the border of landing a first-round talent. But in this draft class that is substantially weaker than most, first round grades will likely max out at around 14. So realistically, the player the Cowboys would be drafting at 20 will more than likely have a second-round grade. If that is the case, the Cowboys would be wise to explore trading up in this draft, using their two first-rounders as ammo to draft a blue-chip player in the top eight, while also adding at least one pick on day two.

In most draft classes, the 20th overall pick is right on the border of landing a first-round talent. But in this draft class that is substantially weaker than most, first round grades will likely max out at around 14. So realistically the player the Cowboys would be drafting at 20 will more than likely have a second-round grade. If that is the case, the Cowboys would be wise to explore trading up in this draft, using their two first-rounders as ammo to draft a blue-chip player in the top eight, while also adding at least one pick on day two.

Trade Up Scenarios​

Dallas trades the 12th and 20th (616 value points) overall picks in the 2026 NFL Draft to Cleveland for the 6th and 39th (599 value points) overall pick. Using StickToTheModel.com draft simulator, the Cowboys select safety Caleb Downs with the sixth overall pick and edge rusher R Mason Thomas with the 39th overall pick.

Dallas trades the 12th, 20th, and 215th overall pick (617 value points) to the New Orleans for the 8th, 42nd, 73rd, and 189th (618 value points) overall pick. Using Pro Football Focus’ draft simulator, the Cowboys select safety Caleb Downs with the eighth overall pick, cornerback Colton Hood with the 42nd overall pick, and linebacker Jacob Rodriguez with the 73rd overall pick.

Dallas offers the 12th, 20th, and 150th overall pick (629 value points) to Kansas City for the 9th and 74th overall pick and cornerback Trent McDuffie (619 value points). Using StickToTheModel.com draft simulator, the Cowboys select defensive end Rueben Bain Jr. with the ninth overall pick and safety Kamari Ramsey with the 74th overall pick.

With both the New York Giants and Washington Commanders picking inside the top 10 and unlikely to hand their divisional rival a blue chip talent, that leaves just a handful of spots that make sense for the Cowboys to consider. Given the value it would take to move into the top five, th Cowboys only have a few options to consider, but those couple options could give the Cowboys a chance at a player they would not be able to consider at 12, while also landing a quality player on day two and/or three.

There are only a few players likely to motivate the Cowboys to trade up in this draft. Ohio State safety Caleb Downs being one. Miami edge rusher Reuben Bain Jr. being one. But players like Texas Tech edge rusher David Bailey, LSU cornerback Mansoor Delane, and Ohio State linebacker Sonny Styles are also a few names to consider in this exercise.

Source: https://www.bloggingtheboys.com/dal...cenarios-caleb-downs-reuben-bain-david-bailey

 

[Dallas Cowboys]

The case for the Cowboys trading George Pickens to the Raiders, but not for Maxx Crosby

The George Pickens Experience in 2025 was nothing short of a pass-catching lollapalooza for the Dallas Cowboys. He didn’t just play receiver. He functioned as a human highlight reel, snagging 93 receptions for a career-high 1,429 yards, including nine wonderful touchdowns. He possessed a rare combination of catch radius and body control, putting 50/50 balls heavily in his favor. Pickens made opposing defensive backs look silly, something Cowboys fans haven’t seen since the days of prime Dez Bryant.

So, let’s trade him!

That’s been the talk this past week as the Cowboys slowly approach a time when they’ll need to decide his future. Previously, we mentioned that Dallas would be wise to consider making a blockbuster swap with the Las Vegas Raiders for edge rusher extraordinaire, Maxx Crosby. In that hypothetical, the Raiders would give up quite a bit, and it doesn’t seem like a realistic scenario. So, today, we’re throwing a second offer on the table.

Unlike the Crosby proposition, this one won’t make fans happy. Before we get into the details, let’s first explain why the Cowboys should consider parting ways with one of last year’s most exciting offensive weapons.

As any seasoned investor will tell you, the best time to sell is when the hype is deafening. While Pickens reached the Pro Bowl for the first time in his career, a closer look at the data suggests his production could be more of a solar flare than a steady sun. He was a superstar early. No doubt about it. But over his final six games of the season, the yardage totals began a steady descent, featuring only one 100-yard performance and three games where he disappeared for under 40 yards.

And it goes a little beyond the box score. The erratic behavior that apparently bothered the coaching staff in Pittsburgh started to creep up a bit in Big D. Seeing both Pickens and CeeDee Lamb benched for a series as punishment during the year was weird. Especially since Lamb was caught up in it. He’s been a pretty straight-shooter. It’s not lost on us that the Steelers gave up on him quicker than a New Year’s diet, which should serve as a flashing yellow light for the Cowboys’ front office. Yellow, mind you. Not red.

The Cowboys could take the mystery out of what possible antics lie ahead and ship Pickens off to the Las Vegas Raiders in exchange for the 36th overall pick. The Raiders would be much more likely to do this because they’d get a receiver for their new quarterback, and still have Crosby.

But this could work very well for the Cowboys, too. This would give the Cowboys an unprecedented treasure chest of three picks in the top 36, providing a golden opportunity to draft three immediate defensive starters. With a new defensive coaching staff coming in, handing them three top prospects on rookie deals is the ultimate welcome gift. It allows the new coordinators to build a foundation of disciplined, high-upside players rather than trying to manage a mercurial wideout that will eat up a lot of cap space. If the Cowboys pull this off, they will take a giant step in fixing their defense.

Losing Pickens is not something fans want to think about. He’s a good player. But do the Cowboys need two 1,000-yard receivers to be great on offense? Couldn’t they also be pretty darn good with a more affordable WR2 option?

This could be a good time to find out. The 2026 free agent market is ripe with affordable alternatives. Veteran anchors like Mike Evans or Deebo Samuel could provide the physical presence Dallas needs. Shifty options like Wan’Dale Robinson or home run threats like Rashid Shaheed would offer the tactical speed to complement Lamb. Any of these receivers would allow Lamb to remain the undisputed focal point of the passing attack, while still providing Dak Prescott a quality second option down the field.

The Cowboys scored in a big way when they got Pickens for a future third-round pick. They deserve to reap the spoils of such a great deal. And while locking him down long-term is a nice prize, it might even be better to flip him for a quality defensive starter. Instead of another massive cap hit, the team gets a third premium draft pick, all of which will play on a low-cost rookie contract. They could then turn around and spread those funds to attack more holes on their roster. This strategy transforms the roster from a top-heavy passing circus into a balanced, well-rounded contender with a rejuvenated defense. It is a rare scenario where losing a star player actually makes the team brighter, proving that sometimes the best way to catch a championship is to cash in on the highlight reel.

Source: https://www.bloggingtheboys.com/dal...ickens-raiders-maxx-crosby-second-round-draft

 

[Dallas Cowboys]

Why the Cowboys must prioritize re-signing Jadeveon Clowney

When Jadeveon Clowney entered the league in 2014, he was hailed as a generational talent with a physical profile that seemed engineered in a laboratory. The unquestioned No. 1 overall pick, he went on to play five seasons with the Houston Texans, transforming raw potential into consistent production, earning three consecutive Pro Bowl nods from 2016 to 2018. Across his tenure in Houston, he racked up 29 sacks and over 200 tackles, including a staggering 64 tackles for loss.

After playing out his rookie deal in Texas, Clowney was traded to Seattle, where he quickly transitioned into one of the league’s most overqualified nomads. He played for five different franchises in six years. His struggles to find a permanent home were rarely about a lack of talent but rather a combination of high salary demands and a frustrating injury history, including microfracture knee surgery. Teams often viewed him as a premium rental rather than a long-term investment, leading to a series of one-year “prove it” deals that left fans wondering why such a force was constantly packing his bags.

Last year, his journey came full circle as he found himself back in Texas, this time on the NFC team. The Cowboys became the latest team to require his services when they were left scrambling to find pass-rushing help after shipping off Micah Parsons to Green Bay. And to everyone’s pleasure, Clowney didn’t disappoint. He led the team with 8.5 sacks and 12 tackles for loss, providing the consistent edge pressure the team desperately needed. His performance in the season finale against the Giants was particularly legendary, as he tallied three sacks and forced a fumble. He played with the fire of a man half his age, proving he still had plenty left in the tank. Of all the countless new defensive additions the Cowboys had last year, he was one of the few that actually worked out.

Clowney’s value remains rooted in his rare ability to be a complete defensive end. While many edge-rushing studs are one-dimensional speed specialists, Clowney is an elite run stopper who sets a physical edge, preventing running backs from getting around the corner. His functional strength allows him to manhandle offensive tackles, while his veteran savvy helps him diagnose plays before they even develop. This dual threat capability makes him a three-down player and provides a floor of defensive stability.

As effective as he was last year, he stands to be even better under new defensive coordinator Christian Parker. In Parker’s system, the young coach prioritizes edge players who are versatile and disciplined, requiring ends who can crash the pocket while maintaining their gap integrity against the run. Clowney’s experience across various defensive fronts makes him the perfect fit for a coordinator who loves to disguise his intentions. Parker wants players who can create chaos without losing their assignment, and Clowney has mastered the art of disciplined destruction. It is a match made in football heaven, and it feels like one of the easiest decisions this front office has to make this offseason.

Clowney played on a low-cost $3.5 million deal last year. His price will go up this offseason with projections running around $8 million, which is still a bargain for what he gives you. The problem is, he hasn’t been able to string together two consecutive good seasons since his days in Houston. He’ll need to hope for better luck in the health department to buck that trend. With Jerry Jones notorious for massaging contracts with per-game bonuses, the Cowboys could find a way to protect their investment while still offering him a reasonable deal.

Retaining Clowney is crucial for a team that has a lot of work to do as they transition to a new era of pass-rushing talent. The Cowboys are banking on second-year player Donovan Ezeiruka taking the next step, as well as adding one of the top collegiate pass rushers in this year’s draft, but mixing that with Clowney’s leadership is invaluable. Keeping him in the building ensures that the young stars have a blueprint for success right in their own locker room while keeping a veteran’s presence in the pass-rushing rotation.

Source: https://www.bloggingtheboys.com/dal...igning-jadeveon-clowney-edge-christian-parker

 

[Dallas Cowboys]

Dallas Cowboys will face 4 new head coaches in 2026

Jan 20, 2026; East Rutherford, NJ, USA; John Harbaugh poses after the press conference announcing his hiring as the next New York Giants head coach at Quest Diagnostics Training Center. Mandatory Credit: Ed Mulholland-Imagn Images | Ed Mulholland-Imagn Images

It has been over a week since Super Bowl LX wrapped and the entire NFL shifted its attention towards the 2026 season. The Seattle Seahawks lifted the Lombardi Trophy and right after they did Klint Kubiak agreed to leave them and become the head coach of the Las Vegas Raiders. While staffs are having finishing touches put on them across the league, all head coaching vacancies have been filled and for the most part the important pieces across the NFL world have fallen into place in that regard.

We have known since the regular season ended who the Dallas Cowboys will be playing in 2026, but some of the questions about who would be the important figures of some of those teams remained unanswered.

There are four teams who the Cowboys will play next season that made head coaching changes. One of them is the New York Giants who the Cowboys will face both home and away, but the others are all teams that Dallas will host next season.

Here are the new head coaches the Cowboys will face in 2026:

• New York Giants (home and away): John Harbaugh
• Arizona Cardinals: Mike LaFleur
• Tennessee Titans: Robert Saleh
• Baltimore Ravens: Jesse Minter

While Harbaugh and Saleh are in their respective posts for the first time they have obviously been head coaches before. Dallas has had mixed results against Harbaugh’s Ravens in the past and beat Saleh’s Jets the only time they faced him.

For what it’s worth the Cowboys had three games of this kind last year, contests where they faced teams in the first year of their head coach at the time:

• Ben Johnson’s Chicago Bears (loss)
• Aaron Glenn’s New York Jets (win)
• Pete Carroll’s Las Vegas Raiders (win)

This is the kind of thing that is totally out of a team’s control as you never know who is going to be making changes at head coach. We will see how the 2026 Cowboys fare against these teams, and it will surely help that they were no longer be in the first year of their own head coach in Brian Schottenheimer.

Source: https://www.bloggingtheboys.com/dallas-cowboys-news/197170/new-opposition-head-coaches-schedule-2026

 

[Dallas Cowboys]

NFL Combine 2026: 21 participants count as “local prospects” for Dallas

INDIANAPOLIS, INDIANA - MARCH 1: Scout Mark Gorscak leads 40-yard dash drill during the NFL Scouting Combine at Lucas Oil Stadium on March 1, 2025 in Indianapolis, Indiana. (Photo by Brooke Sutton/Getty Images) | Getty Images

The NFL combine kicks off in a bit over a week and will give interested football fans a good chance to watch some of the top prospects in the 2026 NFL draft work out. And the names that have already dominated the headlines and comments here on BTB will dominate the coverage from the combine. But when some of the lesser-known names take the stage, you’ll be wondering who to keep an eye on.

Not anymore.

Every year, in addition to 30 usually high-profile national draft-eligible players the Cowboys bring in for pre-draft visits, they also bring in roughly 50 draft-eligible local prospects who are usually less well known.

These visits by local prospects usually happen in early to mid April and are known as “Dallas Days”. A player is considered a local prospect if he went to high school or college in the Dallas/Fort-Worth area, he was born there or his parents live there. That DFW area is defined as stretching from Sanctuary in the West to Princeton in the East, and from Prosper in the North to Glenn Heights in the South. TCU, SMU, and North Texas are the three colleges in the area from which the Cowboys are allowed to invite prospects.

Here’s a map detailing the boundaries of the area from which prospects qualify for Dallas Day.

These “Dallas Days” have delivered their share of Cowboys players in the past, with the likes of Patrick Crayton, Bryan McCann, Lance Dunbar, Cole Beasley, Terrance Williams and more recently Connor Williams and DeMarvion Overshown all visiting the Cowboys during Dallas Day.

We don’t yet know which local prospects the Cowboys will invite this year, but we do know which 319 players are invited to the combine this year. And we also have a pretty good idea about which combine invitees would qualify as local prospects for the Cowboys. Here are the 21 local players we know of who’ll be attending the combine this year.

body .sbnu-legacy-content-table td, body .sbnu-legacy-content-table th, body .sbnu-legacy-content-table { border: 1px solid #000 !important; border-collapse: collapse !important; }

[td]

PFF rank​

[/td]​

[td]

Player Name​

[/td]​

[td]

Position​

[/td]​

[td]

College​

[/td]​

[td]

Hometown​

[/td]​

[td]

14​

[/td]​

[td]

Jordyn Tyson​

[/td]​

[td]

WR​

[/td]​

[td]

Arizona State​

[/td]​

[td]

Allen, TX​

[/td]​

[td]

40​

[/td]​

[td]

Anthony Hill Jr.​

[/td]​

[td]

LB​

[/td]​

[td]

Texas​

[/td]​

[td]

Denton, TX​

[/td]​

[td]

45​

[/td]​

[td]

Eli Stowers​

[/td]​

[td]

TE​

[/td]​

[td]

Vanderbilt​

[/td]​

[td]

Denton, TX​

[/td]​

[td]

99​

[/td]​

[td]

Seth McGowan​

[/td]​

[td]

RB​

[/td]​

[td]

Kentucky​

[/td]​

[td]

Mesquite, TX​

[/td]​

[td]

111​

[/td]​

[td]

Malik Muhammad​

[/td]​

[td]

CB​

[/td]​

[td]

Texas​

[/td]​

[td]

Dallas, TX​

[/td]​

[td]

115​

[/td]​

[td]

Bud Clark​

[/td]​

[td]

SAF​

[/td]​

[td]

TCU​

[/td]​

[td]

Alexandria, LA​

[/td]​

[td]

147​

[/td]​

[td]

Eric McAlister​

[/td]​

[td]

WR​

[/td]​

[td]

TCU​

[/td]​

[td]

Azle, TX​

[/td]​

[td]

164​

[/td]​

[td]

Ar’maj Reed-Adams​

[/td]​

[td]

G​

[/td]​

[td]

Texas A&M​

[/td]​

[td]

DeSoto, TX​

[/td]​

[td]

212​

[/td]​

[td]

J. Michael Sturdivant​

[/td]​

[td]

WR​

[/td]​

[td]

Florida​

[/td]​

[td]

Highland Village, TX​

[/td]​

[td]

234​

[/td]​

[td]

Taylen Green​

[/td]​

[td]

QB​

[/td]​

[td]

Arkansas​

[/td]​

[td]

Lewisville, TX​

[/td]​

[td]

271​

[/td]​

[td]

RJ Maryland​

[/td]​

[td]

TE​

[/td]​

[td]

SMU​

[/td]​

[td]

Southlake, TX​

[/td]​

[td]

318​

[/td]​

[td]

Ahmaad Moses​

[/td]​

[td]

SAF​

[/td]​

[td]

SMU​

[/td]​

[td]

Arlington, TX​

[/td]​

[td]

353​

[/td]​

[td]

Matthew Hibner​

[/td]​

[td]

TE​

[/td]​

[td]

SMU​

[/td]​

[td]

Burke, VA​

[/td]​

[td]

366​

[/td]​

[td]

Kaleb Elarms-Orr​

[/td]​

[td]

LB​

[/td]​

[td]

TCU​

[/td]​

[td]

Hayward, CA​

[/td]​

[td]

368​

[/td]​

[td]

Charles Demmings​

[/td]​

[td]

CB​

[/td]​

[td]

Stephen F. Austin​

[/td]​

[td]

Mesquite, TX​

[/td]​

[td]

405​

[/td]​

[td]

Namdi Obiazor​

[/td]​

[td]

LB​

[/td]​

[td]

TCU​

[/td]​

[td]

Eden Prairie, MN​

[/td]​

[td]

—​

[/td]​

[td]

DJ Campbell​

[/td]​

[td]

G​

[/td]​

[td]

Texas​

[/td]​

[td]

Arlington, TX​

[/td]​

[td]

—​

[/td]​

[td]

Jordan Hudson​

[/td]​

[td]

WR​

[/td]​

[td]

SMU​

[/td]​

[td]

Garland, TX​

[/td]​

[td]

—​

[/td]​

[td]

Louis Moore​

[/td]​

[td]

SAF​

[/td]​

[td]

Indiana​

[/td]​

[td]

Mesquite, TX​

[/td]​

[td]

—​

[/td]​

[td]

Febechi Nwaiwu​

[/td]​

[td]

G​

[/td]​

[td]

Oklahoma​

[/td]​

[td]

Coppell, TX​

[/td]​

[td]

—​

[/td]​

[td]

DJ Rogers​

[/td]​

[td]

TE​

[/td]​

[td]

TCU​

[/td]​

[td]

Little Rock, AR​

[/td]​

The players are arranged according to how they rank on the PFF big board. The 21 names listed here are all I was able to find, but there may be others who are eligible for Dallas Day. In principle, the Cowboys could invite any of these players to Dallas Day and save a spot on their national invite list for another prospect.

While some of the names on the list will be familiar to Cowboys fans, others will have even hardcore draftniks scrambling for their draft manuals. But with this list in hand, you’ll know who to root for once the lesser known names take the stage at the combine – you never know, one of them might end up a Cowboy.

For those more in tune with the local football talent in the DFW-area, do any of these players stand out to you?

Source: https://www.bloggingtheboys.com/dal...6-21-participants-local-prospects-dallas-days

 

[Dallas Cowboys]

Cowboys 2026 free agent profile: RB Javonte Williams

The Dallas Cowboys have 22 players (UFA/RFA) who will officially hit the open market in under a month. Today, we continue our series examining each of the Cowboys’ impending free agents, reviewing their 2025 campaign and predicting what will be next for each player.

We continue our free agent profile series by taking a look at our third offensive player, Javontae Williams.

2025 Regular Season Stats: 16G, 252 Rushing Attempts, 1,201 Rushing Yards, 4.8 Y/A, 67 First Downs Rushing, 56.3% Success Rate, 13 Total Touchdowns

Year Review: Coming into the 2025 regular season, running back was arguably one of the Cowboys’ weakest position groups. After letting Rico Dowdle leave in free agency, Dallas did not have a proven commodity set to replace the 1,000-yard rusher.

Desperate to find someone to fill the starting running back role, the Cowboys took a chance on Javonte Williams, hoping the former Bronco still had some juice left in the tank. To the surprise of many, Williams turned out to be Dallas’ most productive signing of the offseason as the running back posted a career year in his first season as a Cowboy.

In 16 games, Williams finished in the top 12 in the league in rushing yards (1,201), rushing touchdowns (11), Y/A (4.8), and PFF rush grade (81.7). Williams also posted career-highs in first downs rushing (67) and 10+ yard runs (26), looking even better than he did during his impressive rookie year back in 2021.

All in all, Williams had about as good a 2025 campaign as you could have imagined. The 25-year-old running back set himself up for a nice payday as he is set to hit the open market fresh off a career year.

Free Agency Outlook: Williams big year will likely earn him plenty of potential suitors when free agency officially opens in mid-March. One thing that could negatively affect the 25-year-old’s potential market is the number of capable running backs set to hit free agency this spring.

Rico Dowdle, Travis Etienne, Breece Hall, Kenneth Walker, and Rachaad White are all set to become free agents at the start of the new league year, giving teams plenty of options if they are looking for a starting-caliber runner. Of the group, Spotrac projects Williams to earn the fourth-highest AAV, setting his market value at a three-year deal worth just over $22M.

Looking back at free agent running back contracts in recent years, $7M seems like a reasonable expectation as to what it will cost to acquire Williams services. Back in 2024, Aaron Jones, Tony Pollard, and D’Andre Swift all signed deals totaling anywhere from $7-$8M AAV. The deal Williams signs this spring will almost certainly follow suit.

Cowboys Verdict: The Cowboys have not been shy about their interest in bringing Williams back to Dallas. At the end of the regular season, Stephen Jones confirmed the Cowboys had already been in contact with Williams’ representatives, hoping to sign the running back to a multi-year deal.

Cowboys EVP Stephen Jones said the team has already been in contact with the representation of RB Javonte Williams about re-signing him to a multi-year deal.

Williams set a career high with 1,201 yards and 11 touchdowns in his first season in Dallas.

— Nick Harris (@NickHarrisFWST) January 7, 2026

Whether or not Williams is back in Dallas will likely come down to just how much the Cowboys want to avoid pressing restart at the running back position for the second-straight year. With so many needs to address elsewhere on their roster, the Cowboys would put themselves in the best position to succeed if they could retain Williams on a somewhat fair deal ($6-7M AAV), letting them not have to worry about the running back position the rest of the spring.

If someone is willing to offer Williams a deal that the Cowboys are not comfortable matching, there are plenty of replacement options in free agency. But with how well he performed last season and just how good a fit he is in Dallas’s offensive scheme, it makes too much sense for both sides for a reunion not to happen.

Prediction: Javonte Williams signs a three-year, $22M deal with the Dallas Cowboys.

How would you feel about spending that kind of money on Williams?

Source: https://www.bloggingtheboys.com/dal...free-agent-profile-projected-contract-signing

 

[Dallas Cowboys]

New Cowboys DC Christian Parker’s teaching style explained

PHILADELPHIA, PA - AUGUST 16: Philadelphia Eagles passing coordinator Christian Parker looks on from the sideline during an NFL preseason football game against the Cleveland Browns at Lincoln Financial Field on August 16, 2025 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Perry Knotts/Getty Images) | Getty Images

The Dallas Cowboys explained several times in the search that ultimately yielded Christian Parker as their new defensive coordinator that they were looking for a teacher. Christian Parker was introduced to the world on Wednesday and was specifically asked about his teaching style. His answer was pretty incredible.

Coach Parker talks about the importance of teaching #DallasCowboys | @MillerLite pic.twitter.com/WRAV3rpldp

— Dallas Cowboys (@dallascowboys) February 18, 2026

Parker noted that there are different points of time relative to teaching players. He said that you have to understand when is best to correct and not correct. He notably said that sometimes players have to “touch the stove” as in they have to learn mistakes. Mistakes are obviously not ideal, but they offer teaching opportunities. A proper teacher knows when students need to experience that so that they can grow and learn from it.

It is very clear that Parker is a teacher of sorts and that he has a lot of knowledge to share with his new defense. The next few months are going to be very exciting.

Source: https://www.bloggingtheboys.com/dal...ker-defensive-coordinator-teaching-philosophy

 

[Dallas Cowboys]

Dallas Cowboys Christian Parker press conference showed Brian Schottenheimer is leading team

ARLINGTON, TEXAS - DECEMBER 21: Head coach Brian Schottenheimer of the Dallas Cowboys looks on in the first quarter of the game against the Los Angeles Chargers at AT&T Stadium on December 21, 2025 in Arlington, Texas. (Photo by Stacy Revere/Getty Images) | Getty Images

Brian Schottenheimer may indeed be running the show. The Dallas Cowboys held a press conference on Wednesday afternoon to introduce Christian Parker as the team’s new defensive coordinator and right out of the gate something stood out.

There were only two people present. The two in question were head coach Brian Schottenheimer and Parker himself.

It may seem like we are being overdramatic here, but you have to recognize that this is the Dallas Cowboys we are talking about. Every press conference or appearance where the team has a spokesperson present has involved either Jerry Jones, Stephen Jones, or in some non-football settings another member of the Jones family.

This press conference was directly in relation to the football part of the franchise and that neither Jerry nor Stephen were in attendance spoke volumes. It is similar to how Jerry Jones did not hold court on his bus at the NFL combine last year (we will see if that repeats itself next week) and offered the actual coaches the opportunity to speak on behalf of what they are tasked with doing – coaching the football team.

We all know better than to jump to wild conclusions, but this suggests that maybe the Cowboys are letting the football coaches run the show which would be a huge changing of the times. Brian Schottenheimer corroborated the idea that he is leading the charge on all of this in noting that the Cowboys interviewed 40 or more candidates before landing on Parker. He expressed that the Cowboys (talking about the front office) were very patient with his diligence on the matter which again suggests that he got to execute the process that he wanted to from start to finish.

Good for the Cowboys for letting their head coach be so involved and stand on business with regards to the man he chose to run his defense. Let’s hope this disposition carries through well beyond a press conference.

Update: 5:37pm ET​

NFL Network’s Jane Slater provided some context on the absence of a Jones at the presser.

So I did research this. Quinn was a solo presser. McCarthy introduced Zimmer. Nolan was Covid. But they had HC experience. This felt like a moment for Jerry to celebrate a steal in the division and the impressive hire and I merely wanted to know if this was intended to give…

— Jane Slater (@SlaterNFL) February 18, 2026

According to Jane it was not exactly a sign of changing times.

Source: https://www.bloggingtheboys.com/dal...an-parker-press-conference-jerry-jones-absent

 

[Dallas Cowboys]

Cowboys mock draft: Daniel Jeremiah suggests trade for NFL veteran in first round

KANSAS CITY, MISSOURI - OCTOBER 27: Trent McDuffie #22 of the Kansas City Chiefs warms up prior to the game against the Washington Commanders at Arrowhead Stadium on October 27, 2025 in Kansas City, Missouri. (Photo by Brooke Sutton/Getty Images) | Getty Images

We have spoken a lot before about how some NFL mock drafts carry more weigh than others. The science of creating mock drafts is unique to say the least. Analysts are tasked with predicting how 32 variables will unfold when each of them carries infinite possibilities. It is part of what makes this time of year so fun in addition to being so maddening.

While we certainly care about the analysis that is coming from mock drafts in general, the predictions are also valuable in terms of the information that NFL insiders choose to share. Daniel Jeremiah often says that he builds his big board with his eyes (meaning how he sees players) and his mock drafts with his ears (they are based on what he is hearing around the league).

Remember that in looking at his latest mock which suggests that the Cowboys could trade their second first-round pick to the Kansas City Chiefs for an established veteran.

12. Dallas Cowboys: Jermod McCoy, CB, Tennessee

The Cowboys must fix their pass rush and secondary. I believe there’s a drop-off at cornerback after McCoy, so they address the position here.

20. Dallas Cowboys: Akheem Mesidor, EDGE, Mesidor

After taking a CB at No. 12, the Cowboys nab an edge rusher. Teams might have to get comfortable with Mesidor’s age — he will be a 25-year-old rookie — but he was dominant during Miami’s run in the College Football Playoff. Then again, if the Chiefs would take this pick in a trade for Trent McDuffie (entering the final year of his rookie deal), the Cowboys would solve their secondary issues in the blink of an eye.

To be perfectly clear here, Jeremiah has Dallas taking Miami’s Akheem Mesidor at number 20 overall. Pairing a corner and edge rusher is a pretty common thing these days for Dallas Cowboys mocks (when Sonny Styles isn’t involved), but Jeremiah specifically including the McDuffie hypothetical is interesting given that he doesn’t actually have Dallas pulling off the move.

It goes without saying that landing McCoy and McDuffie would help the Cowboys find stable footing in the secondary. They need a complete overhaul there, but then again they also need help at edge rusher and linebacker. A double up at corner would require helping those positions out in free agency which is not an avenue that this team generally explores.

While we are talking about things that run counter to the way that the Cowboys tend to operate, dealing with someone who is in a contract year is also hardly their specialty. Trading for McDuffie – sending a first-round pick to do so – would give the veteran serious leverage in negotiations with Dallas. The Cowboys would be signaling that they intend on him being a huge part of their future and his representation could use that to their advantage.

This isn’t said to think negatively or drum up scary thoughts, but given how the Cowboys have handled negotiations of this ilk it is fair to be hesitant about them diving into the deep end of the pool without a lifejacket on. This is certainly an interesting idea. Perhaps the Cowboys will genuinely explore it.

Would you want them to?

Source: https://www.bloggingtheboys.com/dal...el-jeremiah-trent-mcduffie-trade-hypothetical

 

[Dallas Cowboys]

ESPN has Dallas Cowboys win total at 8.5 for 2026 season, second in NFC East

ARLINGTON, TEXAS - NOVEMBER 28: A detail shot of the Dallas Cowboys logo painted at midfield prior to an NFL football game between the Dallas Cowboys and the New York Giants at AT&T Stadium on November 28, 2024 in Arlington, Texas. (Photo by Kevin Sabitus/Getty Images) | Getty Images

The buildings in Las Vegas are tall and shiny for a reason.

Generally speaking the folks in the desert know a thing or two about the lines that they set for the world of sports. Nobody has a perfect batting average, but it goes without saying that we have all seen a situation unfold where it felt like they just knew.

In that respect it is always interesting to see where futures lie with regards to things concerning the Dallas Cowboys. On Thursday future win totals for all 32 NFL teams were released by ESPN and they had America’s Team listed at 8.5, the second-most in the NFC East.

• Philadelphia Eagles……………. 10.5
• Dallas Cowboys………………….. 8.5
• Washington Commanders…… 7.5
• New York Giants………………… 7.5

It goes without saying that these should be taken with a grain of salt. While the totals are interesting in a theoretical sense, there is an enormous amount of who each team is going to wind up being next season that we simply do not know yet. There are still a few weeks to go until free agency. The NFL draft still has to happen. These numbers will certainly be interesting to look back on to see how the Cowboys improved (hopefully), but right now they are a little empty in nature.

Source: https://www.bloggingtheboys.com/dallas-cowboys-roster/197509/2026-win-totals-espn-projection