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[Dallas Cowboys]

Cowboys news: Source claims Jerry Jones and Micah Parsons are talking about a new deal

Photo by Ethan Miller/Getty Images

The latest news around your Dallas Cowboys

Dallas Cowboys, Micah Parsons talking long-term contract - Mike Leslie, WFAA​

There are rumblings that the Cowboys and Micah Parsons might get a deal done.

The Dallas Cowboys and their All-Pro pass rusher Micah Parsons have held discussions about a long-term contract extension, according to a source with knowledge of the negotiations.

According to that source, Cowboys owner and general manager Jerry Jones called Parsons to The Star on Tuesday to discuss a potential deal in further detail.

Parsons is entering the final year of his rookie deal — a fifth-year option worth $24 million. A long-term deal for Parsons is widely expected to be in the $40 million range in terms of annual salary, based on contracts that have been signed by other high-end defensive talents around the league. The Cleveland Browns recently signed Myles Garrett to a four-year, $160 million deal, paying him right at that $40 million salary.

Parsons is coming off one of the finest starts to an NFL career for an edge rusher in league history. He joined Reggie White as one of the only two players in NFL history to start a career with four seasons of 12 or more sacks, after posting a dozen in 2024. He has 52.5 sacks in his first four years in the league.

The Cowboys freed up a mountain of cap space earlier this offseason, restructuring deals for Dak Prescott and CeeDee Lamb to free up more than $57 million to take on the 2025 offseason. Their signings thus far have not used up much of that cap space, signing and trading for a laundry list of players who can provide depth and fill some holes on the Cowboys’ depth chart.

Dante Fowler Jr. feels he has something to prove in second stint with Cowboys - Tommy Yarish, DallasCowboys.com​

Hopefully, Dante Fowler will produce the same amount for the Cowboys as he did with Washington.

After spending a season with the NFC East rival Washington Commanders, defensive end Dante Fowler Jr. made his way back to Dallas in free agency ahead of the 2025 season and is excited to be able to don a star on his helmet again.

“It feels amazing to be back, I’m definitely happy to be here in Dallas,” Fowler said. “I’m ready to get going with the guys for sure.”

In 2024, Fowler had his best season since 2019 with 10.5 sacks, 39 tackles, 14 tackles for loss and even recorded his first career interception and returned it for a touchdown in Week 7 against the Carolina Panthers. A large part of that explosion in production came from what he’d learned in the two years prior with the Cowboys.

“It was pretty big, just to be able to go out there and show the people that I’m still here and be able to produce at a high level,” Fowler said. “I felt really confident going into this season especially with these past two years getting to work from coach [Aden Durde], Micah [Parsons] and [DeMarcus Lawrence] with the d-line group that we had.”

“I definitely took a lot from that and learned a lot from these past couple of years and took that to Washington and just put it all out there and let my work show for itself.”

As he prepares for his second stint with the Cowboys, Fowler is hoping to be a reliable veteran presence for some of the younger, up and coming defensive ends in the room like Sam Williams, Marshawn Kneeland and whoever else may follow.

How Jack Sanborn and Matt Eberflus’ connection could help Cowboys defense in 2025 - Nick Harris, Fort Worth Star-Telegram​

Jack Sanborn could be a sneaky good signing given his experience with Matt Eberflus.

When former Cowboys defensive coordinator Mike Zimmer arrived in the offseason of 2024, he quickly went after one of “his guys” to help the on-field communication of the new defensive system he would be bringing to the team.

Despite being one of only two outside signings ahead of training camp, linebacker Eric Kendricks was brought in to lead the defense having played in Zimmer’s system for seven seasons.

New defensive coordinator Matt Eberflus is takinga similar approach to 2025.

Early on in free agency, the Cowboys signed Jack Sanborn, a linebacker who played three seasons under Eberflus’ system with the Chicago Bears.

“When Coach Eberflus got the job in Dallas, you’re going through your whole thing after the season of what’s it going to be,” Sanborn said. “It was definitely like if something happens, keep it on the radar. Dallas definitely reached out decently early in free agency. Because of the connection, what [Brian] Schottenheimer is building there and Dallas in general, I couldn’t have been more excited to be a part of this organization.”

While Sanborn neither has the experience that Kendricks brought in 2024, nor is he the foregone starter at linebacker, he does bring a wealth of knowledge for a Cowboys defense that will all be learning around him as soon as OTAs in May.

“It’s about flying around, having an aggressive mindset and getting downhill,” Sanborn said of the Eberflus defense. “But everybody has a job, he’s really big into that. Making sure that not only you know your job, you know why you’re doing your job and by doing your job what that leads to [for] other people.”

‘I don’t need a red carpet’: New Dallas Cowboys CB Kaiir Elam ready for a reset - Joseph Hoyt, AllDLLS.com​

The Dallas Cowboys had some interest in Kaiir Elam before the Buffalo Bills drafted him.

There are flaws in the following study, but it does have some insight into the value of a first round draft pick. ESPN looked at the first round picks from 2000-19 to determine the hit rate by position. The metric they used: whether that pick netted a second contract with that team.

The results, which you can see below, were all over the board, ranging wide receivers (27% hit rate), to centers (92%).

Always crucial pre-draft work from ESPN content producer @PaulHembo, who calculated hit rates on first-round picks from 2000-19 based upon whether the players signed second contracts with the team that drafted them.

Here are the results by position. pic.twitter.com/STb0YKuzPV

— Jeremy Fowler (@JFowlerESPN) April 24, 2024​

There are so many variables for why a first round pick doesn’t receive a second contract with the team that drafted them. For new Dallas Cowboys corner Kaiir Elam, a former first round pick by the Buffalo Bills, one person is willing to take the brunt for why it didn’t work out there.

That, according to The Buffalo News, is Bills general manager Brandon Beane.

“It didn’t work. And it stinks,” Beane said last week. “And it’s not for a lack of effort on either side here.

“I’m confident a reset for him gives him a chance. I’m rooting for him.”

A chance is all Elam wants. And with the Cowboys, he should have it.

Source: https://www.bloggingtheboys.com/202...contract-dante-fowler-kaiir-elam-jack-sanborn

 

[Dallas Cowboys]

Dallas Cowboys have done what we asked them to so far this offseason

Tim Heitman-Imagn Images

It is fair to give the Dallas Cowboys some credit for this offseason so far.

The Dallas Cowboys have been selectively aggressive. It bothers me to put it that way, the slogan-type labels that have emerged for offseasons in recent history are annoying and silly. Obviously the Cowboys are the Cowboys so on some level this is par for the course, but if we are evaluating the words at their literal face value, then they have rang true over a week into free agency.

Using slogans like that is a pet peeve of mine and as it is speaking on behalf of an entire fanbase. Let’s avoid casting a net that covers all Cowboys fans and say that everyone was upset with the way the team went about free agency last year, or with how they have gone about it generally over the last decade and change, but the informed fan is at the very least knowledgeable on how the team prefers to be a wallflower when the DJ turns on the music at this time of year.

With that understanding in place, it is not hyperbole or any level of exaggeration to say that what we have seen so far is uncharacteristic of the team. We can argue, fight, debate and/or bicker about whether or not the standard is too low, etc. etc., but the point remains that the Cowboys have acted differently. We either annoyed them into it, or they recognized that they had a problem.

It is okay to give them a morsel of credit.

The Cowboys have done exactly what we have asked them to this offseason​

Apologies for the sweeping categorization here, but I think the point is understood by now. While there is a fan arguing each and every possible idea under the sun, the vast majority of Cowboys fans, have not begged for irresponsible spending in free agency. We have asked the team to use the opportunities that free agency provides to shore up positions of need, get creative in acquiring veterans for cheap prices by way of trades and ultimately re-stock the cupboard. Oh, we also don’t want the cupboard to get totally pilfered and be left completely empty. Our asks really are simple.

Last week I was traveling a bit for a personal bucket list item as I went to play Pebble Beach with my parents to celebrate my Dad retiring a year ago (I plan on writing about this experience for Playing Through soon if you are interested) and I will admit that experiencing what happened in free agency off of the positive vibes that it provided may have graded it on a curve for me.

But let’s lay out exactly what the Cowboys did over the course of the first week of free agency. Our free agency tracker is a handy tool that makes doing things like this easy, by the way.

Notable Dallas Cowboys Free Agency Things Over the First Week (basically):​

• Signed Osa Odighizuwa to a new deal (without having to use the franchise tag)
• Retained several important ERFAs
• Brought in a new running back in Javonte Williams
• Added depth along the interior of the offensive line in Rob Jones
• Also added depth along the interior of the defensive line in Solomon Thomas (who Andrew Whitecotton has familiarity with)
• Struck a new deal with KaVontae Turpin (without having to place any tender on him)
• Landed Payton Turner for edge rusher depth, a position they have found nice veterans at
• Received four compensatory picks, and turned two of them into Kaiir Elam and Kenneth Murray while still receiving picks in return and therefore keeping their overall quantity the same
• Added a veteran linebacker who Matt Eberflus knows in Jack Sanborn
• Signed yet another veteran running back option in Miles Sanders
• Brought back Dante Fowler after a year away, another veteran edge rusher and example of how they have found legitimate options there recently
• Signed a veteran wide receiver in Parris Campbell

You may think that I am glossing up some or all of the signings here. Nobody is saying the Cowboys just signed a fresh batch of All-Pro players, but they deserve props. Consider that - again, the bar is sort of low here - the legal tampering period opened last Monday and that the Cowboys had some sort of activity every day through Saturday starting then. That is incredibly unlike them.

Take a look at our free agency tracker from last year if you don’t believe me. It is sobering.

The first (and basically only, all due respect to Ezekiel Elliott) external free agent who the Cowboys landed (they were the last team in the NFL to get one) was Eric Kendricks. I imagine you remember that.

Do you recall that he actually agreed to terms with the San Francisco 49ers the morning before? That Kendricks news broke on the evening of March 13th, but earlier that morning he had agreed to head to the Bay Area and pulled an about face. The first external free agent addition the Cowboys made last year was a player who agreed to terms with another team first! It was comedy.

The term “selectively aggressive” that Stephen Jones offered is in fact silly and annoying, but there is zero doubt that the Cowboys have used it as their north star for activity. Something that should be mentioned to highlight this point is that the Kaiir Elam and Kenneth Murray trades happened the very day after Dallas received their compensatory picks. It took them 24 hours (give or take) to wheel and deal picks that they did not have last Monday and turn them into veterans at positions of need (including returning picks). If that is not selective aggression then I don’t know what is.

There is a long list of transgressions for the Dallas Cowboys of the moment. It makes zero sense why a Micah Parsons extension isn’t already done,or why they are letting a DaRon Bland one linger. Tyler Smith should have put pen to paper on an extension by now, too. If you want to talk about issues the team has then I have certainly got the time. I may not go about it the way that DeMarcus Lawrence did, but I am down for that as well.

Think about that whole situation in and of itself. In case you missed it, Lawrence had some words on his way out from the Dallas Cowboys that seemed - at best - like an unnecessary shot at the team and its failures as of late (as if he weren’t a part of the, but hey, whatever).

To be clear my stance is like this one in that we should still remember all of the good and great from Tank’s time with the Cowboys, but obviously his words caused quite the stir. They were so direct and pointed that Micah Parsons fought back on social media in the name of defending the team. Osa Odighizuwa and Trevon Diggs seemed to in their own ways that were less direct, but you know what they say about assumptions.

Without dragging Lawrence here, didn’t that whole thing make you trust the decision that the Cowboys made (as if the price that the Seattle Seahawks paid wasn’t enough?). In fact, the Cowboys have done their part (seriously) to stay out of making headlines themselves. Remember that Jerry Jones did not speak at all during the run of the NFL combine (this is far from handing out credit to him, just stating facts). The only public occasion that the Cowboys front office has been a part of since introducing Brian Schottenheimer as the team’s new head coach has been the retirement press conference to celebrate Zack Martin. They said some of the usual things, but they hardly stepped out on the limb that Lawrence did.

And as noted, the team’s new level of leadership stood tall against Lawrence and his words of criticism against the franchise. We can agree that Lawrence is right in that the Cowboys have failed to win the Super Bowl for a long time, but isn’t it kind of cool that the new wave of leadership (one that is now necessary in the absences of Lawrence and Martin) said enough was enough? Don’t we want them to be that unified and together and ready to defend the logo on their helmet?

To sum up these thoughts that were rumbling through my brain on the plane ride home after I played numbers 6 and 7 at what I believe is the most beautiful golf course in the world and got destroyed in the process, the waters have certainly stabilized with the Dallas Cowboys (unlike the Pacific Ocean on the day I played Pebble). There is a huge difference between the waters having stabilized and the team being properly in a place to finally deliver the ring to Mordor relative to what the franchise has been enduring for so long - but I’ll be darned if I don’t feel as if they have been listening and have done just about everything that we wanted them to on a philosophical level.

Is there more work to be done? You betcha. They burned up the benefit of the doubt over and over and over, but the 2025 iteration of the team has taken a baby step towards earning some trust back.

Source: https://www.bloggingtheboys.com/202...stephen-jones-demarcus-lawrence-micah-parsons

 

[Dallas Cowboys]

Mock draft database: Huge mock draft update after 1st wave of free agency

Photo by Julio Aguilar/Getty Images

We look at where 40 of the latest mock drafts are slotting which players and what that could mean for the Dallas Cowboys.

At the end of January, we published our first mock draft database of the season. At the time, 22 of the 25 mocks (88%) we looked at were projecting the Cowboys to take either RB Ashton Jeanty (13 mocks) or WR Luther Burden (9).

But a lot has happened since then: The combine came and went, this year’s salary cap was announced, the final comp picks were released, and the first week of free agency is behind us, so it’s time to turn our attention to the very serious business of mock drafting.

On the hypothesis that the predictive value of multiple mock drafts is greater than that of a single mock, we are taking a survey of 40 different mock drafts today. Importantly, all 40 mocks were published on or after the 13th of March, three days after the opening of the NFL’s official free agency tampering period.

And with most of the biggest trades and free agent signings done, it’s time for another mock draft rundown now that we should have a better understanding of team needs going into the draft. We’ll kick off this exercise with a look at all 40 mocks, and which players they have the Cowboys selecting.

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Mock Draft ​

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Player​

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Position​

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College​

[/td]​

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Last Updated​

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NFL (Jeremiah)​

[/td]​

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Matthew Golden​

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WR​

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Texas​

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[td]

3.18​

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ESPN (Kiper)​

[/td]​

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Omarion Hampton​

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RB​

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North Carolina​

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[td]

3.18​

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Nashville Tennesseean (Suss)​

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Tetairoa McMillan​

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WR​

[/td]​

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Arizona​

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3.18​

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Walter Football (Campbell)​

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Ashton Jeanty​

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RB​

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Boise State​

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3.17​

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CBS (Wilson)​

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Armand Membou​

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OT​

[/td]​

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Missouri​

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3.17​

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Stadium Rant (Willey)​

[/td]​

[td]

Ashton Jeanty​

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RB​

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Boise State​

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3.17​

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Fantasy Pros (Blakeway)​

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Mike Green​

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Edge​

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Marshall​

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3.17​

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CBS (Renner)​

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[td]

Tyler Booker​

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[td]

iOL​

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Alabama​

[/td]​

[td]

3.17​

[/td]​

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33rd Team (Crabbs)​

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Will Campbell​

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OT​

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LSU​

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3.17​

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Sharp Football (McCrystal)​

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Matthew Golden​

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WR​

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Texas​

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3.17​

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Huddle Report (Cook)​

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Shemar Stewart​

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Edge​

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Texas A&M​

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[td]

3.17​

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[td]

CBS (Stackpole)​

[/td]​

[td]

Matthew Golden​

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WR​

[/td]​

[td]

Texas​

[/td]​

[td]

3.17​

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[td]

Wolf Sports (Chappine)​

[/td]​

[td]

Jahdae Barron​

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CB​

[/td]​

[td]

Texas​

[/td]​

[td]

3.17​

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[td]

Huddle Report (Niemi)​

[/td]​

[td]

Jahdae Barron​

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[td]

CB​

[/td]​

[td]

Texas​

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3.17​

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[td]

Mock Draft ​

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Player​

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Position​

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College​

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Last Updated​

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[td]

CBS (Podell)​

[/td]​

[td]

Shemar Stewart​

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[td]

Edge​

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[td]

Texas A&M​

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[td]

3.17​

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[td]

Milwaukee Journal Sentinel (Ostly)​

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[td]

Jalon Walker​

[/td]​

[td]

Edge​

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[td]

Georgia​

[/td]​

[td]

3.17​

[/td]​

[td]

CBS (Edwards)​

[/td]​

[td]

Kelvin Banks​

[/td]​

[td]

OT​

[/td]​

[td]

Texas​

[/td]​

[td]

3.17​

[/td]​

[td]

NFL Trade Rumors (Woodle)​

[/td]​

[td]

Matthew Golden​

[/td]​

[td]

WR​

[/td]​

[td]

Texas​

[/td]​

[td]

3.17​

[/td]​

[td]

CBS (Trapasso)​

[/td]​

[td]

Jahdae Barron​

[/td]​

[td]

CB​

[/td]​

[td]

Texas​

[/td]​

[td]

3.17​

[/td]​

[td]

FoxSports (Klatt)​

[/td]​

[td]

Ashton Jeanty​

[/td]​

[td]

RB​

[/td]​

[td]

Boise State​

[/td]​

[td]

3.17​

[/td]​

[td]

Draftwire (Popejoy)​

[/td]​

[td]

Tetairoa McMillan​

[/td]​

[td]

WR​

[/td]​

[td]

Arizona​

[/td]​

[td]

3.16​

[/td]​

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Detroit Free Press (Birkett)​

[/td]​

[td]

Josh Simmons​

[/td]​

[td]

OT​

[/td]​

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Ohio State​

[/td]​

[td]

3.16​

[/td]​

[td]

Draft Network (Fowler)​

[/td]​

[td]

Omarion Hampton​

[/td]​

[td]

RB​

[/td]​

[td]

North Carolina​

[/td]​

[td]

3.16​

[/td]​

[td]

NFL Spin Zone (Bedinger)​

[/td]​

[td]

Shemar Stewart​

[/td]​

[td]

Edge​

[/td]​

[td]

Texas A&M​

[/td]​

[td]

3.16​

[/td]​

[td]

Draftblaster (Staff)​

[/td]​

[td]

Ashton Jeanty​

[/td]​

[td]

RB​

[/td]​

[td]

Boise State​

[/td]​

[td]

3.15​

[/td]​

[td]

PFN (Infante)​

[/td]​

[td]

Tetairoa McMillan​

[/td]​

[td]

WR​

[/td]​

[td]

Arizona​

[/td]​

[td]

3.15​

[/td]​

[td]

PFN (Enriquez)​

[/td]​

[td]

Ashton Jeanty​

[/td]​

[td]

RB​

[/td]​

[td]

Boise State​

[/td]​

[td]

3.14​

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Mock Draft ​

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Player​

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Position​

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[td]

College​

[/td]​

[td]

Last Updated​

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Palm Beach Post (Habib)​

[/td]​

[td]

Tetairoa McMillan​

[/td]​

[td]

WR​

[/td]​

[td]

Arizona​

[/td]​

[td]

3.14​

[/td]​

[td]

Star Telegram (Harris)​

[/td]​

[td]

Tetairoa McMillan​

[/td]​

[td]

WR​

[/td]​

[td]

Arizona​

[/td]​

[td]

3.14​

[/td]​

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33rd Team (Foster)​

[/td]​

[td]

Jihaad Campbell​

[/td]​

[td]

LB​

[/td]​

[td]

Alabama​

[/td]​

[td]

3.14​

[/td]​

[td]

Uproxx (Kalland)​

[/td]​

[td]

Kelvin Banks​

[/td]​

[td]

OT​

[/td]​

[td]

Texas​

[/td]​

[td]

3.14​

[/td]​

[td]

Yahoo (Tice/McDonald)​

[/td]​

[td]

Derrick Harmon​

[/td]​

[td]

DL​

[/td]​

[td]

Oregon​

[/td]​

[td]

3.13​

[/td]​

[td]

Fox Sports (Helman)​

[/td]​

[td]

Will Johnson​

[/td]​

[td]

CB​

[/td]​

[td]

Wisconsin​

[/td]​

[td]

3.13​

[/td]​

[td]

Athlon Sports (Easterling)​

[/td]​

[td]

Tetairoa McMillan​

[/td]​

[td]

WR​

[/td]​

[td]

Arizona​

[/td]​

[td]

3.13​

[/td]​

[td]

SI (Landis)​

[/td]​

[td]

Matthew Golden​

[/td]​

[td]

WR​

[/td]​

[td]

Texas​

[/td]​

[td]

3.13​

[/td]​

[td]

Underdognetwork (Winks)​

[/td]​

[td]

Emeka Egbuka​

[/td]​

[td]

WR​

[/td]​

[td]

Ohio State​

[/td]​

[td]

3.13​

[/td]​

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Fantasy Life (Freedman)​

[/td]​

[td]

Omarion Hampton​

[/td]​

[td]

RB​

[/td]​

[td]

North Carolina​

[/td]​

[td]

3.13​

[/td]​

[td]

Drafttek​

[/td]​

[td]

Will Johnson​

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CB​

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Wisconsin​

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[td]

3.13​

[/td]​

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Sportsnaut (Buller)​

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[td]

Malaki Starks​

[/td]​

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S​

[/td]​

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Georgia​

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3.13​

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NFL Spin Zone (Scataglia)​

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Will Johnson​

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CB​

[/td]​

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Wisconsin​

[/td]​

[td]

3.13​

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​

That’s a ton of info to digest, so here’s a condensed version that’s also easier to read:

By Position	Mocks		By Player	POS	Mocks

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40 Mock Drafts - Summary Results​

[/td]​

[td]

WR​

[/td]​

[td]

12​

[/td]​

[td]

​

[/td]​

[td]

Tetairoa McMillan​

[/td]​

[td]

WR​

[/td]​

[td]

6​

[/td]​

[td]

RB​

[/td]​

[td]

8​

[/td]​

[td]

​

[/td]​

[td]

Ashton Jeanty​

[/td]​

[td]

RB​

[/td]​

[td]

5​

[/td]​

[td]

Secondary​

[/td]​

[td]

7​

[/td]​

[td]

​

[/td]​

[td]

Matthew Golden​

[/td]​

[td]

WR​

[/td]​

[td]

5​

[/td]​

[td]

OL​

[/td]​

[td]

6​

[/td]​

[td]

​

[/td]​

[td]

Jahdae Barron​

[/td]​

[td]

CB​

[/td]​

[td]

3​

[/td]​

[td]

DL​

[/td]​

[td]

6​

[/td]​

[td]

​

[/td]​

[td]

Omarion Hampton​

[/td]​

[td]

RB​

[/td]​

[td]

3​

[/td]​

[td]

LB​

[/td]​

[td]

1​

[/td]​

[td]

​

[/td]​

[td]

Shemar Stewart​

[/td]​

[td]

Edge​

[/td]​

[td]

3​

[/td]​

[td]

​

[/td]​

[td]

​

[/td]​

[td]

​

[/td]​

[td]

Will Johnson​

[/td]​

[td]

CB​

[/td]​

[td]

3​

[/td]​

[td]

​

[/td]​

[td]

​

[/td]​

[td]

​

[/td]​

[td]

Kelvin Banks​

[/td]​

[td]

OT​

[/td]​

[td]

2​

[/td]​

[td]

​

[/td]​

[td]

​

[/td]​

[td]

​

[/td]​

[td]

One vote each: Derrick Harmon, Emeka Egbuka, Jalon Walker, Jihaad Campbell, Josh Simmons, Malaki Starks, Mike Green, Tyler Booker, Will Campbell​

[/td]​

[td]

​

[/td]​

[td]

9​

[/td]​

​

The first thing to note is that WR (11 picks) and RB (8 picks) remain the most popular positions. But 19 out of 40 picks, or 48%, is a far cry from the 88% we saw in our January mock draft summary.

Another thing to note is that WR Luther Burden was picked for the Cowboys in nine of the 25 January mocks. This time he’s not mocked to the Cowboys even once. In fact, he doesn’t even show up as a first-rounder in 23 of the mock drafts today.

And finally, with 18 different players mocked to the Cowboys in the 40 mocks today, there is clearly no consensus on what the Cowboys will do in the draft.

To get a little more clarity on which player could be available for the Cowboys, you can look up the player ranking on your favorite big board, you can make up your own ranking, and you could even use a consensus big board to figure out such a ranking.

Or we could look at the average draft position for each player based on the 40 mocks above, which is exactly what you’ll see in the table below.

For the data in the table, I excluded what look to be the consensus top four picks (Cameron Ward, Travis Hunter, Abdul Carter, Shedeur Sanders) and also excluded all QBs and TEs.

I included all 18 players that were mocked to the Cowboys at least once, and added four more to round things out (DL Mason Graham, DE Mykal Williams, DE James Pearce, WR Luther Burden)

To arrive at the average rank, I calculated the average across the 40 mocks, and where a player fell out of the Top 32, I used the 33th spot to calculate the average draft position.

[td]

Avg. POS​

[/td]​

[td]

Player​

[/td]​

[td]

Pos​

[/td]​

[td]

Available at No. 12​

[/td]​

[td]

5.6​

[/td]​

[td]

Mason Graham​

[/td]​

[td]

iDL​

[/td]​

[td]

5%​

[/td]​

[td]

7.7​

[/td]​

[td]

Will Campbell​

[/td]​

[td]

OT​

[/td]​

[td]

13%​

[/td]​

[td]

9.5​

[/td]​

[td]

Ashton Jeanty​

[/td]​

[td]

RB​

[/td]​

[td]

25%​

[/td]​

[td]

10.5​

[/td]​

[td]

Armand Membou​

[/td]​

[td]

OT​

[/td]​

[td]

23%​

[/td]​

[td]

10.6​

[/td]​

[td]

Tetairoa McMillan​

[/td]​

[td]

WR​

[/td]​

[td]

38%​

[/td]​

[td]

13.6​

[/td]​

[td]

Will Johnson​

[/td]​

[td]

CB​

[/td]​

[td]

53%​

[/td]​

[td]

14.3​

[/td]​

[td]

Shemar Stewart​

[/td]​

[td]

Edge​

[/td]​

[td]

63%​

[/td]​

[td]

14.4​

[/td]​

[td]

Jalon Walker​

[/td]​

[td]

Edge​

[/td]​

[td]

43%​

[/td]​

[td]

15.4​

[/td]​

[td]

Kelvin Banks​

[/td]​

[td]

OT​

[/td]​

[td]

65%​

[/td]​

[td]

15.8​

[/td]​

[td]

Mykel Williams​

[/td]​

[td]

Edge​

[/td]​

[td]

65%​

[/td]​

[td]

20.8​

[/td]​

[td]

Jihaad Campbell​

[/td]​

[td]

LB​

[/td]​

[td]

93%​

[/td]​

[td]

20.9​

[/td]​

[td]

Jahdae Barron​

[/td]​

[td]

CB​

[/td]​

[td]

93%​

[/td]​

[td]

21.2​

[/td]​

[td]

Mike Green​

[/td]​

[td]

Edge​

[/td]​

[td]

88%​

[/td]​

[td]

22.2​

[/td]​

[td]

Matthew Golden​

[/td]​

[td]

WR​

[/td]​

[td]

95%​

[/td]​

[td]

22.8​

[/td]​

[td]

Tyler Booker​

[/td]​

[td]

iOL​

[/td]​

[td]

98%​

[/td]​

[td]

23.9​

[/td]​

[td]

James Pearce​

[/td]​

[td]

Edge​

[/td]​

[td]

90%​

[/td]​

[td]

24.1​

[/td]​

[td]

Malaki Starks​

[/td]​

[td]

S​

[/td]​

[td]

100%​

[/td]​

[td]

24.5​

[/td]​

[td]

Josh Simmons​

[/td]​

[td]

OT​

[/td]​

[td]

93%​

[/td]​

[td]

25.6​

[/td]​

[td]

Omarion Hampton​

[/td]​

[td]

RB​

[/td]​

[td]

98%​

[/td]​

[td]

26.3​

[/td]​

[td]

Emeka Egbuka​

[/td]​

[td]

WR​

[/td]​

[td]

100%​

[/td]​

[td]

26.4​

[/td]​

[td]

Derrick Harmon​

[/td]​

[td]

DL​

[/td]​

[td]

100%​

[/td]​

[td]

28.8​

[/td]​

[td]

Luther Burden​

[/td]​

[td]

WR​

[/td]​

[td]

100%​

[/td]​

​

The Cowboys are very likely looking at impact playmakers at No. 12. Perhaps a wide receiver to pair with CeeDee Lamb. Perhaps a running back to supercharge the running game. Maybe even a pass rusher opposite Micah Parsons. But it’s hard to imagine Brian Schottenheimer passing on an opportunity to elevate his passing or running game with either Tetairoa McMillan or Ashton Jeanty available at the No. 12 spot.

The odds for McMillan being available are 38% (which means 38% of the mocks pick him at #12 or later) and slightly less for Jeanty with 25%. That’s not a bad place to be in, assuming the Cowboys like both guys. And your odds get even better if the Cowboys want to pick either of them. 23 of the 40 mocks (58%) have one or the other still available when the Cowboys are on the clock.

If I were the Cowboys, that’s exactly the scenario I would be looking for.

However, there are still 17 mocks (42%) in which neither Jeanty nor McMillan are available anymore. In that case, the Cowboys have three options:

1. They get the second-best player at WR and RB, which is what Daniel Jeremiah and Dan Kiper did in their mocks yesterday. Kiper has the Cowboys picking RB Omarion Hampton (Jeanty goes to the Raiders at #6) and Jeremiah has them picking WR Matthew Golden over McMillan, who strangely ends up at #22.
2. They go looking for the best pass rusher available. In 17 mocks with Jeanty and McMillan gone before #12, Shemar Stewart would be available 65% of the time and Jalon Walker 47%. But combined, those two pass rushers show up in 15 of those 17 mocks, or 88% of the time.
3. Catch a falling blue-chip prospect. We do not know how the Cowboys have graded their prospects, but if we assume DT Mason Graham, OT Will Campbell, and OT Armand Membou are blue-chippers, there’s a slim but non-zero chance of 28% that one of them would be available at #12.

And this is where things get really interesting for the Cowboys. If they are focused on WR, RB, and perhaps EDGE, and they miss out on all their top guys, do they trade down, get an extra pick or two in return, and take a shot at the second tier at those positions?

You’ll notice that the table above is conveniently split into two parts, the top part with players ranked 16th or higher and the bottom part with players ranked 21st or lower (marked in gray).

Let’s assume that none of the three options laid out above pan out and the Cowboys move down 10 spots in the draft to No. 22. Here’s what the probabilities look like down there.

[td]

Avg. POS​

[/td]​

[td]

Player​

[/td]​

[td]

Pos​

[/td]​

[td]

Available at No. 22​

[/td]​

[td]

5.8​

[/td]​

[td]

Mason Graham​

[/td]​

[td]

iDL​

[/td]​

[td]

0%​

[/td]​

[td]

8.1​

[/td]​

[td]

Will Campbell​

[/td]​

[td]

OT​

[/td]​

[td]

0%​

[/td]​

[td]

9.1​

[/td]​

[td]

Ashton Jeanty​

[/td]​

[td]

RB​

[/td]​

[td]

3%​

[/td]​

[td]

10.2​

[/td]​

[td]

Armand Membou​

[/td]​

[td]

OT​

[/td]​

[td]

8%​

[/td]​

[td]

9.4​

[/td]​

[td]

Tetairoa McMillan​

[/td]​

[td]

WR​

[/td]​

[td]

3%​

[/td]​

[td]

13.5​

[/td]​

[td]

Will Johnson​

[/td]​

[td]

CB​

[/td]​

[td]

15%​

[/td]​

[td]

14.0​

[/td]​

[td]

Jalon Walker​

[/td]​

[td]

Edge​

[/td]​

[td]

10%​

[/td]​

[td]

13.9​

[/td]​

[td]

Shemar Stewart​

[/td]​

[td]

Edge​

[/td]​

[td]

20%​

[/td]​

[td]

14.9​

[/td]​

[td]

Kelvin Banks​

[/td]​

[td]

OT​

[/td]​

[td]

23%​

[/td]​

[td]

16.5​

[/td]​

[td]

Mykel Williams​

[/td]​

[td]

Edge​

[/td]​

[td]

23%​

[/td]​

[td]

21.7​

[/td]​

[td]

Jahdae Barron​

[/td]​

[td]

CB​

[/td]​

[td]

28%​

[/td]​

[td]

21.6​

[/td]​

[td]

Jihaad Campbell​

[/td]​

[td]

LB​

[/td]​

[td]

48%​

[/td]​

[td]

22.1​

[/td]​

[td]

Tyler Booker​

[/td]​

[td]

iOL​

[/td]​

[td]

50%​

[/td]​

[td]

21.7​

[/td]​

[td]

Mike Green​

[/td]​

[td]

Edge​

[/td]​

[td]

48%​

[/td]​

[td]

22.8​

[/td]​

[td]

Matthew Golden​

[/td]​

[td]

WR​

[/td]​

[td]

50%​

[/td]​

[td]

23.1​

[/td]​

[td]

James Pearce​

[/td]​

[td]

Edge​

[/td]​

[td]

63%​

[/td]​

[td]

24.6​

[/td]​

[td]

Malaki Starks​

[/td]​

[td]

S​

[/td]​

[td]

68%​

[/td]​

[td]

26.3​

[/td]​

[td]

Derrick Harmon​

[/td]​

[td]

DL​

[/td]​

[td]

80%​

[/td]​

[td]

26.3​

[/td]​

[td]

Emeka Egbuka​

[/td]​

[td]

WR​

[/td]​

[td]

55%​

[/td]​

[td]

28.3​

[/td]​

[td]

Luther Burden​

[/td]​

[td]

WR​

[/td]​

[td]

73%​

[/td]​

[td]

25.7​

[/td]​

[td]

Omarion Hampton​

[/td]​

[td]

RB​

[/td]​

[td]

80%​

[/td]​

[td]

24.3​

[/td]​

[td]

Josh Simmons​

[/td]​

[td]

OT​

[/td]​

[td]

83%​

[/td]​

​

There are some interesting names at the bottom of this list and most of them look to have a decent chance of being available. Part of their appeal of course would the extra pick the Cowboys could get for moving down 10 or so spots.

What would you do if the draft played out the way the 40 mocks suggest?

• Pick the best WR and/or RB at #12?
• Pick BPA at #12 regardless of position?
• A Travis-Frederick-style tradedown into the twenties?

Again, all of this is based on the aggregation of mock drafts. If you don’t like where players are ranked, do the same exercise with your favorite big board and report back in the comments.

Tell us in the attached poll or in the comments which of the three options you would prefer.

---

Source: https://www.bloggingtheboys.com/202...e-free-agency-ashton-jeanty-tetairoa-mcmillan

 

[Dallas Cowboys]

2025 NFL Draft: Examining Cowboys' first-round options at positions of need

Photo by Ed Zurga/Getty Images

Here are some names to keep in mind for the first round of the NFL Draft.

The Dallas Cowboys "selectively aggressive" approach made them much more active this year in free agency than they were just a season ago. Despite all of their recent free agent additions and the two trades they made, there is still some glaring "needs" that need to be addressed via the 2025 NFL Draft.

Today, we look a little deeper at Dallas' current roster "needs" to examine what their options may be with the 12th overall pick in the first round. While it's true they could also be looking to trade down in the first-round this year, finding a willing trade partner may or may not happen.

Running back​

Ashton Jeanty, Omarion Hampton​

The Cowboys may have signed Javonte Williams and Miles Sanders to add some much-needed depth in their RB room, however, neither has shown they can be a dependable full-time starter in the league at this point in their careers. If Dallas is looking for a true RB1, they could use their first-round draft pick to acquire him either at No. 12 or in a trade down scenario.

We'll presume Jeanty is already gone when the Cowboys are on the clock in the first round. If not, his difference making ability would probably be too hard to pass up. If he's gone though, Omarion Hampton is worthy as well. Some teams have him as the RB1 this year and Dallas could be one of them. Drafting him and 12 might be a reach, but only a slight one.

Prediction: Omarion Hampton

Wide receiver​

Tetairoa McMillan, Luther Burden, Emeka Egbuka, Matthew Golden​

Despite bringing in free agent WR Paris Campbell after seeing the price tag for Cooper Kupp was more than they were willing to spend on the 32-year-old, finding a wide receiver to pair with CeeDee Lamb is at the top of the priority list. In a somewhat weak WR draft class this year; there's a strong possibility Dallas uses their first-round pick here.

Although there's a chance McMillan could slide to the Cowboys, it seems unlikely after running a 4.48 40-yard dash at his Pro Day. That leaves Burden, Egbuka, and Golden as the best options for them. There's a concern Burden and Golden might be just flash players with one good season of production, but Egbuka is considered a pro-ready plug-and-play WR.

Prediction: Luther Burden

Cornerback​

Travis Hunter, Will Johnson, Jahdae Barron​

Trevon Diggs' timetable to return from a season-ending knee injury, DaRon Bland entering a contract year, and Jourdan Lewis exiting via free agency puts cornerback as a top Cowboys roster "need" right now. They did trade for a former first-round pick, Kaiir Elam, however, he will need to have a career resurgence in order to be depended upon.

It's a safe bet Travis Hunter will be long gone by the time the Cowboys are on the clock, leaving Will Johnson or Jahdae Barron as the top CBs still on the board. Both fit what Matt Eberflus looks for at the position, however, Barron's versatility to play any position in the secondary as well as his ability in run defense could make him the preferred choice.

Prediction: Jahdae Barron

Defensive end​

Abdul Carter, James Pearce, Mike Green, Donovan Ezeiruaku, Mykel Williams, Shemar Stewart​

You can never have too many pass rusher's, but the Cowboys are actually pretty solid at DE right now. However, with just Micah Parsons and Marshawn Kneeland likely to be under contract beyond 2025, this position could definitely be in play. Because of that, this could be the way they go with their first-round pick.

Other than Abdul Carter, they could have their pick of pass rusher's at No. 12. Based on what Matt Eberflus has preferred in the past at the position, Mykel Williams and Shemar Stewart could be their top targets, but we can't rule out the others either. The question is how much impact would they make as rookies due to the depth at the position right now?

Prediction: Mykel Williams

Defensive tackle​

Mason Graham, Kenneth Grant, Derrick Harmon, Darius Alexander, Walter Nolen​

Re-signing Osa Odighizuwa was a much needed move by the team, and bringing in free agent DT Solomon Thomas provide some solid depth at the 3-technique. Sadly, Mazi Smith and the 1-technique is where Dallas needs to upgrade the most, especially in regards to improving the run defense.

It's probably unlikely Dallas will use their first-round pick on another interior defensive lineman unless Mason Graham somehow slides into their lap at No. 12. Things could change though if they trade down and DT is the top-ranked player on their big board. Even then though, the likely wait until later to address the position.

Prediction: Darius Alexander

Source: https://www.bloggingtheboys.com/202...sitions-of-need-luther-burden-omarion-hampton

 

[Dallas Cowboys]

Solomon Thomas on wanting to play for Cowboys, reuniting with DL coach Aaron Whitecotton

Photo by Brooke Sutton/Getty Images

Solomon Thomas manifested playing for the Cowboys.

The Dallas Cowboys went into a completely different era from a coaching staff standpoint after parting ways with Mike McCarthy. Defensively, they'll be led by Matt Eberflus in 2025 and beyond, and he didn't waste time filling out his staff in January. One of the key hires was defensive line coach Aaron Whitecotton, who spent time with the Jacksonville Jaguars, Buffalo Bills, and San Francisco 49ers before spending the last four years with the New York Jets.

Dallas came into the offseason also needing more help on their defensive line. They haven't made any big moves outside the building, but one that brings some intrigue is veteran defensive lineman Solomon Thomas. Unlike a lot of their signings in free agency, the Cowboys gave Thomas a two-year deal.

Thomas graduated from Coppell High School in Coppell, Texas. He imagined himself playing for the Cowboys one day, and now, that's a reality. The former first-round pick spent the last three years with the Jets, meaning he played under the aforementioned Whitecotton. So, he's extremely familiar with what Whitecotton wants to accomplish and how he wants to attack. In fact, Thomas spoke on his desire to be in Dallas and how the hiring of Whitecotton made it even stronger, per Jon Machota.

When I saw Coach Whitecotton signed with Dallas, I was super excited because I was like, ‘Dang, this may be a chance for me to play at home, to play under Whitecotton another year, and to make everything aligned.’ I was manifesting it right away when I saw that happen. I was like, ‘I want to be a Dallas Cowboy. I want to come home. I don’t want to have to move any more. This is where I want to play. This is where I want to win.’

Coach Whitecotton is a coach I want to play for. I’ve played my best football under him. He instills confidence in me. He brings the best out of me. He’s a guy who lets his players play the way they need to play to play their best football. It’s what I wanted. By the grace of God it worked out and I’m just super happy to be here.

Thomas is living out a dream now that he's in Dallas, and that certainly will be a motivating factor for him to produce on the field. Speaking of that, Thomas brings with him a diverse skill set. He's very versatile, and he will provide help for the Cowboys on the edge as well as the interior. Thomas was a part of a Jets defense that over the last three seasons finished in the top 10 in both pressure rate and sacks. During his time with the Jets, Thomas racked up 50 pressures per Pro Football Focus. Also, he amassed nine sacks and 16 quarterback hits. Over his career, Thomas has accumulated 18.5 sacks. That means basically half have come while he's been coached by Whitecotton, including a career-high five in 2023.

Whitecotton was also a big reason guys like Quinnen Williams, Bryce Huff, John Franklin-Myers, and Jermaine Johnson developed. So, the hope is that Thomas can continue the type of success he's had under Whitecotton and give key Cowboys defenders on both the interior and the edge get some breathers as a rotational piece. The scheme that will be run by Eberflus is very familiar to Whitecotton and how he was taught, which will be key in helping Thomas come right in and get adapted quickly.

The expectation isn't for Thomas to come in and set the world on fire. He just needs to be solid, and seeing as he's played his best football under Whitecotton, there's a good chance of that happening.

Source: https://www.bloggingtheboys.com/202...ve-line-coach-aaron-whitecotton-matt-eberflus

 

[Dallas Cowboys]

Dak Prescott and CeeDee Lamb tried recruiting Cooper Kupp to Dallas

Photo by Richard Rodriguez/Getty Images

Dak Prescott and CeeDee Lamb seem to have wanted Cooper Kupp to join the Cowboys.

Almost immediately after news broke last Friday morning about the Dallas Cowboys being a sleeper team for signing Cooper Kupp, conflicting reports surfaced even faster, dampening Dallas’ interest in the former All-Pro wide receiver.

Kupp’s asking price for a new deal was around $15 million annually, which is exactly what the Seattle Seahawks gave the former Los Angeles Ram to join their team on a three-year contract. Despite the conflicting reports, Adam Schefter wanted to make it clear on The Adam Schefter Podcast that the Cowboys were initially interested in Kupp. So much so that Dak Prescott and CeeDee Lamb called the then-free agent wide out.

#Cowboys Dak Prescott and CeeDee Lamb tried recruiting Cooper Kupp to Dallas.

When the price got too high, it was a no go.

( : @ AdamSchefter podcast) pic.twitter.com/Y7BpMhfoGt

— Brandon Loree (@Brandoniswrite) March 18, 2025​

It is refreshing to see that the Cowboys were in the mix for a top-tier free agent, but as Schefter mentions, when the price tag got past Dallas’ range, they were out of the sweepstakes. It's something fans have become numb to hearing at this point.

Paying $15 million a year to a wide receiver who has been unable to finish an entire season healthy for three straight seasons is a tough pill to swallow. The Cowboys would rather spend $15 million on three free agents instead of one.

However, the team desperately needs a second wide receiver to complement Lamb and help Brian Schottenheimer’s first-year offense hit the ground running. Dallas could re-sign Brandin Cooks if they wanted to, but it seems unlikely, as his number was handed out to Dante Fowler a few days ago.

Pivoting from a receiver like Cooks and Kupp could signal they want to get someone younger at the position. The NFL draft could be their opportunity to find not only a great No. 2 wide receiver but one who comes at a low price tag (a win-win for the front office).

Tetairoa McMillan (Arizona), Emeka Egbuka (Ohio State), and Matthew Golden (Texas) could all be in play at 12th overall for Dallas in the first round. Any of the three would add immediate juice to the offense, with things looking a lot better on paper.

Source: https://www.bloggingtheboys.com/202...mb-recruiting-cooper-kupp-draft-wide-reciever

 

[Dallas Cowboys]

Cowboys news: Wide receiver is looking like a focus as draft day nears

Tim Heitman-Imagn Images

The latest news surrounding the Dallas Cowboys.

Dallas Cowboys select fast-rising wide receiver in latest NFL mock draft - Koby Skillern, Sports Illustrated​

Providing Dak Prescott a solid WR2 seems to be where many people project Dallas to go in the draft.

The Dallas Cowboys had a strong start to the offseason with a productive round of NFL free agency, signing players at key positions of need that should have a significant impact in the 2025 season.

After their active moves in free agency and trades, there has been a growing debate about the team’s biggest remaining roster needs.

With the likelihood that the Cowboys won’t be very active in free agency until after the NFL Draft, the focus will now shift to utilizing their draft picks to find impact players and further strengthen the roster.

Fox Sports’ Rob Rang put together a mock draft and had the Cowboys solving their WR2 problem by selecting Texas Longhorns wide receiver Matthew Golden.

“With all due respect to Jalen Tolbert and the rest of the Cowboys’ supporting cast at wide receiver, Dallas needs to give Dak Prescott and CeeDee Lamb a little help in the passing game. In just 4.29 seconds at the Combine, Golden cemented his first-round stock, boasting not only elite speed but the playmaking ability to project as a “star” in the NFL,” said Rang.

Golden could be the perfect complement to Lamb. While Lamb excels in the slot, Golden thrives as a deep threat.

There may be debates about the Cowboys’ biggest need—whether it’s cornerback, backup quarterback, wide receiver, or defensive lineman—but there is no doubt that if the Cowboys come away from the first round with a talent like Golden, it could immensely change the immediate future for Dallas.

The offense lacks firepower, and Golden provides just that. He could instantly relieve the pressure on Prescott and Lamb, giving the team a wide receiver duo they haven’t had since trading away Amari Cooper three seasons ago.

Mailbag: What’s the plan at backup QB now? - Mickey Spagnola & Tommy Yarrish, DallasCowboys.com​

Another offensive need is a solid QB2.

Were you surprised that Dallas let Cooper Rush get out of the building? Could the Cowboys have afforded the two-year, $12 million contract that Baltimore gave him? That doesn’t sound like a whole lot of money for a proven and reliable QB2. With Cooper gone, what do you think the Cowboys will do about their backup quarterback position? Is it Will Grier’s to win or lose, or do they draft and develop a quarterback from the later rounds?– Mark Somma/ Winchester, VA**

Mickey: Very good question, since in my mind, having a backup quarterback who can go .500 (4-4) like Coop did this past season under adverse injury situations is pretty strong. His deal with the Ravens by the way, is two years, “up to” $12 million. It’s really two years, $6.25 million, with $4.2 million guaranteed. Just remember, every million dollars counts against the salary cap. So, for now, today, Will Grier would be the backup and the Cowboys plan is to draft one at least around the fourth (if they can trade back into that round) or the fifth. But that guy would not be likely to be the immediate backup.

Also, they need quarterbacks in here for the offseason workouts since can’t expect Dak to be ready for much. To me, interesting name out there now is Desmond Ridder, who started 13 of 15 games for Atlanta in 2023. Think we can label this as a “fluid” situation.

Tommy: I strongly believe they’re going to draft a quarterback in the later rounds come April. Stephen Jones essentially told the media at the combine that having a younger quarterback on the roster was a preference, and with the way the Trey Lance experience went I think they’ll look to the draft this time around to find their guy. That said, I think it would also benefit them to add a free agent at the position too, just so you’ve got some experience there with more than likely a lower price tag than what Rush earned in Baltimore.

Dak Prescott and CeeDee Lamb tried recruiting Cooper Kupp to Dallas - Brandon Loree, Blogging The Boys​

The Cowboys took a run at Cooper Kupp until the dollar amount got too high.

Almost immediately after news broke last Friday morning about the Dallas Cowboys being a sleeper team for signing Cooper Kupp, conflicting reports surfaced even faster, dampening Dallas’ interest in the former All-Pro wide receiver.

Kupp’s asking price for a new deal was around $15 million annually, which is exactly what the Seattle Seahawks gave the former Los Angeles Ram to join their team on a three-year contract. Despite the conflicting reports, Adam Schefter wanted to make it clear on The Adam Schefter Podcast that the Cowboys were initially interested in Kupp. So much so that Dak Prescott and CeeDee Lamb called the then-free agent wide out.

Almost immediately after news broke last Friday morning about the Dallas Cowboys being a sleeper team for signing Cooper Kupp, conflicting reports surfaced even faster, dampening Dallas’ interest in the former All-Pro wide receiver.

Kupp’s asking price for a new deal was around $15 million annually, which is exactly what the Seattle Seahawks gave the former Los Angeles Ram to join their team on a three-year contract. Despite the conflicting reports, Adam Schefter wanted to make it clear on The Adam Schefter Podcast that the Cowboys were initially interested in Kupp. So much so that Dak Prescott and CeeDee Lamb called the then-free agent wide out.

Pivoting from a receiver like Cooks and Kupp could signal they want to get someone younger at the position. The NFL draft could be their opportunity to find not only a great No. 2 wide receiver but one who comes at a low price tag (a win-win for the front office).

Tetairoa McMillan (Arizona), Emeka Egbuka (Ohio State), and Matthew Golden (Texas) could all be in play at 12th overall for Dallas in the first round. Any of the three would add immediate juice to the offense, with things looking a lot better on paper.

Why Cowboys DE Payton Turner feels he can have breakout 2025 in Dallas, reveals what didn’t work with Saints - Garrett Podell, CBS Sports​

A new Dallas defender feels the Cowboys are the right fit for him.

When someone is chosen as a first-round pick in the NFL Draft, the team that selects them typically envisions that player at least reaching a second contract with them at the end of their rookie deal.

That didn’t happen with Payton Turner and the New Orleans Saints, who picked him 28th overall in the 2021 NFL Draft out of the University of Houston. New Orleans opted to decline his fifth-year option after Turner only played in 15 games in his first three seasons and recorded just three total sacks in that span from 2021 to 2023. The 6-foot-6, 270-pound edge rusher dealt with a litany of injuries ranging from issues with his chest, shoulder, toe and calf.

Turner, 26, figured things out regarding his health in 2024, appearing in a career-high 16 games and tying his single-season career-high in sacks with two. He feels like playing in new Cowboys defensive coordinator Matt Eberflus’ scheme alongside All-Pro edge rusher Micah Parsons and defensive tackle Osa Odighizuwa can help him reach his untapped potential. He’s never had better running mates in his career, and he believes a more practical approach schematically in Dallas, instead of former Saints head coach Dennis Allen’s scheme, can help free him up to attack even more off the line of scrimmage.

“[The Cowboys] got these different types of bodies and different guys who can do a few different things. I can kind of do a little bit of everything at a high level,” Turner said Tuesday on a conference call. “In New Orleans, where I see the difference is … this defense with coach Eberflus is a lot about penetrating and getting vertical and then react. As opposed to New Orleans, we [were] really detailed with our technique as far as you need to hold this gap. It wasn’t so much about getting knockback, getting vertical. They both have their advantages, they’re both different. I’m excited to switch it up a little bit and get back to get off the ball and set the edge vertically and getting back to it.”

Source: https://www.bloggingtheboys.com/202...-day-wide-reciever-backup-qb-cooper-rush-kupp

 

[Dallas Cowboys]

Dallas Cowboys 2025 7-round mock draft includes high pick for RB

Photo by Chris Leduc/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images

Free agency may have changed the Cowboys approach to the 2025 NFL Draft.

The Dallas Cowboys "selectively aggressive" approach to free agency this year has made them surprisingly more active than they have been in years past. While they've filled a lot of holes to their roster by signing and trading for rotational and depth players, it looks like they will still be relying heavily on the 2025 NFL Draft to significantly upgrade several positions.

Right now, the Cowboys still need to upgrade defensive tackle, cornerback, wide receiver, running back, and quite possibly offensive line and defensive end as well. Today, with the help of Pro Football Focus' mock draft simulator, we attempt to upgrade Dallas' roster with the 10 draft picks they currently hold in each round except the fourth due to the Jonathan Mingo trade.

1.12 - RB Omarion Hampton, North Carolina​

Photo by Nicholas Faulkner/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images

At 5'11", 221-pounds, Omarion Hampton checks all of the boxes NFL teams look for in their RB1. He is a complete three-down back with the high-end physical tools and versatility to immediately become one of the best RBs in the league as a rookie. While it's true the 2025 RB draft class is deep, Hampton is arguably the only one outside of Ashton Jeanty with elite potential at the next level. Taking him at No. 12 may be a slight reach, but not by much.

2.44 - WR Jack Bech, TCU​

Photo by Richard Rodriguez/Getty Images

At 6'1", 214-pounds, Jack Bech is a QB-friendly wide receiver who could be a perfect pairing for CeeDee Lamb in Dallas. He is a versatile and physical WR who can play inside or out, has vice-like strong hands, is a sharp route runner, and one of the best contested catch receivers in the draft class. He is also willing to do the dirty work as a blocker and has a high football IQ, much like Cooper Kupp, who Dallas showed an interest in acquiring recently.

3.76 - CB Jacob Parrish, Kansas State​

Photo by Peter G. Aiken/Getty Images

At 5'10", 191-pounds, Jacob Parrish is a scheme diverse cornerback capable of playing in press-man or zone coverage. He's smooth in coverage and is a willing tackler in the run game. From a size, speed, and talent standpoint he compares favorably to Jourdan Lewis, who recently signed with the Jacksonville Jaguars in free agency, and could step in immediately as a rookie to replace him as the Cowboys new nickel CB.

5.149 - QB Quinn Ewers, Texas​

Photo by Adam Hagy/CFP/Getty Images

At 6'2", 214-pounds, Quinn Ewers as a prototypical size and arm talent to develop into a starting QB at the next level. He carries some injury concerns and needs to do a better job of reading defenses, but the potential is there to develop into a starter at the next level. He's someone the Cowboys have already shown an interest in and could be someone they consider to backup Dak Prescott, especially now that Cooper Rush signed with the Ravens.

5.171 - OT/G Emery Jones Jr., LSU​

Photo by Ella Hall/LSU/University Images via Getty Images

At 6'5", 315-pounds, Emery Jones Jr. is an intriguing offensive line prospect who has the length (34 1/4 inch arms) and athleticism to remain on the outside at right tackle at the next level, but his long-term future may be kicking inside to guard. He's someone who could step in and immediately challenge to become Zack Martin's replacement at RG as a rookie or could become Terence Steele's successor at RT in the not-too-distant future.

5.174 - RB Bhayshul Tuten, Virginia Tech​

Photo by Grant Halverson/Getty Images

At 5'9", 206-pounds, Bhayshul Tuten is on the smaller side, but he is a compact runner with good contact balance who is capable of taking it to the house anytime he touches the ball. He has elite, game breaking speed (4.32 40-yard dash) and is at his best in a zone blocking scheme. He needs to improve his ball security (nine fumbles over the last two years), but that's easily fixed with coaching. He'd provide some much-needed juice to Dallas' backfield.

6.204 - S R.J. Mickens, Clemson​

Photo by John Byrum/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images

At 6'0", 199-pounds, R.J. Mickens is a versatile defensive back who can provide much-needed depth to the back end of the Cowboys secondary. During his time at Clemson he played as a box safety, free safety, and in the slot. He's at his best in zone coverage, something that could appeal to Matt Eberflus. He could compete for playing time as a rookie and his position flex could make him an invaluable depth piece early on.

6.211 - EDGE Fadil Diggs, Syracuse​

Photo by Bryan Bennett/Getty Images

At 6'4", 287-pounds, Fadil Diggs has the prototypical size and athleticism NFL teams look for in an edge rusher. He is a developmental prospect who has shown flashes in his collegiate career at both Texas A&M and Syracuse, but needs to further develop his craft to be considered a starting caliber player in the league. Early on with the Cowboys he could provide more depth at DE and possibly become a pass rush specialist as a rookie.

6.239 - DT Vernon Broughton, Texas​

Photo by Wesley Hitt/Getty Images

At 6'5", 311-pounds, Vernon Broughton would add some much-needed depth to the Cowboys DT position. He could get in on the rotation with Solomon Thomas backing up Osa Odighizuwa as a 3-technique early on. He is an above-average athlete for his size and had a very respectable 18.1% pass rush win rate in 2024 for the Longhorns. He is also just an average run defender who struggles with double teams at the point of attack.

7.247 - DT Nazir Stackhouse, Georgia​

Photo by Rich von Biberstein/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images

At 6'4", 327-pounds, the former Georgia Bulldog DT is a two-down big bodied, space eating run stuffer the Cowboys defensive line is currently lacking. Although he doesn't offer much, if anything, as a pass rusher, his ability to anchor down at the point of attack would immediately upgrade Dallas' run defense and free up the linebackers behind him to make plays. Pairing him with Mazi Smith would give the Cowboys a solid 1-tech duo.

Source: https://www.bloggingtheboys.com/202...-back-omarion-hampton-jack-bech-jacob-parrish

 

[Dallas Cowboys]

Cowboys FB Hunter Luepke may suffer from changing offense

Photo by Joe Sargent/Getty Images

It is going to be interesting to see how the Cowboys work Hunter Luepke into their plans.

One young Cowboys player with a lot of fans is fullback Hunter Luepke. But after two years on the roster in Mike McCarthy’s offense, Luepke now has to reprove his worth to a renovated coaching staff. Based on history, particularly Brian Schottenheimer’s, Luepke’s versatility may not have the same value now as it has the last two seasons.

Fullbacks probably get more attention in Dallas than most of the NFL because of our deep-rooted appreciation for Daryl “Moose” Johnston as a beloved figure from the 90s dynasty. Two strong years from Richie Anderson in the early 2000s helped to stoke the fire a bit, too. But even as the position teeters on extinction throughout most of the league, the Cowboys have generally kept one on the roster most seasons.

Luepke is the latest to occupy the job and his abilities as a ball-carrier and receiver, mostly seen during preseason but flashed at times in real games, have led to inordinate hype. McCarthy’s history with renowned fullback John Kuhn in Green Bay, and even Aaron Ripkowski after him, prompted speculation that Luepke could become a prominent name. But thanks to Ezekiel Elliott’s return as the primary short-yardage option and third-down back last year, Luepke’s role was still fairly limited.

Now with Schottenheimer taking full control of the Cowboys’ offense, Luepke’s value could take a hit. Fullbacks have never really seen the ball much in Schottenheimer’s offenses, going back through his past stops with the Seahawks, Rams, and Jets. They may see plenty of work as traditional run-blockers but either he hasn’t had any with much offensive skill or hasn’t chosen to feature it. In Seattle, converted linebacker Nick Bellore was the fullback and only touched the ball five times in two seasons under Schottenheimer.

If this trend holds now that Schottenheimer’s calling plays in Dallas, that could be a real problem for Luepke. Run-blocking is not his strongest trait, which means Dallas might see less need for him to even make the roster. They may look to do more double TE sets to get both Jake Ferguson and Luke Schoonmaker on the field, putting whoever their running backs end up being in single-back formations.

Luepke will likely have to either develop as a run blocker or show that he’s the team’s best power RB to improve his job security. While McCarthy and even Jason Garrett before him have given true fullbacks a place to work, Schottenheimer seems less inclined to do so based on history. He has preached being adaptable to his talent, though, so perhaps he’d find ways to take advantage of Luepke’s strengths. But his track record suggests otherwise, and Dallas has foregone even keeping a FB on the roster as recently as 2021-2022.

Whether driven by nostalgia or an appreciation for unique players, Hunter Luepke has developed a following in his first two seasons with Dallas. But with Mike McCarthy gone, will he find the same support from his coaches and the front office? Roster spots are valuable, and being the only fullback is hardly a guarantee of one in the modern NFL. Luepke may have to fight harder than ever to remain with the Cowboys in 2025.

Source: https://www.bloggingtheboys.com/202...ng-offense-brian-schottenheimer-mike-mccarthy

 

[Dallas Cowboys]

Dallas Cowboys 2025 draft scouting report: RB Kaleb Johnson

Photo by Chris Bernacchi/Diamond Images via Getty Images

Here is our scouting report on Kaleb Johnson from Iowa

We continue our 2025 NFL Draft preview of draft prospects that could interest the Dallas Cowboys. Today we are looking at running back Kaleb Johnson from Iowa.

Kaleb Johnson ​

RB
Iowa Hawkeyes
Junior
3-star recruit
6’1”
224 lbs

Photo by Chris Bernacchi/Diamond Images via Getty Images

History​

Kaleb Johnson was born on the 14th August 2003 and is originally from Hamilton, Ohio. He was a three-star recruit out of Hamilton High School, where he was known for his size, power, and durability as a workhorse back. He joined the Iowa Hawkeyes in 2022 having received 17 offers from different schools.

At Iowa, Johnson made an immediate impact as a freshman, leading the team in rushing with 779 yards and six touchdowns, including a standout performance against Purdue where he ran for 200 yards. He earned Freshman All-Big Ten honors for his effort.

In 2023, his production dipped slightly due to offensive struggles and lower body injuries, but he remained the team’s top back and displayed his combination of power, straight-line speed, and vision. He played in 10 games during his sophomore year and made 117 rush attempts for 463 rush yards and two rushing touchdowns.

Then in 2024, Johnson had his breakout season. He bounced back from a challenging 2023 campaign and reestablished himself as Iowa’s lead back and offensive focal point. He rushed for 1,537 yards with 21 touchdowns, both most in the Big Ten. He showed improved patience, vision, and a more consistent burst through the line.

Despite Iowa’s offensive limitations, Johnson’s ability to grind out tough yards, break tackles, and finish runs stood out and help Iowa on offense in many ways. He also showcased improved receiving ability, adding versatility to his game. His 2024 performance solidified him as a dependable, physical back with NFL potential, especially in power-running schemes. His excellence at the running back position within the Big Ten conference was awarded with Big Ten Running Back of the Year, First-Team honors, All-American honors and was the winner of the Roy J. Carver Most Valuable Player, which recognized his outstanding contributions to Iowa’s football team.

2024 Statistics​

450 Offensive Snaps
240 Rush Attempts
1,537 Rush Yards
6.4 Yards Pre Carry
21 Rushing TDs
22 Receptions
188 Receiving Yards
2 Rec TD
0 Fumbles
71 First Downs
0 Penalties

NFL Combine/Pro Day​

10-Yard Split- 1.56s (53%)
40-Yard Dash- 4.57s (63%)

Awards​

All-America (2024)
Big Ten Running Back of the Year (2024)
First-Team All-Big Ten (2024)

Scorecard​

Overall- 82.6
Speed- 68
Acceleration- 77
Agility- 71
Strength- 90
Tackling- 77
Contact Balance- 92
Vision- 87
Elusiveness- 71
Receiving- 61
Blocking- 55
Discipline- 99

THE GOOD​

• His size gives him a natural advantage in short-yardage situations and power runs, making him tough to bring down with arm tackles.
• One of Johnson’s standout traits is his ability to read the defense and wait for running lanes to develop.
• Shows patience at the line of scrimmage, waiting for his blockers to set up before making a decisive cut.
• Has great ability to break tackles consistently, maintaining his speed after initial contact.
• He accelerates quickly once he finds a lane, building speed with impressive straight-line burst.
• He demonstrates good awareness in tight spaces, securing the football well. Zero fumbles in 2024.
• His powerful lower body and ability to keep his legs churning make him a tough back to stop in the open field.
• His ability to find the crease and make one quick move upfield is a big plus.

TAPE TIME
RB Kaleb Johnson
Iowa

THE GOOD#scouting #NFLDraft #Hawkeyes pic.twitter.com/XYF3Z8w0DX

— Mike Poland (@kenfigkowboy) March 18, 2025​

THE BAD​

• Johnson is more of a north-south runner. While he can make one quick cut, his lateral agility is not elite, and he struggles to make defenders miss in tight spaces.
• He’s not known for making flashy moves or shaking tacklers with quick shifts.
• He still needs to refine his skills in pass protection, particularly when facing quick blitzes.
• He isn’t a huge receiving threat that will look to break out for big yardage after the catch, which limits his versatility on passing downs.
• Johnson has decent speed for his size, but he doesn’t have elite breakaway speed or acceleration to outrun defensive backs.
• Easily caught from behind.

TAPE TIME
RB Kaleb Johnson
Iowa

THE BAD#scouting #NFLDraft #Hawkeyes pic.twitter.com/MOyBVlvkhJ

— Mike Poland (@kenfigkowboy) March 18, 2025​

THE FIT​

Kaleb Johnson projects as a solid, late Day 2 pick, likely in the third round range. He could contribute right away as a rotational back or in short-yardage and goal-line situations. While he may not be an elite pass-catching or change-of-pace back, his power, vision, and consistency make him a valuable asset to a team that runs a traditional, power-based offense. With further development in pass protection and receiving, Johnson could carve out a significant role in the NFL.

His strengths lie in his size, power, and ability to break tackles, making him a tough, downhill runner. He has excellent vision and patience, allowing him to find running lanes and maximize yardage. His balance after contact and straight-line burst are also notable. However, his weaknesses include limited lateral agility, which makes him less elusive in tight spaces, and his pass protection skills could use improvement. Additionally, he isn’t a dynamic threat in the passing game limiting his appeal as a dual-threat back.

Johnson could be a solid fit for the Dallas Cowboys as a physical, between-the-tackles runner to complement their newly constructed backfield. With Javonte Williams serving as the more dynamic back, Johnson’s power, vision, and ability to break tackles would provide a nice balance to the offense, especially in short-yardage and goal-line situations. His ability to churn out tough yards and wear down defenses would be valuable in grinding out clock control, making him an ideal complement to Williams versatility and not wear him down. Additionally, Johnson’s size and strength make him a good fit for the Cowboys’ power running schemes.

Johnson would come into Dallas more as the crash runner and not as the every down back. His lack of ability as a receiver or in pass protection make him a piece to be used in obvious running situations or to control the ball. Given Williams’ past history with injuries this makes Johnson a slight gamble, and even more so given his Day 2 valuation.

COMPARISON:​

David Montgomery, Detroit Lions

BTB GRADE:​

47th

CONSENSUS RANKING​

67th
(Consensus ranking based on the average ranking from 90 major scoring services, including BTB)

Source: https://www.bloggingtheboys.com/202...outing-report-running-back-kaleb-johnson-iowa

 

[Dallas Cowboys]

2025 Dallas Cowboys pre-draft visit tracker: All reported names plus what you need to know

Photo by Kevin Sabitus/Getty Images

We are tracking everything you need to know regarding Dallas Cowboys pre-draft visits.

The Dallas Cowboys have a lot of work to do to their roster if they want to have a competitive football season and the NFL draft is a big opportunity to infuse themselves with talent. History has shown us that the Cowboys love to prioritize the draft and treat it as the most serious avenue of team-building across the offseason as a whole.

One of the most fun parts about draft season is trying to piece together everything that is happening in real time thanks to the breadcrumbs that make their way out. An important part of that process is the 30 visits that the Cowboys host (formal meetings with draft prospects) at The Star in Frisco.

These 30 visits are formal and occur at team headquarters. Nothing is ever fully predictable, but it stands to reason that at least one of (maybe even multiple) the players who Dallas brings in for a formal visit will be a team draft pick. Consider that last year the Cowboys hosted Marist Liufau and Nathan Thomas and wound up drafting them both.

We will be tracking all reported 30 visits for the Cowboys as well as players who are set to attend their annual Dallas Day. The latter is local prospects, players who went to high school or college in the area, and are not official 30 visits. Keep in mind that the team uses this to their advantage so will not formally host someone who they can bring in as a Dallas-area visitor.

Last Updated: Thursday, March 20th at 1:00pm ET

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Official Dallas Cowboys 30 Visits​

• TBD

Dallas Day Participants​

• Boise State RB Ashton Jeanty (multiple reports)
• Miami RB Damien Martinez (via Nick Harris)
• TCU WR Savion Williams (via Nick Harris)
• Oklahoma State RB Ollie Gordon II (via Ryan Fowler)

Source: https://www.bloggingtheboys.com/202...names-30-national-dallas-days-formal-informal

 

[Dallas Cowboys]

How the Cowboys could land another WR/CB star combo just like CeeDee Lamb and Trevon Diggs

Mark J. Rebilas-Imagn Images

Things could be lining up nicely for the Cowboys to have another strong start to the draft.

The year was 2020. The Dallas Cowboys had just signed Amari Cooper to a new contract extension after previously using a first-round draft pick to acquire him in a trade a couple of years prior. The Cowboys weren’t looking for a new wide receiver, but the draft gods delivered them a golden opportunity when CeeDee Lamb was passed over not once, but twice by two teams who opted to select a different wide receiver. Just like that, Lamb was a member of the Cowboys.

Michael Irvin said CeeDee Lamb was the top WR on the Cowboys’ draft board. He now pairs with Amari Cooper and Michael Gallup. A lot of weapons on that Dallas offense pic.twitter.com/QOCgdxhwOf

— Jon Machota (@jonmachota) April 24, 2020​

But the fun didn’t stop there. The gifts kept coming. Despite seven cornerbacks being drafted in the top 50 picks, one of the Cowboys' top guys, Trevon Diggs, was still there when pick 51 rolled around. You might remember that Diggs was believed to be a player the team was considering in the first round, so to land him in round two was super fantastic.

If the first 16 picks played out a certain way, CB Trevon Diggs was a player the #Cowboys were STRONGLY considering in the 1st round at No. 17. And now they get him at No. 51.

Ideal scenario for Dallas.

— Dane Brugler (@dpbrugler) April 25, 2020​

Two picks. Two eventual All-Pros. What a great way to start the draft.

For their own reasons, the Las Vegas Raiders and Denver Broncos preferred the Alabama receivers Henry Ruggs III (pick 12) and Jerry Jeudy (pick 15). Lamb was viewed as the nation’s top collegiate wide receiver, but every team sees things differently. Five seasons in, Lamb has the most receptions of any receiver taken in the entire draft.

Diggs had battled injuries, missing extended time in each of the last two seasons, but when he’s on the field, he’s been very good. Despite the games missed, Diggs still has more interceptions than all seven corners selected before him in the draft... combined!

The interesting thing about the great start of the 2020 draft is that when you start looking ahead to the upcoming draft, the table is set for a similar occurrence. Even though the Cowboys already have their WR1, a wide receiver is totally in play in the first round after the team failed to lock up a WR2 option in free agency. Sitting with pick 12, they are in a great position to land one of this year’s best pass catchers. The only question is, who is it?

Pro Football Network and Draftwire have mocked Arizona receiver Tetairoa McMillan to the Cowboys while NFL.com’s Daniel Jeremiah and CBS Sports have mocked Texas receiver Matthew Golden to Dallas. We don’t know if the front office’s top-graded player at 12 will be wide receiver, but if it is, it could provide them with a great one-two WR punch for years to come.

The Cowboys have done a lot of work over the last week to fill holes along the defensive line and at linebacker, but there are still some question marks at cornerback. Diggs’ health and DaRon Bland’s future could mean they need to look at finding more talent sooner rather than later. And as luck would have it, a cluster of corners fall in the late-first/early-second range. Players like Kentucky’s Maxwell Hairston and Florida State’s Azareye’h Thomas are hit-the-ground-running corners who would immediately help the team and potentially shore up the position should Diggs or Bland not be around much longer. It’s not unreasonable that one of the team’s favorite corner prospects is there when the Cowboys are on the clock in round two.

Two picks. Two premium positions. Two positions where they need help. It’s almost like the universe is lining up perfectly for the Cowboys to score two more great talents. How great would it be if they started things off like they did in 2020? And it would still leave room for them to find their answer at running back in round three.

What would be your ideal Rd 1/Rd 2/Rd 3 scenario for the Cowboys?

Mine would be...
Round 1: WR Tetairoa McMillan
Round 2: CB Azareye'h Thomas
Round 3: RB RJ Harvey pic.twitter.com/8iVoN2dRVu

— Dan Rogers (@DannyPhantom24) March 17, 2025​

Source: https://www.bloggingtheboys.com/202...bo-ceedee-lamb-trevon-diggs-tetairoa-mcmillan

 

[Dallas Cowboys]

2025 NFL Draft: 3 players who could be surprise first-round picks for Cowboys

Photo by Scott Taetsch/Getty Images

Who would surprise you to see the Cowboys take in the first round?

It's important to remember Jerry Jones and Company have a way of saying one thing and then doing the complete opposite. While it looks as if the Dallas Cowboys are zeroing in on running back, wide receiver, cornerback, and maybe even another pass rusher with the 12th overall pick in the first-round, they could very well do something completely unexpected as well.

With that in mind, we tried to think a little outside of the box to try to figure out what positions, and more importantly what players, the Cowboys might draft in the first-round that could completely surprise us. While it seems unlikely such an occurrence should take place, it's still realistic enough to examine further in all likelihood it actually does come to fruition.

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TE Tyler Warren, Penn State​

Photo by Robin Alam/ISI Photos/Getty Images

It's no secret the Dallas Cowboys have been zeroing in on potential wide receivers who could come in and help take pressure off of CeeDee Lamb. There's a very real possibility they could have their pick of the best WRs in the 2025 draft class with the 12th overall pick in the first-round. But, what if they're targeting a different kind of player who would also pair nicely with No. 88 as well as being an even more dynamic and versatile playmaker.

Tyler Warren was a do-it-all offensive weapon during his time at Penn State and actually makes sense for the Cowboys in the first-round. Whether in-line, split out, or as a gadget player he can be utilized in a variety of ways to improve Dallas' offense. And, with Jake Ferguson entering a contract year with no one behind him who's shown starting potential, Warren could be an intriguing surprise selection with the 12th overall pick in the first-round.

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LT Josh Simmons, Ohio State​

No ma'am Photo by Ian Johnson/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images

The most immediate concern for the Cowboys in regards to their offensive line is who is going to step in and replace Zack Martin at right guard. While they have several in-house options and also added free agent Robert Jones, there's still a belief they could draft another guard to fill the void. But, after watching Tyler Guyton and Terence Steele struggle mightily in 2024 and with little to no depth behind them, tackle may be of higher priority.

Josh Simmons is someone who could be a surprise first-round pick for Dallas. If not for his season-ending knee injury in his last season at Ohio State, there's a very good chance he would've been the first offensive lineman off the board in April. After his medical checkups at the scouting combine, signs point to him being 100% ready for training camp. He could be a plug-and-play LT, allowing Guyton and Steele to battle it out for the starting RT job.

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DT Kenneth Grant, Michigan​

Photo by CFP/Getty Images

After Taco Charlton and now possibly Mazi Smith, quite a few people around Cowboys Nation have soured on the Dallas Cowboys drafting any defensive lineman out of Michigan. However, they currently have a glaring hole at nose tackle unless Mazi suddenly starts living up to his potential as a former first-round pick. As unlikely as selecting another first-round DT is, drafting a dominant one-technique could help transform Dallas' defense.

At 6'3" and over 330 pounds, Kenneth Grant is a massive defensive tackle who is surprisingly athletic for his size. His ability to anchor down against the run is arguably the best in the draft class and his strength, power, and agility helps him collapse the pocket as a pass rusher. Considering Dallas' current dilemma with their last first-round DT selection and other roster "needs" elsewhere, taking Grant at No. 12 would be quite the shocker.

Source: https://www.bloggingtheboys.com/202...picks-tyler-warren-josh-simmons-kenneth-grant

 

[Dallas Cowboys]

Cowboys news: Remaining team needs and how the draft can help

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The latest buzz surrounding the Dallas Cowboys.

Why this draft fits favorably with Cowboys’ remaining needs: One on one with Dane Brugler - Saad Yousuf and Dane Brugler, The Athletic​

The draft class includes many players who can help fill the Cowboys’ needs for 2025, including Ashton Jeanty.

Brugler: If Dallas focuses on the prospect who will make the greatest impact at No. 12, then Jeanty should absolutely be on the very short list of potential Cowboys. His vision and contact balance make him a tough guy to get on the ground. What I love the most about his game is the reactionary reads — he won’t predetermine his path, he has the instincts to read, sort and cut. Want a big-play creator? Jeanty had 12 carries of 50-plus yards in 2024. No other FBS player had more than five. He is a true every-down back and does much of his best work on passing downs, catching the football or blocking in pass pro.

For me, the No. 1 reason not to take Jeanty is the volume of backs available in the subsequent rounds. Tennessee’s Dylan Sampson on Day 2 would be a great fit in Dallas. Oregon’s Jordan James early on Day 3? Yes, please. The Cowboys could wait until the fifth round and still land a quality player like Texas Tech’s Tahj Brooks or Kansas State’s DJ Giddens. The options are plentiful and likely why I would look elsewhere than running back in the first round, even if Jeanty has special all over him.

Yousuf: I’m fascinated to see how the Cowboys judge this running back draft class. They have a lot of needs they can address in the first three rounds but then don’t have a fourth-rounder because of the Jonathan Mingo trade. I wonder if they would package some of their Day 3 picks to move into the fourth round to get their guy. Even if they wait, a guy like Giddens is interesting, especially with Brian Schottenheimer adding former Kansas State assistant coach Conor Riley to his staff as offensive line coach.

Possible Pick: Will Johnson is the prototype at cornerback in the NFL - Tommy Yarrish, DallasCowboys.com​

Will Johnson is a player to watch if the Cowboys are looking to add more talent in the secondary early on in the draft.

Where He’s Projected:

Although Johnson has suffered various injuries over the course of his three years at Michigan, he’s still being mocked in the mid-to-late first round of the NFL draft.

How He Helps the Cowboys:

The Cowboys are big fans of tall, long-armed cornerbacks and Johnson is the perfect prototype for what Dallas has liked at the position in the past. In addition to his 6’2 height, Johnson registered 30 1/8” arms at the NFL Combine, giving him a dream build for an NFL corner.

Johnson was incredibly productive in his three seasons with the Wolverines, winning a national championship in 2023 as one of the cornerstones on the defensive side of the ball. He had nine career interceptions, returning three for touchdowns and did not allow a touchdown when in coverage in his final two seasons of college football. Johnson has dealt with a number of injuries as of late, including a turf toe injury that sidelined him for all but six games in the 2024 season and a hamstring injury preventing him from working out at his pro day.

In a Matt Eberflus scheme that will likely incorporate a lot of zone coverage, Johnson is a player that excels in zone and has the build of a future star at cornerback. The Cowboys acquired Kaiir Elam via trade to help build depth at the cornerback position, and adding a player like Johnson wouldn’t hurt whatsoever.

Cooper Rush has classy message for Cowboys fans after free agency exit - Josh Sanchez, Sports Illustrated​

Cooper Rush says his farewell to Dallas as he prepares to make his move to Baltimore.

Rush will be missed, and on his way out, he let everyone know he would also be missing Dallas with a heartfelt message to the fans and a video package from his time in Dallas.

“From an undrafted rookie wearing [No. 7] to an eight year veteran wearing [No. 10], I appreciated every moment in a Cowboys uniform,” Rush wrote on Instagram.

View this post on Instagram​

A post shared by Cooper Rush (@_cooperrush)​

He continued, “Thank you Dallas for all of the love that you showed to me and my family. I’m excited for the next chapter but forever grateful for the first one.”

Now that Rush has moved on from the team and Trey Lance is not expected to return, the Cowboys will be looking to add a younger option behind Dak Prescott. A mid-round pick in the NFL Draft to add a young signal-caller is the direction the Cowboys are expected to go.

Ex-Cowboys WR Michael Gallup signs with Washington Commanders - SportsDay Staff, Dallas Morning News​

After taking a year off, Michael Gallup is returning to the NFL to play for a Cowboys’ rival.

Former Dallas wide receiver Michael Gallup signed with Washington on Thursday, the team announced, becoming the latest player from the Cowboys’ roster during Quinn’s time on staff to head north. Terms of the agreement were not disclosed.

Gallup is attempting a return to the NFL after retiring ahead of the 2024 season. He was released by the Cowboys last offseason and signed a one-year deal with the Las Vegas Raiders in April 2024. But Gallup had a change of heart in late July and instead chose to retire.

Gallup, who just turned 29 years old, has 266 career catches for 3,744 yards and 21 touchdowns. He was Dallas’ third-round selection out of Colorado State in the 2018 draft and built a strong career with the Cowboys that he turned into a five-year, $62.5 million contract ahead of the 2022 season.

Texas Tech RB Tahj Brooks: ‘It’d be a blessing’ to get drafted by Dallas Cowboys - Ronald Harrod Jr., Dallas Morning News​

2025 draft hopeful Tahj Brooks had an informal meeting with the Cowboys ahead of his pro day.

“It’s been fun competing at a high level and really getting to know other guys in the Big 12,” Brooks said. “That’s really big too. And then just talking to scouts [and] see what they see, what they thought.”

Brooks said he had an informal meeting with the Cowboys before his pro day. New Cowboys head coach Brian Schottenheimer was on the field watching players in Frisco.

“It was a great meeting, great knowledge,” Brooks said. “I would love to get drafted here. It’s a great city. It’d be a blessing.”

Brooks ran for 4,557 yards from 2020-24 at Texas Tech, which broke the program’s all-time rushing record held by Byron Hanspard. He rushed for 1,541 yards and 10 touchdowns in 2023 and 1,505 yards and 17 touchdowns last season.

Source: https://www.bloggingtheboys.com/202...raft-ashton-jeanty-tahj-brooks-michael-gallup

 

[Dallas Cowboys]

Cowboys may very well have their pick of receivers in the first round

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This receiver class is so interesting.

One of the more common predictions for the Dallas Cowboys in mock drafts these days is that the team will take a receiver with the 12th overall pick. It may not be as popular as Boise State running back Ashton Jeanty, but wide receiver is definitely a position of need, even after signing Parris Campbell.

By most accounts, the top two receivers in this year’s draft are Arizona’s Tetairoa McMillan and Missouri’s Luther Burden. You can read scouting reports on both McMillan and Burden here, courtesy of our own Mike Poland and yours truly. There is plenty of excitement around both players among the fan base and social media scouts.

However, recent rumblings from draft insiders have suggested that fans and the media are much higher on these two than actual NFL front offices. In the most recent mock drafts from both Mel Kiper and Daniel Jeremiah, both coming after the first wave of free agency, neither receiver came off the board in the first 20 picks, and Burden didn’t even get taken in the first round.

In Kiper’s mock (subscription required), McMillan was the first receiver drafted, but it wasn’t until the Broncos at 20. A few picks later, Kiper had Matthew Golden from Texas and Emeka Egbuka getting drafted consecutively, but no mention of Burden.

Jeremiah’s mock, on the other hand, had the Cowboys take the first receiver in the draft, but it was neither of McMillan or Burden. He predicted Dallas to draft Golden, with no other team taking a receiver in the next 10 picks. Jeremiah had McMillan drafted 22nd overall, and no other receivers in the first round.

This led to palpable surprise from many, prompting NFL insider Benjamin Allbright to spell things out loud and clear:

Neither he nor McMillan are as high with teams as they are in media

— Benjamin Allbright (@AllbrightNFL) March 18, 2025​

This isn’t a complete surprise. Burden had a ton of hype coming into this past season, but largely underperformed. Meanwhile, McMillan is a huge receiver at 6’5” and needed to answer questions about his speed after not running the 40-yard dash at the NFL combine.

On Monday, McMillan finally put up numbers in a private workout at his alma mater, but the 4.48 time was underwhelming for many. The figure would’ve had McMillan tied for 25th among receivers in Indianapolis, and the last time a receiver was picked in the top 15 with a 40 time in that range was Mike Evans.

Evans has certainly had a great career, and his similar frame to McMillan has drawn plenty of comparisons for the Arizona star, but Evans was also drafted back in 2014. Speed has become much more paramount for receivers, as evidenced by the lack of top 15 picks for receivers without elite 40 times.

All of this comes down to one very simple conclusion, though: it sure looks like the Cowboys are going to have their pick of receivers when they get on the clock this year.

That knowledge may have informed their decision not to pursue Cooper Kupp once they learned about his contract demands, and could also explain their addition of the low-risk Campbell last week. The ability to land the top receiver in the draft without needing a top 10 pick would certainly be a steal, if indeed that is what happens.

Obviously, there’s still a lot of time left for these things to change, and all it takes is one team to really believe in McMillan or Burden. But it’s looking like things are shaping up well for the Cowboys to have a chance at a great young playmaker to pair alongside CeeDee Lamb.

Source: https://www.bloggingtheboys.com/202...airoa-mcmillan-luther-burden-scouting-reports

 

[Dallas Cowboys]

Cowboys named ideal landing spot for free agent LB Kyzir White

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Linebacker depth has improved for the Cowboys this offseason.

The Dallas Cowboys made it a mission filled holes defensively through the first wave of free agency. Specifically, they have upgraded the linebacker position due to DeMarvion Overshown recovering from a torn ACL, veteran Eric Kendricks being a free agent, and Damone Clark not taking the next step up until this point. Last week, Dallas signed Jack Sanborn to a one-year deal and traded for Kenneth Murray.

Sprinkle in Marist Liufau, who showed great promise as a rookie in 2024, and the Cowboys linebacker room looks a lot better than it did a few weeks ago. However, Bill Barnwell of ESPN doesn't think Dallas should stop there. He laid out ideal landing spots for some of the top remaining free agents on Wednesday. The Cowboys were mentioned when it came to White.

Why he’s still a free agent: Once a safety, White can be a tweener in some NFL defenses, which might see him as more of a weakside linebacker than the middle linebacker role he played in Arizona over the past two seasons. Teams prioritized paying three-down linebackers Nick Bolton and Robert Spillane early in free agency, but even while White has been an every-down linebacker, he might not have a ton of teams seeing him as that sort of player in their own defenses.

Why teams should be interested: He’s fun! White makes a ton of tackles; his 11.9% tackle share last season ranked 16th in the league, an impressive figure given that Budda Baker ranked third by the same metric. White’s missed tackle rate was reasonable (5.5%), and he had 2.5 sacks and eight knockdowns as a blitzer.

White is certainly a tackling machine. He logged over 100 in three of the last four seasons and still had 90 in the one season he didn't (2023). During his seven seasons in the NFL, White has played in 92 games with 73 starts, including 17 last season for the Arizona Cardinals. White hasn't been hit too hard with injuries during his career as he was placed on injured reserve for the final two games at the end of the 2020 season with a hamstring issue and missed we the final six games in 2023 with a torn biceps.

The 2024 campaign was arguably the best for White as a pro. His 137 tackles were his second most in any season. He also set career highs in sacks (2.5) and quarterback hits (8), and he also tied a career best with nine tackles for loss. So, White is still a very productive player. On top of that, he's more than cost efficient with a market value of only $5.8 according to Spotrac.

Dallas could be done adding linebacker help until the draft, and it would be understandable with the Sanborn and Murray additions. A guy like White is someone they Cowboys should consider, though, and he wouldn't stop them from picking up another in the NFL draft next month.

Source: https://www.bloggingtheboys.com/202...t-free-agent-linebacker-kyzir-white-cardinals

 

[Dallas Cowboys]

Cowboys can’t be cavalier about replacing backup QB Cooper Rush

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Losing Cooper Rush is a bigger deal than you think.

After spending most of the last eight seasons with the Cowboys, quarterback Cooper Rush recently signed to back up Lamar Jackson in Baltimore. It’s a loss that Dallas shouldn’t take for granted given the significant role that Rush has played, and the likelihood that whoever takes over as QB2 will need to be ready to win some games.

Many have declared indifference to Rush’s departure. It generally comes in two flavors; either you don’t think Rush was that good or you feel that the Cowboys’ season would be over regardless of who the backup QB is. The first line of reasoning is debatable, and the second is even easier to debunk.

There are legitimate complaints about Rush’s overall skill set. He certainly wasn’t flashy in any one area, particularly his athleticism. He isn’t very mobile and his arm strength is average at best. But in terms of the core duties of a quarterback, Rush processed well, avoided turnovers, and delivered the ball with sufficient accuracy. You could keep running most of your offense with him in the game. His personality was also great for the role, able to step up and perform even in high-pressure situations.

Rush went 9-5 as a starter in the last four seasons. While wins are a team stat, it demonstrates that Rush was capable of doing enough to help Dallas win 64% of those games. That’s 10-11 wins in a 17-game season, which some NFL franchises would love to see. Maybe he wasn’t going to beat top teams or give you much confidence in the playoffs, but how many backup QBs do? There’s a reason the 2017 Nick Foles story was considered worthy of a Disney movie; it was a fantasy come to life.

But even though the legend of Foles is an extreme example, it does illustrate that seasons don’t end just because you lose your starting QB. Even more realistic is the fact that not all injuries are season-ending. Just look at 2022 when Prescott missed five games from Weeks 2-6. That was when Rush really put his name on the map for NFL backups, going 4-1 as the starter. It allowed Prescott to return to a 4-2 team, which led to another 12-5 season and playoff berth.

That’s when you need a guy like Cooper Rush. No, he’s probably not going to win you a Super Bowl or even a second-round playoff game. But he proved that he could keep your season afloat. It says something that the Ravens, who project to remain a championship contender in 2025, would trust Rush with their backup job.

The Cowboys can’t be any less serious about their own QB2. Prescott has missed 26 games over the last five years, 20 from season-ending injuries and six in temporary absences. He’s only getting older and you’re not exactly confident about your offensive line these days, particularly at offensive tackle. Dallas has to have someone they trust to keep the team competitive, at least in the regular season, when Prescott gets knocked out of action again.

It’s hard to say Will Grier is that guy with any kind of boldness. The only other QB currently under contract, Grier hasn’t played in a regular-season game since 2019 with the Panthers. Maybe the former third-round pick is just waiting for another opportunity to show what he can do, like Rush for several years before 2021. But some things just can’t be proven on the practice field or even in preseason games, and then you’re putting the team’s W-L record on the line.

There’s still plenty of time for the Cowboys to show how they really feel about losing Cooper Rush. Right now, Grier would be the next man up by circumstance over strategy. We still have a lot of offseason left to go and ample opportunities for Dallas to find Rush’s actual replacement via free agency or the draft. Maybe we’ll get to training camp and Grier will still seem like the front-runner, but it’d be nice to see another veteran or a mid-round draft pick here to compete. But if the Cowboys truly appreciate what they’ve had these last several years with Rush, they won’t be flippant about who fills his shoes.

Source: https://www.bloggingtheboys.com/202...arterback-cooper-rush-dak-prescott-will-grier

 

[Dallas Cowboys]

Cowboys free agency: Brandin Cooks joining New Orleans Saints, Kellen Moore

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The Cowboys will now officially have to replace Brandin Cooks.

The last two seasons have seen CeeDee Lamb emerge as one of the NFL’s best wide receivers, and he has done it all with Brandin Cooks as the Robin to his Batman.

While being one of the best wideouts in the league obviously says how good you are, every team needs a number of options to work in the passing game. The Cowboys traded for Cooks two years ago and he was a legitimate threat in 2023, but this past season was broken for the team in a number of ways.

However things ultimately get put back together, they will require pieces that are not named Brandin Cooks. It had felt doubtful that he would return to Dallas and now we officially know that he won’t. He is returning to somewhere, but it is to the New Orleans Saints, with new head coach Kellen Moore.

A reunion in New Orleans: 11-year veteran WR Brandin Cooks is headed back to the #Saints, sources tell The Insiders.

Cooks returns to the franchise that drafted him in the first round in 2014. pic.twitter.com/5hz6eNP0nu

— Mike Garafolo (@MikeGarafolo) March 21, 2025​

New Orleans was the team who originally drafted Cooks and where his career began. Interestingly with Cooks joining a team he has played for, even if the season goes poorly for him, he will have had at least one 1,000-yard season for every team that he played for sans the Cowboys.

Cooks was a legitimate option for Dallas back in 2023. During that season he played in 16 games and had 54 receptions for 657 yards with eight touchdowns. That touchdown mark was the most he had in any season since his final one (obviously before now) in New Orleans way back in 2016.

Cooks only played in 10 games last year and had 26 receptions for 259 yards with three scores. A change of scenery is probably not a bad idea for everyone involved.

With Cooks now officially out of the fold the Cowboys still have to find a running-mate for CeeDee Lamb. They likely want to give Jonathan Mingo, who they traded a fourth-round pick for back at last season’s deadline, a chance and also have options like Jalen Tolbert, Jalen Brooks and Ryan Flournoy. KaVontae Turpin has a new deal and a potential role on offense, but he isn’t a pure wide receiver in terms of usage. For what it’s worth, the Cowboys did sign Parris Campbell in free agency.

Could Dallas spend their first-round pick at wideout? Is that why they are so comfortable being shallow there right now? We will see.

Source: https://www.bloggingtheboys.com/202...g-new-orleans-saints-kellen-moore-ceedee-lamb

 

[Dallas Cowboys]

NFC East news: Former Cowboys receiver unretires and signs with Washington

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The latest news surrounding the division.

Why did new Commanders receiver retire and then decide to return? - Bryan Manning, USA Today​

Former Cowboys wide receiver returns to football for the rival Washington Commanders.

Even after trading for Deebo Samuel and re-signing Noah Brown and K.J. Osborn, the Washington Commanders still needed more depth at wide receiver. When free agency opened, Terry McLaurin and Luke McCaffrey were the only receivers under contract for 2025. Washington lost two key depth pieces in free agency when Dyami Brown and Olamide Zaccheaus signed elsewhere.

On Thursday, Washington introduced Samuel to the media while quietly signing a veteran wide receiver that fans should know: Michael Gallup.

Gallup actually visited Washington during the first week of free agency but left without a contract. Just over one week later, the Commanders signed the former Dallas Cowboys third-round pick for a one-year deal worth the veteran minimum.

When news of Gallup’s visit surfaced, fans groaned. Why? Gallup actually retired last summer, and before his retirement, he hadn’t caught more than 39 passes since 2020. Injuries played a role in Gallup’s struggles with Dallas at the end of his tenure.

In six years with the Cowboys from 2018-23, Gallup appeared in 86 games with 67 starts and had 266 receptions, 3,744 receiving yards, and 21 touchdown receptions. So, while he may have never been a No. 1 receiver, Gallup has enjoyed NFL success and is still only 29.

So, why did Gallup retire?

After signing with the Las Vegas Raiders, Gallup said he wasn’t in the “right head space” and retired in July. Before signing with Las Vegas, all six of Gallup’s NFL seasons were in Dallas.

“The way I was let go from being in some place for so long and then jumping right into a whole other team and not being able to process it,” he said. “I never went through that before. So, trying out how to process that and everything, I think it was just fast for me, and I wasn’t there yet.”

Gallup doesn’t need to be Washington’s No. 1 or No. 2 receiver in 2025. If he makes the roster, the Commanders could use Gallup to fill Brown’s (30 receptions) or Zaccheaus’ (45 receptions) production. If he doesn’t, Washington loses nothing. [Dan] Quinn wanted to give Gallup another shot to make it, and the rest is up to the veteran wideout.

Eagles believe expanded regular-season overtime will add 30 total plays per season - Mike Florio, NBC Sports​

Philadelphia hopes to align the regular and postseason overtime rules.

When the Eagles last played an overtime game, against the Bills during the 2023 season, Philly benefited from the regular-season rule that guarantees a possession for the team that kick offs to start overtime — if the team that receives scores a field goal. The Eagles now want the guaranteed possession for the kicking team even if the first drive of overtime results in a touchdown.

We addressed the issue earlier today, making the point that the potential expansion of regular-season overtime to up to 15 minutes shows that the concerns that fueled the 2017 shrinkage of regular-season overtime to 10 minutes (propping up and protecting Thursday Night Football) no longer apply.

The proposal, which seemed last month to be destined to be made by the Competition Committee and not by any one team, isn’t expected to result in a significant uptick in snaps, if passes. Per a source with knowledge of the situation, the Eagles believe the adoption of the postseason two-guaranteed-possessions rule along with a 15-minute overtime will add only 30 plays per year.

The extra plays will happen only if/when a game goes to overtime and the team that receives the opening kickoff scores a touchdown on the first drive.

But what about the possibility of a pair of touchdowns and a third drive? It’s believed that the team that scores a touchdown on the second drive of overtime will go for two in lieu of giving the other team an opportunity to win the game with a field goal. So there typically won’t be a third drive, if the first two result in touchdowns.

That’s the ultimate attraction of tweaking the rule for the regular season. Eventually, a game will come down to a two-point conversion that will determine the game.

And the wind seems to currently be blowing in the direction of the proposal passing, with regular-season overtime matching postseason overtime, but for the fact that in the regular season there can indeed be a tie.

Report: Russell Wilson Prefers Giants Over Steelers - Patricia Traina, Sports Illustrated​

Despite the mutual interest, money may be the biggest sticking point right now.

The New York Giants continue to wait in their quest to sign a veteran quarterback.

The Giants are thought to be waiting for Aaron Rodgers to make up his mind, but in the interim, they’ve met with Russell Wilson, who might be a better fit than Rodgers.

During an appearance on SportsCenter, ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler reported that Wilson sees the Giants as “more of a viable option at this point” for him to continue his career [h/t Bleacher Report].

If Wilson wants the Giants, and the Giants thought enough of Wilson to have him in for a visit twice (including last year), then why hasn’t a deal been struck?

The likely answer is money. The Giants were reportedly all set to meet Matthew Stafford’s desire to be paid like a top-10 quarterback had a trade been worked out.

While it’s unknown what price point Wilson might be seeking, it’s not a stretch to conclude that the financial terms of a potential union still need to be ironed out before a deal can be struck.

Like any other human seeking a paid position, Wilson probably thinks he’s worth just as much as his contemporaries. However, as is the case across multiple employment landscapes, there is typically a give-and-take in which two sides ultimately meet somewhere in the middle.

Wilson has also drawn interest from the Cleveland Browns, who, according to Over the Cap, have more cap space to spend ($20.221 million) on a quarterback than the Giants ($17.207 million).

Source: https://www.bloggingtheboys.com/202...ver-unretires-signs-commanders-michael-gallup

 

[Dallas Cowboys]

Cowboys news: Micah Parsons confident new deal gets done

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The latest news surrounding the Dallas Cowboys is here.

Micah Parsons feels good about deal getting done with Dallas Cowboys but no talks have been had - Clarence Hill, DLLS​

It would behoove the Cowboys to get this out of the way sooner than later.

Defensive end Micah Parsons admittedly feels good about a deal getting down with the Dallas Cowboys, giving credence to the positive social media chatter over the last couple of days.

But there are some caveats and details that make Parsons’ optimism seemingly ring hollow.

According a source with direct knowledge of the negotiations, the Cowboys have not had any real talks, if any, with Parsons’ agent David Mulegheta.

Owner Jerry Jones and vice president Stephen Jones have talked to Parsons in and around the facility, giving him hope.

“It’s coming along well,” Parsons said with a smile at a fundraising dinner Thursday night at The Catch in Dallas, benefitting his Lion Heart Foundation.

Parsons was joined by four Cowboys coaches, including head coach Brian Schottenheimer, defensive tackle Osa Odighizuwa, Miami Dolphins receiver Tyreek Hill and Los Angeles Chargers safety Derwin James at the event.

Parsons said during the 2024 season said he didn’t need to make $40 million annually on his new contract extension.

But he acknowledged that “$40” is real for him, given the recent jump in the market with deals for Cleveland Browns defensive end Myles Garrett and Cincinnati Bengals receiver Jamar Chase, who make $40 and $40.1 million, respectively, as the highest-paid non quarterback in the NFL.

“I just played these last couple years on $2 and 3 million, I think if I had $40 million I’d be the happiest man alive,” Parsons said. “You go from playing for the league rookie minimum and get that big of a jump, I think anybody would be happy.”

After strong 2024 receiver class, talent evaluators see ‘dropping point’ in 2025 pool - Jori Eppstein, Yahoosports​

The pickings at WR in the draft may be slimmer than you thought.

Talent evaluators from four different teams agreed that this year’s receiver class is significantly weaker than last year’s and compares unfavorably across the past five years.

An NFC and AFC evaluator each said they graded just two receivers in the top two rounds this year. Receivers could be drafted more favorably than their grades due to demand exceeding supply, but teams should beware.

“It is just one of those years where there’s not a bunch of just scary dudes,” the NFC evaluator said. “[...] I think it’s going to be one of those positions where you’re going to see some wow in the second, third round [guys drafted because] someone sees something in a kid and we’re going to be two or three rounds low on the guy compared to that team.

“Who cares? I mean, let’s get our guys, right? But it wouldn’t shock me if, hey, one of these guys that we have in the fifth round goes in the second.”

Cowboys’ DC Matt Eberflus makes three stops at SEC Pro Day workouts; Dallas sends trio of coaches to Oregon - Nick Harris, Star-Telegram​

The Cowboys are putting in the miles.

According to multiple sources, Eberflus has made stops at Tennessee, Georgia and South Carolina.

In addition to Eberflus’ travels, a trio of Dallas assistants were in attendance at Oregon’s Pro Day earlier this week. Wide receivers coach and former Oregon assistant Junior Adams, offensive line coach Conor Riley and defensive line coach Aaron Whitecotton were all in Eugene to see the numerous draft prospects for the Ducks.

The Cowboys also had a representative in attendance for the individual Pro Day workout by Arizona wide receiver Tetairoa McMillan. Widely considered the top receiver in the draft, many mock drafts have had the Cowboys selecting the Southern California native at No. 12.

Miles Sanders reflects on time with Panthers, excited for fresh start with Cowboys - Tommy Yarrish, DallasCowboys.com ​

The former second-round pick wants to add some juice to the running back room on Dallas.

Sanders primarily split carries with Chuba Hubbard in Carolina, and the Panthers utilized Hubbard a lot more in 2024 which held Sanders to just 55 carries on the season in 11 games played.

“Definitely a learning experience, you just have to control what you can control,” Sanders said of his last two seasons. “I think I’ve made the best of this situation with the cards I’ve been dealt with, there’s a lot of stuff out of my control, but I’m just blessed to still be in the situation I’m in and have another opportunity to ball out.”

The opportunity will come in Dallas, which will take some time to adjust to for Sanders, who is a native of Pennsylvania and spent the first four seasons of his NFL career playing for the rival Eagles.

“It is going to be a little strange…” Sanders said. “Dak [Prescott] hit me up, it was a funny little conversation, he congratulated me and welcomed me to the team… more excited though, it is going to be a little strange, but I’m excited for the opportunity, honestly.”

Prescott wasn’t the only person to reach out to Sanders, as Schottenheimer was the first to make contact with Sanders. Similarly to how some of the other free agents the Cowboys have acquired, Sanders appreciated how personable Schottenheimer was during their initial conversation.

“It just came off real genuine, we didn’t really talk about football, it was moreso relationships and stuff like that, what I can do, and just talk about the future and about the team,” Sanders said. “He’s excited for the opportunity too, I love his energy, he answered all the questions that I had.”

From a schematic standpoint, Sanders hasn’t dived into the X’s and O’s with Schottenheimer and Adams just yet, but they’ve made it clear that the offense will feature it heavily, and Adams’ history with the offensive line presents a unique situation for Dallas’ offense.

“The plan for the offense is to go through the run,” Sanders said. “You don’t get too many places where the offensive coordinator is an offensive line coach, and I know he’s playing a big part into the plan, I’m excited.”

Brandin Cooks Lands Saints Contract After Leaving Cowboys in NFL Free Agency - Paul Kasabian, Bleacher Report ​

Dallas needs a WR2 even more with Cooks going to New Orleans.

Veteran wide receiver Brandin Cooks agreed to a free-agent contract with the New Orleans Saints on Friday, according to NFL Network’s Mike Garafolo.

Comp update: Free-agent WR Brandin Cooks is signing a two-year, $13 million deal with the New Orleans Saints, per source. https://t.co/zdduuuXzoy

— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) March 21, 2025​

Last season, Cooks caught 26 passes for 259 yards and three touchdowns on 54 targets with the Dallas Cowboys. He was limited to 10 games after suffering an infection following a knee procedure.

It was a tough year for Cooks and the Cowboys offense in general. Dallas went from first in scoring in 2023 to 21st one year later. Quarterback Dak Prescott notably missed eight full games due to a season-ending hamstring injury.

Cooks started the year with a solid four-catch, 40-yard, one-touchdown day but slowed down afterward, perhaps in part because of him playing without Prescott for much of his season.

Javonte Williams, Miles Sanders won't cede lead role easily if the Cowboys draft RB - David Moore, Dallas Morning News ​

It's shaping up to be a battle for RB1 in Dallas in 2025.

It’s way too early to project who will lead the Cowboys in rushing.

Check back next month before the second night of the draft is done. The leading candidate should have emerged by then.

What is known is that a reclamation project at running back is underway at The Star. This upcoming season will mark the third straight year a different back will lead the team in rushing. It will be the first time in 10 years that someone other than Ezekiel Elliott, Tony Pollard or Rico Dowdle — one of these is not like the others — holds that distinction.

Ashton Jeanty, Omarion Hampton or one of the handful of other backs the Cowboys will interview ahead of the April draft will be part of the new way forward. But two veterans are already in place.

Javonte Williams and Miles Sanders have been added in free agency. While they will likely fall behind the rookie on the depth chart, they didn’t sign with the Cowboys to concede carries at this stage.

“From what they are telling me, they want a competitive room,‘’ Williams said. “Everyone go in there and compete and may the best man win.‘’

Cowboys can't be cavalier about replacing backup QB Cooper Rush - Jess Haynie, Blogging The Boys ​

Dallas should navigate the backup quarterback waters very carefully.

After spending most of the last eight seasons with the Cowboys, quarterback Cooper Rush recently signed to back up Lamar Jackson in Baltimore. It’s a loss that Dallas shouldn’t take for granted given the significant role that Rush has played, and the likelihood that whoever takes over as QB2 will need to be ready to win some games.

Many have declared indifference to Rush’s departure. It generally comes in two flavors; either you don’t think Rush was that good or you feel that the Cowboys’ season would be over regardless of who the backup QB is. The first line of reasoning is debatable, and the second is even easier to debunk.

There are legitimate complaints about Rush’s overall skill set. He certainly wasn’t flashy in any one area, particularly his athleticism. He isn’t very mobile and his arm strength is average at best. But in terms of the core duties of a quarterback, Rush processed well, avoided turnovers, and delivered the ball with sufficient accuracy. You could keep running most of your offense with him in the game. His personality was also great for the role, able to step up and perform even in high-pressure situations.

Rush went 9-5 as a starter in the last four seasons. While wins are a team stat, it demonstrates that Rush was capable of doing enough to help Dallas win 64% of those games. That’s 10-11 wins in a 17-game season, which some NFL franchises would love to see. Maybe he wasn’t going to beat top teams or give you much confidence in the playoffs, but how many backup QBs do? There’s a reason the 2017 Nick Foles story was considered worthy of a Disney movie; it was a fantasy come to life.

But even though the legend of Foles is an extreme example, it does illustrate that seasons don’t end just because you lose your starting QB. Even more realistic is the fact that not all injuries are season-ending. Just look at 2022 when Prescott missed five games from Weeks 2-6. That was when Rush really put his name on the map for NFL backups, going 4-1 as the starter. It allowed Prescott to return to a 4-2 team, which led to another 12-5 season and playoff berth.

Source: https://www.bloggingtheboys.com/202...deal-gets-done-javonte-williams-miles-sanders