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[Dallas Cowboys]

Ranking the importance of extensions the Cowboys need to take care of

Tim Heitman-USA TODAY Sports

Here is the order in which the Cowboys should take care of their would-be extensions (if they do them) this offseason.

The Dallas Cowboys would be wise to take care of extensions sooner rather than later. You know this. We have discussed it many times. It does not need to be re-litigated at this point.

This is a principle that the front office has not necessarily agreed with (something else you know) in recent history as it took until the eleventh hour for deals to get done with the likes of CeeDee Lamb, Dak Prescott (multiple times) and DeMarcus Lawrence. For context’s sake we should note that Dallas was early on players like Jaylon Smith, La’el Collins, Trevon Diggs and Terence Steele (Ezekiel Elliott too sort of, although Zeke forced that issue by holding out).

Obviously this is a topic of conversation right now what with Micah Parsons being eligible for an extension for the second offseason in a row. By not taking care of it last year the Cowboys allowed the situation to turn into more of one which is why we are all screaming at them to get it done.

Parsons may be the best player on the Cowboys, but he is not the only one who it would be wise for the team to take care of relative to extensions this offseason. Counting Parsons there are four players who the team would be wise to lock up for the long-term.

Here is our ranking of how the team should view the levels of importance.

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First and foremost... Micah Parsons​

Micah Parsons is the best player on the Dallas Cowboys. He is on track to have a Pro Football Hall of Fame-level career. On the heels of a rough season with longtime veterans departing, he appears ready and willing to take the mantle of leadership. These are all incredible qualities and ones that you dream about the player you give a massive extension to having in their repertoire.

We promised that we wouldn’t waste time, but this should have been taken care of last year. With that being the case that means that this is and has been priority number one for a long time now. If this ripples into training camp it will only hurt the overall goal.

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Second in action... DaRon Bland​

Last week saw the cornerback market rise for the second time this offseason when the Houston Texans paid Derek Stingley Jr.. This is the way that the game goes.

Paying DaRon Bland is about more than just playing some game, though. He may be coming off of a tough season for the standards that he set in 2023, but he is arguably a huge part of the defense and secondary moving forward. Given the uncertainty surrounding Trevon Diggs, you can argue that he is an essential part of it moving forward.

You know what else, though? Not to be cold or calloused, but Bland is coming off of a down season as mentioned. If the Cowboys were to be proactive and approach him in his first offseason of eligibility - while not coming off of a performance that he knows he is capable of - does it not stand to reason that the price will be lower than it could be?

This is the dangerous game that the Cowboys have lost in the past. To use one example, the Cowboys could have extended CeeDee Lamb and/or Dak Prescott after the 2022 season. Consider that the latter was coming off of a season filled with interceptions. Getting to one or both of them at that point could have led to a slightly friendlier deal, at the very least it would have led to a friendlier market rate. But as we all know, the Cowboys decided to wait and both Lamb and Prescott turned in stellar 2023 seasons which gave them all the more leverage.

This is an opportunity to not make that same mistake again.

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Third and vital... Tyler Smith​

The prioritization here is not about ranking the importance that the players hold relative to the team. If this were the case then it would feel awkward having Tyler Smith be down at three. Smith has had an interesting career with the Cowboys in that he was a decision that the front office stood against the world on and was proven right about. There were very few who agreed with them selecting him in the first round back in 2022.

To his credit, Smith has turned into the star that Dallas foresaw in that first round. Beyond being an amazing player, he is now positioned to be the leader of the offensive line for the future with Zack Martin having retired. He has an apprentice under his wing in fellow first-rounder Tyler Guyton. He is the perfect candidate to pay and take care of.

The Cowboys must decide if they want to pick up Smith’s fifth-year option this offseason (Kaiir Elam too now) and obviously will, but that does not mean that they can’t or won’t get an extension done. We know that he is a part of the long-term future of this team. Getting a deal done makes perfect sense.

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Fourth but not forgotten... Jake Ferguson​

You can make the argument in a number of directions here and the fact that the team spent a second-round pick on Luke Schoonmaker last year is part of the calculus. But if we are making a list of extension candidates, then there is no question that Jake Ferguson is a part of it, just a little lower down the priority list than others. This isn’t a knock on Ferguson in any way and is more representative of the markets of all positions involved.

We have seen the offense really thrive with Ferguson as a part of it over his career to date. Last year was tough for the team and for him individually, but like with Bland, that represents a time to strike for the front office.

Throughout the era of Dak Prescott at quarterback the team has seen a number of tight ends be productive and therefore haven’t really given second deals to many players. Dalton Schultz got the franchise tag, but looking back (and even in the moment) there is some room for discussion on whether that was the right decision or not. Ultimately this feels like something that could or should get done if the price is right, to use the front office’s favorite parlance.

Source: https://www.bloggingtheboys.com/202...parsons-daron-bland-tyler-smith-jake-ferguson

 

[Dallas Cowboys]

Can you guess this Cowboys quarterback in today’s in-5 trivia game?

Think you can figure out which Cowboys player we’re talking about? You’ll get five clues to figure him out in our new guessing game!

Hey Cowboys fans! We’ve got a new treat for everybody. Some of you have likely seen the daily trivia game that lives in the top right corner above the fold of the site. To date, that game has been the SB Nation in-5 trivia game. Today, that changes here.

We’ve now got a Dallas Cowboys version of the game. The SB Nation version has been a general NFL game with active and retired players from all 32 teams featured. Moving forward, at Blogging The Boys you’ll get a daily Cowboys version of this game. We’ll be rotating between current Cowboys and some of our old favorites and not so well-known options. You can still play the SB Nation version. You just need to go to sbnation.com, where it lives on the front page every day.

You can play the game below and share your results in the comments or on social media. Please share any and all feedback about the game, both good and bad. You can post feedback in the comments, but we also have a Google Form. We’re past the beta stage of the game, but it’s still a work in progress.

See Blogging The Boys in-5 game instructions below the game.

If you can’t see the game due to Apple News or another service, click this game article.

Play more SB Nation in-5 trivia games​

NFL in-5
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Blogging The Boys in-5 instructions​

The goal of the game is to guess the correct Cowboys player with the help of up to five clues. We’ll mix in BOTH ACTIVE AND RETIRED PLAYERS. It won’t be easy to figure it out in one or two guesses, but some of you might be able to nail it.

After you correctly guess the player, you can click “Share Results” to share how you did down in the comments and on social media. We won’t go into other details about the game as we’d like your feedback on it. How it plays, what you think of it, the difficulty level, and anything else you can think of that will help us improve this game. You can provide feedback in the comments of this article, or you can fill out this Google Form.

Enjoy!

Source: https://www.bloggingtheboys.com/2025/3/25/24393522/sb-nation-cowboys-daily-trivia-in-5

 

[Dallas Cowboys]

Cowboys 2025 7-round mock draft using only ‘Dallas Day' eligible prospects

Photo by Eakin Howard/Getty Images

Here is what a hypothetical draft could look like for the Cowboys if they only took Dallas Day-eligible players.

With the 2025 NFL Scouting Combine well behind us now, the Dallas Cowboys and the rest of the league only have Pro Days and official visits to get better acquainted with this year's group of the draft hopefuls. The league only allots a total of 30 pre-draft visitors per team, but there are no regulations on the number of local prospects they can entertain.

Over the years "Dallas Day" has been an effective tool for the Dallas Cowboys prior to the draft each year. Prospects that either grew up in the Dallas area or went to college at TCU, SMU, or North Texas are eligible to attend. This year's crop of "local" talent could hold some hidden gems for the Cowboys.

Today, with the help from Nick Harris who did all the tough groundwork, we thought we'd take a look at what a Cowboys draft haul could look like if the only selected eligible prospects from "Dallas Day". We attempted to slot each player where they are expected to be selected or close to it to make this as realistic as possible.

Here are (mostly) all of the draft prospects that are eligible for the Dallas Cowboys local visit day in early April.

In addition to inviting 30 outside prospects for facility visits ahead of the draft, the Cowboys can also host these players without using one of the 30 spots. pic.twitter.com/MDALGBnfHK

— Nick Harris (@NickHarrisFWST) March 21, 2025​

1.12 - RB Ashton Jeanty, Boise State​

Photo by Christian Petersen/Getty Images

This, of course, is a no-brainer. The only other choice here would be QB Sheduer Sanders, but even he couldn't make as big of an impact as Aston Jeanty would with the Cowboys. Jeanty is a Top 5 player in the 2025 draft class and an elite talent. He'd add some much-needed juice to their offense and immediately upgrade their running game.

2.44 - WR Jack Bech, TCU​

Photo by Eakin Howard/Getty Images

Quinn Ewers anyone? It's a hard pass for me here, but TE Elijah Arroyo was a strong consideration. In the end though, Jack Bech's fit with the Cowboys is better here in the second round. His skill set and blue-collar approach to do all of the little dirty jobs that comes with playing WR reminds me of Cooper Kupp.

3.76 - OT Cameron Williams, Texas​

Photo by Joe Robbins/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images

WR Savion Williams and DT Shemar Turner were in play here, instead we take the chance of drafting Terence Steele's eventual replacement. While Cameron Williams could potentially challenge for the starting RT job as a rookie, he still probably needs time to further develop his craft before he's ready for the full-time starting gig.

5.149 - EDGE Elijah Roberts, SMU​

Photo by Matthew Visinsky/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images

Elijah Roberts is an intriguing defensive line prospect. He's a bit of the tweeter who actually resembles former Cowboys DT Tyrone Crawford. He could provide much-needed depth at both the DE and DT positions early on as a rookie while the coaching staff figures out where he can be the most impactful.

5.171 - G Caleb Rogers, Texas Tech​

Photo by John E. Moore III/Getty Images

Caleb Rogers was primarily a right tackle during his time at Texas Tech, but kicking inside to guard at the next level is where he seems to project best. The Cowboys just so happen to have a void to fill at RG with Zack Martin retiring and Rogers could potentially challenge for that job as early as Year 1 in Dallas.

5.174 - Brashard Smith, SMU​

Photo by Grant Halverson/Getty Images

RB Ollie Gordon was a consideration here, but Brashard Smith is the pick based on what he would bring to the table if drafted by the Cowboys. He's on the smaller side at just 5'10", 194-pounds, but was one of the more impressive RBs in the collegiate ranks last season. The WR-turned-RB would make an interesting pairing with Ashton Jeanty.

6.204 - S RJ Mickens, Clemson​

Photo by John Byrum/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images

RJ Mickens is a versatile defensive back who can play in the box or as a deep safety as well as playing in the slot. He could help the Cowboys secondary in a variety of ways early on as a rookie as a depth piece, quite possibly lessening the blow from Jourdan Lewis leaving via free agency. He has the talent to develop into an eventual starter.

6.211 - CB Jabbar Muhammad, Oregon​

Photo by Brandon Sloter/Image Of Sport/Getty Images

Jabbar Muhammad played outside CB at both Washington and Oregon, but at 5'10", 185-pounds, he will likely have to be a nickel corner at the next level. He could come in and compete for the slot duty recently held by Jourdan Lewis as a rookie, or at the very least provide depth there as well as being a core special teams player.

7.239 - QB Seth Henigan, Memphis​

Photo by Cody Glenn/Getty Images

Seth Henigan may never be anything more than a backup quarterback in the NFL, but he has the intangibles and football IQ to carve out a solid career as a QB2 in the league. He could help fill the void left by Cooper Rush as Dak Prescott's primary backup now that he's decided to jump ship, signing with the Baltimore Ravens in free agency.

7.247 - DT Jared Harrison-Hunte​

Photo by Michael Hickey/Getty Images

Jared Harrison-Hunte (6'4", 294) is an intriguing developmental defensive tackle prospect who could be a solid rotational piece along the Cowboys defensive line. He's a disruptive player who is at his best in an attacking scheme as a 3-technique, which fits what Matt Eberflus could be looking for at the position.

Source: https://www.bloggingtheboys.com/202...ay-eligible-prospects-ashton-jeanty-jack-bech

 

[Dallas Cowboys]

Cowboys have only extended two first-round picks in first year of eligibility over last decade

Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports

The Cowboys have been shy with extending first-round draft picks in their first year of eligibility over the last decade.

It is important to understand that the 2011 CBA changed a lot for the NFL, its owners and the players. What made the 2011 CBA (and all that have followed) notable relative to the past was the introduction of a rookie salary cap, so to speak. Prior to then any player drafted in to the NFL was free to negotiate whatever deal that they wanted which, as you likely remember, led to some massive contracts (relative to the time) for players who had never taken a snap at the professional level.

As noted, that all changed since 2011. It made drafting right, and ensuring that you were getting legitimate production from your draft picks while they were on rookie contracts, essential. Elite front offices began to evolve after that and recognized that beating the market for extensions for these players kept them on the cheapest possible contracts at a veteran level. With players needing three years of service in the NFL to be eligible for an extension, teams could extend their superstars after their third year in the name of achieving this goal.

Stars are found all over the place, but obviously the odds of finding them are highest in the first round. We talk often about the success that the Dallas Cowboys have had in the first round in the time in question, but interestingly they have not necessarily exploited the ability to get them on the cheapest possible deals (that’s some loose verbiage, but you get the point) when the players in question get their first veteran contracts.

Since the 2011 CBA the Cowboys have only signed 3 first-round picks to extensions at their first point of eligibility​

An NFL player is first eligible for an extension after their third year of service. Looking back at the 2011 CBA, that means that the first drafted player for the Cowboys to be eligible for an extension for the first time in their career was Tyron Smith in 2014.

You likely remember that Dallas signed Tyron to an eight-year deal in the summer of 2014 that became a fountain of salary cap space for them over the ensuing years. It was a visionary type of contract, and that the Cowboys got it done at Smith’s first point of eligibility was a true act of financial brilliance.

Since then, we have seen the Cowboys be rather shy with getting ahead of the curve on players drafted in the first round specifically. Only Travis Frederick and Ezekiel Elliott received their extensions from the team at their first point of eligibility, and the latter had to hold out in order to make it happen.

There is some important context needed for a handful of these situations.

Morris Claiborne and Leighton Vander Esch were not extended by the Cowboys, and neither of them had their fifth-year option picked up. For those unaware, first-round picks can have that option picked up after their third year in the league. Dallas declined it for both Claiborne and Vander Esch, but interestingly was able to bring them each back on deals after the fact. Claiborne returned to Dallas on a one-year deal in 2016 in what would have been his fifth-year option season, and Vander Esch did the same in 2022 before signing a two-year deal after that. But using our technical definition, they were not extended.

Byron Jones did not receive an extension from the Cowboys and did not receive a second contract from the team at all. He left after the 2019 season (his fifth-year option season) for the Miami Dolphins in free agency.

Interestingly Taco Charlton also wound up with the Miami Dolphins after leaving the Cowboys, but he was dismissed early and didn’t even finish out his rookie contract. He is the only person on this list for whom that is the case.

Back to the main point though, the Cowboys talk often about wanting to pay their own. It is fair for them to take pride in drafting players and keeping them around for a long time. Zack Martin just retired and did so in a celebration after having a storied career with the team.

It was obvious that Martin was a player of that variety in his first season of eligibility for a contract extension, but the Cowboys did not capitalize on that. The same was arguably true for Byron Jones, but it was certainly true for CeeDee Lamb and Micah Parsons. The former had to wait until after fourth season and had to hold out to get his deal while the latter just finished his fourth season. The opportunity to get to Lamb and Parsons early came and went for Dallas. Time will tell if it is something they jump on with Tyler Smith.

it should be embarrassing for the Cowboys that the 2022 draft class picks are starting to get their extensions before Parsons.

Micah is now the only star 2021 first rounder without one

— Gregg Rosenthal (@greggrosenthal) March 17, 2025​

This list represents 11 players (not counting Tyler Smith who just became eligible) who the team had opportunities to get deals done with. Not every player was worth it and in certain situations the Cowboys were wise to wait. Fair is fair in that sense.

But there are only three players on this list who received contract extensions at the earliest, and therefore cheapest, possible times in Tyron Smith, Travis Frederick and Ezekiel Elliott. Like Lamb, Zeke had to hold out to get that deal. If we acknowledge that his situation is different from the others in that sense this means that there have only been two instances in which the team moved with proactivity relative to a first-round pick.

Stating the obvious here, this disposition needs to change. To be clear, this is true for players drafted in any round, but first-rounders are obviously taken with the hope that they will be pinnacles and cornerstones for the franchise for years to come.

Source: https://www.bloggingtheboys.com/202...ound-picks-first-year-eligibility-last-decade

 

[Dallas Cowboys]

Cowboys news: Wide receiver, running back seen as most immediate impact positions for team to target in first round

Photo by Bruce Yeung/Getty Images

All the Cowboys news that’s fit to print.

3 first-round draft options that would immediately help the Cowboys - Mario Herrera Jr., Inside The Star​

The Cowboys need to count on their first-round pick being a difference-maker early, with a clear need for talent at wide receiver.

The Cowboys have multiple areas of need and could go in several directions, with three intriguing prospects emerging as potential targets at the 12th overall selection.

Each of these players could help address specific weaknesses or bolster an already impressive roster. Let’s take a deeper look at why they are all strong options for Dallas.

WR Tetairoa McMillan, Arizona

One of the most talked-about players in the 2025 draft class is wide receiver Tetairoa McMillan, a dynamic playmaker who has the tools to become an immediate contributor at the next level.

The Cowboys’ offense is led by quarterback Dak Prescott and features star playmakers like CeeDee Lamb.

However, the team could use another elite receiving option to complement Lamb, especially in the passing game’s vertical aspect. McMillan is the type of receiver who can provide just that.

At 6’4” and 215 pounds, McMillan has the size and strength to win contested catches while also possessing exceptional speed to stretch the field.

His ability to make big plays down the field will give Prescott a reliable deep threat, creating space for Lamb to operate more freely.

McMillan also excels in route running and has displayed impressive consistency in making difficult catches in college, suggesting he has the potential to step in and contribute immediately as a top-tier receiver in the NFL.

Dallas Cowboys legend campaigns for Ashton Jeanty in NFL Draft - Josh Sanchez, Sports Illustrated​

Hall of Fame wide receiver Michael Irvin is in favor of the Cowboys drafting a running back 12th overall compared to another receiver.

Jeanty has expressed his desire to be a Dallas Cowboys, and if he is available when the team is on the clock, one Cowboys legend believes the team should make him the pick.

Pro Football Hall of Famer Michael Irvin recently discussed the Cowboys options and went with Jeanty of Texas Longhorns star Matthew Golden.

#Cowboys legend Michael Irvin shares his thoughts on who Dallas should pick at No. 12 if it’s between Ashton Jeanty and Matthew Golden.

( : @UpAndAdamsShow) pic.twitter.com/G8AA93bj5v

— Brandon Loree (@Brandoniswrite) March 24, 2025​

Of course, there is a good chance Jeanty will be off the board when the Cowboys’ pick comes around.

This past season, Jeanty rushed for 2,601 yards and 29 touchdowns, averaging a whopping 7.0 yards per carry. Throughout his collegiate career, Jeanty has rushed for 4,769 yards and 50 touchdowns while adding 862 yards and six scores receiving.

It will be interesting to see what direction the Cowboys go in the draft, but all signs are pointing to the team addressing running back or wide receiver.

Taking a look at the 5 best NFL free agents available, it’s clear the Dallas Cowboys should make more signings before it’s too late - Mauricio Rodriguez, A to Z Sports​

The NFL Draft doesn’t have to be the next chance for the Cowboys to add to their roster, with free agents still on the market that can help.

DL Calais Campbell

Does it make sense: Yes but Dallas has made its bet.

The versatile defensive lineman has yet to be slowed down by age as he put on a great 2024 NFL season in Miami. I’d love the Cowboys to target Campbell but they’ve already added multiple defensive linemen and I’d be surprised if they target the veteran at this point. However, him being 39 years old is likely going to make him cheap. I wouldn’t hesitate to strike a deal.

CB Asante Samuel Jr.

Does it make sense? Yes but...

The Cowboys badly need cornerback help after losing Jourdan Lewis in free agency but I’m not sure Matt Eberflus’ scheme fits Samuel Jr., who is considered a zone specialist. But need combined with potential bargain status due to a shoulder injury could be enough to entice Dallas.

Samuel Jr. is only 25 years old and has played well in his career, which makes me think he’ll be just out of the team’s price range.

Examining how the Cowboys roster looks after the first two weeks of free agency - Dan Rogers, Blogging The Boys​

The Cowboys needs at RB and WR may get all of the attention between now and April, but it shouldn’t distract from other pressing needs elsewhere.

QUARTERBACK

Need: A backup QB

Initial prediction: Re-sign Cooper Rush and draft a late-round rookie

They say you don’t appreciate someone until they’re gone and that could ring true for Cooper Rush as he signed with Baltimore, leaving a huge hole at the backup QB position. With no remaining desirable free agent, this puts a lot of pressure on finding a quarterback late in the draft or else they’ll be putting all their faith into Will Grier.

CORNERBACK

Need: Get help now, get help later

Initial prediction: Re-sign Jourdan Lewis and draft a top collegiate corner by round two

The Cowboys cornerback room is a big enigma that got more puzzling after Lewis left in free agency. Lewis’ price tag was a bit steep, so the front office was smart to let him walk, but it still left them with questions. The team acquired former first-round pick Kaiir Elam from Buffalo, but we’ve seen them trade for underachieving corners before (Noah Igbinoghene and Andrew Booth), so expectations are tempered. The Cowboys still have some depth as players like Caelen Carson and Josh Butler are on the team, but they should look for young talent in next month’s draft.

Next Man Up: Marist Liufau prepped for big leap in Year 2 for Cowboys - Patrik Walker, DallasCowboys.com​

As always, the Cowboys are counting on homegrown players to take the next step, with linebacker Marist Liufau being one of the most exciting.

Liufau racked up 50 combined tackles in only nine starts, and it’s key to note his two forced fumbles were produced in only 521 defensive snaps.

For perspective, Kendricks led the team with three forced fumbles, though it took him 920 defensive snaps to get there and Donovan Wilson, who had two of his own, achieved it in 1,010 defensive snaps — as Liufau laid the groundwork for what might come in Year 2 and beyond.

The Present: This time around, Sanborn effectively serves as this year’s version of Kendricks (for Eberflus’ system) and Murray is hoping to become “the man in the middle”, but it’s also true that, in the absence of Overshown due to injury, the former Notre Dame standout showed he’s a playmaker with an exceptional football IQ. Don’t look for Liufau to be displaced by the signing of two veterans, having shown he can serve as the green dot in an offense — as a rookie, no less — something that will only get better and more proficient with time.

Eberflus is known for how he can get the best out of linebackers throughout his coaching career and Liufau (and Overshown, when he returns) are set to be the superstar tandem at linebacker for the Cowboys. It doesn’t matter which of the three roles Liufau lines up in, though, because he’ll likely excel in any spot.

The Future: And that’s where this summer will be interesting, i.e., where’s Liufau? Will Eberflus see him as the true green dot based upon his rookie tape under Zimmer, or will the Cowboys’ defensive coordinator opt to try Murray’s hand at the MIKE (middle LB) first?

Source: https://www.bloggingtheboys.com/202...t-round-draft-tetairoa-mcmillan-ashton-jeanty

 

[Dallas Cowboys]

NFC East news: New York is still in the QB market. Commanders get praise

Geoff Burke-Imagn Images

Who do you think will be the Giants quarterback in 2025?

NFL Rumors: Giants Will Be ‘Poking Around’ At Veteran QB Market After Winston Contract - Adam Wells, Bleacher Report​

Even after signing Jameis Winston, New York is still in the market for a quarterback.

Jameis Winston may not be the only free-agent quarterback the New York Giants bring in this offseason.

On the latest episode of the Scoop City podcast (starts at 8:20 mark), The Athletic’s Dianna Russini said the Giants will be “poking around” the veteran market for another quarterback.

Fox Sports’ Jordan Schultz reported on Friday that Winston agreed to a two-year, $8 million deal with New York.

The Giants haven’t given up on their pursuit of Aaron Rodgers. ESPN’s Jordan Raanan reported on Monday they are “still waiting” for the four-time MVP to make a decision.

Rodgers’ focus seems to be more on the Pittsburgh Steelers at the moment. He had a meeting with team officials last week, but left their facilities without signing a deal.

Sports Illustrated’s Albert Breer noted Steelers officials seemed to think Rodgers would also have a similar meeting with the Giants at some point in an effort to “to get a vibe for their building, and what head coach Brian Daboll and GM Joe Schoen have built.”

There’s no indication at this point that Rodgers is close to making a decision. While the Giants continue to wait for him, they have also been keeping an eye on Russell Wilson and Joe Flacco as potential options.

The Giants could in theory come out of free agency and the draft with three quarterbacks. Tommy DeVito was the only signal-caller on their roster before they agreed to a deal with Winston.

DeVito is only set to earn $1 million in 2025, so it wouldn’t be difficult to move on if they found better depth.

There’s also the possibility the Giants try to add Shedeur Sanders with the third pick in the draft, but there’s growing buzz he could end up going to the Cleveland Browns at No. 2 overall.

Whatever the quarterback room looks like in Week 1 of the regular season, the Giants had to prioritize the position this offseason. They may not end up with a franchise player at that spot, but it should look better than the group that ended last season with DeVito and Drew Lock starting games after Daniel Jones was released.

Rich Eisen: Commanders have had the best offseason in the NFL so far - Serena Burks, USA Today​

Eisen believes the NFC runner-up has improved the most so far this offseason.

Washington Commanders general manager Adam Peters has been busy this offseason, as has the rest of his front office. The Commanders made moves this offseason, bringing in a strong offensive lineman in Laremy Tunsil and adding a weapon in Deebo Samuel. They’ve retained players set to become free agents, signed free-agent players from other teams, and done most of this without taking a huge financial hit.

The “Rich Eisen Show” recently ranked the top 5 NFL offseason biggest winners, and the Commanders were at the top of the list as the biggest winner so far this offseason.

“Number one on the list,” Rich Eisen, the host of “The Rich Eisen Show,” said. “I think I’ve been talking about them enough to give you an idea that you know where I’m going on this. But if you are going to trade for Laremy Tunsil and Deebo Samuel and protect and give another weapon to your unicorn in Jayden Daniels, if you’re going to do that and it’s only going to cost you draft capital and cap space that you have in abundance, what a brilliant march for the Washington Commanders. You know, and the offseason began where they keep their offensive coordinator, they re-signed Noah Brown, Mariota is the backup, so they keep the quarterback room the same for the kid...”

He goes on to discuss some of the other things the team has done this offseason and why that puts them at the top of the list. Adam Peters and Dan Quinn are clearly of the same mindset; they are on the same page, and everyone in the Commanders’ locker room believes in their vision. Ultimately, that’s what it takes to be successful in this league: Getting your players to buy in.

The Commanders’ players have bought in and are ready to keep pushing in the right direction.

Eagles agree to terms with OT Kendall Lamm - Charean Williams, NBC Sports​

Philadelphia still continues to prioritize their offensive line.

The Eagles have agreed to terms with free agent offensive tackle Kendall Lamm on a one-year deal, Peter Schrager of NFL Media reports.

Lamm, 32, will compete to replace Fred Johnson as the swing tackle on Jeff Stoutland’s offensive line.

He had back surgery Jan. 3.

In 2024, Lamm played 15 games with seven starts, seeing action on 511 offensive snaps and 63 on special teams.

He played four seasons in Houston, two in Cleveland and one in Tennessee before joining the Dolphins before the 2024 season.

Lamm has appeared in 119 games with 44 starts.

Source: https://www.bloggingtheboys.com/202...ston-commanders-praise-offseason-deebo-samuel

 

[Dallas Cowboys]

Can you guess this Cowboys wide receiver in today’s in-5 trivia game?

Think you can figure out which Cowboys player we’re talking about? You’ll get five clues to figure him out in our new guessing game!

Hey Cowboys fans! We’ve got a new treat for everybody. Some of you have likely seen the daily trivia game that lives in the top right corner above the fold of the site. To date, that game has been the SB Nation in-5 trivia game. Today, that changes here.

We’ve now got a Dallas Cowboys version of the game. The SB Nation version has been a general NFL game with active and retired players from all 32 teams featured. Moving forward, at Blogging The Boys you’ll get a daily Cowboys version of this game. We’ll be rotating between current Cowboys and some of our old favorites and not so well-known options. You can still play the SB Nation version. You just need to go to sbnation.com, where it lives on the front page every day.

You can play the game below and share your results in the comments or on social media. Please share any and all feedback about the game, both good and bad. You can post feedback in the comments, but we also have a Google Form. We’re past the beta stage of the game, but it’s still a work in progress.

See Blogging The Boys in-5 game instructions below the game.

If you can’t see the game due to Apple News or another service, click this game article.

Previous games​

Tuesday, March 25, 2025
Monday, March 24, 2025

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The goal of the game is to guess the correct Cowboys player with the help of up to five clues. We’ll mix in BOTH ACTIVE AND RETIRED PLAYERS. It won’t be easy to figure it out in one or two guesses, but some of you might be able to nail it.

After you correctly guess the player, you can click “Share Results” to share how you did down in the comments and on social media. We won’t go into other details about the game as we’d like your feedback on it. How it plays, what you think of it, the difficulty level, and anything else you can think of that will help us improve this game. You can provide feedback in the comments of this article, or you can fill out this Google Form.

Enjoy!

Source: https://www.bloggingtheboys.com/2025/3/26/24394320/sb-nation-cowboys-daily-trivia-in-5

 

[Dallas Cowboys]

Cowboys offense: Comparing offensive line additions/subtractions from 2024 to now

Photo by Perry Knotts/Getty Images

The Cowboys offensive line looks very different these days.

The Dallas Cowboys have notably done more in free agency and through trades than they did in 2024. In the first part of this series, we covered the changes at the skill positions on offense. Now, we head into the trenches and look at what is happening along the offensive line.

Interior Offensive Line​

2024 Additions: Cooper Beebe, Nathan Thomas

2024 Losses: Tyler Biadasz

2025 Additions: Robert Jones

2025 Losses: Zack Martin

At long last, a position group where it might make the most sense for the Cowboys to trust their own player development. This is also the group where the Cowboys have the best player to replace from the last two seasons combined, the recently retired Zack Martin. Football is a strange game.

The Cowboys have brought in former Kansas State offensive line coach Conor Riley to move this position group forward, reuniting him with second-year center Cooper Beebe. The third-round pick had a good season in 2024, and finished trending in a positive direction and will be looking to fully reward the team’s faith in him with a big year two jump. Given the expected influence of Klayton Adams prioritizing the Cowboys offensive line blocking out in space more, Beebe will have his hands full as the communicator of the group, but also excels in these blocking situations. The same can be said about the teammate to his left, one of the best left guards in football Tyler Smith. Smith has become everything the Cowboys expect from a lineman drafted in the first round, a plug-and-play starter you simply don’t have to worry about on a snap-to-snap basis.

The right guard hole left behind by a future Ring of Honor and Canton inductee Martin would currently be filled by one of Brock Hoffman, T.J. Bass, or the more unlikely choices of Asim Richards, Robert Jones, or Nathan Thomas. Hoffman and Bass have proved themselves as more than capable players with flexibility at multiple positions, something Dallas has historically put a high value on. Something they should be continuing to put a high value on under Schottenheimer is not allocating all of their resources into the offensive line as the only way to build on this side of the ball. Of all the things on paper that would hold this team back if they had to play a game tomorrow, not having one of the best right guards in the history of the sport doesn’t have to be one of them. Whoever starts here will benefit from elevated play by the rest of the line, where Tyler Guyton will be expected to make a year two jump, and Terence Steele will be looking to find better consistency.

Depending on just how serious the Cowboys are about being a physical ground team again, offensive line could still be a surprise position they address early in the draft, but for now this is a young group with real potential to feel good about.

Photo by Kevin Sabitus/Getty Images

Offensive Tackle​

2024 Additions: Tyler Guyton

2024 Losses: Tyron Smith

2025 Additions: None

2025 Losses: Chuma Edoga

If there is a blueprint for the Cowboys replacing a Hall of Fame-caliber starting lineman, it came last offseason with the departure of Tyron Smith. The Cowboys were immediately earmarked to take a tackle in a very deep offensive line class, and did so in the first round with Tyler Guyton. The fact Guyton was not dominant from the jump speaks more to the Cowboys’ pedigree at finding plug-and-play linemen, and less about him being anything close to a bust. This is still a player with all of the tools and raw ability to be a well above average starting tackle. Penalties and consistent technique were Guyton’s biggest issues as a rookie, both things new coaches can be eager to fix right away.

Where the Cowboys have undoubtedly stepped back at tackle is with their depth, losing Chuma Edoga to the Jaguars. Bass, Richards, Thomas, and Matt Waletzko are all somewhat capable players here, but with some having the position flex to play elsewhere, it is very unclear who will even establish tackle depth for Dallas right now, and who can be trusted. The idea of being one missed block away from seeing Prescott sidelined again, and no Cooper Rush to run in off the bench, is a scary one for sure.

Luckily, the Cowboys still have ten picks in the upcoming draft. While the talk between now and then about how many starters they need to find will not die down, at some point in every draft, the focus shifts to depth. The Cowboys can find this while looking to their starting duo of Guyton and Steele to thrive in a new scheme, be helped by a passing game that gets the ball out quickly, and lean on defenses more physically in the run game compared to a year ago.

---

In doing this full exercise for the Cowboys offense, one thing is apparent. The Cowboys have taken the longest possible path forward, backwards, and in circles to end up at a very familiar destination on offense right now. Even with a new play-caller, new coaches at nearly every position group, and two new running backs, a lot of familiar issues for this unit appear ready to sit over this team’s head until proven otherwise. We’ve mentioned the Cowboys possible advantage in game-planning with a new scheme resetting the way opposing defenses will prepare for them, but every fan has also seen how this can fade away as a long season wears on. Who will be the bread and butter players the Cowboys can rely on to overcome this? So far in free agency and the trade market, they haven’t exactly added anyone that would go on this list. The criticism that the Cowboys activity so far in the offseason is still not nearly enough to offset inactivity last season appears more than fair, at least on offense.

The change for the team with a brand-new staff means that this is something of a rebuild. The hope is they have done a good job forming better cohesion throughout the building, identifying plus scheme fits to speed up the rebuild by having better plans on how personnel will be used.

Defensively, the Cowboys have a much more familiar face in Matt Eberflus back in the building to also change the culture, whose instantly gotten to work turning the depth chart into one that can pick up his scheme. We’ll look at the last two offseasons on defense coming up.

Source: https://www.bloggingtheboys.com/202...actions-roster-free-agents-trades-zack-martin

 

[Dallas Cowboys]

BTB Wednesday Poll: What is your most-liked move from the offseason so far?

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What has been your most-liked Dallas Cowboys move of the offseason so far?

It has been a few weeks since free agency began across the NFL and the Dallas Cowboys have been much more busy than in years past. The jury will remain out on the Cowboys as a whole until they contend in the playoffs, but you can only do so much to change the narrative or idea in the month of March.

That being said, the Cowboys did do more than we are accustomed to seeing from them which is refreshing in and of itself. Perhaps that still wan’t enough for you or you wanted to see something different. At the very least the Cowboys gave us a number of things to look at and debate.

This has served as the inspiration for our daily discussion as we are opening a poll to ask what each person’s most-liked move from the offseason so far has been.

Make sure to vote in the poll and then add some commentary in the comments down below!

Source: https://www.bloggingtheboys.com/202...our-most-liked-move-from-the-offseason-so-far

 

[Dallas Cowboys]

Cowboys news: Players from Texas that could be of draft interest

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The latest news around the Dallas Cowboys

Six players from Texas’ Pro Day that could be Cowboys’ draft targets - Tommy Yarrish, Dallascowboys.com​

The Dallas Cowboys could consider drafting a few Texas Longhorns after their dominant 2024 season.

If the Cowboys want to turn to a burnt-orange product to become another difference maker for them in the 2025 NFL draft, they’ll have their fair share of options to choose from across all three days of the draft process. Here are six names from Texas’ Pro Day that make sense for Dallas, and where the Cowboys could see them selected:

Matthew Golden, WR

Golden has arguably been the fastest rising prospect throughout the entire NFL draft process, and a strong combine performance likely cemented him into the first round after running a 4.29 40-yard dash, the second best among all participants. At Texas’ Pro Day, Golden once again looked the part, with crisp cuts in his routes and flashes of that 40-time catching passes from Quinn Ewers. The lone blemish on his day was a deep ball that went through his hands, but otherwise Golden hauled in his other eight targets. When the ball hits his hands, it doesn’t move, and Golden drew “Ooo’s” and “Ahh’s” from the crowd after each of his reps. If the Cowboys believe that Golden is the man to compliment CeeDee Lamb, they’ll need to select him in the first round, because his stock is sky-high.

Alfred Collins, DT

Defensive tackle Alfred Collins was seen in a walking boot on his left leg and did not participate in any drills during Texas’ Pro Day. A university spokesperson did not reveal what the injury was, and Collins did not speak to reporters, so we’ll see what comes out of that situation. When healthy, Collins has shown the potential to be a potent run stuffer in the middle of the defensive line with a good amount of twitch and athleticism for his size at 6’6, 332 pounds. The uncertainty of the injury puts Collins’ stock status in the air, but he’s likely a plausible option for the Cowboys on Day 2 to fill their need at defensive tackle.

Jahdae Barron, DB

The Longhorns may have been looking to save the best for last, as Barron and some of the other defensive backs were the last of Texas’ players to work out in front of scouts. Barron was sharp in his turns during the three-cone drill, and flew around the field in coverage drills just like he did on tape when he won the Thorpe Award in 2024. Versatility is the name of Barron’s game, and he told reporters that he belives the fact that he can play corner, nickel, dime and even safety in the defensive backfield makes him the best cornerback prospect in this class. If Dallas shares that same belief and Barron falls to the 12th overall pick, then that’s likely where they’ll need to select him.

Ranking the importance of extensions the Cowboys need to take care of - RJ Ochoa, Blogging the Boys​

Outside of Micah Parsons, the front office has a few other vital extensions to work on this offseason.

Second in action... DaRon Bland

Last week saw the cornerback market rise for the second time this offseason when the Houston Texans paid Derek Stingley Jr.. This is the way that the game goes.

Paying DaRon Bland is about more than just playing some game, though. He may be coming off of a tough season for the standards that he set in 2023, but he is arguably a huge part of the defense and secondary moving forward. Given the uncertainty surrounding Trevon Diggs, you can argue that he is an essential part of it moving forward.

You know what else, though? Not to be cold or calloused, but Bland is coming off of a down season as mentioned. If the Cowboys were to be proactive and approach him in his first offseason of eligibility - while not coming off of a performance that he knows he is capable of - does it not stand to reason that the price will be lower than it could be?

This is the dangerous game that the Cowboys have lost in the past. To use one example, the Cowboys could have extended CeeDee Lamb and/or Dak Prescott after the 2022 season. Consider that the latter was coming off of a season filled with interceptions. Getting to one or both of them at that point could have led to a slightly friendlier deal, at the very least it would have led to a friendlier market rate. But as we all know, the Cowboys decided to wait and both Lamb and Prescott turned in stellar 2023 seasons which gave them all the more leverage.

This is an opportunity to not make that same mistake again.

Third and vital... Tyler Smith

The prioritization here is not about ranking the importance that the players hold relative to the team. If this were the case then it would feel awkward having Tyler Smith be down at three. Smith has had an interesting career with the Cowboys in that he was a decision that the front office stood against the world on and was proven right about. There were very few who agreed with them selecting him in the first round back in 2022.

To his credit, Smith has turned into the star that Dallas foresaw in that first round. Beyond being an amazing player, he is now positioned to be the leader of the offensive line for the future with Zack Martin having retired. He has an apprentice under his wing in fellow first-rounder Tyler Guyton. He is the perfect candidate to pay and take care of.

The Cowboys must decide if they want to pick up Smith’s fifth-year option this offseason (Kaiir Elam too now) and obviously will, but that does not mean that they can’t or won’t get an extension done. We know that he is a part of the long-term future of this team. Getting a deal done makes perfect sense.

Dallas Cowboys urged to trade for explosive WR before NFL Draft - Randy Gurzi, Dallas Cowboys on SI​

If Jerry Jones wanted to create buzz around the Cowboys before the draft, a trade like this would do it.

There’s another option as well, which would be adding someone through a trade and Ian Valentino of The 33rd Team has a big name in mind. Valentino brought up four trade ideas he would like to see before the draft, and has Dallas trading for Tyreek Hill.

Hill has voiced frustration in the direction the Miami Dolphins are headed, which has his name being floated as a trade piece. Valentino says the Cowboys could land him without using their first round pick, allowing them to still add a game-changing running back.

”After a decade of avoiding free agency splurges, Jerry Jones can drop a hammer by making such a gutsy investment into Hill. It shouldn’t cost him a first-round pick, either, meaning he can add a star tailback and Hill. Dallas would surely need to extend Hill’s contract to ease his future cap hits, but the Cowboys finally have the cap flexibility to not stress it.” — Valentino, The 33rd Team

Such a move would be a splash and could be enough to put Dallas back into the contender conversation. It’s just difficult seeing Jerry and Stephen Jones suddenly throwing caution to the wind and going for the home run.

Next Man Up: Spann-Ford showed durability as a rookie - Nick Eatman, DallasCowboys.com​

An overlooked member of the roster, TE Brevynn Spann-Ford.

The Present: Spann-Ford was able to play every game last year because he was reliable blocker who could occasionally get open and make plays, but he wasn’t the first or even second option on many plays. He caught nine passes for 88 yards with a long of 18 yards. But being a playmaker is where Spann-Ford can take the next step in his game. It won’t be easy this year with both Jake Ferguson and Luke Schoonmaker still young players ahead of him on the depth chart.

The Future: The reason Spann-Ford got here is also the reason he can’t get complacent. The Cowboys won’t stop looking for young, talented tight ends, which means Spann-Ford will have to likely win another roster battle to stay on the 53 this year. It doesn’t look like Ferguson and Schoonmaker will go anywhere right now and with Stephens coming back from injury, plus the Cowboys likely to add a couple more rookie tight ends, Spann-Ford will have his work cut out for him. But at 6-6, 260, he does have an advantage in size that others usually don’t. If he can continue to be a rock-solid run-blocker with a playmaker-element added to his game, he could be a player that has a role on this team for years to come.

Source: https://www.bloggingtheboys.com/202...s-players-draft-matthew-golden-alfred-collins

 

[Dallas Cowboys]

Brian Schottenheimer attending Ohio State Pro Day fuels Quinshon Judkins, TreVeyon Henderson ideas

Joseph Maiorana-Imagn Images

Brian Schottenheimer may be keeping a close eye on the top Buckeyes running backs.

It is important to never read too much into things. We have about a month (a little under) to go until the 2025 NFL Draft which means that breadcrumbs are all over the place. Future hindsight will tell us which of those were true and legitimate, but it will also shine a light on the wrong paths that we wandered down.

So much can and will change between now and when the Dallas Cowboys turn in various cards with player names and that is fair game. Information is still being gathered. Pro Days are still happening. Decisions are still being made.

It stands to reason that head coach Brian Schottenheimer wants to gather some information at a Pro Day or two to make a decision. As the head coach, he obviously does not have an infinite amount of time to spare, but it is interesting to note that on Wednesday it was reported that he was in attendance for Ohio State’s Pro Day.

In attendance at Ohio State’s Pro Day:

141 total NFL personnel

Coaches (6)
Ben Johnson - Bears
Raheem Morris - Falcons
Kellen Moore - Saints
Brian Schottenheimer - Cowboys
Mike Tomlin - Steelers
Mike Vrabel - Patriots

GMs (5)
Terry Fontenot - Falcons
Brian Gutenkunst -…

— StaceyDales (@StaceyDales) March 26, 2025​

There are a lot of draftable players on the Buckeyes roster so his presence could be for any one of them. What we are about to do is speculate a little bit which is somewhat reckless, but also a little bit of fun!

We know that Schottenheimer wants to run the ball. History tells us this. He has said it. All signs point to the Cowboys trying to find some sort of identity on the ground. Consider that running back is one of the positions that the team has already double-dipped on in free agency by bringing in both Javonte Williams and Miles Sanders.

Even if you feel great about those moves, obviously not everybody does, there is more that is going to have to be added to the positional room. Ohio State has two very interesting running back options who will be in the draft, Quinshon Judkins and TreVeyon Henderson, and adding either one of them to the mix could lead to a very solid overall group.

Again, Schottenheimer could have made the choice to head to Columbus for any number of reasons. Ohio State’s roster is loaded with players who teams are going to be drafting in a month’s time.

Dallas Cowboys head coach Brian Schottenheimer is in attendance at the Ohio State Pro Day today. Some big time prospects in Columbus:

- OT Josh Simmons
- WR Emeka Egbuka
- RB Quinshon Judkins
- RB TreVeyon Henderson
- QB Will Howard
- DE J.T. Tuimoloau
- DE Jack Sawyer
- DT…

— Nick Harris (@NickHarrisFWST) March 26, 2025​

It is worth noting that according to the FWST’s Nick Harris in a follow up post, defensive coordinator Matt Eberflus was in attendance as well. Schottenheimer and Eberflus are the play-callers on offense and defense, respectively, so either way it feels fair to say that the Cowboys felt very seriously about the players in question. That same logic can be applied to Texas A&M and Ole Miss as Harris noted the duo will be making the rounds there as well.

According to a source, the Brian Schottenheimer/Matt Eberflus Pro Day road trip starts with Ohio State today. It will continue with Texas A&M tomorrow and Ole Miss on Friday. https://t.co/WokKvqNe4Q

— Nick Harris (@NickHarrisFWST) March 26, 2025​

Which of the Buckeyes do you most want to see the Cowboys draft, assuming they land one? The argument for Judkins or Henderson is obvious and low-hanging fruit, but maybe it is too obvious. Remember, this is lying season as much as it is anything else.

Source: https://www.bloggingtheboys.com/202...e-pro-day-quinshon-judkins-treveyon-henderson

 

[Dallas Cowboys]

Dallas Cowboys 2025 draft scouting report: WR Matthew Golden

Photo by Butch Dill/Getty Images

Here is our scouting report on Matthew Golden from Texas

We continue our 2025 NFL Draft preview of draft prospects that could interest the Dallas Cowboys. Today we are looking at wide receiver Matthew Golden from Texas.

Matthew Golden​

WR
Texas Longhorns
Junior
4-star recruit
5’11”
191 lbs

Photo by Todd Kirkland/Getty Images

History​

Matthew Golden was a four-star recruit coming out of Klein Cain High School in Houston, Texas, where he showcased impressive athleticism and playmaking ability. He would receive 26 offers from different schools but choose his home team and joined Houston after flipping his commitment from TCU. He would quickly became one of their top receivers, recording solid stats and earning recognition for his maturity and leadership on and off the field.

Golden made an immediate impact as a true freshman, finishing the season with 38 receptions for 584 yards and seven touchdowns. He showcased his ability to stretch the field and became a reliable target for quarterback Clayton Tune. His composure, route-running, and knack for finding the end zone earned him All-AAC Freshman honors and attention as one of the top young receivers in the country.

Despite battling through some injuries, Golden continued to shine in his second year at Houston. He totaled 38 receptions for 404 yards and six touchdowns in just nine games. What really elevated his profile was his contribution as a kick returner, where he averaged over 35 yards per return and scored two kick return touchdowns. His versatility and explosive ability made him one of the most dynamic all-around players in the AAC.

The next season Golden entered the transfer portal and committed to the University of Texas. He was expected to play a major role in the Longhorns’ receiving corps and special teams, and he met those expectations. He led both Texas and the SEC in receiving touchdowns (nine), and ended the season in career highs with 58 receptions and 987 receiving yards.

2024 Statistics​

854 Offensive Snaps
83 Targets
58 Receptions
987 Receiving Yards
9 TDs
303 YAC
8 Missed Tackles Forced
120.9 Passer RTG When Targeted
4 Penalties

NFL Combine/Pro Day​

10-Yard Split- 1.49s (92%)
40-Yard Dash- 4.29s (98%)

Awards​

Second-team All-Big 12 (2023)

Scorecard​

Overall- 85.9
Speed- 97
Acceleration- 94
Agility- 86
Strength- 77
Catching- 78
Route Running- 89
YAC- 80
Blocking- 55
Discipline- 91

THE GOOD​

• Crisp, disciplined routes with sharp cuts.
• Has great awareness at the top of his route, understands spacing and how to create separation.
• Consistently plucks the ball away from his body and can make tough catches in traffic.
• Quick off the line with explosive acceleration; capable of turning short routes into big gains with yards-after-catch ability.
• Plays with poise and maturity beyond his years, understands defensive coverages, and adjusts routes accordingly.
• Quick off the line and able to hit top-end speed in space.
• Can line up both outside and in the slot. Also a dangerous kick returner with two return touchdowns in 2023.
• Plays with grit and toughness; not afraid to go over the middle and absorbs contact well.

TAPE TIME
WR Matthew Golden
Texas

THE GOOD#scouting #NFLDraft #Longhorns pic.twitter.com/eJ2eup55tp

— Mike Poland (@kenfigkowboy) March 24, 2025​

THE BAD​

• At his size and weight, he can occasionally struggle against long, physical press corners who disrupt his release.
• He’ll need to continue refining his release techniques to be more consistent at getting into his stems at the NFL level.
• His blocking effort is solid but technique and consistency need improvement.
• Solid build but not overly big; won’t win many jump-ball situations against taller defensive backs.
• Missed some time in 2023 due to injuries.

TAPE TIME
WR Matthew Golden
Texas

THE BAD#scouting #NFLDraft #Longhorns pic.twitter.com/9bVPlnoUbs

— Mike Poland (@kenfigkowboy) March 24, 2025​

THE FIT​

Matthew Golden projects as a high-floor, versatile receiver with potential at the next level and immediate special teams value. At Texas, he was a steady, experienced presence who produced right away. His versatility and special teams ability make him extremely valuable, and he’s the type of player who will contribute immediately in more ways than one.

To reach his full potential, he’ll need to improve his ability to consistently win against physical press coverage and become more effective in contested catch situations. Adding strength and refining his release techniques will help him against bigger, more aggressive defensive backs. He also needs to sharpen his blocking effort in order to round out his game and make him a more complete receiver.

Golden would be a strong fit for the Dallas Cowboys as a versatile weapon who could immediately contribute as a reliable WR2 with CeeDee Lamb. His precise route-running and dependable hands would give Dak Prescott a trustworthy target on third downs and in the red zone, while his ability to create yards after the catch would complement the Cowboys’ quick passing game. Additionally, his impact on special teams as a dynamic kick returner would add immediate value, filling in behind KaVonate Turpin if anything should happen, making this a strong point to the roster. With time, he has the potential to develop into a polished, starting-caliber receiver in Dallas’ offense.

COMPARISON:​

Tyler Boyd, Cincinnati Bengals

BTB GRADE:​

58th

CONSENSUS RANKING:​

21st
(Consensus ranking based on the average ranking from 90 major scoring services, including BTB)

Source: https://www.bloggingtheboys.com/202...ing-report-wide-receiver-matthew-golden-texas

 

[Dallas Cowboys]

5 biggest surprises so far in Cowboys offseason

Photo by Cooper Neill/Getty Images

What has been the most surprising thing about the Cowboys offseason in your opinion?

We’re still only in March in this 2025 offseason, but that hasn’t left us without news to discuss. Today we’re going to look at the five most surprising decisions that the Dallas Cowboys have made and the likelihood that those moves, or non-moves, could change between now and the start of the season.

Keeping Donovan Wilson​

There was a lot of speculation that the veteran safety would be a salary cap casualty. Dallas could clear about $5 million in space by cutting Wilson outright. But instead, they’ve created ample cap relief by restructuring contracts for QB Dak Prescott and WR CeeDee Lamb. With still close to $40 million available, it’s unlikely that the Cowboys still have enough moves coming that they would need to sacrifice Wilson.

What made it especially surprising is that Dallas also re-signed Markquese Bell to a three-year, $9 million deal. Going into the offseason, it felt like either Bell would be allowed to walk or Wilson would be released to allow Bell and Juanyeh Thomas to compete for a starting job. But now all of them, plus Malik Hooker, are currently set to return in 2025.

Granted, we’re still early in the process and Wilson could yet be cut. If the Cowboys come out of the draft with a safety who’s guaranteed to make the team, Wilson may suddenly feel more expendable. But barring that, he should be back to try to fight off the young prospects in training camp.

Promoting Brian Schottenheimer​

Mike McCarthy’s exit was not the surprising part. It was speculated even before 2024 and the front office almost manufactured it by how they handled the roster in his lame duck season. But nobody had Brian Schottenheimer taking over when it all started, and yet he became the 10th head coach in Cowboys history.

From the wild ideas like Deion Sanders, Jason Witten, or Bill Belichick to more realistic, predictable options like Kellen Moore or Robert Saleh, plenty of names were being discussed before Schottenheimer entered the chat. If anyone was going to be promoted from the previous coaching staff, Mike Zimmer seemed like the guy.

There’s plenty of debate over what prompted Schottenheimer’s promotion. Was it merit or was he the only guy who didn’t turn the Jones family down? We may never know. But it’s clear that he has the support of the players, particularly Dak Prescott, so that no doubt played a major factor in the decision. The onus is now on Schottenheimer to show he’s not all talk but can truly bring about schematic, strategic changes which maximize the team’s talent.

Signing Miles Sanders​

Just a few days after the Cowboys signed RB Javonte Williams, they added another veteran in Sanders. While Williams presents some intrigue as part of the backfield rotation, the older Sanders feels like an odd move and unlikely to even make the roster.

Certainly, Dallas was still expected to pursue another RB after signing Williams. But that meant a true starter to replace Rico Dowdle, who coincidentally signed with Sanders’ former team in Carolina. Turning 28 this May and having had little impact in two years with the Panthers, Sanders is hardly a guy who walks in with starting expectations.

This feels reminiscent of when Dallas signed veteran Royce Freeman last year. It made a little more sense before they reunited with Ezekiel Elliott two weeks later, but once Zeke returned Freeman was reduced to little more than a camp body. That proved true when he was released in late August. Assuming the Cowboys come out of the draft with a significant RB addition, Sanders’ only perceived shot at making the team will be due to injuries.

Not Adding a Backup QB​

With Cooper Rush now in Baltimore and Trey Lance still a free agent, Dallas hasn’t really addressed its QB depth chart. Right now, Will Grier is the only passer behind Dak Prescott. The big question is if the Cowboys are content with Grier as QB2 or if more moves are still to come.

The lack of action so far may just be about timing. The draft is an opportunity for Dallas to add a new QB, and there are usually veteran backups looking for work in the months leading up to camp. Lance might be one of them. So it could just be that Dallas is waiting for the draft and the post-draft market.

Signing Parris Campbell​

Everyone knows the Cowboys need more firepower at wide receiver, but Campbell has been a dud since being a second-round pick in 2019. Turning 28 this summer, it’s hard to see how he fits into the mix even as a depth option.

Cambell’s best year was in 2022 as a starter for the Colts; 63 catches for 623 yards and three touchdowns as the second option behind Michael Pittman. Matt Eberflus was Indianapolis’ defensive coordinator back then, but it’s pure speculation to assume he influenced bringing Campbell to the Cowboys now.

Even if Dallas doesn’t add a new WR in the draft, Campbell will have a tough time making the roster. Three spots are clearly spoken for with CeeDee Lamb, Jalen Tolbert, and KaVontae Turpin. Then you have younger prospects like Jonathan Mingo, Jalen Brooks, and Ryan Flournoy who presumably offer more upside. Scouts obviously had higher hopes for Campbell back when he was a second-round pick, but in the last two years he’s barely gotten on the field with the Giants and Eagles.

Source: https://www.bloggingtheboys.com/202...n-schottenheimer-donovan-wilson-miles-sanders

 

[Dallas Cowboys]

3 free agents the Cowboys could consider before the draft

Jerome Miron-Imagn Images

There are still some free agents who the Cowboys could consider.

The NFL draft is just over a month away, but the job is not finished for the Dallas Cowboys. The roster still needs more. It’s commendable that Dallas has been more active than usual during the early stages of free agency, albeit not for anyone at the top of the free market. Oh well, can’t have it all.

The good thing is that Dallas addressed their running back position with two unspectacular but adequate signings, Miles Sanders and Javonte Williams. The former, Sanders, hinted at perhaps a new identity for the Cowboys offense, focusing on running the football. It’s a good start for now, but the Cowboys must further supplement the roster to head into the draft with open options. Free agency does have a few players Dallas could sign to fortify their roster ahead of the draft.

Shaq Mason​

One thing primarily lacking from the Cowboys’ offensive line is experience. Terence Steele, an undrafted rookie in 2020, is the most experienced projected starter along the offensive line. Zack Martin’s retirement leaves a lot of experience lacking from the unit, and depth is also a concern.

Shaq Mason is a two-time Super Bowl champion who was released by cross-state rival Houston earlier this offseason. Over his ten-year career, Mason has started 147 games. However, Mason isn’t what he used to be and has slightly declined in his performance in the last few seasons. What Mason could be is f an insurance policy for the Cowboys. He could compete for a starting job with incumbent Brock Hoffman, but he also shouldn’t be so expensive that Dallas can’t add another interior with a Day 2 pick if they choose.

Amari Cooper​

Earlier this offseason, there was speculation that Dallas could be interested in former wide receiver Michael Gallup, who came out of retirement and then signed with the Washington Commanders. How about reuniting with another former receiver? Amari Cooper coming back to Dallas would make sense. While Cooper is coming off the worst season of his career, we know his abilities fit well with quarterback Dak Prescott. Cooper went to the Pro Bowl twice with Prescott.

If he returns to Dallas, he wouldn’t be counted on as a top option, and would be working in support of CeeDee Lamb as Lamb did for Cooper in his first two seasons in the NFL. Cooper has the ability to play in different spots as a wide receiver and would give the offense more unpredictability with their formations. Cooper still has enough gas in the tank to stretch the field. His market has been ice cold as of late. Therefore, it shouldn’t cost much to bring him back to Dallas.

Teddy Bridgewater​

With the departure of Cooper Rush to the Baltimore Ravens, the Cowboys need to sign a backup quarterback. Jameis Winston is off the market as he signed with the New York Giants. However, another former first-round quarterback is available. Dallas landing Teddy Bridgewater would be a sensible signing. Bridgewater was once a Pro Bowler as a member of the Minnesota Vikings. He’s also started 65 games in his career. For Bridgewater, money doesn’t seem to be most important to him. At one point last year, he retired to coach high school football, winning the Class 3A Florida High School Athletic Association state title for his alma mater Miami Northwestern High School.

Bridgewater would join the Cowboys as a reliable backup with great character for the locker room. Also, with Prescott’s injury history, it benefits the team to have a viable option should Prescott be forced to miss games once again. Bridgewater has shown that if he’s equipped with a proper running game, he can make smart decisions to keep the offense on schedule and won’t turn the ball over. With backup quarterback market all but dried up, Dallas could do a lot worse than Bridgewater at backup quarterback.

Source: https://www.bloggingtheboys.com/202...aft-shaq-mason-amari-cooper-teddy-bridgewater

 

[Dallas Cowboys]

Cowboys news: Slow period after free agency and pre-draft leads to trade hypotheticals

Photo by Al Bello/Getty Images

The latest news surrounding the Dallas Cowboys.

Dallas Cowboys urged to trade for explosive WR before NFL Draft - Randy Gurzi, Sports Illustrated​

Blockbuster trade moves are what people are dreaming about.

The Dallas Cowboys have made several additions this offseason but they still have a strong need at wide receiver.

As good as CeeDee Lamb has been, the Cowboys don’t have a consistent No. 2 wide receiver. With a subpar NFL free agency class, the expectation is that they could look to the upcoming NFL Draft to fill the void.

There’s another option as well, which would be adding someone through a trade and Ian Valentino of The 33rd Team has a big name in mind. Valentino brought up four trade ideas he would like to see before the draft, and has Dallas trading for Tyreek Hill.

Hill has voiced frustration in the direction the Miami Dolphins are headed, which has his name being floated as a trade piece. Valentino says the Cowboys could land him without using their first round pick, allowing them to still add a game-changing running back.

”After a decade of avoiding free agency splurges, Jerry Jones can drop a hammer by making such a gutsy investment into Hill. It shouldn’t cost him a first-round pick, either, meaning he can add a star tailback and Hill. Dallas would surely need to extend Hill’s contract to ease his future cap hits, but the Cowboys finally have the cap flexibility to not stress it.” — Valentino, The 33rd Team

Such a move would be a splash and could be enough to put Dallas back into the contender conversation. It’s just difficult seeing Jerry and Stephen Jones suddenly throwing caution to the wind and going for the home run.

Mailbag: Trade Parsons for top draft pick? - Mickey Spagnola & Tommy Yarrish, DallasCowboys.com​

Though it shouldn’t seriously be considered, here is another trade hypothetical.

Okay guys, I have been sending in questions for years but have never had one answered. So I want your opinion on my draft idea. I love Micah Parsons, but I don’t think the Cowboys can pay three players at the top of their positions. My idea is to trade Parsons to the Titans for the No. 1 pick and keep our pick at 12, take Abdul Carter or Travis Hunter and then see what falls to 12. Imagine the salary cap upside. Am I crazy here? – Michael Mortensen/ Tampa, FL

Mickey: You are not crazy and applaud thinking outside the box. But I don’t think your scenario is realistic. The Titans are not going to give up the first pick in the draft for just Micah Parsons. Plus, he’s in the final year of his contract, and his cap hit of a guaranteed $24 million would far exceed what the Titans would have to pay the first pick in the 2025 NFL Draft.

You are going to have to sweeten that deal with at least 2025 and 2026 first round picks. And the Titans would probably ask for more since they would also need to renegotiate that final year of his contract. Hey, but at least you got your question answered.

Tommy: Well, they are going to spend the money, they just haven’t yet. I think that salary cap room was made available so that the Cowboys can do what they’ve done for years: Take care of their own. Think about the players that have extensions coming up in the near future: Micah Parsons, Tyler Smith, DaRon Bland. They needed the space to be able to fit those contracts in, and those restructures help them be able to afford that. Plus, you add in the Osa Odighizuwa deal as well as the other additions they’ve made in free agency, and they’re able to have the flexibility to spend how they’re wanting to spent, although it may not be the big money splashes that some may be hoping for.

What’s next for Trey Lance? CFL’s Roughriders reportedly add former 49ers, Cowboys QB to 2025 negotiation list - Cody Benjamin, CBS Sports​

The former Cowboys QB may be heading to another professional football league.

Four years after he was the No. 3 overall pick in the NFL Draft, Trey Lance is without a team, drawing little interest as a free agent this offseason. An opportunity awaits the former San Francisco 49ers quarterback across the border, however, as the Canadian Football League’s Saskatchewan Roughriders added Lance to their negotiation list this week, according to TSN.

The move gives the Roughriders exclusive rights to negotiate a prospective contract with Lance, provided the former North Dakota State standout is interested. CFL teams are permitted to name up to 45 players to the negotiating list, and each of those players are eligible to negotiate a contract as long as they aren’t currently under contract with another team or league. In Lance’s case, as a free agent, he could sign with the Roughriders immediately, if he so desired.

Last seen as the Dallas Cowboys’ No. 3 quarterback, Lance does have family ties to the Roughriders. His father, Carlton, once played one season as a cornerback for Saskatchewan, earning CFL All-Rookie honors.

Trey Lance, meanwhile, has gone from potential face of the 49ers to afterthought backup in his young NFL career. San Francisco traded up to select him in 2021, tabbing him the successor to Jimmy Garoppolo, but injuries limited the Minnesota native to eight games over his first two seasons. He was then traded to the Cowboys after Brock Purdy’s emergence as the 49ers’ unlikely starter, spending the last two years behind both Dak Prescott and Cooper Rush in Dallas, where he appeared in just four total games.

Cowboys slide in ESPN’s post-free agency NFL Power Rankings - Ali Jawad, Cowboys Wire​

It may not come as a surprise, but Dallas’ free agency ranking isn’t the best.

Unlike last offseason, the Dallas Cowboys were much busier during the 2025 NFL Free Agency period. As it stands, Dallas has welcomed 10 new faces to its team, eight of which were signed, while the other two were acquired via trade. The Cowboys elected to go with short-term value, with eight different players agreeing to contracts of two years or less, while five of the overall acquisitions were former first-round selections.

Despite being more active in the open market, the Cowboys, ranked 18th in ESPN’s way-to-early power rankings in February, dropped three spots to 21st in the recent Post-Free Agency Rankings. The decline can be attributed to several factors, including insufficient financial investment in roster upgrades and a loss of key players as veterans DeMarcus Lawrence, Jourdan Lewis, and Brandin Cooks moved to other teams.

While the Cowboys’ free agency approach was a bit quieter compared to other teams, one player who gained attention as an under-the-radar move by ESPN Cowboys reporter Todd Archer was DT Solomon Thomas. The veteran was the only external signing to receive a contract beyond one year, agreeing to a two-year deal for $6 million earlier this month.

The Cowboys did not lay out a big financial investment in Thomas (just $3 million guaranteed), yet he can fill a number of roles in Matt Eberflus’ defense and in the locker room. He played for new defensive line coach Aaron Whitecotton with the Jets, so he can help teach what the new position coach wants. He has also been productive with 8.5 sacks over the past two seasons.

Mainly, Thomas’ experience will be a plus for a defense that lost some leadership in free agency and potentially needed a fresh voice anyway - Todd Archer

A former 2017 first-round pick, Thomas, who is entering his ninth season, has played for three teams over his first eight years: the San Francisco 49ers, the Las Vegas Raiders, and most recently, the New York Jets, where, as Archer noted, he played for new Cowboys’ defensive line coach Aaron Whitecotton.

Source: https://www.bloggingtheboys.com/202...ee-agency-pre-draft-tyreek-hill-micah-parsons

 

[Dallas Cowboys]

Can you guess this Cowboys wide receiver in today’s in-5 trivia game?

Think you can figure out which Cowboys player we’re talking about? You’ll get five clues to figure him out in our new guessing game!

Hey Cowboys fans! We’re back for another day of the Blogging The Boys in-5 daily trivia game. Game instructions are at the bottom if you’re new to the game! Feel free to share your results in the comments and feedback in this Google Form.

If you can’t see the game due to Apple News or another service, click this game article.

Previous games​

Wednesday, March 26, 2025
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Monday, March 25, 2025

Play more SB Nation in-5 trivia games​

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Blogging The Boys in-5 instructions​

The goal of the game is to guess the correct Cowboys player with the help of up to five clues. We’ll mix in BOTH ACTIVE AND RETIRED PLAYERS. It won’t be easy to figure it out in one or two guesses, but some of you might be able to nail it.

After you correctly guess the player, you can click “Share Results” to share how you did down in the comments and on social media. We won’t go into other details about the game as we’d like your feedback on it. How it plays, what you think of it, the difficulty level, and anything else you can think of that will help us improve this game. You can provide feedback in the comments of this article, or you can fill out this Google Form.

Enjoy!

Source: https://www.bloggingtheboys.com/2025/3/27/24395051/sb-nation-cowboys-daily-trivia-in-5

 

[Dallas Cowboys]

Evaluating success rate of 1st-round WRs and determining if the Cowboys should take one

Photo by Jason Mowry/Getty Images

How likely is it for the Cowboys to land a quality wide receiver in the first round in your opinion?

The Dallas Cowboys currently have the 12th overall pick in the 2025 NFL Draft. There are a lot of directions the team can go with this pick, but looking at what the team has done (or not done) in free agency, a case can be made that they could be targeting a wide receiver in the first round.

Multiple receivers have been mocked to the Cowboys in recent predictions. Whether they pick at 12 or move back and pick later, there are some good receivers to choose from. According to NFL Mock Draft Database, there are four receivers projected to go in the first round according to the consensus big board.

9 Tetairoa McMillian, Arizona

20 Matthew Golden, Texas

30 Emeka Egbuka, Ohio State

31 Luther Burden, Missouri

If the Cowboys select a wide receiver in the first round, how likely would they be to pick a good one? That’s hard to say, but let’s see what we can gather by looking at how previous first-round receivers have done over the last five drafts.

2024​

Last year’s draft class was deep with wide receivers. Not only did seven receivers go in the first round, but 10 receivers were drafted by the fifth pick in the second round. The receiver with the most yards in their rookie season was Jacksonville’s Brian Thomas who edged out the Giants' Malik Nabers (who missed a couple of games). Los Angeles’ Ladd McConkey was taken with the second pick in the second round and finished with 1,149 yards. Here are last year’s first-round receivers:

[td]

PLAYER​

[/td]​

[td]

PICK​

[/td]​

[td]

YARDS​

[/td]​

[td]

Marvin Harrison​

[/td]​

[td]

4​

[/td]​

[td]

885​

[/td]​

[td]

Malik Nabers​

[/td]​

[td]

6​

[/td]​

[td]

1,204​

[/td]​

[td]

Rome Odunze​

[/td]​

[td]

9​

[/td]​

[td]

734​

[/td]​

[td]

Brian Thomas​

[/td]​

[td]

23​

[/td]​

[td]

1,283​

[/td]​

[td]

Xavier Worthy​

[/td]​

[td]

28​

[/td]​

[td]

638​

[/td]​

[td]

Ricky Pearsall​

[/td]​

[td]

31​

[/td]​

[td]

400​

[/td]​

[td]

Xavier Legette​

[/td]​

[td]

32​

[/td]​

[td]

497​

[/td]​

​

2023​

Four receivers were taken on Day 1 in 2023 and oddly enough, they all went right after each other. While no one exploded onto the scene, three of the four have been strong contributors. Here are the receivers taken with their corresponding yards (yards from this point on will be yearly averages to compare with other years):

[td]

PLAYER​

[/td]​

[td]

PICK​

[/td]​

[td]

YARDS​

[/td]​

[td]

Jaxon Smith-Njigba​

[/td]​

[td]

20​

[/td]​

[td]

879​

[/td]​

[td]

Quentin Johnston​

[/td]​

[td]

21​

[/td]​

[td]

571​

[/td]​

[td]

Zay Flowers​

[/td]​

[td]

22​

[/td]​

[td]

959​

[/td]​

[td]

Jordan Addison​

[/td]​

[td]

23​

[/td]​

[td]

893​

[/td]​

​

There was one WR selected early in the second round, but we won’t bring him up, although his name rhymes with Donathan Dingo if you like word puzzles.

2022​

Six receivers were taken in the first round of 2022. Similar to 2023, there was a run on receivers with all six taken from pick 8 to pick 18. Even though they were all taken near each other, the receivers picked early have outperformed the ones picked behind them in most cases.

[td]

PLAYER​

[/td]​

[td]

PICK​

[/td]​

[td]

YARDS​

[/td]​

[td]

Drake London​

[/td]​

[td]

8​

[/td]​

[td]

1,014​

[/td]​

[td]

Garrett Wilson​

[/td]​

[td]

10​

[/td]​

[td]

1,083​

[/td]​

[td]

Chris Olave​

[/td]​

[td]

11​

[/td]​

[td]

855​

[/td]​

[td]

Jameson Williams​

[/td]​

[td]

12​

[/td]​

[td]

465​

[/td]​

[td]

Jahan Dotson​

[/td]​

[td]

16​

[/td]​

[td]

419​

[/td]​

[td]

Treylon Burks​

[/td]​

[td]

18​

[/td]​

[td]

233​

[/td]​

​

Jameson Williams’ numbers would be higher if he hadn’t dealt with injuries as he’s missed almost half of his games so far in his career. Speaking of missing games, Green Bay’s Christian Watson was taken early second round and has flashed at times, but he’s missed time in each of his three seasons in the league.

2021​

The 2021 draft featured good receivers taken in the top 10 as LSU’s Ja’Marr Chase was the cream of the crop while the Alabama guys Jaylen Wadden and DeVonta Smith were right behind him. Things fell off a bit after that.

[td]

PLAYER​

[/td]​

[td]

PICK​

[/td]​

[td]

YARDS​

[/td]​

[td]

Ja'Marr Chase​

[/td]​

[td]

5​

[/td]​

[td]

1,356​

[/td]​

[td]

Jaylen Waddle​

[/td]​

[td]

6​

[/td]​

[td]

1,032​

[/td]​

[td]

DeVonta Smith​

[/td]​

[td]

10​

[/td]​

[td]

1,003​

[/td]​

[td]

Kadarius Toney​

[/td]​

[td]

20​

[/td]​

[td]

190​

[/td]​

[td]

Rashod Bateman​

[/td]​

[td]

27​

[/td]​

[td]

481​

[/td]​

​

2020​

The first round of 2020 also featured two coveted Alabama receivers, Henry Ruggs III and Jerry Jeudy. Fortunately for Dallas, those guys were taken first allowing CeeDee Lamb to fall to pick 17. Lamb wasn’t the only first-round gift as Minnesota scored Justin Jefferson after Philadelphia selected Jalen Reagor.

[td]

PLAYER​

[/td]​

[td]

PICK​

[/td]​

[td]

YARDS​

[/td]​

[td]

Henry Ruggs III​

[/td]​

[td]

12​

[/td]​

[td]

184​

[/td]​

[td]

Jerry Jeudy​

[/td]​

[td]

15​

[/td]​

[td]

856​

[/td]​

[td]

CeeDee Lamb​

[/td]​

[td]

17​

[/td]​

[td]

1,268​

[/td]​

[td]

Jalen Reagor​

[/td]​

[td]

21​

[/td]​

[td]

207​

[/td]​

[td]

Justin Jefferson​

[/td]​

[td]

22​

[/td]​

[td]

1,486​

[/td]​

[td]

Brandon Aiyuk​

[/td]​

[td]

22​

[/td]​

[td]

861​

[/td]​

​

Tee Higgins and Michael Pittman Jr. were taken with the first two picks of the second round and they both have better yearly averages than Brandon Aiyuk.

Looking at the data​

There have been 30 wide receivers selected in the first round over the last five years. Here is what we can gather from this information.

When you break it down by each year, below are the yearly averages for all the players in each draft class as well as how many players worked out for their team (criteria - a receiver must average over 700 yards to be considered a success):

• 2024: yearly average = 806 yards, success rate = 4/8 (50%)
• 2023: yearly average = 825 yards, success rate = 3/4 (75%)
• 2022: yearly average = 678 yards, success rate = 3/6 (50%)
• 2021: yearly average = 812 yards, success rate = 3/6 (50%)
• 2022: yearly average = 811 yards, success rate = 4/6 (67%)

On average a receiver drafted in the first round produces close to 800 yards a season. That’s not bad. There have been 17 receivers averaging 700 yards or more, for a combined success rate of 57%. How do you feel about those odds?

Studs

There are five wide receivers with a yearly receiving yard average of 1,200 or more yards (Jefferson, Chase, Thomas, Lamb, and Nabers). That’s 17% of the WRs drafted. That percentage moves up to 23% for receivers averaging over 1,000 yards (adding Jaylen Waddle and DeVonta Smith). That equates to roughly a one in four chance of landing a stud.

Duds

There have been six receivers (20%) who have averaged less than 450 yards per year. They are Ruggs III, Toney, Reagor, Burks, Pearsall, and Dotson. This list features a wide receiver who either has struggled with injuries his whole career, is in prison, was shot, or was drafted by each of the non-Dallas Cowboys NFC East teams.

Conclusion​

There have been a lot of good first-round receivers taken in recent years. The Cowboys' chances of getting a good one seem decent. This year’s draft doesn’t feature as many first-round options as previous years but with the Cowboys picking at 12, they are in a good position to get one. With premium draft capital, they shouldn’t be aiming for a “solid” WR2, but a guy who is a real difference-maker so the team can roll with WR1A and WR1B for the next four years.

Of course, nothing is promised and the Cowboys could mitigate this risk by moving back and picking up some additional draft capital. Receivers like Justin Jefferson, Brian Thomas, Brandon Aiyuk, Jaxon Smith-Njigba, Zay Flowers, and Jordan Addison were all first-round selections taken with pick 20 or later. The Cowboys could go that route and target a player like Egbuka or Burden, both of which look pretty darn fantastic on tape.

What do you want the Cowboys to do?

Source: https://www.bloggingtheboys.com/202...-wide-recievers-ceedee-lamb-tetairoa-mcmillan

 

[Dallas Cowboys]

BTB Thursday Around The NFL: It feels like this offseason has lacked some juice

Photo by Michael Owens/Getty Images

It feels like there has been no HUGE thing to happen in the NFL this offseason.

We are nearing the month of April and to this point it feels like the NFL has lacked a really big thing. Changes have happened, some of then have even included notable quarterbacks.

But am I alone in feeling like there has not been a massive/huge/ginormous move? Maybe the answer is D.K. Metcalf getting traded to the Pittsburgh Steelers, but even that feels sort of dulled by how limited Pittsburgh is from a quarterback standpoint.

The general theory for this phenomenon in my opinion (many other people have said it as well) is that for the most part teams are pretty good about not letting their most massive stars reach the open market. Consider that the Cincinnati Bengals took a while, but they got both Ja’Marr Chase and Tee Higgins on long-term deals. Players staying with their teams is hardly exciting for fans of other squads.

This is our prompt for our Thursday discussion here on the blog.

Do you feel like this offseason has been exciting? Let us know in the comments below.

Source: https://www.bloggingtheboys.com/202...els-like-this-offseason-has-lacked-some-juice

 

[Dallas Cowboys]

Inside the injury rehab process for CB Trevon Diggs

Photo by Perry Knotts/Getty Images

Hopefully the best is yet to come for Trevon Diggs

Dallas Cowboys star cornerback Trevon Diggs underwent knee surgery on January 23, 2025. This marked the second time in just over a year that Diggs would end his season early due to injury. Initial reports indicated Diggs’ injury “was not related to the torn anterior cruciate ligament Diggs suffered in practice” in 2023.

Yet again, Diggs would face an uphill battle and a lengthy rehabilitation process to return to his former All-Pro level of play. That’s when Dr. Sharif Tabbah of Alkeme Sports RX in Florida reached out to Diggs, hoping to assist him on his road to recovery despite the two never meeting prior.

“This is our first time working together,” Tabbah said over the phone. “Honestly, I reached out to him after seeing you know the news, and the media was talking about him having to miss the whole next season. I knew it was gonna be a big rehab. I’m sure it weighed heavy on him, so I had reached out to him… kind of started the conversation right away, and was like, this is who we are, this is what we do. Look at the kind of people we work with, and and you’ll know ask CeeDee [Lamb] about us. I think I could really help you and hopefully speed up this timeline a little bit.”

Tabbah has experience working with various athletes and NFL players during the offseason, including Cowboys All-Pro wide receiver CeeDee Lamb. When Diggs first arrived, Tabbah could feel he was itching to take it to the next level and desired to move quickly. Overcoming the frustrations of recovery can be challenging for any athlete to endure, but as they have moved through the process, Diggs’ personality has started to show, and getting a lot of smiles and positivity from the Cowboys’ corner.

The goal is simple: Help Diggs return to playing football at a high level. Before the injury, Diggs had back-to-back Pro Bowl seasons and a historic season in 2021, leading the NFL with 11 interceptions. His play on the field earned him a five-year, $97 million contract extension, making him one of the highest-paid players at his position.

The goal may be simple, but resisting the urge to press the rehab acceleration button is challenging. Following proper protocols and exercising patience are two of the most important things to remember when approaching rehabilitation like this one. Hence, a definitive return date is not currently on the table.

“I think it’s way too early to to talk about that,” Tabbah said. “We have a lot of steps ahead of us in this protocol in terms of restrictions, just to protect everything that’s been done, and make sure that everything takes and and really creates the permanent change that we want, as well as of course, we have to overcome lots of weakness and things like that from from inactivity. So it’s too early to say on that side so we’re taking it day by day.”

So, what does Diggs' typical day look like at Alkeme Sports RX? Below are two videos Tabbah took of Diggs working with a bosu ball and applying weight-bearing action, which is a milestone in the process of being able to do an activity like this.

#Cowboys Trevon Diggs going through his first week of weight bearing activities to “regain balance and coordination.”@TrevonDiggs is making progress

( : @doctor_reef on IG) pic.twitter.com/W1AiW3FkxM

— Brandon Loree (@Brandoniswrite) March 24, 2025​

“Both of them are on the Bosu ball. So that’s a half ball for balance, and the goal there is to create co contraction stability. Which means he has to understand where he is in space, and figure out what muscles need to kind of contract and work together, contracting, relaxing, you know, as as perturbations occur, as his leg is kind of shaking on there and be able to create that stability again. After eight weeks of not weight bearing, it takes time to not only tolerate the force through the leg, but get that coordination back and get that stability and that balance and that confidence in the leg...

...The first day we did it, it was just like standing on it with one leg, and there was a massive challenge. Arm on my shoulder to just stand there, and then we worked it into step ups and then into lunges, and then the squats touching the cones, and that’s just getting progressively more range of motion and and a bigger working range that is, stressing the joints out through that stability through a greater range of motion.”

In a long recovery process like this, there are bound to be bad days that coincide with the good. Having family and friends support you during those difficult times is beneficial to dealing with the mental health side. Fortunately for Diggs, his brother Stefon is working with Tabbah under the same roof as they try to return from their knee injuries, even though they are on different timelines in the recovery process.

Tabbah says both Diggs brothers are checking in on each other’s progress and keeping tabs through conversations with Tabbah. Their time at the facility can overlap a little here and there, but as they progress through the summer, the hope is that Trevon can get to work alongside his brother and the other athletes.

Athletes will use anything as a tool for motivation and push themselves in more harrowing moments. For Diggs, part of his motivation is to lock in when the camera is on and to make sure his workouts look great when things are rolling.

“He [Diggs] likes to document a lot of what he’s doing, and and see how he looks,” Tabbah said. “He’s pretty forward about posting stuff on his story every day about how his progress is from day to day and he always wants to get everything recorded. So we’re doing some exercises that are challenging for him, and as he’s stepping up, showing him this new version that we’re gonna add a band and all these things. And he’s like ‘here’ and hands me his phone. I said, Well, why don’t we get a couple of reps in to make sure this thing looks okay, and you don’t look crazy. He’s like, ‘No, no, the camera makes me makes me lock in more. Makes me work harder, because now, I gotta make sure I look good.’

And I’m like, okay. So, that’s that competitive side being like kind of like lights, camera action. You know it’s go time when the camera’s on.”

Two months does not seem like a long time, but Diggs has made strides in rehab post-surgery. The little victories add to much bigger things, like feeling confident enough in the knee to break on an interception in the game. Those moments are what Tabbah enjoys most about the job: Helping players reclaim their identities as athletes.

“There’s nothing better to me than taking athlete from like their lowest point, and then not only getting them back to themselves, but getting them back to like 110 percent of themselves. I always say that to to my guys, I don’t want to get you to a hundred percent. I want to get to you at 110 percent...you might have spent so many months doing all these little exercises working on these little details, these little muscles, the stability, the balance, the correctives. Then we start adjusting your form with mechanics on running, and the way that you start your sprint, and the way that you carry yourself in your upright max velocity, and all these different things, and all of a sudden you actually come out better on the back end than you ever were before the injury, and that’s really, ultimately the goal.”

Diggs’ timeline for returning to the football field remains uncertain. The hope is that while he works at Alkeme Sports RX this summer, things will become clearer as the Cowboys prepare for training camp. If Diggs can reach 110 percent of the player he was before, then the star corner won’t have to worry about handing his camera to someone else to record; the camera will find him.

Source: https://www.bloggingtheboys.com/202...ocess-cornerback-trevon-diggs-injury-timeline

 

[Dallas Cowboys]

Cowboys roundtable: Discussing the Kaiir Elam trade, tight ends, and Micah Parsons’ contract extension

Photo by Cooper Neill/Getty Images

Our latest Cowboys roundtable on Kaiir Elam, the tight end position and Micah Parsons

Every week, we gather the latest news about the Dallas Cowboys and seek our writer’s perspective on each headline. Welcome back to the roundtable. This week we have Jess Haynie, David Howman, Tom Ryle, RJ Ochoa and Brian Martin.

What are your expectations for CB Kaiir Elam who recently came to Dallas in a trade?​

The Cowboys added a former first-round pick at cornerback when they acquired cornerback Kaiir Elam from the Bills. Dallas sent a fifth-round and seventh-round pick to Buffalo, while receiving a sixth-round pick in the trade. Elam has one year remaining on his rookie deal that’s worth $2.5 million this year, with a fifth-year option for 2026.

Elam has been underwhelming since entering the NFL, and the Bills certainly have felt that given that they traded up in the draft to select him. In the three years playing in the NFL, Elam has played over 700 coverage snaps and has allowed a 73% completions rate, a 92.6 passer rating allowed, and has made only three pass breakups.

Brian: I actually don’t have a lot of expectations for CB Kaiir Elam, despite being a fan of his coming out of college. I like the fact that Dallas is trying to resurrect his career, but his time in Buffalo doesn’t inspire a lot of hope a change of scenery will will change things. I have my fingers crossed it all works out, but I expect him to be nothing more than a depth piece.

Tom: I don’t expect much from this move. It looks like a typical insurance move in case they get washed out at the position in the draft. If they don’t, he’s hardly a lock to make the roster.

RJ: I don’t have a ton of huge expectations, but I applaud and appreciate the move in a philosophical sense. Cornerback is a position with a sneaky high level need and to bring in a veteran who was recently thought to be legitimate by plenty of evaluators has me pleased.

Howman: I think the expectation should be that he comes in and starts on the outside in nickel packages, moving Bland to the slot. Elam entered the NFL with a high pedigree and has traits that are tailor made for Matt Eberflus and this defense. He’d offer really high end depth, but I think the Cowboys are aiming for more than that with Elam.

Jess: I have the same expectations that I had for Noah Igbinoghene. In other words, none. These “one man’s trash” moves don’t generally work out, but we got him for next to nothing so why not?

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How do you feel about the tight end position for Dallas and should they look to add to the position in the draft?​

Last season was very unproductive year from the tight end position in Dallas. The only receiving touchdown scored by a tight end in 2024 was Luke Schoonmaker in Week 12 against Washington. There was high expectation from the group, with Jake Ferguson being the highlight of the position. Injuries played a part in the problem, but the lack of scoring and assistance in the redzone was a serious issue for this tight end room in Dallas. Is it time to think about restocking the position or was it just a down year?

Brian: Although I think Dallas is fine at TE for the 2025 season, I wouldn’t be surprised if they took advantage of a deep TE draft class. I like Luke Lachey on Day 3, but I could see a scenario where Tyler Warren could be in play for them with the 12th overall pick in the first-round. He could actually take just as much pressure off of CeeDee Lamb as any WR they could draft.

Tom: I’d be more inclined to subscribe to Brian’s position if they didn’t have so many more urgent needs in the draft. I can’t see using a premium pick on one of the few solid rooms they have.

RJ: More than anything I think that I think the front office will want to give Luke Schoonmaker every chance to impress given his draft stock. With that being the case and with Jake Ferguson fairly cemented ahead of him I am more than fine with them addressing the need minimally this year if at all.

Howman: I love me some Jake Ferguson, but the Cowboys cannot count on him being the unquestioned starter this year. I’m not saying they have to draft Tyler Warren at 12 (he probably won’t even be there) but there are some talented prospects in this year’s class. Luke Lachey is a fun name, but I think Harold Fannin could be the steal of this year’s draft.

Jess: Well, the first thing I’ll say is that you should read my recent piece on the site about the TE position. But while that focused on Ferguson vs Schoonmaker for the starting job, the one thing I didn’t address was if Dallas could just make them both backups to a highly-touted rookie. I would only consider that for Tyler Warren in the first round. Otherwise, you have some pretty good options already fill out a depth chart, but a Day 3 pick on someone you like couldn’t hurt.

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Will Micah Parsons get his deal soon and what do you predict his contract to peak at? ​

The rumors coming out of Frisco is that Dallas and Micah Parsons are working toward getting a deal done. Last season, this defense had a taste of what it was like in Parsons’ absence and it wasn’t good. Parsons has cemented himself as one of the premier players in the league and he’s clearly one of the best players on the Cowboys roster. The issue will be his price tag and it will be very high. With bargain basement deals and allowing other players to seek employment elsewhere in the league, it’s clear this is in preparation for a big payout for Parsons.

Over the last 2 seasons Micah Parsons ranks...

1st in pressure rate
1st in pass rush win rate
1st in double team rate

You don't build a roster for short *or* long term success by moving on from players like that. https://t.co/I3tb7B4eN4

— Mina Kimes (@minakimes) February 20, 2025​

Brian: With the majority of free agency in the books there’s really no rush to get Micah Parsons’ deal done. I would prefer it done sooner than later, but I have little doubt it will eventually be finalized. And when it’s completed, I expect he’s going to be making at least $40m per season.

Tom: Well, there’s still a chance the price for a non-quarterback could get nudged higher, so I figure they will talk pie and drag it out as long as possible. It may take a Parsons holdout to get the deal done.

RJ: Honestly I do think that we are going to see it happen soon, although that is a pretty subjective term. Assuming it does wind up happening I fully believe that he will turn in as the highest-paid non-quarterback in the NFL because these matters are predictable to anyone who isn’t the Dallas Cowboys front office.

Howman: I have said for some time that the Cowboys will take this down to the wire and then franchise tag Micah Parsons to extend the deadline. I still think that will end up being the case, though I’d be thrilled to be wrong. Whenever it happens, though, Parsons will be the highest paid non-QB in the league. The only difference will be how much more that number rises between now and when the deal is done.

Jess: Who knows? Not if this front office does things in its typical fashion. As for the amount, I’d say $37-$39 million is where it lands.

Source: https://www.bloggingtheboys.com/202...e-tight-ends-micah-parsons-contract-extension