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[Dallas Cowboys]

Why the Cowboys should not even consider trading up for Travis Hunter

Photo by Dustin Bradford/Getty Images

It seems incredibly unlikely that the Cowboys would trade up for Travis Hunter, although it is fun to think about.

It’s always the same song and dance for the Dallas Cowboys. They are risk-averse in free agency and protect draft capital like Gollum and his precious ring. Those two things together don’t necessarily create many opportunities to make big roster moves, and that can upset the fanbase. Who doesn’t like a little splashiness here and there?

I miss the days when the Cowboys were aggressive & fun. Spice it up. Trade up for Travis Hunter.

— Daniel Jeremiah (@MoveTheSticks) March 25, 2025​

There was a time not too long ago when Jerry Jones was always willing to spice things up. Giving up premium draft capital for players like Joey Galloway or Roy Williams was fine and dandy back then. Moving up to take Morris Claiborne was okie dokie if it meant landing college’s top cornerback.

Sadly, those moves didn’t work out. In fact, they stung a bit. So much in fact, that it caused the front office to step away from the ledge every time they thought about jumping into a deal that potentially could have a long-term negative effect.

That is not to say they didn’t consider it. They still did. It’s just that they have reeled back what they are willing to lose in exchange. Some of the deals the Cowboys didn’t make, they were close to making, but the cost was just a smidge too high to pull the trigger. The failed Paxton Lynch trade in the first round of 2016 and the passing on trading for Earl Thomas for a second-round pick in 2018 are a couple of examples. There are probably others, but those are the ones they have spoken about. The Cowboys aren’t being aggressive in those moments because they value what they’d have to get up to make it happen.

Trading for WR/CB sensation Travis Hunter is the splashiest of splashes. For the Cowboys to pull that off, they’d have to give up a lot. Hunter is projected to go in the top five of next month’s draft. According to the NFL trade value chart, the Cowboys would have to give up next year’s first-round pick or a package of picks that could include their second- and third-round pick this year. That’s expensive.

To get something good, you have to give up something good. But for Dallas to give up so much premium draft capital for one player is super risky for them because they are counting on those picks to become players with low-cost rookie deals who make meaningful contributions. And the more, the merrier.

The Cowboys are already paying some hefty prices for their star players, and those expenses are only going to rise when you consider they have to pay Micah Parsons, Tyler Smith, and possibly even DaRon Bland soon. To have the funds to do that, the Cowboys must find ways to cut costs, and that is where all those rookie deals come in. They need all the Cooper Beebe’s and Marshawn Kneeland’s they can get. Trading away premium draft capital reduces the chances that the Cowboys would have to replenish their inventory.

And if Hunter would cost a future first-rounder, now they would be taking away one of the team’s biggest strengths, landing first-round picks. The Cowboys are a league above the rest in finding great talent in round one, and taking their legs out from underneath them in this area wouldn’t be smart.

Forget that they whiffed on Claiborne. And ignore that Williams wasn’t even close to the receiver he was when he was with the Detroit Lions. Instead, think about how dealing for Claiborne cost them two players, one of whom would have been Bobby Wagner. Or, how the Williams trade deprived them of draft capital that led to the infamous “special teams draft” of 2009, where none of the players they selected received a second contract from the Cowboys. None.

Just because they were bad at trading up for players before doesn’t mean they will be again, but what we do know is that this team has been pretty good at making picks. There is no reason to take that away from them, especially when they rely on those players to maintain a competitive roster.

A big win for the Cowboys in the upcoming draft would not be coming away with Travis Hunter. It would be keeping Dak, CeeDee, Micah, Trevon, Osa, Tyler, and possibly DaRon all together by successfully finding multiple quality contributors on low-cost rookie deals. pic.twitter.com/zfObHZLoyQ

— Dan Rogers (@DannyPhantom24) March 29, 2025​

Source: https://www.bloggingtheboys.com/202...ter-morris-claiborne-bobby-wagner-jerry-jones

 

[Dallas Cowboys]

2 offensive free agents the Cowboys should take a flyer on before the draft

Photo by Andy Lyons/Getty Images

The Cowboys could benefit from adding some depth before the draft.

A little less than a month stands between the Dallas Cowboys and the 2025 NFL Draft. While the Cowboys have made some decent depth signings this spring, there’s plenty of room for upgrades at multiple spots on the current roster.

Today, we examine two free agents Dallas should consider taking a flyer on before the start of the draft.

Photo by Matthew Stockman/Getty Images

1) QB Carson Wentz​

Wouldn’t it be ironic if things came full circle and the Cowboys signed Carson Wentz as Dak Prescott’s backup? Wentz, of course, was the Eagles’ longtime starting quarterback, playing 68 games in Philadelphia with a 35-31-1 quarterback record.

After leaving the Eagles, Wentz has bounced around the league, playing for four different teams over the past four seasons. While his performance has been lackluster in the past three, he did throw 27 touchdown passes to just seven interceptions with the Colts back in 2021.

No one expects Wentz to be able to come close to replicating this performance, but he has something that could be an asset to the Cowboys, and that’s starting experience.

Currently, Dallas’ backup option behind the starter Prescott is Will Grier, who has played in just two NFL games during his career. Even with his downward trajectory in performance since that 2021 campaign, Wentz has started nine games over his last three seasons and appeared in 13.

Signing Wentz wouldn’t cost much at all, and if Grier or another young quarterback substantially outperforms him during training camp, the Cowboys could part ways with no real repercussions. Overall, the veteran and the Cowboys are a great fit.

Photo by Timothy Nwachukwu/Getty Images

2) WR Tyler Boyd​

While it seems extremely likely the Cowboys will select a wide receiver with one of their first two draft picks in a couple of weeks, they could greatly benefit from adding a veteran to strengthen the position group's depth.

One veteran at the position who could make sense is 30-year-old wideout Tyler Boyd. The nine-year veteran played his first eight seasons in the league with the Cincinnati Bengals before signing with the Tennessee Titans before the 2024 season.

Boyd‘s production wasn’t up to his standards last season, as the veteran caught just 39 passes for 390 yards and did not score a single touchdown. While the downturn in production is a bit concerning, he dealt with some of the worst quarterback play in the league last year.

The Cowboys wouldn’t need Boyd to be a first or second option on their offense; they’d just need him to make a few plays a game and provide a veteran presence to a wide receiver corps that desperately needs one.

Spotrac projects Boyd to earn a one-year, $2.1M deal, so it would not cost Dallas much to obtain his services. Signing the veteran would also not hinder Dallas’ draft plans, allowing them to still select a young wideout with pick 12 or 44.

Boyd needs a team, and the Cowboys need a veteran presence in their receiving room, making the two a good potential fit.

Source: https://www.bloggingtheboys.com/202...-pre-draft-carson-wentz-will-grier-tyler-boyd

 

[Dallas Cowboys]

Dallas Cowboys roster review: RB position after free agency

Isaiah J. Downing-Imagn Images

What are you expecting from the Cowboys running back room in 2025?

To say the Cowboys running back room in 2025 will look a lot different is an understatement. With Ezekiel Elliott and Rico Dowdle no longer with the team, Deuce Vaughn and Malik Davis are the only familiar faces still in Dallas (with Hunter Luepke at fullback). The Cowboys were active early in free agency after making Javonte Williams their first signing of the 2025 free agency period.

Williams, just 24 years old, is looking for a fresh start in Dallas, after starting off his career hot in Denver. Williams looked the part in his rookie season, but after an ACL tear four games into his sophomore campaign in 2022, Williams has struggled to get back to his form that had him drafted 35th overall in the 2021 NFL draft.

While the production has been down for Williams over the last three years, he has still proven to be a capable receiver and pass protector out of the backfield, which was probably a big reason he was acquired. Along with Williams, the Cowboys also signed Miles Sanders to a one-year deal this offseason.

Sanders, now 27, had a very productive career in Philadelphia, but has struggled to make much of an impact in Carolina since joining the Panthers in 2023. Both Sanders and Williams provide veteran depth and starting experience to the Cowboys running back room, which it needed, but the Cowboys need more at the position, and that will likely come in the 2025 NFL draft. There was an assumption the Cowboys would add to the running back room in free agency, and they did, but it is pretty much a guarantee that they will be drafting a running back relatively early in the 2025 NFL draft.

In case you have not heard, the 2025 NFL draft is loaded with quality running backs. Ashton Jeanty and Omarion Hampton headline the group, but players like TreVeyon Henderson, Quinshon Judkins, Kaleb Johnson, Dylan Sampson, RJ Harvey, DJ Giddens, Damien Martinez, and Jordan James are all top 100 players in this class that can immediately improve the Cowboys running back room.

Boise State’s Ashton Jeanty is the only running back in this class who should be considered in the first round in this draft, and it is likely he will be drafted in the top 10. Even with the consensus top back likely off the board, the Cowboys should be able to add one of the many backs who will be available with the 44th or 76th overall pick who should be able to handle the bulk of the carries in 2025. It may be tough to do so with so many positional needs, but this would be a great draft to double up on running backs, with so many different style backs in this class.

SMU’s Brashard Smith, Virginia Tech’s Bhaysul Tuten, Texas’ Jaydon Blue, and Kansas’ Devin Neal are all quality running backs who could very well be starting level players in the NFL that can be had outside of the top 100.

There is still plenty of work to be done on the running back position, with no quality starter currently on the roster, but this one should be a very small concern for Cowboys fans, due to the quality of backs available in the draft.

Source: https://www.bloggingtheboys.com/202...on-free-agency-javonte-williams-miles-sanders

 

[Dallas Cowboys]

The Cowboys can ace this draft by trading back

Max Faulkner/Fort Worth Star-Telegram/Tribune News Service via Getty Images

This year’s class is short on blue chip players

The Dallas Cowboys landed themselves a premium draft pick this year, selecting 12th overall, but they’ve found themselves in an odd pickle: there are few players who seem to be home run picks in that range, barring a CeeDee Lamb-type slide.

Many have connected Ashton Jeanty to the team, though it’s hardly a guarantee he’ll be available. And draft experts seem to be significantly lower on this draft’s receiver class than initially believed, leaving it unclear what the right position to target at 12 would be.

This has, at least partially, led to some developing the opinion that the Cowboys should seek to trade up in the draft to ensure a blue chip prospect like Travis Hunter. Such a move wouldn’t be worth the squeeze, as we broke down recently, but there is another option that should emerge as the best way to ace this draft: trade down.

This draft is loaded with players from No. 19-70 who will be good players. It only has a few sure-fire stars. Trading down makes sense.

— Pete Prisco (@PriscoCBS) March 29, 2025​

Pete Prisco may have actually exaggerated the number of sure-fire stars in this draft, too. Hunter and Penn State EDGE Abdul Carter are easily classified as blue-chip prospects, while the draft’s top quarterbacks will always go high just based on positional value.

Offensive tackles Will Campbell (LSU) and Armand Membou (Missouri) are likely to come off the board in the first 10 picks, as are Michigan defensive tackle Mason Graham, Penn State tight end Tyler Warren, Michigan cornerback Will Johnson, and the aforementioned Jeanty.

That puts the Cowboys in an odd spot. They’re likely to have their pick of receiver prospects, but what if they don’t love Tetairoa McMillan at 12? Or what if they do, but McMillan comes off the board at pick 11, similar to what happened with cornerbacks in the 2021 draft?

That’s where the trade comes in so handy.

Dallas has traded back in the first round in two of the last four years, gaining immense value both times. In 2021, they moved back two spots and still landed Micah Parsons, who would be a sure-fire top five pick in a redraft today. They also netted Chauncey Golston because of the trade.

Last year, they moved back five spots and took Tyler Guyton, who many believe they would’ve drafted anyway if not for trading back. Because of the trade, though, they were also able to snag Cooper Beebe, who started all but one game at center as a rookie and finished 11th at his position in Pro Football Focus’ player grades.

Given the way this draft class stacks up, the Cowboys would be wise to focus on accumulating more draft picks rather than trying to land a blue-chip player at 12. They’ll be able to find players in the second, third, and even fourth (if they can get a pick there, of course) round that can round out this roster just as well as guys they’re likely to get in the first round.

Of course, trading down is easier said than done. It takes two to make a deal, and the Cowboys can’t force anyone’s hand in these kinds of negotiations. For the same reason the Cowboys should want to trade down, they’re unlikely to find any sweet deal prior to draft night as is.

That said, Will McClay has been a master of letting draft night come to him. After all, that’s how Lamb became a Cowboy. There’s no need to jump the gun and trade out of 12 right now, but the Cowboys ought to come into the draft fully ready to do just that. If one of those precious few blue-chip players falls to 12, hand in the card and get to celebrating.

Otherwise, find a trade partner and celebrate another year of maximizing value on draft night.

Source: https://www.bloggingtheboys.com/202...-back-travis-hunter-ashton-jeanty-will-mcclay

 

[Dallas Cowboys]

Dallas Cowboys EVP Stephen Jones hints that trade could be coming

Photo by Ron Jenkins/Getty Images

Stephen Jones noted that a trade could be on the horizon.

The Dallas Cowboys have been active so far this offseason. Skeptics are allowed remain in “I’ll believe it when I see it” mode, but in a literal and transactional sense, the Cowboys have been much busier these days than in recent ones.

There are a number of free agent acquisitions that Dallas has made to this point, some even during the legal tampering period and before the new league year began. This, in and of itself, is very unlike the Cowboys of recent seasons.

Among the other moves that Dallas has made so far have been two trades. The Cowboys utilized compensatory picks to effectively move down slots with the Buffalo Bills and Tennessee Titans while acquiring Kaiir Elam and Kenneth Murray, respectively. Fans have clamored for more veteran trades after the ones the team executed for Stephon Gilmore and Brandin Cooks a few years back, and while these aren’t necessarily those, they represent a front office that is at least trying a little bit harder than we were used to seeing.

With NFL owners meetings set to take place this week there are dignitaries from across the league who are being quoted on the record. Stephen Jones was asked about continuing to add to the roster and noted that more trades are definitely possible.

Cowboys EVP Stephen Jones is keeping the door open for adding more players before the draft, including via trade:

“We’ve got several things we’re looking at from a trade standpoint, but certainly not to the point where we have a deal yet.”

Added that backup QB is “still an… pic.twitter.com/g5JSyVoMx5

— Nick Harris (@NickHarrisFWST) March 30, 2025​

Through trades and signings, the Cowboys have added 10 players in free agency. Stephen Jones said the Cowboys shored up holes at DL, LB, RB. "We’re not done yet. Still got some things that are outstanding out there that we’re trying to get done," he said.

One spot: backup QB.

— Todd Archer (@toddarcher) March 30, 2025​

Stephen said outright that the Cowboys have some things that they are looking at from a trade standpoint. It would stand to reason then that the Cowboys have their eyes on a veteran or two and have talked price with the teams in question and that maybe sides haven’t quite come to terms on anything yet.

As things stand the Cowboys have 10 picks to work with, the number of selections they had after compensatory picks were originally announced.

• 1st Round (12th overall)
• 2nd Round (44th overall)
• 3rd Round (76th overall)
• 5th Round (149th overall)
• 5th Round (171st overall) [compensatory pick]
• 5th Round (174th overall) [compensatory pick]
• 6th Round (204 overall) [from Kaiir Elam trade]
• 6th Round (211th overall) [compensatory pick]
• 7th Round (239th overall) [from Kenneth Murray trade]
• 7th Round (247th overall) [from Jonathan Mingo trade]

It feels incredibly unlikely that the Cowboys will utilize all 10 of their picks during the 2025 NFL Draft, although to be fair we said that four years ago after Dallas picked up a selection from moving back in the first round and they wound up doing so. Anything can happen.

If you follow what the front office has to say in the media you know that Stephen Jones is not the type to throw out the word trade in a loose fashion. This isn’t a “this definitely going to happen” sort of assessment, but the point taken should be that Stephen is clearly feeling confident that a trade may wind up happening.

What do you want to see the Cowboys do?

Source: https://www.bloggingtheboys.com/202...-trade-still-possible-free-agents-draft-picks

 

[Dallas Cowboys]

Cowboys news: Stephen Jones hints at the idea of extensions for Ferguson, Bland

Tim Heitman-Imagn Images

Notable headlines surrounding America’s team.

Stephen Jones teases extensions for Cowboys’ DaRon Bland, Jake Ferguson- Randy Gurzi, Sports Illustrated​

Get it done early, Dallas.

Bland and Ferguson each enter their fourth season in the league and are scheduled for free agency in 2026. Jones said they want to keep both players around and want to begin looking at extensions for them.

Bland burst onto the scene in 2023 when he recorded nine interceptions with five pick-sixes. He missed 10 games in 2024 but has proven himself to be one of the premium ball hawks in the NFL.

Dallas Cowboys tight end Jake Ferguson runs after a catch against the Atlanta Falcons during the second half at Mercedes-Benz Stadium. / Dale Zanine-Imagn Images

Ferguson also broke out in 2023 with 71 receptions for 761 yards and five touchdowns. His production slipped this past season but he was dealing with nagging injuries and the loss of Dak Prescott.

NFL writer identifies win-win first-round trade for Cowboys-Broncos - Todd Brock, Cowboys Wire​

With the number of holes the team still has to fill, trading back would be a great option.

NFL.com draft analyst Chad Reuter believes they should go to that well again in 2025.

In a list of six win-win first-round trades teams should make, Reuter’s first order of hypothetical business is a deal between Dallas and Denver that leaves both clubs in better shape than they currently are.

The Cowboys and Broncos should swap first-rounders, Reuter says, with Denver taking over the 12th overall pick and also getting Dallas’s fifth-rounder, No. 149. The Cowboys get the 20th pick plus an additional second-rounder, No. 51, to go with the 44th overall selection they already own.

With the 12th pick, Broncos head coach Sean Payton would likely have his choice of this year’s two premier tight ends, Tyler Warren and Colston Loveland. He could also look at wide receivers Tetairoa McMillan (Arizona) and Matthew Golden (Texas), he writes, “if Courtland Sutton is not in the team’s plan past his upcoming contract season.”

3 Cowboys quarterback options in the 2025 NFL Draft - Mark Heaney, Inside The Star​

QB2 is up for grabs.

The Most Likely: Quinn Ewers, Texas

Quinn Ewers, the former Longhorn and Texas native, is easily the most likely candidate to join the Cowboys quarterback room.

Formerly a projected first-overall pick, Ewers’ career in Austin never blossomed as some thought it would. His passing struggles and talent limitations took his draft stock from first-round lock to a solid middle-to-late round option.

I personally felt that Texas would have been better off with Arch Manning in the College Football Playoff, but they rode with their veteran instead.

As he heads into the NFL Draft, Ewers projects as a backup with moderate potential to become a starter one day. He has the size, experience, and occasional “wow throw,” and the accuracy lapses, turnover problems, and mechanical problems that scare you.

If the Cowboys can find their way to drafting him, without having to use a premier pick, it would be a good fit.

With the right passing scheme and development, Quinn Ewers could take over one day, even if it’s not the best successor option out there.

3 Cowboys who (maybe) won’t make the 53-man roster in 2025 - Jerry Trotta, The Landry Hat​

Looking ahead to camp battles.

LB Damone Clark

The Cowboys have added to their linebacker room more so than any other position group, trading for former Chargers first-round pick Kenneth Murray Jr. and signing underrated Bears free agent Jack Sanborn.

Regardless of how the rotation shakes out, Clark seems to be on the roster bubble after he was relegated to a special teams player under Mike Zimmer last season. That’s not to say the former fifth-roud pick can’t undergo a renaissance under Eberflus. He’s still just 24 years old and Eberflus, a former LBs coach, knows how to develop linebackers.

However, if the Cowboys re-sign Eric Kendricks or another vet, or select a linebacker in the NFL Draft, it’s possible that Clark has played his last snap for the team that drafted him in 2022. He needs a strong OTAs and training camp more so than any player on the roster.

Dallas Cowboys roster review: RB position after free agency - Connor Livesay, Blogging The Boys​

And Dallas is likely not done adding to this group.

While the production has been down for Williams over the last three years, he has still proven to be a capable receiver and pass protector out of the backfield, which was probably a big reason he was acquired. Along with Williams, the Cowboys also signed Miles Sanders to a one-year deal this offseason.

Sanders, now 27, had a very productive career in Philadelphia, but has struggled to make much of an impact in Carolina since joining the Panthers in 2023. Both Sanders and Williams provide veteran depth and starting experience to the Cowboys running back room, which it needed, but the Cowboys need more at the position, and that will likely come in the 2025 NFL draft. There was an assumption the Cowboys would add to the running back room in free agency, and they did, but it is pretty much a guarantee that they will be drafting a running back relatively early in the 2025 NFL draft.

Source: https://www.bloggingtheboys.com/202...rguson-daron-bland-draft-trades-quarterback-2

 

[Dallas Cowboys]

Cowboys QB Dak Prescott reportedly doing well but will have limitations in offseason program

Photo by Sam Hodde/Getty Images

Stephen Jones shared an update on where Dak Prescott is from a health standpoint.

It has been a long time since we saw Dak Prescott play for the Dallas Cowboys. The team’s franchise quarterback underwent season-ending surgery for a hamstring injury that occurred well before Thanksgiving last year. Prescott’s last game played was all the way back on November 3rd, 2024.

There haven't been a lot of quotes about Prescott’s recovery, but Stephen Jones did speak about it ahead of the week’s owners meetings. The team’s EVP noted that Prescott is doing well, but he did add that Dak will have some limitations over the offseason program.

Stephen Jones on Dak Prescott's health coming off hamstring surgery: "Dak's doing great. He's very thrilled with where he is, and I know the trainers are too. I feel like he's doing a hell of a job."

He said Prescott will have "some limitations," in the offseason program.

— Todd Archer (@toddarcher) March 30, 2025​

This hardly seems shocking. There is no question that Dak is the team’s franchise quarterback so pushing him for reps in the middle of April or May seems like an unwise decision at best. To be fair though, the Cowboys do have a new head coach in Brian Schottenheimer, but even that is a unique thing as he has been the team’s offensive coordinator for the last two years so he already has a working relationship with Dak.

While it makes sense for the Cowboys to take things easy with Prescott, that means that there will be more opportunities available for quarterbacks down the depth chart. At the moment this list only includes Will Grier as Cooper Rush left for the Baltimore Ravens in free agency and the Cowboys did not return Trey Lance.

Backup quarterback is therefore one of the real needs for the Cowboys roster at the moment, and while it makes sense for them to select one during the NFL draft, they would still be wise to add a veteran to the mix.

Source: https://www.bloggingtheboys.com/202...covery-timeline-limitations-offseason-program

 

[Dallas Cowboys]

BTB Monday Musings: Is the time to extend DaRon Bland right now?

Photo by Cooper Neill/Getty Images

The Cowboys would be wise to get a DaRon Bland extension done right away.

For the bulk of this offseason the subject of extensions regarding the Dallas Cowboys has been centered around one player in Micah Parsons. That makes sense.

The Cowboys are already late on getting a Parsons’ extension done as he was first eligible for one last offseason. There are still plenty of grains of sand left in the proverbial hourglass, but watching any more of them tick down would not be wise.

An hourglass that just turned upside down (so to speak) is that of DaRon Bland. The Cowboys are looking at a cornerback who set the NFL record for pick sixes in a season two years ago who is eligible for an extension for the first time in his career. With him coming off of a down year it would make sense for the team to strike now.

Stephen Jones touched on this subject while at the NFL owner meetings and noted the Cowboys want to get deals done with Bland and even Jake Ferguson.

In addition to getting a deal done with Micah Parsons, Cowboys EVP Stephen Jones said they are keeping the door open for extension conversations with DaRon Bland and Jake Ferguson (both are entering contract years):

“Those are really good football players that we want to keep… pic.twitter.com/swFVEPtpC0

— Nick Harris (@NickHarrisFWST) March 30, 2025​

Stephen noted in his quote that “it takes two sides” to make a deal and while that is true, only one of them is a front office that has to be constantly looking ahead. The other side of the equation involved is a player and their representation and they are obviously less focused about bigger picture things as they are focusing only on themselves (that isn’t said in a negative way about players or their representation).

We have already seen the cornerback market rise this offseason with deals coming for Carolina’s Jaycee Horn and Houston’s Derek Stingley Jr.. Kansas City and Trent McDuffie could technically strike at any moment so the time for Dallas to act is now.

For our Monday Musings prompt here at BTB we want to know if you want to see the Cowboys extend DaRon Bland? If so, do you want it to happen ASAP? If you are against the idea, why do you hold that position?

Let us know in the comments down below!

Source: https://www.bloggingtheboys.com/202...s-is-the-time-to-extend-daron-bland-right-now

 

[Dallas Cowboys]

Can you guess this Cowboys 90s star 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​

Sunday, March 30, 2025
Saturday, March 29, 2025
Friday, March 28, 2025

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/2025/3/31/24397687/sb-nation-cowboys-daily-trivia-in-5

 

[Dallas Cowboys]

Dallas Cowboys 2025 draft scouting report: DE Landon Jackson

Photo by Wesley Hitt/Getty Images

Here is our scouting report on Landon Jackson from Arkansas

We continue our 2025 NFL Draft preview of draft prospects that could interest the Dallas Cowboys. Today we are looking at defensive end Landon Jackson from Arkansas.

Landon Jackson​

DE
Arkansas Razorbacks
Senior
4-star recruit
6’6”
264 lbs

Photo by Andy Altenburger/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images

History​

Landon Jackson, born on January 2, 2003, in Texarkana, Texas, attended Pleasant Grove High School. While in high school he amassed over 45 career sacks, including 17 during his junior year, earning him the Texas Sports Writers Association 4A Defensive Player of the Year award.

In 2021, Jackson began his collegiate career at LSU, appearing in five games primarily on special teams. Seeking better opportunities and playing time, he transferred to Arkansas in 2022.

In his first year with the Razorbacks, Jackson played in all 13 games. Despite transitioning to a new system, he made an immediate impact, recording 23 total tackles, four tackles for loss, and three sacks. His ability to disrupt plays in the backfield and contribute against both the run and pass earned him increased playing time as the season progressed. One of his standout performances came against BYU, where he registered a season-high five tackles and one sack.

Jackson’s junior year in 2023 marked a significant progression. He started all 12 games, leading the team with 14 tackles for loss and 6.5 sacks, earning First-Team All-SEC honors. He delivered an outstanding performance against Alabama, registering a career-high with 11 tackles, four sacks, and four tackles for a loss, which earned him SEC Defensive Lineman of the Week.

Entering his senior season in 2024, Jackson continued to demonstrate his defensive prowess, leading the Razorbacks in both sacks (6.5) and tackles for loss (10). He also added 49 total tackles, and three pass deflections. His performance earned him Second-Team All-SEC recognition. Following the regular season, Jackson participated in the Senior Bowl, where he recorded two tackles and a strip-sack, further showcasing his readiness to play in the NFL.

2024 Statistics​

645 Defensive Snaps
49 Total Tackles
10 Tackles For Loss
7 Missed Tackles
33 Defensive Stops
35 Total Pressures
6.5 Sacks
3 Pass Breakups
1 Forced Fumble
1 Fumble Recovery
5 Penalties

NFL Combine/Pro Day​

10-Yard Split- 1.65s (72%)
40-Yard Dash- 4.68s (90%)
Vertical- 40.5” (98%)
Broad- 129” (99%)
3C- 7.13s (82%) PD
Shuttle- 4.55s (46%) PD

Awards​

Second-team All-SEC (2024)
First-team All-SEC (2023)

Scorecard​

Overall- 86.7
Speed- 86
Acceleration- 76
Agility- 79
Strength- 90
Tackling- 79
Pass Rush- 72
Run Defense- 89
Coverage- 76
Discipline- 90

THE GOOD​

• A high-motor player that never gives up on the play.
• Demonstrates good block recognition, maintaining discipline when unblocked.
• Has an extremely strong anchor against the run, effectively holding the point of attack.
• Has elite hand power and length which enables him to reset the line of scrimmage and control blocks.
• Employs active hands and utilizes moves such as the cross-chop and long-arm to defeat blockers.
• Very effective at stunting which adds versatility to his pass-rushing.
• Has a huge wingspan which allows him to engage and disengage from blockers efficiently, while his frame suggests room for additional growth if necessary.
• His reach is also seen when grabbing onto ball carriers that think they’ve cleared him.
• Jackson’s ability to play in multiple defensive fronts showcases his diverse skill set.

TAPE TIME
DE Landon Jackson
Arkansas

THE GOOD#scouting #NFLDraft #Arkansas pic.twitter.com/bDQjKxsHSr

— Mike Poland (@kenfigkowboy) March 29, 2025​

THE BAD​

• Jackson does not consistently win with speed around the edge.
• Due to his height, Jackson sometimes struggles with maintaining consistent leverage, which can diminish his effectiveness in both pass rush and run defense.
• Pad level is an issue and is extremely inconsistent here.
• Lacks a go-to move to disengage from blockers.
• His bull rush is underwhelming for his size, often due to his pad level issues.
• Only average bend at the top of his arc in his pass rush.
• Very stiff as a pass rusher.

TAPE TIME
DE Landon Jackson
Arkansas

THE BAD#scouting #NFLDraft #Arkansas pic.twitter.com/gLorKVzeMF

— Mike Poland (@kenfigkowboy) March 29, 2025​

THE FIT​

Landon Jackson’s blend of size, strength, and developing technique positions him as a promising prospect in this year’s draft class. He possesses an impressive frame, long arms (33¼ inches), and a solid wingspan (82¾ inches), making him an ideal fit for an edge rusher in either an odd or even front. He’s a high-effort, high-floor defensive end prospect with strong run defense skills and solid pass-rushing potential.

If he can improve his get-off, pass-rush repertoire, and flexibility, he has the potential to develop into a dependable three-down defensive end at the NFL level. He is projected as a second-round pick with the potential to become a reliable contributor in both run defense and pass-rushing situations.

Jackson would be a strong fit for the Dallas Cowboys, given their need for additional depth and versatility along the defensive line, particularly on the edge. He has the ideal frame and skill set to contribute as a rotational defensive end, particularly in early-down situations where his run-stopping ability could shine.

His ability to set the edge against the run would help improve a Dallas defense that has struggled heavily against physical rushing attacks in the past. While he doesn’t have elite speed off the edge, his length, power, and high motor align well with the Cowboys’ defensive philosophy, and he could develop into a reliable rotational player with starter upside. With coaching, refining his pass-rush moves could make him a valuable Day 2 selection, giving Dallas a long-term piece for their defensive end situation.

COMPARISON:​

Zach Allen, Denver Broncos

BTB GRADE:​

54th

CONSENSUS RANKING:​

44th
(Consensus ranking based on the average ranking from 90 major scoring services, including BTB)

Source: https://www.bloggingtheboys.com/202...-report-defensive-end-landon-jackson-arkansas

 

[Dallas Cowboys]

4 wide receivers the Cowboys should consider drafting on day two

Rob Gray-Imagn Images

WR2 needs to be a huge focus for the Cowboys during the NFL Draft.

With most of the free agent wide receivers off the market, the Cowboys will likely need to turn to the NFL draft to find their CeeDee Lamb complement.

The Cowboys brought in Parris Campbell on a cheap free agent deal, and are hoping to see a jump from Jonathan Mingo, who they acquired via trade at the trade deadline, but in reality the WR2 role is still missing in the Cowboys offense. Dallas may very well look to use their first-round pick on the position, but if they do go a different direction, here are four names that they should consider drafting on day two to fill the WR2 role.

Jayden Higgins, WR, Iowa State​

It is no secret that the Cowboys need a X-receiver in their offense in 2025. Along with size, the Cowboys need to add some speed into the receiver room as well. Higgins checks the size box and ran an impressive 4.47 40-time at the combine.

Higgins enters the draft with a lot of the boxes checked. He was very productive at Iowa State, has route running skills, and possesses size the Cowboys desperately need on the outside. Higgins is currently projected to be drafted in the top 50 and should be available for the Cowboys with the 44th overall pick. HIs fit in Dallas makes a ton of sense and his game translates well to the next level as a true X-receiver who can impact the game in all three levels of the field.

WR1 stuff from Jayden Higgins iwbh
whole Texas sideline shook pic.twitter.com/WCebMADi6c

— JetPack Galileo (@JetPackGalileo) March 27, 2025​

Tre Harris, WR, Ole Miss​

Similar to Higgins, Ole Miss’ Tre Harris enters the draft with size, speed, explosiveness, and production at the college level. Harris was the Rebels big-play receiver for most of the season, before dealing with injuries that limited him to just eight games in 2024.

Harris is an exceptional route runner for his size and tested very well at the combine, posting a 4.54 40-time, a 38.5” vertical, and a 10’ 5” broad jump. Harris’ stock has dropped a bit over the course of the offseason, but would provide excellent value if he is able to last until the 76th overall pick. Harris is a top 60 player in this class given his size, athletic profile, route running ability, and yards after catch ability he put on display over the course of his college career.

Tre Harris Ranked 1st in the NATION in Receiving Yards Per Game (128.8)..

Before his injury Vs. LSU he was Averaging:

10.4 Targets (6th in CFB)
8.4 Receptions (2nd in CFB)
1.0 Receiving TD’s (3rd in CFB)

Dudes 6’2, 205 lbs and was ALSO 1st in Yards Per Route Run.. (5.12) pic.twitter.com/JKbPbDI6wT

— Austin Abbott (@AustinAbbottFF) March 21, 2025​

Kyle Williams, WR, Washington State​

Unlike the two guys listed above, Kyle Williams is more of a jack of all trades wideout, instead of your prototypical X-receiver. Williams played a good amount of snaps in the slot for the Washington State offense in 2024 (25%), but played primarily on the outside for most of his career.

Williams’ athletic profile will not blow you away, but his 4.40 speed is evident on tape in the deep passing game. Williams put out some impressive tape in 2024 and proved the ability to impact the game with his route-running ability at all three levels of the field. Williams does not quite fit the X-receiver need in Dallas, but with CeeDee Lamb’s ability to move around in the Cowboys offense, his skillset is still a really nice fit in Dallas with his ability to line up anywhere in the offense and create separation.

WR Kyle Williams separating vertically from Travis Hunter is impressive pic.twitter.com/4iiJfIeR6B

— Edgar Salmingo, Jr. ✌ (@PanthersAnalyst) March 24, 2025​

Tory Horton, WR, Colorado State​

Could the Cowboys go back to the Colorado State well again to find an impact receiver in the middle rounds? They would be wise to consider it, with Tory Horton. It was surprising Horton did not declare last year, and after playing in only five games in 2024, he would probably like to have a do over on that decision.

Horton is a smooth operator at receiver, with a nuanced, developed route tree and extremely reliable hands. Horton has a long frame that shines in all areas of the field and is as intelligent as they come at the wideout position. While he showcases just average athleticism on tape, Horton does all the little things at a very high level, which is extremely important at the receiver position in the NFL. Horton produced at a high-level in his healthy seasons at Colorado State and could follow in Michael Gallup’s footsteps in carving out a really nice career in Dallas.

Tory Horton. Pro rep.

Hand swiping in stem, subtle stab late, stack CB. Lovely. This dude knows how to play WR.

Oh yea.. vs CB Will Johnson 1on1 pic.twitter.com/L5trt7y8nN

— Ben Fennell (@BenFennell_NFL) March 21, 2025​

Source: https://www.bloggingtheboys.com/202...y-two-jayden-higgins-tre-harris-kyle-williams

 

[Dallas Cowboys]

Cowboys defense: Comparing secondary additions/subtractions from 2024 to now

Photo by Matthew Pearce/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images

The Cowboys secondary has changed a lot in a short amount of time.

Looking back at the 2024 Dallas Cowboys season, there wasn’t much that went to plan or left fans feeling great about the direction of a team that fell from first to third in their own division. The obvious weaknesses this team had going into the campaign predictably held them back, and even the few strengths they needed to lean in to to have any success were hampered by injuries, inconsistent play, or just too many unforced mistakes. One of these potential strengths was in the secondary, where defensive coordinator Mike Zimmer was brought in to team up with secondary coach Al Harris. This duo’s expertise in coaching defensive backfields paired with the excitement of potentially having DaRon Bland and Trevon Diggs together for a full season for the first time, along with veteran Jourdan Lewis and a deep safety group, made the Cowboys secondary a group to expect big things from.

After getting only 11 games out of Diggs and seven from Bland, just one of which came together in a Week 12 primetime loss to the Bengals, both Zimmer and Harris are no longer here. Neither is Lewis who became one of the first departures in free agency to the Jacksonville Jaguars.

We’ve documented how the Cowboys have stepped out of their comfort zone to work the roster this offseason, but also how the reason their approach truly feels any different is simply because of how inactive last offseason was. Put the two together, and at least on offense, the end result is humbling when looking at some of the familiar issues this team is facing heading into the draft. This being the side of the ball where the Cowboys also have the most new coaches and a new play-caller in charge with HC Brian Schottenheimer, perhaps a more long term view is needed to evaluate the scheme fits these coaches have brought in so far to make a difference.

Taking the same look at the Cowboys defense now, the same patience may not be afforded if this team has any ambitions of being close to the level of either the Washington Commanders or Super Bowl champion Philadelphia Eagles. Matt Eberflus is back in the building as defensive coordinator, and with his arrival comes an expectation of what he’s already capable of from a past stint as linebackers coach for the Cowboys. The team prioritized signing Osa Odighizuwa at the all-important 3-technique position in Eberflus’ scheme, shuffled the depth chart considerably at linebacker by signing Jack Sanborn and trading for Kenneth Murray, and added a former first-round pick to help replace Lewis at cornerback with Kair Elam. Clearly, the expectation is to field a competitive defense right away under Eberflus. However, the Cowboys’ much more pressing needs at skill positions on offense have completely stolen the spotlight away from the possibility of this team addressing the secondary early in the draft. If they fail to do so, this is a cornerback group that is going to need a lot of work to be game ready between now and September.

Let’s look even closer at the transformations the Cowboys secondary has gone through from last offseason to now.

Cornerback​

2024 Additions: Andrew Booth Jr., Caelen Carson

2024 Losses: Nahshon Wright, Noah Igbinoghene, Stephon Gilmore

2025 Additions: Kaiir Elam

2025 Losses: Jourdan Lewis

Even without a “big name” leaving the Cowboys stable of cornerbacks a year ago, the fact they didn’t do more to add depth at a constant position of need in today’s game is once again hurting them as the page turns to the 2025 team. Andrew Booth Jr. was never a reliable defender on the outside, and the same could be said much more unfairly about rookie Caelen Carson - thrown into the fire early when DaRon Bland missed the first ten games of the season.

It is actually this offseason where the Cowboys have the better departing player to replace in Jourdan Lewis, which dulls the excitement of trading for Kaiir Elam a bit. Elam was pushed down the depth chart in a strong overall secondary for the Bills. If the Cowboys retained Lewis and still added a player like Elam, there wouldn’t be such pressure to perform right way, but now as his replacement he will be the latest first-round reclamation project the Cowboys are putting a lot of faith into.

When it comes to further depth options behind Diggs and Bland, who Dallas is still heavily dependent on right now despite even more injury concerns, the Cowboys have Josh Butler (when he is recovered), Troy Pride Jr., Kemon Hall, Booth Jr., and special teams ace C.J. Goodwin. Versatile safety Israel Mukuamu is also capable of playing corner in an emergency, though the team will not want to count on that.

Hall flashed in the preseason with a pick-six against the Raiders but only appeared on special teams during the regular season in six games. Pride Jr. appeared in the final two meaningless games of the season, and did also flash a few times, but the former fourth-round pick has still only started nine games since 2020 and is on his fourth team. He has a long way to go to become anything close to a dependable player the Cowboys can feel good about lining up at cornerback.

The Cowboys defenses that Eberflus was a part of in the past always had a knack for getting a lot out of a little, and through his first offseason back as defensive coordinator so far, that trend seems destined to continue at cornerback. This is a group that is going to need to rely on the overall structure of their coverage schemes, getting linebackers and safeties involved as well, to not give up big plays or get caught in single man coverage too often. A year two leap from Carson who took his lumps as a rookie is probably the most promising and tangible thing to look for when it comes to the Cowboys being surprisingly better off than expected at CB, but the need is still there for at worst one more starting-caliber player in late free agency or the draft.

Photo by Perry Knotts/Getty Images

Safety​

2024 Additions: None

2024 Losses: Jayron Kearse

2025 Additions: None

2025 Losses: None

How the Cowboys would look at safety going from Dan Quinn’s unorthodox approach to the position, to what turned out to be just one season of Mike Zimmer, was one of the offseason questions for this team a year ago. The Cowboys had depth at safety with Malik Hooker, Donovan Wilson, Juanyeh Thomas, Mukuamu, and added to it by moving Markquese Bell back to his natural spot after he played at linebacker under Quinn.

For a team that played the majority of the season with a backup quarterback, virtually no running game, a complete lack of pass rush depth behind Micah Parsons, and the absence of two starting cornerbacks, it is hard if not impossible to get an honest evaluation of how this safety group performed through it all. This is simply not a position deciding games on a regular basis in the NFL, although well-below average play can sink a defense. Knowing this, it’s at least safe to say the Cowboys kept themselves afloat at safety with the experience of Hooker and Wilson leading the way. There is more than enough of a starting point for Eberflus to work with getting his hands on this group as is.

Considering the Cowboys have done well to at least add some outside players to the depth chart at a wide variety of positions, the spots they haven’t touched could be more telling than usual towards their draft plans. They also could be positions they truly just “like their guys” for old time’s sake. Which category safety falls into will be interesting to watch for a franchise that hasn’t drafted one higher than the sixth round since 2021. Their last top 100 pick spent on a safety was over two decades ago with Roy Williams in 2002.

Even with Eberflus’ experience as a former coach in Dallas standing out over the newness of the rest of the staff, one that’s wasted no time digging into finding players that can help this team move forward quickly, the Cowboys DC will have his hands full trying to convince the front office that safety needs to be prioritized over much more pressing needs right now. It is much more likely to be targeted in the draft once Dallas is concerned about both current roster depth and the replacement of future expiring contracts. Wilson and Mukuamu will both be unrestricted free agents next offseason, and Thomas will be a RFA.

The time is quickly coming for safety to be a more dire need for the Cowboys, and not having a dominant group here under Zimmer is far from the top of the list of things that caused their regression in 2024. This is a position group with something of a clean start under new coaching and a new scheme to attack in 2025.

Source: https://www.bloggingtheboys.com/202...ractions-2024-roster-jourdan-lewis-kaiir-elam

 

[Dallas Cowboys]

Waiting on the Micah Parsons deal could lead to another protracted wait

Bob Donnan-Imagn Images

Amidst the flurry of news across the NFL landscape in March, including free agency, trades and extensions that saw the market reset higher for players at nearly every position thanks to the continually rising the salary cap, the Dallas Cowboys have been largely quiet.

This in spite of the fact that two-time first-team All-Pro, four-time Pro Bowl defensive end Micah Parsons remains unsigned past the 2025 season. Extension-eligible since the end of the 2023 regular season came to a conclusion almost fifteen months ago, the Dallas front office has once again waited so long to reach an extension with a key player that the cost of the extension will cost the Cowboys tens of millions of dollars in additional cap space.

It was early March when Maxx Crosby reset the market for defensive ends, becoming the highest paid non-quarterback in league history with a three-year, $106.5 million deal with the Las Vegas Raiders. Then Danielle Hunter and the Houston Texans came to agreement on a one-year extension at a slightly higher $36.5 million, before Myles Garrett and the Cleveland Browns blew the top off the non-quarterback market with a four-year, $160 million extension.

Not to be left out, the Cincinnati Bengals then threw their hat in the ring, signing Ja’Marr Chase to a four-year, $161 million contract that set yet another new high for the non-quarterback market, and giving further support to $40 million per year being the new baseline for top players at the highest-paid positions.

For Cowboys fans, this is all too familiar. The team cost itself cap space waiting to extend DeMarcus Lawrence. Then they cost themselves cap space waiting to extend Amari Cooper after having traded a first-round pick to acquire him. Then they handled extension negotiations similarly with Dak Prescott in 2021. The did it with CeeDee Lamb in 2024. And they did it with Prescott again in 2024, as well.

Meaning that now, with soon-to-be 26-year old Micah Parsons and the front office in negotiations on a long-term extension, it’s happening again. Had they extended Parsons prior to the explosive growth at the top of the market, the price tag perhaps could have come in somewhere in the neighborhood of the Crosby or Hunter extensions, just slightly higher than the $34 million per year extension Nick Bosa signed with the San Francisco 49ers in 2023.

Now, though, with the top of the market for the position reset by Garrett at the $40 million per year mark, the reality of the situation is that reports of Parsons looking for a five-year, $200 million contract are not unrealistic.

Micah Parsons’ agent and Dallas' front office discussed a contract at the scouting combine. No serious talks have occurred since

Our @calvinwatkins details the star pass rusher's quest to become NFL’s first $200 million defensive player https://t.co/6S2UaCTnjf pic.twitter.com/GSWuo1tTrK

— SportsDayDFW (@SportsDayDFW) March 28, 2025​

The question then becomes whether those are contracts that the Cowboys would look to sign. Sure, both sides would like to have Parsons on the team and wreaking havoc on opposing offenses for years to come, but with multiple contract experts and observers now projecting a deal north of $40 million per year, it’s not inconceivable that the Dallas front office could wait even longer.

Micah Parsons extension:

If Parsons wants to really reset the market, he could look to match Watt's 15.34% cap at signing.

That would put Parsons at $42.8M AAV. pic.twitter.com/CmUEjNgXhO

— Jake Cardonick (@JakeCar120) March 9, 2025​

The fact that an extension could become that pricey for the team could lead to the contract talk in the media dragging out for years. Sure, the Cowboys don’t want the circus that would inevitably surround extended negotiations, but in the short term a 2026 franchise tag at $28.8 million might could carry more allure than a $200 million extension, and it wouldn’t be the first time Dallas has let things drag out while a member of the roster played the season on a franchise tag.

In short, the Dallas front office has once again put themselves in a position where they have cost the team cap space by waiting to ink Parsons to an extension, but with the ability to tag Parsons if the two sides can’t come to an agreement between now and the start of the season, it’s a situation that could be talked about for a long time.

Source: https://www.bloggingtheboys.com/202...arket-franchise-tag-dak-prescott-jamarr-chase

 

[Dallas Cowboys]

Cowboys EVP Stephen Jones says team does not believe they wait too long for deals

Photo by Jonathan Bachman/Getty Images

Stephen Jones thinks we are all wrong for saying the Cowboys wait too long to do deals.

The Dallas Cowboys are fine being patient. Consider that over the course of the last 14 or so months that the team has had negotiations with their franchise quarterback, top wide receiver and elite pass rusher at the top (seemingly) of their to-do list (obviously there were other things on the list).

Before last season ever began, CeeDee Lamb had come close to becoming the highest-paid non-quarterback in the NFL. Right about when the ink was drying on his deal Dak Prescott did become the highest-paid player period in the NFL. Micah Parsons had yet to be paid, but it stands to reason that he will wind up becoming the highest-paid non-quarterback when it is all said and done.

That last paragraph was full of words and verbiage as opposed to numbers. What Lamb and Prescott got in terms of their deals was obviously very large, but the “highest-paid” element is something that we have seen change from player to player across the league as a whole. There has yet to be another quarterback to get a deal since Dak did, but when one does they will in all likelihood have that label applied to their contract. Just look at how that phenomenon happened to/around Dak after the deal he signed in 2021.

Living in a world of this logic, NFL teams have to accept that they will make players who play the positions in question top dollar whenever the time comes (assuming the players have proven to be worth market rate). There are exceptions to every rule, but the laws of supply and demand have existed for as long as time now. It is fair to say that when it comes to players who you really believe in (like Lamb or Prescott or Parsons) that getting the deal in question done as soon as possible sees you pay the lowest amount possible, even if it is the “highest” at the time you strike it.

This appears to be a philosophy that Stephen Jones disagrees with. Speaking at the league’s owner meetings he touched on the idea that the Cowboys are working with Micah Parsons towards an extension, but he added that they do not feel that they have a habit of waiting too long. Regarding the latter point, he outright said that they disagree with people who say that they do.

“I don’t want to get into any details,” Stephen Jones said from The Breakers in Palm Beach, Florida, on Sunday before the annual league meeting starts Monday. “It’s not fair for anybody, other than we’ve got a great working relationship with Micah and think the world of him. Like I’ve said, we’ve had good visits with him and feel good about where we’re headed.”

...

Jones did try to squash talk that the Cowboys wait too long to get deals done with their star players, which ends up costing them more money in the long run.

“We’ve done the early before, and we’ve waited until the end to do them,” Jones said. “A lot of it is just the negotiation itself. Some of them take longer than others. And we put about zero credibility or credence into people saying you wait too long.”

Odds are you are not operating an NFL front office (if you are, thanks for checking out BTB) and I can tell you that I am not, but despite that being the case you and I both know that the Cowboys do wait too long.

Consider that the team could have negotiated extensions with Lamb and/or Prescott in the 2023 offseason, before the quarterback market specifically reached an entirely different level thanks to Jalen Hurts, Lamar Jackson, Justin Herbert and Joe Burrow just to name a few. While Dallas could have gotten a Lamb deal done then as well they did not and instead waited so long that Justin Jefferson set the market at an incredibly high place. Lamb did not totally outdo Jefferson in every respect, but the point is that if the team had been proactive about those things then they would have literally paid less than they ultimately did.

Regarding Parsons, he was first eligible for an extension last offseason. If the Cowboys had taken care of him at that point then they would not have the newly-negotiated deals that Myles Garrett and Maxx Crosby got for Parsons’ representation to try and supersede. Again, it is simply citing supply and demand to say that the Cowboys could have paid less for several deals if they had gotten them done earlier.

At this point there are no big-time pass rushers left on the market outside of Trey Hendrickson. It makes sense that he wants to get paid after leading the league in sacks and it also makes sense that if he got a new deal somewhere that it would serve as another bar for Parsons and his representation to try and clear.

The Jones family can disagree with that all they want, but allow us to reference the words of someone who Stephen may trust a lot.

Consider that Stephen Jones said back in 2021 that the team waited too long to take care of Dak Prescott’s extension (the first major one).

Jones was asked by Pat Doney of KXAS-TV NBC 5 to name the Cowboys’ ”biggest swing and miss” during Jones’ tenure in the front office, and Jones said it was having Prescott play out his full four-year rookie contract, and then play one year on the franchise tag, before finally signing him to a long-term deal.

“Probably would’ve signed Dak the first time around,” Jones said. “It would’ve been better for everybody.”

That’s pretty funny, isn’t it?

Source: https://www.bloggingtheboys.com/202...ons-deals-timeline-micah-parsons-dak-prescott

 

[Dallas Cowboys]

Cowboys news: Search for WR help coming down to the draft

Photo by Derick E. Hingle/Getty Images

All the Dallas Cowboys news that’s fit to print.

Cowboys looking to add ‘really explosive’ number two wide receiver - Tommy Yarrish, DallasCowboys.com​

It’s no surprise Stephen Jones likes the receivers the Cowboys already have, but the expectation is still for Dallas to add to the depth chart early in the draft.

“We’re still open to looking at a really explosive number two that could upgrade us,” Jones said. “But as I said, I like our room and certainly like the players we currently have.”

As it stands, the only external addition the Cowboys have made thus far at the position this offseason has been the signing of Parris Campbell, who certainly brings the explosive element to the room from a speed standpoint but only has 134 receiving yards over the last two seasons.

The team also lost veteran Brandin Cooks, who had served in that role previously when healthy and signed with the New Orleans Saints this offseason, returning to the team that drafted him.

And so even with those moves, Jones is laying everything out on the table as a possibility for the Cowboys. That means free agency, a trade and the draft are all places where the Cowboys can feasibly add a wide receiver and that seems to be the teams intent.

In terms of free agents that are still on the market, some big names like Amari Cooper and Keenan Allen are available, but don’t really fit the “explosive” criteria that Jones mentioned. Is there another free agent like Elijah Moore or D.J. Chark, who are known for their speed, that Dallas could feel good about trusting in that spot?

We’ll see, but the Cowboys have added at receiver via trade in recent history. They acquired Cooks for two draft picks in 2023 and Jonathan Mingo last season for a fourth-round pick, someone that Jones and the team are still high on.

“I think him having a full offseason to work with Dak, and as I said we really liked him when he came out of Ole Miss, and really feel like he’s got a lot of upside.” Jones said of Mingo.

Tetairoa McMillan: A Dallas Cowboys Game Changer in 2025 - Cody Warren, Inside The Star​

The Arizona WR has become something of a polarizing prospect in this year’s draft class, but his skillset and immediate impact potential for the Cowboys are both a match.

Tetairoa McMillan’s Stats Will Translate to the Cowboys

Anyone who has watched the Dallas Cowboys knows CeeDee Lamb does a lot of his damage from the slot, but he will be moved around the formation depending on the matchup.

See also Cowboys en Español: La Necesidad de un WR es Real

According to PFF.com’s premium stats, CeeDee Lamb has taken 60.1% of his snaps from the slot, 38.8% outside, 0.2% inline, and 0.1% rushing over his career.

In comparison, Tetairoa McMillan spent 76.6% outside, 22.9% in the slot, and 0.4% inline.

These players are almost the complete opposite when it comes to where they line up at receiver. This is good because it allows both players to play their game without stepping on each other’s toes.

McMillan’s size will also play nicely in the red zone, where the Cowboys have struggled. Two receivers over 6’2″and 200 lbs give the offense two big bodies in the end zone.

Speaking of the red zone, McMillan caught 18 of 30 of his contested catches for 60% in 2024. This is the type of play the Cowboys’ offense is missing.

His quarterbacks have also had an average of 110.3 quarterback rating when he is targeted.

4 wide receivers the Cowboys should consider drafting on day two - Connor Livesay, Blogging The Boys​

If the right wide receiver isn’t there at 12 for the Cowboys, where else could they turn on day two?

Tre Harris, WR, Ole Miss

Similar to Higgins, Ole Miss’ Tre Harris enters the draft with size, speed, explosiveness, and production at the college level. Harris was the Rebels big-play receiver for most of the season, before dealing with injuries that limited him to just eight games in 2024.

Harris is an exceptional route runner for his size and tested very well at the combine, posting a 4.54 40-time, a 38.5” vertical, and a 10’ 5” broad jump. Harris’ stock has dropped a bit over the course of the offseason, but would provide excellent value if he is able to last until the 76th overall pick. Harris is a top 60 player in this class given his size, athletic profile, route running ability, and yards after catch ability he put on display over the course of his college career.

Tory Horton, WR, Colorado State

Could the Cowboys go back to the Colorado State well again to find an impact receiver in the middle rounds? They would be wise to consider it, with Tory Horton. It was surprising Horton did not declare last year, and after playing in only five games in 2024, he would probably like to have a do over on that decision.

Horton is a smooth operator at receiver, with a nuanced, developed route tree and extremely reliable hands. Horton has a long frame that shines in all areas of the field and is as intelligent as they come at the wideout position. While he showcases just average athleticism on tape, Horton does all the little things at a very high level, which is extremely important at the receiver position in the NFL. Horton produced at a high-level in his healthy seasons at Colorado State and could follow in Michael Gallup’s footsteps in carving out a really nice career in Dallas.

New Cowboys scheme demands these 3 positions are stocked with highly versatile players - Reid Hanson, The Cowboys Wire​

The Cowboys cannot fix all of their depth issues in Brian Schottenheimer’s first season, but they can at least know what will help move his offense forward.

Schottenheimer describes an offense that lines in tight personnel. With receivers positioned inside on the edge of the box they can be active participants in run blocking and also get the opportunity for a 180-degree release on routes downfield, similar to a slot WR or tight end. In many ways it’s the anti-spread offense because even in 11-personnel it will be asked to play in tight formations.

The duality of the WR role means these Dallas WRs need to block. Schottenheimer said he wanted to marry the runs and passes to look the same. As such, he can’t swap personnel based on areas of expertise or it will tip the offense’s hand as to what type of play they’re calling. Tight ends and running backs all have similar demands.

What Schottenheimer described isn’t unlike what Kyle Shanahan has been doing in San Francisco. The 49ers have had elite run blockers at WR, TE and fullback. Those same players are also deadly weapons downfield as pass catchers. The two phases of the game are equally as important for these players because deception is the name of the game.

In the 2025 NFL draft the Cowboys need to focus on WRs who can block as well as they can catch. Since blocking is often a matter of willingness rather than inherent ability, interviews will be critical to finding the right guy for the job.

The TE class happens to be a good one this year. The Cowboys don’t have an immediate need at TE, but they aren’t worry free at the position either. Jake Ferguson is coming off a historically poor season and needs to rebound in this his contract year. He has the chops to be a strong run-blocker as illustrated in his days at Wisconsin, Dallas just need to make it a priority with him. If they look to the draft to fill a need at TE, look for a balanced prospect to be the choice.

Brian Schottenheimer takes a strong stance regarding Dallas Cowboys’ negotiations with Micah Parsons - Mauricio Rodriguez, A to Z Sports​

The new Cowboys HC does not want any more offseason distractions when it comes to star players and contract situations.

On Sunday, Schottenheimer took a strong stance regarding the negotiations, going as far as proclaiming the deal will get done.

“I think the biggest thing is don’t let it be a distraction,” Schottenheimer at the league annual meetings said via NFL.com. “It’s going to get done. The year before it was Zack (Martin). This is something you are seeing more and more, it’s not just the Cowboys that deal with this, it’s league wide, right. The hold-ins or whatever they are calling them; don’t let it be a distraction. They are professional athletes. The deal is going to get done.”

That’s not only something you like to hear if you root for Dallas but Schottenheimer’s statement is also easy to buy into.

Listen, you can love or hate the way the Cowboys do business with their players but this is the same thing that happened with Dak Prescott and CeeDee Lamb. Though the coverage is going to get increasingly annoying the closer we’re to the regular season, the conclusion is likely going to be similar.

Once it’s done, we could be talking about a $200 million deal. According to the Dallas Morning News, that’s the figure Parsons is after, which heavily suggests a five-year deal could be the endgame here. When done, the star defensive end is expected to become the highest-paid non-quarterback in NFL history.

NFL schedule: Bears-Commanders, Eagles-Chiefs among top 10 revenge games in 2025 - Adam Rank, NFL.com​

No, this is not an April Fool’s joke. The Cowboys and Panthers meeting next season will be something of a “revenge game”.

Dallas Cowboys AT Carolina Panthers

Well, I think we’re running low on revenge-game options when we’ve resorted to Panthers vs. Cowboys. I mean, OK, there surely is still beef stemming from the 1996 NFC Divisional Round playoff game in which Carolina prevented Dallas from facing the Packers in the NFC title tilt. But really, the storyline here is Rico Dowdle — the former undrafted free agent who became one of the only consistent offensive producers for the Cowboys last season — joining the Panthers. I know Carolina gave a lot of money to Chuba Hubbard in November, but the team did have to prepare for the absence of 2024 second-round pick Jonathon Brooks, who suffered a torn ACL in December, and there is an apparent vision for how Dowdle fits in. Dallas still needs offensive help, though, even after patching the hole at RB with Javonte Williams and Miles Sanders. What I really would have loved was for the Cowboys and Seahawks to match up this fall, given the very public feud that erupted between DeMarcus Lawrence and Micah Parsons after the former signed with Seattle. The only problem? They aren’t scheduled to face off in 2025, which means it would have to happen in the playoffs. In other words, not likely.

Source: https://www.bloggingtheboys.com/202...raft-tetairoa-mcmillan-micah-parsons-contract

 

[Dallas Cowboys]

Can you guess this top 100 pick 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​

Monday, March 31, 2025
Sunday, March 30, 2025
Saturday, March 29, 2025

Play more SB Nation in-5 trivia games​

NFL in-5
MLB in-5
MMA in-5

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/2025/4/1/24398588/sb-nation-cowboys-daily-trivia-in-5

 

[Dallas Cowboys]

How the Cowboys could make a big splash by trading down, not up, in the 2025 NFL Draft

Photo by Keith Birmingham/MediaNews Group/Pasadena Star-News via Getty Images

It would be very wise for the Cowboys to trade down during the NFL Draft.

We are less than a month away from the 2025 NFL Draft, where the Dallas Cowboys will go to work and find some new players. Some have expressed an interest in trading up for Colorado’s Travis Hunter to give them another star player at a premium position(s).

Previously, we discussed why this would not be the best route to take, and today we’re going to go in the opposite direction and examine what a Cowboys draft might look like if they were to trade back instead. Currently, they have the following selections within the top 100 picks:

• 1st round, pick 12
• 2nd round, pick 44
• 3rd round, pick 76

The Cowboys don’t have a fourth-round pick and wouldn’t pick again until their fifth-round pick at 149. That puts a lot of pressure on them to come through on their first three picks. This is especially challenging considering there are so many areas on the roster that would benefit from those resources.

Instead of trading up in the draft and giving up draft capital, the Cowboys should look to trade back and acquire some. And we’re not talking about doing it just once. That’s not splash. What if the Cowboys traded back twice in the first round, added more picks, and still landed their targets? That’s an ideal scenario for a team with many needs that relies heavily on finding quality contributors with their draft picks. This is how this could work.

Pick 12 rolls around, and none of the “blinking light” players remain. The team works the phone and makes a trade with the Denver Broncos that goes like this...

• Broncos receive the 12th overall pick (worth 1200 points on the trade chart)
• Cowboys receive the 20th overall pick (850 points) + Denver’s 2nd-round, pick 51 (390 points)

Let’s say the Cowboys have their sights set on one of the first-round receivers, but when pick 20 gets here, only Arizona’s Tetairoa has been taken. With multiple options still available, the Cowboys work the phones again and make a deal with the Los Angeles “%#$@ them picks” Rams that goes like this...

• Rams receive the 20th overall pick (850 points)
• Cowboys receive the 26th overall pick (700 points) + the Rams 3rd-rounder, pick 90 (140 points)

The Cowboys add two more top 100 picks and are now armed with the following picks:

• 1st Round, pick 26
• 2nd Round, pick 44
• 2nd Round, pick 51
• 3rd Round, pick 76
• 3rd Round, pick 90

Now, the question becomes, what do they do with these picks? The Cowboys would be sitting in a great position to attack several areas of their roster.

PICK 26 - Find a receiver to complement CeeDee​

The Cowboys don’t need to use the 12th overall pick to land a talented receiving partner to help CeeDee Lamb. They can find a quality pass catcher late in the first round. Ohio State is a factory for creating star NFL receivers and Emeka Egbuka (projected draft position 32) is their latest product. Another choice is the dynamic playmaker from Missouri, Luther Burden (34). Pro Football Focus has both of these guys inside their top 20 on their big board, but the chances at least one of them makes it to 26 is very strong.

PICK 44 - Secure depth at corner​

It’s nice to have two All-Pro corners on the roster, and normally that would make you feel comfortable at the position, but the Cowboys are anything but normal. The uncertainty of Trevon Diggs (health) and DaRon Bland (contract) leave them a lot to think about, and for a position as important as cornerback, that’s not an area they want to be thin at. There is a nice cluster of starting caliber corners all projected to go near where the Cowboys pick in the second round: Kentucky’s Maxwell Hairston (35), East Carolina’s Shavon Revel Jr. (39), Florida State’s Azareye’h Thomas (40), Mississippi’s Trey Amos (41), and Notre Dame’s Benjamin Morrison (42). Finding a new starting CB in the second round shouldn’t be a problem.

PICK 51 - Get a Buckeye back​

The Cowboys must find a new starting running back, and they must find it in this draft. Let’s be real, Javonte Williams or Miles Sanders aren’t scaring anyone. While the answer doesn’t have to be Ashton Jeanty at pick 12, the Cowboys would be smart not to dilly-dally too long and target one of the better backs in the draft. As luck would have it, both the Ohio State running backs, TreVeyon Henderson (45) and Quinshon Judkins (47), are projected to go near pick 51. Whether or not they are the running backs the Cowboys desire, there will be a handful of great options in this area of the draft and having an extra pick here helps tremendously.

PICK 76 - Add some power inside​

With extra resources spent at defensive end and linebacker and hoping a top 50 draft pick is used on a corner, the Cowboys defense is looking a lot better, but one area that still needs reinforcements is defensive tackle. The team re-signed Osa Odighizuwa and added Solomon Thomas, but they still need more power. South Carolina’s T.J. Sanders (69) and Texas A&M’s Shemar Turner (82) could be great value third-round picks. Both defensive tackles would go in the second round on PFF’s big board but might make it to Dallas in the middle of the third.

PICK 90 - Be serious about finding Dak’s backup​

Don’t look now, but the Cowboys don’t have a backup quarterback. Will they just hold their breath that a quarterback who has missed time in four of the last five years will stay healthy? Probably not. The Cowboys will address this position, but how exactly is still unclear. They could still find a low-cost veteran somewhere down the line, or they could look to the draft to find a possible answer. But rather than taking a complete flyer on a late-round pick, they could be a little more assertive and take one sooner. Going after a player like Texas’ Quinn Ewers (81) or Louisville’s Tyler Shough (95) could be their last chance before the options become a true gamble.

The Cowboys may not have the quantity of picks from all the trading they have done recently, but they still hold a lot of total draft capital and with a couple of deals, they could turn that into five top-100 picks. Remember, they didn’t have a fourth-rounder last year but still managed to land four top-100 picks, and that was with less draft capital than they have this year. There is certainly an opportunity there to do some finagling.

What would you think about a draft haul like that? Or do you have better ideas for those draft picks?

What would you think about a Cowboys first two days draft haul that looked something like this?

Pick 26: WR Luther Burden III
Pick 44: CB Trey Amos
Pick 51: RB Quinshon Judkins
Pick 76: DT Shemar Turner
Pick 90: QB Quinn Ewers pic.twitter.com/xXOxpHEUvD

— Dan Rogers (@DannyPhantom24) March 29, 2025​

Source: https://www.bloggingtheboys.com/202...er-burden-treveyon-henderson-quinshon-judkins

 

[Dallas Cowboys]

BTB Tuesday Takes: Why it is silly to ban the tush push

Photo by Andy Lewis/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images

How do you feel about some NFL owners wanting to outlaw the tush push?

NFL owners are convening this week in Florida to discuss all sorts of manners relative to the league as a whole. It is in situations like these that rules are changed and protocols are set for the future to come.

Oftentimes we applaud the rule changes that the league comes up with. They are very born of necessary evolution what with the game having changed thanks to any number of reasons, but sometimes they are the league tinkering with something for the sake of tinkering.

Consider how the league overreacted to the pass interference penalty that was not called against the Los Angeles Rams (which would have benefited the New Orleans Saints) in the 2018 NFC Championship Game. They made pass interference an even more complicated thing and had to undo it.

In our current moment some NFL owners allegedly want to outlaw/ban the tush push that the Philadelphia Eagles have popularized. Let the record fully show that I, and I imagine all of you, hate the Eagles with all of me. They are the worst of the worst.

But what I think is ridiculous is for the league or any one coach/owner/whoever to suggest that the play should be banned. Why? I have yet to hear a legitimate reason for this. Are we just upset that the Eagles are good at it? If this is the true reason, and I cannot see how it wouldn’t be, then wanting to get rid of it is among the most farfetched things I can think to waste people’s time with at an actual meeting where work is supposed to be done.

We didn’t suggest to outlaw sidearm passing when quarterbacks started doing that. Nobody freaked out and said that hurdling players shouldn’t be a thing anymore when runners started to do so.

You or I or whoever may think that the tush push is annoying, but the truth of everything is that it is simply something that the Eagles are good at. Very good, in fact. If somebody else - anybody else - wanted to be that good at it then they could work towards that.

These are my thoughts, but I am anxious to hear yours in today’s open prompt.

Source: https://www.bloggingtheboys.com/202...ay-takes-why-it-is-silly-to-ban-the-tush-push

 

[Dallas Cowboys]

Touchbacks will now start at 35-yard line, KaVontae Turpin could see more opportunities

Photo by Cooper Neill/Getty Images

The NFL’s kickoffs continue to change and KaVontae Turpin should continue to thrive.

At the moment there is an NFC East team who has a serious advantage on a certain play, a play that was up for serious discussion during the recent NFL owner meetings in Florida. No, I am not talking about the Philadelphia Eagles and the tush push. What I am hinting at is the Dallas Cowboys, KaVontae Turpin, and how the league is continuing to mold and adjust the kickoff play.

On Tuesday, the league’s owners voted on a modification of the kickoff that was completely changed last year to the new dynamic version of the play. While there were no changes to the onside kick format, what is different is that touchbacks on kickoffs will now have teams start at their own 35-yard line.

The key upshot here: Touchbacks will now come out to the 35 instead of the 30, which in theory will discourage teams from kicking so many balls out of the end zone and lead to more returns. With injury rates down on the dynamic kickoff, this was the next step. https://t.co/YFgJzS8izq

— Tom Pelissero (@TomPelissero) April 1, 2025​

Touchbacks have been significantly altered over the course of the last decade or so. It is highly likely that you remember a world where one resulted in you starting with the ball all the way back at your own 20-yard line. That was when dinosaurs roamed the earth, I believe.

The league moved things up five yards at first to the 25-yard line, and obviously then to the 30. Again, over the last decade (ish) we have seen 15 yards added from the place that we always knew kickoffs to land. Consider that in those days you had 80 yards to reach the endzone and now you only have 65. That is a reduction of 18.75%!

As Tom Pelissero notes in his post, the idea/logic here from the owners is that this adjustment will discourage teams from booting balls into the endzone and giving teams a touchback’s worth of field position. Assuming this winds up being the case, it will lead to more opportunities for KaVontae Turpin.

Consider that Turpin had a career-high 27 kickoff returns last season. He had his first touchdown, who doesn’t remember it, and had a significantly higher yards per return average than either of his first two seasons.

KaVontae Turpin Yards Per Kickoff Return (number of returns)​

• 2022: 24.2 (21)
• 2023: 29.2 (10)
• 2024: 33.5 (27)

It certainly helps that Turpin’s longest return was 99 yards last year, but the overall point stands. Teams being forced (theoretically) into putting the ball in his hands at that moment in time should lead to the Cowboys having more opportunities for success.

Source: https://www.bloggingtheboys.com/202...hange-touchbacks-35-yard-line-kickoff-returns

 

[Dallas Cowboys]

Brian Schottenheimer gives insight on what Cowboys goal is with 12th overall pick

Photo by Sam Hodde/Getty Images

The draft strategy for the Cowboys is becoming more clear.

April is officially here, and that means the Dallas Cowboys are preparing for the avenue they covet the most when it comes to roster building, the NFL draft. The Cowboys hold the 12th overall pick thanks to a disappointing 7-10 campaign last season. So, they'll have their pick of premium talent once they are on the clock.

On Tuesday morning, head coach Brian Schottenheimer spoke to the media at the annual NFL Meetings. When asked what the Cowboys are looking for in the first round, Schottenheimer mentioned the best player available approach.

Cowboys coach Brian Schottenheimer on their goal with the 12th overall pick pic.twitter.com/otE4QheV2q

— Jon Machota (@jonmachota) April 1, 2025​

The positions that Schottenheimer mentioned are key here. Wide receiver has been one of the top positions that have been linked to the Cowboys as far as first-round picks go. Tetairoa McMillan out of Arizona is probably the people's choice if Dallas goes the receiver route to kick things off. Matthew Golden out of Texas and Luther Burden out of Missouri are possible options as well at the position.

Cornerback is a position that the Cowboys will certainly have some top-tier talent to choose from. Team owner Jerry Jones is infatuated with Colorado's Travis Hunter, and for good reason. However, that would require moving up in the draft, and the price is likely too much for Dallas. Will Johnson out of Michigan has been mentioned as a potential pick for Dallas, and playing in a more zone oriented scheme, which is what Matt Eberflus will run, would likely better suit him. Jahdae Barron out of Texas is another prospect to remember with his zone scheme ability.

The Cowboys need help on the edge with the departure of DeMarcus Lawrence and uncertainty in the pieces that remain behind Michah Parsons. Georgia's Mykel Williams is a name that has been mentioned for the Cowboys on the edge in round one, rightfully so with his high run-stopping prowess and potential pass rush ability once he's developed more. Mike Green out of Marshall, who led the nation in sacks in 2024, has been projected between picks 10-15 by some, which is right in the Cowboys range. Tennessee's James Pearce Jr. and Shemar Stewart are players to watch as well.

Offensive tackle was also mentioned by Schottenheimer. That position won't be a popular choice, but it's definitely has some first-round options that Dallas could explore, like Missouri's Armand Membou, Ohio State's Josh Simmons, and Kelvin Banks, Jr. out of Texas.

When draft time rolls around, remember the positions that Schottenheimer outlined here.

Source: https://www.bloggingtheboys.com/202...-12th-overall-cornerback-wide-reciever-tackle