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[Dallas Cowboys]

Jerry Jones talking about Micah Parsons’ agent: ‘I don’t know his name’

Photo by Ethan Miller/Getty Images

Jerry Jones claims that he does not know the name of the agent who represents Micah Parsons.

For the most part this offseason Jerry Jones has stayed out of the public limelight.

Jerry did not speak at the NFL Combine which was a rarity for him. Prior to Tuesday his only comments in any sort of public capacity came at the retirement press conference for Zack Martin and that was obviously an understandable thing.

It feels appropriate that Tuesday was April Fool’s Day.

While in Florida for the NFL owners meetings Jerry Jones finally had a chance to speak on a number of things. As you can imagine the subject of Micah Parsons and his pending would-be contract extension arose, and Jerry noted that he and Parsons have been talking to one another... one on one.

This caused a bit of a reaction from people as it doesn’t seem to be the best way to go about business. In defending the nature of these negotiations Jerry said something rather bold - that he doesn’t even know the name of Micah Parsons’ agent.

Jerry Jones says he doesn’t worry about agents in contract talks. He’s been having conversations directly with Micah Parsons about his next deal. He said Micah is one of a very few people who have his cell phone number pic.twitter.com/DCORGH7z7v

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

“I really... are you kidding me? That’s just not something that you should worry about. You should be worrying about your ability to make it work and you should be worried about what the player does. Does he have good enough health? Does he have enough skill to do what you’re paying him the money for?”

“The agent is not a factor here, or something to worry about. And I don’t know his name. And so my point is that I’m not trying to demean him in any way, but this isn’t about an agent. The agent doesn’t have one thing to do with what we’re doing when we get on the football field against a team. Micah does. To the degree I’m involved, I do. The people that have something to do with what we do going forward, relative to our fans in football, are me and the player. not the agent. And I’m not demeaning the agent. I’m just saying anybody can do this. And that’s talk directly to a player. Frankly, most people that negotiate me will tell you that they were better off negotiating with... this is not uncommon. Visiting directly, with as far back as Emmitt. Deion. We, by the way maintained relationships that lasted well after their playing days.”

For the record Micah Parsons is represented by David Mulugheta. He works for Athletes First. He is quite literally one of the most well-known agents representing players in the NFL.

Maybe you didn’t know that. No one is saying you should. But FOX Sports’ David Helman, formerly of the mothership, put it well in saying that if you follow the NFL on a somewhat serious level then you likely know who Mulugheta is.

For the most part, which agent does what is industry stuff that I don’t expect most people to know or care about. It’s irrelevant to anyone who isn’t actively trying to get scoops & information.

David Mulugheta is one of, like, 3-5 agents I’d expect anyone with a semi-serious…

— David Helman (@davidhelman_) April 1, 2025​

Even if Mulugheta didn’t have this level of reputation and notoriety, Jerry Jones openly saying that he doesn’t know the name of the star player he is currently in negotiations with is quite the choice. It is one thing for Jerry to defend discussing matters with Parsons one on one, nobody is knocking Jerry for that. But being dismissive like that about someone in general, let alone someone in the position Mulugheta is and also let alone his stature in the NFL makes it hard to see how that is a positive for Jerry and the Cowboys.

As noted, Jerry made it a point to talk glowingly about the relationship that he and Parsons had and used it as fodder for why negotiating that way could work.

Parsons spoke up on social media after Jerry’s comments began to make the rounds and he defended his representation and was specific to note that he trusts Mulugheta and will not be doing any deal without his involvement.

Facts!! David is the best and I will not be doing any deal without @DavidMulugheta involved! Like anyone with good sense I hired experts for a reason. There is no one I trust more when it comes to negotiating contracts than David! There will be no backdoors in this contract… https://t.co/nxKNSIXLvt

— Micah Parsons (@MicahhParsons11) April 1, 2025​

Even though a Parsons deal has yet to be done it has felt to this point like the Cowboys were at least making somewhat positive progress with regards to it. It will take a while for them to reach the eleventh hour nature that they did with CeeDee Lamb and Dak Prescott last year, but prior to this Tuesday morning, many might have said this one wouldn’t go down to the wire.

Maybe it still won’t. Perhaps this will wind up being a bunch of nothing. But ultimately this feels like Jerry Jones playing a very silly game and sitting on the verge of winning a very silly prize. That is not the best way to go about this particular kind of business.

Source: https://www.bloggingtheboys.com/202...ent-does-not-know-his-name-contract-extension

 

[Dallas Cowboys]

Dallas Cowboys’ plan is to keep Cooper Beebe at center right now per head coach

Photo by Cooper Neill/Getty Images

The Cowboys are talking like they want to keep Cooper Beebe at center.

There are a number of needs on the Dallas Cowboys roster at the moment. We can sit here and fairly note that wide receiver, cornerback, pass rusher or anywhere along the offensive line are positions that could/should be addressed near the top of the NFL Draft. That feels fair.

Some of our opinions on this front have to do with the way that we see the team’s roster and potential depth chart at the moment. Obviously if a player is here or there then that impacts how any single person can view it.

One of these potential twists, so to speak, involve one of last season’s favorite rookies in Cooper Beebe. The Cowboys landed Beebe in the third round thanks to a first-round trade and started him at center and we were all quite pleased. It felt like the beginning of a new era, and Beebe would man the spot for years to come like Tyler Biadasz and Travis Frederick before him.

This still remains possible, but the math along the offensive line is significantly different now and almost different than the entire Biadasz and Frederick eras with Zack Martin having retired. Martin’s departure means the Cowboys have a need at right guard and Cooper is a potential answer to that question.

Brian Schottenheimer noted on Tuesday at the NFL’s owner meetings in Florida that the plan for now is to keep Beebe at center.

Cowboys HC Brian Schottenheimer said that keeping Cooper Beebe at center is the plan “right now.” He had this to say on if Brock Hoffman can be a 17-game starter at right guard:

“I would never bet against Brock Hoffman. Brock Hoffman man, if I was in a back room of a bar and had… pic.twitter.com/qtN7RB8sYL

— Nick Harris (@NickHarrisFWST) April 1, 2025​

In the same quote Schottenheimer expressed confidence in Brock Hoffman as the potential slide-in at right guard which is a logical place to go. An offensive line (from left to right) of Tyler Guyton, Tyler Smith, Cooper Beebe, Brock Hoffman and Terence Steele makes sense on many levels.

An often said thing about this type of discussion is that you do not want to solve one problem by creating another. Moving Beebe to guard sounds great in theory, but then the Cowboys have a need at center. There are potential answers there as well obviously, but I don’t think anyone wants to leave it to a largely inexperienced player.

It is also possible that this is some gamesmanship from the Cowboys. The NFL Draft is later this month and they could have their eyes on an offensive lineman or two and maybe even a center. Holding cards close to the vest at this point in time is wise.

Where do you want to see Cooper Beebe play in 2025? Center or right guard?

Source: https://www.bloggingtheboys.com/202...rian-schottenheimer-zack-martin-brock-hoffman

 

[Dallas Cowboys]

Brian Schottenheimer does not expect Micah Parsons to hold out from Dallas Cowboys

Photo by Mitchell Leff/Getty Images

Brian Schottenheimer is confident that Micah Parsons will not hold out this offseason.

When it comes to this offseason, the Dallas Cowboys have been much busier than a year ago. Nobody is handing out any prizes or awards for being better than one of the worst offseasons in recent memory, but facts are facts.

People might consider a blue ribbon or gold sash though if the Cowboys managed to get a big-time contract extension done before the eleventh hour hit. Last year, they very infamously used up just about every second possible before taking care of CeeDee Lamb and Dak Prescott. They had the opportunity to extend Micah Parsons last year as well but did not and here we are on extension watch once more.

One variable that is different time around for the team is the head coach. Brian Schottenheimer is in for Mike McCarthy, and whether that served as motivation for the flurry (once again in a literal sense) of free agency activity is unknown. If it was any sort of factor, then maybe it will also be for getting a record-setting extension done.

For what it is worth, Schottenheimer spoke on Tuesday at the league’s owner meetings and noted that he does not expect Parsons to hold out this offseason despite the extension situation.

Cowboys HC Brian Schottenheimer says he expects Micah Parsons to not holdout during his contract extension negotiations:

“Micah said he wants to be around. It’s where he wants to be. I think we’re very comfortable with that…I have no question in my mind that he will be around.” pic.twitter.com/nv6HBxpUzR

— Nick Harris (@NickHarrisFWST) April 1, 2025​

Holdouts are impossible to predict. Consider that with Lamb and Prescott, the two players who we just discussed, that the former held out while the latter did not. What’s more is that the Cowboys still technically had some level of potential contractual control over Lamb as if they had not reached a deal with him they could have placed the franchise tag on him this offseason, something that was not true with Prescott. Perhaps those variables played a role as well.

The point is that some players feel that holding out is in their best interest while others do not. Parsons has not indicated at any point since the season ended that a holdout is something he is considering, and while it is fair for the team to expect him to serve as a leader on the field during the offseason, it is also fair to say that Parsons not holding out last year when he was first eligible for an extension and didn’t get one was already him showing some grace.

With a new coach, the Cowboys can have an extra minicamp in the spring, but Brian Schottenheimer will keep the schedule the same with the normal OTAs and the mandatory minicamp in June. The voluntary offseason program starts Monday for first-year head coaches

— Todd Archer (@toddarcher) April 1, 2025​

Next week will bring with it one of the greatest weeks on the sports calendar with The Masters arriving, but it will also bring this subject to a head as the Cowboys will begin their voluntary offseason program since Schottenheimer is a first-year head coach.

Source: https://www.bloggingtheboys.com/202...icah-parsons-hold-out-contract-extension-deal

 

[Dallas Cowboys]

NFC East news: Tush Push talk tabled for now, Jayden Daniels working on dual-threat skills

Mark J. Rebilas-Imagn Images

The latest news from around the division.

No resolution reached on fate of Eagles’ signature Tush Push - Dave Zangaro, NBC Sports Philadelphia​

It seems a decision on the Tush Push won’t be made this month.

PALM BEACH, Fla. — The NFL’s debate on the future of the Tush Push has been tabled, according to multiple reports.

The proposal from the Green Bay Packers presented this week at the NFL’s annual meetings was to make the push element of the Philadelphia Eagles’ signature quarterback sneak play illegal. Opinions were clearly split on the Tush Push entering Tuesday and this debate will be revisited.

The next league meetings are in May.

The proposal would have needed support from 24 of 32 owners to pass and it clearly didn’t have the votes. According to Jonathan Jones of CBS Sports, there were 16 teams that opposed the rule change.

Competition Committee chairman Rich McKay said the debate lasted 30-40 minutes and went beyond potential player safety concerns into the aesthetics of the play.

The fate of the Tush Push has been one of the biggest topics at these meetings at The Breakers with some strong opinions on both sides. The Eagles have obviously been pushing hard (no pun intended) to keep a play that has been huge for them and hasn’t worked nearly as well for other teams.

“You guys know my opinion on it,” Eagles head coach Nick Sirianni said on Tuesday morning ahead of the scheduled vote. “I’m not going to continue to dive into it. My opinion is very well documented and I won’t continue to dive into that. I think maybe that’s why there’s so many cameras here today to talk about that. I still stand where I stood when we talked at the Combine. We’ll see how it goes down. Have I been lobbying? I’ve talked to a couple people, yeah. We’ll see how it goes today.”

Jameis Winston hoping to be part of ‘paradigm shift’ for Giants: ‘I saw that window of opportunity open’ - Erich Edholm, NFL.com​

Despite being the backup, Winston wants to bring change to New York.

Jameis Winston said he wanted an opportunity to play this season, and the New York Giants apparently provided him the best opportunity for that — even with a more accomplished quarterback now on the roster.

The Giants introduced Winston to the media on Monday, and Winston explained the thought process behind signing a two-year deal with the Giants coming off their 3-14 campaign in 2024. The only remaining QB from last season is Tommy DeVito.

“This team is looking for a complete paradigm shift,” Winston said. “This team is looking to make a splash, and it’s no better place to do it with no greater calling to do right here in New York City being a New York football Giant.”

The Giants, of course, also later signed veteran QB Russell Wilson, and the pre-draft presumption is that Wilson is the early leader for the starting role in New York.

After all, Wilson has started 11 or more games in each of his 13 NFL seasons, even while joining his third team in four years. Winston has started only 17 games total over his past five seasons and hasn’t been a full-time starter since 2019 with the Buccaneers.

“My initial vision, approaching this offseason, was to find an opportunity that gave me either a starting role or a bridge opportunity to be a starting quarterback,” Winston said, “and I believe this situation is a situation that looks similar.

“Whether it’s a veteran quarterback that I have to compete with and help serve and help make better for this team or it’s a quarterback from college who I have to help get better, I have to compete with and serve.”

Commanders: Jayden Daniels to polish his dual-threat tools - John Keim, ESPN​

Washington’s QB wants to hone his craft this offseason.

PALM BEACH, Fla., — Washington Commanders quarterback Jayden Daniels used his legs to escape trouble and make big plays as a rookie. But that’s not what stood out to the Commanders — and it’s why they’re excited about what he’ll do for an encore.

“He’s established the throwing side. If he wasn’t a dynamic runner, he’d still be an excellent quarterback,” Washington coach Dan Quinn said at the NFL’s annual league meeting.

As Daniels and the Commanders prepare for his second season — they begin spring workouts April 21 — the question will be how he improves upon his rookie season. And how to do so while defenses study how to defend him better.

Daniels was named NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year and finished seventh in MVP voting. He achieved those feats because of his dual-threat ability. But, though Daniels ran for 891 yards and six touchdowns, it was his ability as a passer that helped elevate his play — as well as Washington’s.

But his legs increased his playmaking ability.

“He adds the value of mobility and being outside the pocket and creating scrambles to run and on scrambles to pass,” Quinn said. “Teams wanted to try a certain unique thing, a spy or what have you, but we’ll just continue to look at that as we progress.”

“We thought he made a lot of improvement extending plays,” Quinn said. “Early on in the season, they were extending to run, and then now they got extending to throw the ball down the field. But for him, the footwork, that’s one thing I know he’s going to dig in hard on this year.”

Source: https://www.bloggingtheboys.com/202...-jayden-daniels-working-on-dual-threat-skills

 

[Dallas Cowboys]

Dak Prescott’s agents provide behind-the-scenes look at the negotiation process with the Cowboys

Photo by Sam Hodde/Getty Images

The path that the Cowboys took to paying Dak Prescott was interesting to say the least.

The Dallas Cowboys are always in the news for the drama surrounding signing their star players. There’s this whole song and dance that seems to accompany each new deal, and it drags on for what seems like forever.

Recently, Brian Murphy, the founder and CEO of Athletes First, sat down with Dak Prescott’s agents, Todd France and A.J. Stephens, and gave us a behind-the-scenes look at the negotiations that went on with Jerry and Stephen in Prescott’s contract extensions. Some of the things they said were things we already knew, but other things were quite interesting. Here are some of the nuggets from this insightful, in-depth look at Prescott’s contract ordeal.

Four vs. Five​

The Cowboys engaged in conversations about getting a deal done after Prescott’s third season, which is the earliest a team can offer a veteran contract to a player on a rookie deal. It’s been stated repeatedly over the years that the big holdup with his first deal is the length. The Joneses wanted longer terms, which lowers his overall cost, while his agents wanted a four-year deal, allowing Dak to hit the market sooner and capitalize on a market that would then be much higher. There’s really not much to say about this issue as both sides had good reasons for wanting what they wanted. It’s not surprising that things ended with a standoff.

Baiting with guarantees ​

With neither side willing to budge on the length, the front office enticed Prescott with very high guarantees. The hope was that a player who had made less than $3 million over his first three seasons would jump at the opportunity to secure so much money. But France was not having it. He and Prescott had great conversations where they brainstormed every scenario and developed contingency plans. They felt good enough about their options that they were okay letting things play out without a deal. It was tough to turn down that much money, but in the overall grand scheme, more money could be made by holding strong.

Tag, you’re it​

We all know what happened after the two sides failed to reach a deal. The Cowboys placed the franchise tag on him in March of 2020. Negotiations continued in the summer leading up to the July 15th deadline, but once again, the obstacle was the length. And once again, no deal got done. Prescott plays on the tag for $31.4 million that year, and sadly, tragedy strikes. Dak suffers a catastrophic foot injury in Week 5 and misses the remainder of the season. The critics came out in full force on how negligent it was for Prescott to not take the deal, but his side never looked back. All the focus was put on the healing process. Fortunately, surgery and recovery go well and Prescott heals up fine without any concerns about his future.

The best contract of all time​

Negotiations picked up again in the spring of 2021, and once again, the Cowboys presented a five-year deal, which France quickly said they were not going to go through again. The Cowboys agreed to do four years, but the numbers still didn’t line up at first. However, three weeks later, a deal was done as they agreed on a four-year, $160 million deal, making Prescott the highest-paid player in NFL history. While the Joneses still ended up getting their five-year deal when you include the franchise tag, Prescott’s agents were able to get a front-loaded deal and added a little insurance policy into the language. Even with a deal imminent, Dak’s agent required them to franchise tag him a second time as a formality just so the chance of him being tagged a third time at any point in his career would be nearly impossible because of the financial implications of such a move made it cost-prohibitive. Team Dak made sure his tag days were over.

Dak almost caved on a small detail​

There was a point late in the negotiations where the two sides were haggling over contract language, and Prescott wanted it to be over. It was a stipulation that could void guarantees if he was ever fined. Dak, believing it was a non-issue because he would never be fined, was willing to cave and just make the deal, but France protected his client. He told Prescott to sit tight, and it would get worked out. Three days later, it did. No such clause existed. Ironically, it turned out to be a good thing because Prescott did get fined the following year for making remarks condoning fans for throwing garbage at the officials after the Cowboys lost their Wild Card game against the San Francisco 49ers when time ran out on them after not being able to get a QB spike off.

Get it done, or Dak’s gone​

Prescott didn’t ask for a lot of things, but he did make one request. If the two sides could not get a deal done by the start of the 2024 season, there would be no negotiations taking place during the year. He didn’t want to go into his bye week and hear about this or that with his contract. For Dak, that time was all about football. So, if they couldn’t reach an agreement by the start of the season, that’s it. No more talks, and he’s content to hit free agency in 2025. Additionally, his agents mentioned that the offseason would see a bidding war like no other, and France felt that would mean the end of his time in Dallas.

Fortunately, the Joneses were aware of this also, and it never got to that point, although they held their breath as long as they could with a new deal not getting done until hours before kickoff. Alas, Prescott was locked down long-term, and disaster was averted.

The “new” best contract of all time​

Again, Team Dak came away the big winners. Prescott’s new deal was a four-year extension worth $240 million. Dak became the first (and only at this point) $60 million per year player and the first player in NFL history to earn $100 million in 12 months. And again, all the language favored Dak, with another no-trade clause.

In the video, everyone praised the Joneses for knowing what they were doing and the valiant effort they made in an attempt to get a player for a lower cost, but they had met their match with such strong representation from France and his team. Prescott was always going to get what he had earned, and with great patience and the perseverance to wait the Joneses out, Team D4K made sure of it.

Source: https://www.bloggingtheboys.com/202...negotiation-process-franchise-tag-deal-length

 

[Dallas Cowboys]

Cowboys news: Jerry Jones creates a stir when talking about a Micah Parsons contract

Photo by Kevin Sabitus/Getty Images

The latest news around the Dallas Cowboys

Cowboys create stir around Micah Parsons negotiating as Jerry Jones attempts to cut agent out: ‘I don’t know his name’ - Jori Epstein, Yahoo Sports!​

Jerry Jones and the Dallas Cowboys have a unique way of negotiating contracts.

Parsons asked Jerry and Stephen Jones to connect with Mulguheta to negotiate, multiple sources confirmed to Yahoo Sports on Tuesday afternoon. Neither Jones has made that call, sources also confirmed.

Mulugheta has had conversations with Adam Prasifka, the Cowboys’ director of salary cap/player contracts. But even Jerry Jones said Tuesday the deal can’t be done without him as “I write the check.”

Jones indicated interest in negotiating only with Parsons and without involving his representation.

“The agent is not a factor here or something to worry about,” Jones said. “And I don’t know his name. My point is, I’m not trying to demean him, but this isn’t about an agent. … I’m not demeaning the agent. I’m just saying everybody can do this, and that’s talk directly to a player.

“And frankly most people that negotiate with me will tell me that that was better.”

While Jones said multiple times he was “not demeaning” Mulugheta, league sources believed the comment about not knowing Mulugheta’s name was indeed demeaning. Mulugheta has negotiated record-breaking contracts for NFL stars including Green Bay Packers quarterback Jordan Love, Cleveland Browns quarterback Deshaun Watson and a slew of top defensive backs.

Mulugheta became the first agent in NFL history to negotiate more than $1 billion in player contracts in a single year, according to a September announcement by his agency Athletes First.

Brian Schottenheimer on Cowboys’ offseason additions, what’s ahead - Tommy Yarrish, DallasCowboys.com​

The vision head coach Brian Schottenheimer has for the Cowboys is becoming clearer.

“We’re always looking to create competition,” Schottenheimer said. “We’re certainly not done, whether that remains in free agency over the next couple of weeks or whether that’s through the draft. We really wanted to attack the front on both sides of the line of scrimmage.”

The offensive and defensive lines of scrimmage have been a big emphasis in Dallas’ offseason, with the team resigning Osa Odighizuwa, adding Solomon Thomas, Payton Turner and Dante Fowler on the defensive line, and Robert Jones as an offensive guard. Schottenheimer believes it’s not only important for the Cowboys to compete in the NFC East, but in the league as a whole.

“The game is played in the trenches. It really is,” Schottenheimer said. “And it doesn’t matter if that’s the first play, the last play, whatever it is, but it’s always played up there at some point, whether it’s trying to stop the run or having a hold up in pass protection when you’re playing in a two-minute drive. So I think we’ve done a nice job with that to start.”

Schottenheimer reiterated that he’s looking to construct the roster from the outside, in, with a focus on players that get isolated in their roles. That would include cornerbacks, wide receivers, defensive ends and offensive tackles. The Cowboys have made some additions at those spots in free agency but are still looking to find more game changers through avenues like the 12th overall pick in the draft.

“We don’t want to ever pick 12th again, all right, let’s be honest,” Schottenheimer said. We don’t want to pick that high. But you’re looking for guys that influence the game. How do you influence the game? You rush the quarterback and you get sacks, strip sacks, fumbles, whatever it is. You score touchdowns.”

An emphasis for the Cowboys, and every NFL team, has been setting up their free agency additions to merry along with draft targets, something Dallas is confident in with just over three weeks to go until the first round begins.

“I feel like we go into this draft with a lot of confidence,” Schottenheimer said. “Again, we’re not done in free agency. we’re always looking to acquire; we’re always looking to compete on the personnel side of it. But I do feel like we’ve set ourselves up going into the draft where hey, we’re sitting in a certain spot, that’s the best player available, let’s go take him.”

Dak Prescott’s agents provide behind-the-scenes look at the negotiation process with the Cowboys - Dan Rogers, Blogging the Boys​

Todd France, Dak Prescott’s agent, pulls back the curtain on what negotiating with the Jones family is like.

Four vs. Five

The Cowboys engaged in conversations about getting a deal done after Prescott’s third season, which is the earliest a team can offer a veteran contract to a player on a rookie deal. It’s been stated repeatedly over the years that the big holdup with his first deal is the length. The Joneses wanted longer terms, which lowers his overall cost, while his agents wanted a four-year deal, allowing Dak to hit the market sooner and capitalize on a market that would then be much higher. There’s really not much to say about this issue as both sides had good reasons for wanting what they wanted. It’s not surprising that things ended with a standoff.

Baiting with guarantees

With neither side willing to budge on the length, the front office enticed Prescott with very high guarantees. The hope was that a player who had made less than $3 million over his first three seasons would jump at the opportunity to secure so much money. But France was not having it. He and Prescott had great conversations where they brainstormed every scenario and developed contingency plans. They felt good enough about their options that they were okay letting things play out without a deal. It was tough to turn down that much money, but in the overall grand scheme, more money could be made by holding strong.

Tag, you’re it

We all know what happened after the two sides failed to reach a deal. The Cowboys placed the franchise tag on him in March of 2020. Negotiations continued in the summer leading up to the July 15th deadline, but once again, the obstacle was the length. And once again, no deal got done. Prescott plays on the tag for $31.4 million that year, and sadly, tragedy strikes. Dak suffers a catastrophic foot injury in Week 5 and misses the remainder of the season. The critics came out in full force on how negligent it was for Prescott to not take the deal, but his side never looked back. All the focus was put on the healing process. Fortunately, surgery and recovery go well and Prescott heals up fine without any concerns about his future.

Next Man Up: Where Jalen Brooks fits in WR room - Nick Eatman, DallasCowboys.com​

Dallas could use another play maker at wide receiver. Here’s why Jalen Brooks shouldn’t be the forgotten man.

The Present: The wide receiver position is an interesting spot for the Cowboys as we turn the calendar to April. Players such as Brooks should have the opportunity to compete for spots, but currently, it’s still unclear just what the entire receiver room will look like. With the departure of Brandin Cooks to the Saints in free agency, it opens up a spot for the moment for players such as Brooks and Jalen Tolbert to take a leap. Obviously, CeeDee Lamb headlines the wide receiver spot and there could be more snaps for KaVontae Turpin and Jonathan Mingo. The Cowboys have already said they wouldn’t mind adding more help at receiver before the draft, and then taking a receiver in the NFL Draft is never off the table. So it won’t be easy for Brooks to make an impact, but receiver is one position that seems to have a big learning curve. This is where he must separate himself and have a stellar offseason and training camp, leaning on the experience he has with Dak Prescott and Brian Schottenheimer’s system.

The Future: Being a draft pick gives Brooks a four-year contract and his salary shouldn’t be too much where the Cowboys would want to go younger. This season, Brooks is expected to count $1.16 million, including a salary of $1.03 million. Where he Brooks has to stand out the most is be one of the top special teams players in the room, not to mention someone who can be reliable as a receiver. What helps Brooks is having the combination of being a bigger-body receiver who can also get down the field. But while he led the team in receiving average per catch, Brooks had one of the lowest catch-percentages on the team, catching just 12 of 30 targets. So being on the field is one thing, but he’s got to be a player who can move the chains and be a trusted receiver fro his quarterback.

Source: https://www.bloggingtheboys.com/202...h-parsons-contract-agent-brian-schottenheimer

 

[Dallas Cowboys]

2025 NFL Draft: Day 1, Day 3 options for Cowboys’ roster ‘needs’

Photo by Tim Warner/Getty Images

There are a number of players who the Cowboys could target throughout the NFL Draft.

The Dallas Cowboys have a total of 10 draft picks right now heading into the 2025 NFL Draft, and still have quite a few roster "needs" that have to be filled after being "selectively aggressive" in free agency. With only three of those draft picks in the Top 100, Dallas will have their work cut out for them in the late rounds to hit on some of those selections.

Today, we take a look at the Cowboys current roster "needs" and attempt to address them with the prospects that could be available for them on both Day 1 and Day 3 of the draft in April. Whatever roster "needs" they are not able to address in the early rounds will need to be addressed later, hence the purpose of this exercise.

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Running back​

Day 1: Ashton Jeanty, Boise State​

Day 3: Brashard Smith, SMU​

Jeanty has the talent and skill set to become one of the elite RBs in the league and would immediately take Dallas' running game to another level.

Smith is a WR-turned-RB who could become the unique/versatile offensive weapon as a change of pace back for the Cowboys.

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Wide receiver​

Day 1: Matthew Golden, Texas​

Day 3: Dont’e Thornton, Tennessee​

Golden is a three-level threat who would add some much-needed speed to the Cowboys aerial attack and give Dak Prescott another reliable playmaker to target.

Thornton needs to fine-tune his route running and expand his route tree, but his size/speed combo makes him an intriguing deep threat to add to Dallas' passing game.

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Offensive line​

Day 1: Armand Membou, Missouri​

Day 3: Ajani Cornelius, Oregon​

Membou could be another Tyler Smith for Dallas due to his OT/G versatility. He'd be a plug-and-play starter at RG early on and immediately upgrades the Cowboys OL.

Cornelius is another offensive lineman with OT/G versatility. He could compete for the starting job at RG right away in Dallas or provide much-needed depth at both RG and RT.

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Defensive tackle​

Day 1: Kenneth Grant, Michigan​

Day 3: Nazir Stackhouse, Georgia​

Grant is a plug-and-play DT who would be an immediate upgrade over Mazi Smith at the 1-tech in the middle of the Cowboys defensive line as a big bodied, run stopper.

Stackhouse is another big bodied, nose tackle who would immediately upgrade Dallas' run defense and potentially challenge Mazi Smith for the starting 1-tech job.

---

Defensive end​

Day 1: Mike Green, Marshall​

Day 3: Tyler Baron, Miami​

Green's agility and ability to convert speed into power to capture the edge as a pass rusher would give Dallas a dynamic duo at DE if they paired him with Micah Parsons.

Baron is an underrated pass rusher in the 2025 draft class who could not only provide more depth at DE in Dallas but could potentially challenge for real playing time.

---

Linebacker​

Day 1: Jihaad Campbell, Alabama​

Day 3: Danny Stutsman, Oklahoma​

Campbell is the best off-ball linebacker in the entire 2025 draft class with upside as a pass rusher as well. He would be a plug-and-play starter and great fit in Matt Eberflus' defense

Stutsman is kind of an old-school LB who is at his best reading and diagnosing in the run game. He could challenge for a spot in the rotation as a rookie.

---

Cornerback​

Day 1: Jahdae Barron, Texas​

Day 3: O'Donnell Fortune, South Carolina​

Barron is a versatile defensive back who can play just about anywhere in the Cowboys secondary. He could immediately step in and replace Jourdan Lewis in the slot.

Fortune is a safety turned cornerback with good speed who excels in zone coverage, making him a great fit in Matt Eberflus' heavy Cover 2 defensive scheme.

Source: https://www.bloggingtheboys.com/202...ds-ashton-jeanty-matthew-golden-jahdae-barron

 

[Dallas Cowboys]

BTB Wednesday Poll: Should DeMarcus Lawrence make the Ring of Honor?

Photo by Cooper Neill/Getty Images

Should the Cowboys consider DeMarcus Lawrence for the Ring of Honor?

A few weeks ago DeMarcus Lawrence left the Dallas Cowboys in free agency for the Seattle Seahawks. Leaving one team for another is quite normal.

What made that situation stand out (to put it lightly) was how Lawrence commented about the team on his departure. He said in an interview in Seattle that Dallas would never win the Super Bowl and then had a back and forth with Micah Parsons on social media.

It is possible that the whole situation impacted how you view DeMarcus Lawrence and his place in franchise history. Interestingly, while making some comments on Tuesday at the NFL’s owner meetings, Jerry Jones was asked about the entire saga with Lawrence.

Jerry took the high road (for real) and praised Lawrence which is obviously the right move. What’s more is that he said that none of how it all went on will have any influence on his “desire” to put Tank in the team’s Ring of Honor.

When asked about this, Jerry Jones was effusive in praise for DeMarcus Lawrence and the leadership he gave Cowboys. Said these comments have “zero” influence on his desire to put DeMarcus in Cowboys Ring of Honor https://t.co/ILyxOPAkON

— Jori Epstein (@JoriEpstein) April 1, 2025​

The Ring of Honor?!

Let me be clear that I mean absolutely zero disrespect to Lawrence, but that kind of took me by surprise. Jimmy Johnson’s situation was clearly unique, but for the most part the people who have joined the team’s Ring of Honor have felt very obvious from the time they left the team.

Zack Martin stands as a very possible option, but do we think that Lawrence does? They entered the NFL together as a part of the team’s draft class in 2014, but again I don’t know that the thought of the latter ever joining the Ring of Honor ever legitimately entered my mind.

For our Wednesday poll we are asking all of you to vote and specify your thoughts/justifications in the comments below!

Source: https://www.bloggingtheboys.com/202...ould-demarcus-lawrence-make-the-ring-of-honor

 

[Dallas Cowboys]

Jerry Jones talks Cowboys Super Bowl drought and more moves in free agency or trade

Photo by Megan Briggs/Getty Images

Jerry Jones had the media buzzing on Tuesday.

The Dallas Cowboys are getting everything together for the NFL draft at the end of the month. However, the biggest elephant in the room these days is a new contract for All-Pro pass rusher Micah Parsons a new contract. Of course, that means team owner Jerry Jones will be heavily involved.

On Tuesday, Jones took some time to talk to the media. Various topics were discussed, but the comments by Jones on the Parsons deal are what took center stage. According to the boss in Dallas, he and Parsons have met privately for five or six hours, and serval key factors about his new contract have been “agreed to”, although there's no deal yet.

Jerry Jones with the latest on Micah Parsons’ contract situation. He said term, guarantees and money have all been discussed with Parsons pic.twitter.com/FFHxM4O8Lg

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

The statement and coverage from Jerry Jones about not knowing Micah Parsons’ agent can be found here.

Jones also mentioned that Parsons is one of three people who has his cell phone number. He also claimed that the former first-round pick asked for it. There's plenty to unpack there, and it certainly will be dissected until the deal gets finalized. However, let's get to some other things Jones said.

It's no secret that there's been frustration surrounding the Cowboys for three decades now. They haven't won a Super Bowl since 1995. In fact, they haven't even been to an NFC Championship Game during that time. For a franchise with so much history and tradition, it's extremely mind-blowing how long it's been since they've have upper level type of success on the field.

Despite the drought, Jones talked about how the Cowboys have 'hung around the rim' with being one of the most successful regular season teams over the last decade plus, and not making it past the second round since the 1990s isn't something that he thinks about.

Cowboys owner Jerry Jones on the franchise’s 29-year Super Bowl drought and why that doesn’t impact how he puts together the 2025 Cowboys pic.twitter.com/CvihZP8COA

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

Another big topic of discussion in Dallas, and this is every year, is free agency. The Cowboys were very active during the first week, but they didn't make any major splashes. There were some solid additions like linebacker Jack Sanborn, defensive lineman Solomon Thomas, and cornerback Kaiir Elam, who was acquired by trade.

There are still some quality guys left on the open market that could give the Cowboys a boost, and they fit the financial side of how the Cowboys operate, which is very frugal. When asked if any more moves in free agency will be done before the draft, Jones said yes.

Would Cowboys owner Jerry Jones anticipate making another free agent signing or trade before the NFL Draft?

“Yes. We could. We certainly don’t know that because to do either or, that I’m anticipating, involves other teams. But I would suspect we may do something.” pic.twitter.com/hdXdCMaqZQ

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

Source: https://www.bloggingtheboys.com/202...rought-and-more-moves-in-free-agency-or-trade

 

[Dallas Cowboys]

Can you guess this former player and coach 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​

Tuesday, April 1, 2025
Monday, March 31, 2025
Sunday, March 30, 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/2025/4/2/24399400/sb-nation-cowboys-daily-trivia-in-5

 

[Dallas Cowboys]

Cowboys roster: Matt Waletzko likely looking at last chance with Dallas

Photo by Cooper Neill/Getty Images

2025 is a big year for Matt Waletzko.

Unlike most of the Cowboys’ 2022 draft class, offensive tackle Matt Waletzko isn’t going into 2025 with a great sense of security. But at least there’s a solid opportunity at his position, giving Waletzko a puncher’s chance at continuing his NFL dream in Dallas.

The class of 2022 has already yielded two of the Cowboys’ youngest stars in G Tyler Smith and CB DaRon Bland, plus another Pro Bowler in TE Jake Ferguson. It also gave us WR Jalen Tolbert, a potential starter this season, and two likely role players in DE Sam Williams and LB Damone Clark. Only the last two picks of that draft, DT John Ridgeway and LB Devin Harper, are off the roster.

Currently, Waletzko’s stock is the lowest of the remaining bunch. He’s had a hard time staying healthy, missing his rookie year including most of training camp with a shoulder injury. It was again a shoulder that took him out in 2023, and he missed all but the last few weeks of the season. After three years, Waletzko has only been active for 11 games and has yet to start one.

We’ve all heard the line about the importance of availability, and that’s certainly been a problem for this fourth-year prospect so far. But even without the career momentum of his draftmates, Waletzko still warrants some intrigue in 2025.

Even when he was drafted, Waletzko was considered a raw prospect with great athletic gifts but a heavy need for development. He’s a 6’8” specimen who’s missed out on the very things he needed most to make it in the league: practice and playing time. As long as he makes it to this year’s camp, perhaps whatever experience and coaching he’s had so far will give Waletzko a chance to start putting things together. And, of course, finally having better luck with injuries.

It’s not like the Cowboys don’t need him. While Tyler Guyton and Terence Steele should be starting again this season, they come with their own question marks. Guyton struggled mightily as a rookie and Steele has never gotten all the way back to his 2021-2022 form, though there were encouraging signs late last year. The hope is that new offensive coordinator Klayton Adams, an offensive line guy, and new OL coach Conor Riley will help them get back on track. If so, they could also have a positive impact on Waletzko.

Veteran Chuma Edoga has left in free agency, leaving Asim Richards as the leading in-house candidate for the swing tackle job. But Richards has always been considered better suited for the interior line, while Waletzko is a prototypical tackle prospect. If Waletzko can finally play the part as well as he looks it, he could rise in that discussion.

We’re still early in the offseason, so this is not the full scope of Waletzko’s possible competition. The Cowboys could still be looking at veteran tackles in free agency, especially as we get further down the line and asking prices drop. And then there’s the draft, where Dallas is a real wild card when it comes to offensive line prospects. If a strong OT candidate is available early, even in the first round, the Cowboys could justifiably take him as immediate depth and for competition, with an eye on probably replacing Steele in 2026.

That would be the biggest blow to Matt Waletzko’s chances, and it’s not hard to fathom. But at the very least, he’s still here and will likely get one more training camp to fight for a roster spot. Injuries have delayed his development, but if things go right in this fourth year then Waletzko could become a bigger factor in the Cowboys’ roster decisions.

Source: https://www.bloggingtheboys.com/202...depth-klayton-adams-conor-riley-asim-richards

 

[Dallas Cowboys]

Cowboys 7-round mock draft maximizes value with trade

Photo by Brooke Sutton/Getty Images

It would be great to see the Cowboys trade a few times during the NFL Draft.

The Dallas Cowboys are going to have a lot of different options available to them in this year’s draft based on the crop of talent and where Dallas is picking. Perhaps their best possible path forward is by trading back, thereby accumulating more value for a stacked class.

With that in mind, here is a full seven-round mock draft (crafted through the mock draft machine at Pro Football Focus) that explores the reality of the Cowboys moving backwards in the first round.

Round 1, Pick 12: ***TRADE***​

It’s a repeat of 2021, as the Cowboys get on the clock just after seeing the 49ers take Tetairoa McMillan with the 11th overall pick. With the top receiver off the board, Dallas is suddenly working the phones. With Penn State tight end Tyler Warren still on the board, Indianapolis is eager to move up.

DAL gets: IND 1st (14th overall), IND 4th (117th overall), IND 6th (189th overall)
IND gets: DAL 1st (12th overall)

Best available: TE Tyler Warren, S Malaki Starks, CB Will Johnson, WR Luther Burden, RB Omarion Hampton, EDGE Mike Green

Round 1, Pick 14: ***TRADE***​

Netting a fourth- and sixth-round pick to move back only two spots isn’t bad, but the Cowboys can do more. After Michigan’s Will Johnson comes off the board at 13, the Cowboys get another offer they can’t refuse, with the Chargers coming up for Texas A&M EDGE Shemar Stewart.

DAL gets: LAC 1st (22nd overall), LAC 3rd (86th overall), LAC 4th (125th overall)
LAC gets: DAL 1st (14th overall), DAL 5th (171st overall), DAL 5th (174th overall)

Best available: S Malaki Starks, EDGE Mike Green, WR Luther Burden, RB Omarion Hampton, DT Kenneth Grant

Round 1, Pick 22: Omarion Hampton, RB - North Carolina​

Okay, finally the Cowboys make a draft pick, and it’s one they’ve been connected to already with the 12th pick. Many believe Omarion Hampton is the second best running back in this class, with someone even feeling he’s more physically gifted than Ashton Jeanty.

Hampton has a rare blend of size and speed, finishing fourth among all running backs in carries of 10+ yards and second in yards after contact. Hampton could step in as the Cowboys’ top rusher from day one, and landing him here after trading back twice would be a draft night dream come true.

Best available: S Malaki Starks, WR Luther Burden, DT Kenneth Grant, EDGE Donovan Ezeiruaka, TE Colston Loveland

Round 2, Pick 44: Shavon Revel, CB - East Carolina​

The Cowboys infamously love taking risks with their second-round picks, and Shavon Revel can be the next one. An athletic specimen who stands above the rest at 6’3”, Revel entered the 2024 season as one of the top draft-eligible corners. He suffered a torn ACL just a couple weeks into the season, ending his college career.

If not for the injury, Revel would almost certainly be a first-round pick. His size, length, and athleticism will help him thrive in almost any scheme, but questions will abound regarding how much of that athleticism is still there. For the Cowboys, whose team doctor performed Revel’s surgery, they might have more confidence than most.

Best available: LB Demetrius Knight Jr., CB Trey Amos, EDGE Landon Jackson, EDGE Princely Umanmielen, RB Cam Skattebo, RB Dylan Sampson

Round 3, Pick 76: Tate Ratledge, OG - Georgia​

The Cowboys want to get more physical in the trenches, especially in the run game, and they have an opening at right guard following Zack Martin’s retirement. You’d be hard pressed to find a better fit for that role than Tate Ratledge.

A three-year starter for the Bulldogs at right guard, Ratledge is a throwback type of mauler who has plus ability in pass protection, surrendering just two sacks in three seasons. The biggest knock on Ratledge is his athleticism, but his elite Relative Athletic Score suggests that concern is a bit overblown.

Best available: TE Mason Taylor, DT Vernon Broughton, LB Chris Paul Jr., WR Tre Harris, EDGE Elijah Roberts, RB RJ Harvey

Round 3, Pick 86: Tez Johnson, WR - Oregon​

The Cowboys would surely have loved to get Tetairoa McMillan in the first round, but things just didn’t fall their way. Still, they add a talented pass-catcher into the fold for Dak Prescott, and someone who’s very familiar with new wide receivers coach Junior Adams.

Adams coached Tez Johnson for the past two years, during which he topped 2,000 receiving yards and caught 20 touchdowns. Johnson isn’t the biggest or strongest receiver, but his fluid route running and football savvy have earned him the descriptor of one of those guys who just gets open. Pairing that kind of skill set with the familiarity of Adams should only be a plus in Dallas.

Best available: DT Jordan Phillips, WR Tre Harris, S Kevin Winston Jr., RB RJ Harvey, RB DJ Giddens

Round 4, Pick 117: Barryn Sorrell, EDGE - Texas​

The Cowboys have the best pass rusher in the NFL in Micah Parsons, and re-signing Osa Odighizuwa as the all-important 3-technique in Matt Eberflus’ scheme was big, but they still need extra juice. Dante Fowler is a known commodity, but finding a younger prospect to pair with him on the edge is ideal.

Barryn Sorrell offers plenty of pass rushing juice, having posted a solid 13.4% pass rush win rate to go along with his nine sacks and 49 pressures. At this point in the fourth round, that’s a bit of a steal when it comes to pass rushers. Sorrell was also an above-average run defender, though his value primarily comes on pass rushing downs.

Best available: QB Will Howard, TE Gunnar Helm, CB Cobee Bryant, EDGE Quandarrius Robinson, DT JJ Pegues

Round 4, Pick 125: Barrett Carter, LB - Clemson​

The Cowboys need to improve their depth at linebacker given the uncertain status of DeMarvion Overshown for this upcoming season. They’ve already made some moves, signing Jack Sanborn and trading for Kenneth Murray, but expect Eberflus - a former linebacker himself - to look for his own guy in the draft.

From a physical standpoint, Barrett Carter checks all the boxes Eberflus looks for. He had a phenomenal 2022 season that ultimately raised the bar too high for himself, but Carter is reliable in both the run and pass game and has played a variety of roles on defense. The versatility will be key for Eberflus as he tries to install his scheme this season.

Best available: QB Will Howard, EDGE Quandarrius Robinson, CB Nohl Williams, RB Bhayshul Tuten

Round 5, Pick 149: Jackson Hawes, TE - Georgia Tech​

Brian Schottenheimer wants physicality in the trenches, and the tight end position will be a big part of establishing that identity. Offensive coordinator Klayton Adams made extensive use of two and three tight end sets in Arizona, and it won’t be a surprise if a similar trend follows him to Dallas.

While Jake Ferguson is likely the top tight end, the Cowboys could use an old school blocking type like Jackson Hawes. He was a key cog in Georgia Tech’s run-heavy offense, and plays like a guard in a tight end’s body. He doesn’t offer much as a receiver, never surpassing 200 yards in a season, but Hawes can be a tone-setter as a TE3 for the Cowboys.

Best available: QB Dillon Gabriel, QB Quinn Ewers, RB Jacory Croskey-Merritt, S Billy Bowman, EDGE Tyler Baron

Round 6, Pick 189: Tyler Shough, QB - Louisville​

Cooper Rush is no longer in Dallas, leaving the Cowboys wanting at the backup spot. Will Grier has plenty of familiarity in Dallas and with Dak Prescott, but the overwhelming expectation is that Dallas will find a new backup in the draft.

Tyler Shough will turn 26 just three weeks into his rookie year, and he played a total of seven seasons at three different schools in college. This past season at Louisville was really the first time he ever shined, but Shough showed off polish and poise uncommon for most rookies, making him an ideal QB2 target.

Best available: QB Kurtis Rourke, QB Brady Cook, TE Caden Prieskorn, DT Tim Smith, OT Jack Nelson, WR Antwane Wells Jr.

Round 6, Pick 204: Cam’Ron Jackson, DT - Florida​

The Cowboys have made it this far without adding an interior run stuffer to their defensive line, which is sure to anger some. The truth is that Eberflus’ scheme doesn’t really need as many big bodies, and Mazi Smith showed more than enough down the stretch last year to enter 2025 as the top run defender inside.

Still, it’s nice to have extra beef, and Cam’Ron Jackson is certainly that. At 342 pounds, Jackson might actually have too much beef, but he posted an 80.9 run defense grade from Pro Football Focus and had a run stop rate that tied for 12th among defensive tackles in this class.

Best available: QB Max Brosmer, WR Dont’e Thornton Jr., RB Tahj Brooks, RB Ollie Gordon, RB LeQuint Allen

Round 6, Pick 211: Dean Clark, S - Fresno State​

The Cowboys are hanging onto their safety tandem of Malik Hooker and Donovan Wilson, and they also brought back both Juanyeh Thomas and Markquese Bell to offer ample depth, but Eberflus likes to have a bit more back there.

Dean Clark is your typical small-school, late-round grinder who makes a roster and feasts on special teams. He moved around a lot at Fresno State and made plays from everywhere, with one of the best forced incompletion rates among this safety class. He lacks top-end athleticism, but Clark offers ideal depth in the secondary.

Best available: RB Ollie Gordon, RB LeQuint Allen, C Jake Majors, S Alijah Clark, LB Teddye Buchanan

Round 7, Pick 239: Karene Reid, LB - Utah​

Speaking of depth, the Cowboys can’t have enough of it at linebacker right now. This is usually the point of the draft where depth and special teams value pushes players to the forefront, and it’s exactly why Karene Reid is the pick here.

Reid possesses the ideal frame of an Eberflus linebacker, and he plays with the instincts of a seasoned veteran. At Utah, he was a force in the middle of a consistently elite defense, though Reid’s physical limitations give him a relatively low ceiling in the NFL. Still, his play style lends itself naturally to special teams.

Best available: QB Graham Mertz, RB Jo’quavioius Marks, WR LaJohntay Wester, DT Ty Robinson, LB Jailin Walker

Round 7, Pick 247: Xavier Truss, OT - Georgia​

The Cowboys have learned as well as anyone in recent years the importance of depth along the offensive line. As they seek out physicality and power in the trenches under a new regime, Xavier Truss makes a lot of sense as a late selection here.

Standing at 6’7” and 320 pounds, Truss has plenty of force behind him and has played at every spot but center throughout his time at Georgia, though much of it came at right tackle. That versatility is valuable, though, and Truss’ mauler style of play makes him an ideal backup candidate.

Best available: LB Smael Mondon Jr., OG Joshua Gray, OG Clay Webb, RB Raheim Sanders, WR Zakhari Franklin

Source: https://www.bloggingtheboys.com/202...ampton-shavon-revel-tate-ratledge-tez-johnson

 

[Dallas Cowboys]

2 defensive free agents the Cowboys should take a flyer on before the start of the 2025 NFL draft

Photo by Brandon Sloter/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 defensive free agents Dallas should consider taking a flyer on before the start of the draft.

Photo by Brandon Sloter/Getty Images

1) CB Asante Samuel Jr​

By all accounts, losing Jourdan Lewis to the Jacksonville Jaguars in free agency came as a shock to the Dallas Cowboys. It sure seemed like the Cowboys were planning on having Lewis back as one of their starting cornerbacks for at least the 2025 season.

As things stand during the first week of April, Dallas has yet to fill the void left in their defense by Lewis’s departure. While the Cowboys could undoubtedly spend one of their first picks in this month’s draft on a starting cornerback, finding someone left in free agency with starting experience would be wise to cover their bases and give them some flexibility.

If Dallas goes in this direction, there’s one player still available who makes the most sense. That guy is 25-year-old cornerback Asante Samuel Jr. The former second-round pick is still on the open market after finishing a four-year tenure with the Los Angeles Chargers.

During his time in LA, Samuel had experience playing both inside as a nickel corner and outside, which would be very valuable to Dallas’ defense. Injuries limited Samuel to playing in just four games during last season, ending his Chargers career on a sour note. While the results haven’t always been great during his four-year career, Samuel is undoubtedly a better option than anything the Cowboys currently have on their roster to play alongside DaRon Bland and Caelen Carson.

Signing Samuel would give Dallas someone with starting experience at the cornerback position, giving them more flexibility in the draft and preventing them from being forced to spend a premium draft pick to address the position.

Photo by Todd Rosenberg/Getty Images

2) DE DeMarcus Walker​

You can never have enough capable pass rushers on a defense, especially in today’s NFL. While the Cowboys did go out and sign edge rusher Dante Fowler Jr to a one-year deal back in mid-March, they could still benefit from adding some pass-rush depth before the draft.

If they were to do so, former Chicago Bears defensive end DeMarcus Walker would be a good target. Walker played under new Cowboys defensive coordinator Matt Eberflus in Chicago during the 2023 and 2024 seasons. Over that two-year span, Walker recorded 86 total pressures, 54 QB Hurries, and eight sacks, via Pro Football Focus.

Signing Walker wouldn’t drastically change the outlook of the Cowboys' defense, but it would give them another solid rotational pass rusher to pair with Dante Fowler Jr and Sam Williams. Walker makes even more sense when you consider that Williams is coming off a serious injury and could potentially be limited to start the year,

The 30-year-old would likely be willing to sign a one-year deal, making this a very low-risk, no-brainer move for the Cowboys.

Source: https://www.bloggingtheboys.com/202...25-nfl-draft-asante-samuel-jr-demarcus-walker

 

[Dallas Cowboys]

Cowboys news: Trying to guess the team’s draft strategy with holes to fill

Photo by John Smolek/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images

The latest Cowboys news

Cowboys won’t force pick at No. 12, feel ‘confident’ taking best player available - Ft. Worth Star Telegram, Nick Harris​

Figuring out the Cowboys’ draft strategy.

Picking at No. 12 for the first time since 2021 when the team selected Micah Parsons, the Cowboys will be looking to get an impact player with their first-round selection that can step in an provide an immediate presence in 2025.

“You’re always looking for game changers when you’re picking 12th,” Schottenheimer said. “We don’t want to ever pick 12th again, let’s be honest. You’re looking for guys that influence the game. How do you influence the game? You rush the quarterback and you get sacks, strip sacks, fumbles, whatever it is. You score touchdowns.”

As positional value continues to be a hot topic around draft time about if certain positions such as running back, tight end or safety should be avoided with such a premium first-round pick, the Cowboys have direct recent history in being a part of that conversation. In 2016, the team drafted running back Ezekiel Elliott with the fourth overall pick, and despite Elliott having a productive career for Dallas, the debate about that pick being a wise one still exists. With another need for an early round running back heading into the 2025 NFL Draft nine years later, the Cowboys are not writing off any position group if a player is there at No. 12.

“There can be exceptions at any position,” Jerry Jones said. “We had no plans to draft a tweener between a linebacker and a pass rusher [in 2021]. Micah Parsons got there...Frankly, we were a little light in our evaluation of CeeDee [Lamb in 2020] just because we thought if he were there, we’d go there.”

“That’s just what the draft is. You are sitting there and you get an opportunity that if you’re doing your job, you thought about all opportunities, you looked around the corners on your roster now and years to come. So all of those things pretty much make it a wide open position to draft [any] player.”

Recap of all new and amended NFL rule changes, how they affect the Cowboys - Tommy Yarrish, DallasCowboys.com​

The annual NFL rule changes are summarized here.

No more CeeDee Lamb “nose wipe” celebration

This change was not something voted upon by NFL owners in Palm Beach, but CeeDee Lamb’s favorite celebration, the “nose wipe”, was banned in the league’s rule book after being categorized as a “violent gesture.”

The NFL’s executive vice president of football operations Troy Vincent added that the celebration had “gang connotations” this week. Additionally, the rule change added throat slashes and brandishing a gun as new terminology to the ban, which if performed will now result in a 15-yard penalty.

Changes to the dynamic kickoff rule

The league viewed the new dynamic kickoff as a success in 2024, where it was implemented on a one-year trial basis and revolutionized special teams play. Now, it’s here to stay and will have some new changes in 2025.

The change to the rule comes on the touchback, where the ball will now come out to the receiving team’s 35-yard line if the kickoff results in a touchback. Last season, it came out to the 30. The goal is to incentivize more teams to stay away from touchbacks and increase the amount of returns.

If that’s the case and teams are kicking out of the back of the endzone less, then it’s great news for KaVontae Turpin. Fresh off a First-Team All Pro kick returner campaign and with a new contract, any opportunity Turpin gets to return the ball is one that the Cowboys and new special teams coordinator Nick Sorensen will gladly take.

Deciphering Cowboys’ Jerry Jones: Will swipe at agent impact Micah Parsons negotiations? - David Moore, DMN​

Jerry Jones and the Cowboys can’t just do contract’s the easy way.

Jones and Parsons recently spoke for five to six hours and came to a meeting of the minds about some key issues. The Cowboys owner said the terms of the extension, the money and the guarantees were all discussed.

Can that be drawn up without club officials and Mulugheta sitting down to draft the language and sort through the details? Of course not. Parsons would never agree to any deal without Mulugheta’s involvement, which Parsons made clear on social media.

But remember, it was Parsons who reached out to Jones to talk. Parsons has told reporters through the years he cherishes his conversations with Jones and values the fact he can talk to him at any time. Both men have encouraged this relationship.

Would Jones have said what he did publicly if Parsons hadn’t told the Cowboys owner — or at the very least, given every indication — that what they discussed was acceptable? What would be the upside?

Now, Jones could have misinterpreted what Parsons said coming out of their discussions as tacit approval. If that’s the case, Tuesday’s comments would represent an element of frustration on Jones’ part for Parsons and his side not responding or acting on what was discussed.

2025 NFL mock draft: Yates’ pick predictions for Rounds 1-2 - Field Yates, ESPN​

Mock drafts!

12. Dallas Cowboys

Tetairoa McMillan, WR, Arizona

Some evaluators are dubious of using an early pick on a wide receiver with somewhat pedestrian speed — scouts I spoke to timed McMillan in the high 4.5s in the 40-yard dash at his pro day — but I’m a true believer in the T-Mac camp. At 6-foot-4 and 219 pounds, he is a nightmare assignment for a cornerback in man-to-man coverage. Plus, he has outstanding ball skills and a catch radius that makes quarterbacks want to target him in the red zone. Over the past two seasons, McMillan compiled 2,721 yards.

He’d give Dak Prescott the second top-end receiver that Dallas has long been seeking opposite CeeDee Lamb.

44. Dallas Cowboys

TreVeyon Henderson, RB, Ohio State

The Cowboys have frequently been linked to running backs early in the draft, and Henderson is an electric playmaker as both a runner and receiver. Dallas averaged 4.0 yards per carry last season and replaced Rico Dowdle with Javonte Williams and Miles Sanders. Henderson has the open-field speed to make an instant impact on the ground.

Source: https://www.bloggingtheboys.com/202...les-ceedee-lamb-kavontae-turpin-micah-parsons

 

[Dallas Cowboys]

Can you guess this former first round QB 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, April 2, 2025
Tuesday, April 1, 2025
Monday, March 31, 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/2025/4/3/24400223/sb-nation-cowboys-daily-trivia-in-5

 

[Dallas Cowboys]

2025 NFL Draft: Favorite players for Cowboys at 12 or trading back on Day 1

Photo by Ed Zurga/Getty Images

Which players do you like the most for the Dallas Cowboys in the first round?

With only three draft picks in the Top 100, and a big gap between when they pick again in the fifth round (149th overall), the Dallas Cowboys could be looking to trade down in the first round this year to acquire more draft capital. That, of course, all depends on finding a willing trade partner.

It's unknown right now what the Dallas Cowboys will do with the 12th overall pick in the first round. Trading down is a very real possibility, however, there are a lot of variables that may or may not make that a possibility. We have been exploring both probabilities and the players we would target in either scenario based on current roster "needs".

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Running back​

Pick 12: Ashton Jeanty, Boise State​

Trade down: Omarion Hampton, North Carolina​

Ashton Jeanty has the talent to be elite at the next level and is definitely worthy of being selected by the Cowboys with the 12th overall pick, if he's still available that is.

Omarion Hampton is the RB fallback for Dallas to draft if they trade down into the middle part of the first round. He checks all the boxes of the RB1 they are in need of.

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Wide receiver​

Pick 12: Luther Burden III, Missouri​

Trade down: Emeka Egbuka, Ohio State​

Unpopular opinion, but I still like Burden for the Cowboys with Pick 12. He's a three-level threat and a yards-after-catch demon who will be a better pro than he was in college.

In a trade down, Egbuka is the pick. He's not flashy, but he does everything really well and would pair nicely with CeeDee Lamb. He's considered among the most pro-ready WRs in the draft class.

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Offensive line​

Pick 12: Armand Membou, Missouri​

Trade down: Donovan Jackson, Ohio State​

If Membou is still on the board for the Cowboys, that would be the picl. He's another Tyler Smith with his OT/G versatility and is a plug-and-play starter.

Jackson is someone for a trade down. He's probably a better G than he is an OT, but he proved he's more than capable of being a starting caliber tackle as well.

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Defensive tackle​

Pick 12: Kenneth Grant, Michigan​

Trade down: Derrick Harmon, Oregon​

Yes, he's another DL from Michigan, but Grant would immediately step in and be an upgrade over Mazi Smith in Dallas as a 1-technique in Matt Eberflus' defensive scheme.

Harmon is the DT for a trade down. He can play either the 1- or 3-technique in Eberflus' scheme and he's one of the most disruptive DL in the draft class.

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Defensive end​

Pick 12: Mike Green, Marshall​

Trade down: Donovan Ezeiruaku, Boston College​

Pairing Mike Green with Micah Parsons would be a good idea. His agility and ability to convert speed into power off the edge as a pass rusher would give Dallas a fearsome DE duo.

Ezeiruaku is an underrated first-round pass rusher choice if they trade down. He may be a little undersized (6'2", 248), but his ability to get after the QB is high quality.

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Linebacker​

Pick 12: Jalon Walker, Georgia​

Trade down: Jihaad Campbell, Alabama​

Walker is one of the best players in the draft class, but he's a bit of a LB/EDGE tweener. He could possibly play both roles in Dallas, much like Micah Parsons did early on.

If Dallas had more of a "need" at LB Campbell could be in play at 12. Trading down a few picks and drafting him later would even be better. He'd be a upgrade at either MLB or WILL.

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Cornerback​

Pick 12: Jahdae Barron, Texas​

Trade down: Maxwell Hairston, Kentucky​

Position flex to play anywhere the secondary and his high football IQ makes Barron an intriguing pick at 12 for Dallas. He could be an ideal fit in Matt Eberflus' defense.

If Dallas doesn't take a CB at 12 and is able to trade down, Hairston is the next guy. His scheme versatility, speed, and ball skills can make him an enticing pick.

Source: https://www.bloggingtheboys.com/202...rade-back-day-1-luther-burden-omarion-hampton

 

[Dallas Cowboys]

BREAKING: Cowboys send 5th-round pick to Patriots for QB Joe Milton and 7th-round pick

Brian Fluharty-Imagn Images

The Dallas Cowboys have traded for a new quarterback in Joe Milton!

As of Wednesday night the Dallas Cowboys had already executed two trades this offseason, sending compensatory picks to the Buffalo Bills and Tennessee Titans for Kaiir Elam and Kenneth Murray, respectively. Dallas also received picks in return in both trades.

On Thursday morning, the Cowboys landed a hat trick of trades of this particular variety as it was reported that Dallas traded with the New England Patriots for quarterback Joe Milton.

The Patriots are trading QB Joe Milton III and a seventh-round pick to Dallas in exchange for a fifth rounder, per source.

Milton drew interest from multiple teams but ends up with the Cowboys. pic.twitter.com/pCfDbcWsTy

— Dianna Russini (@DMRussini) April 3, 2025​

Obviously Milton is the biggest piece of the trade, but the fact that Dallas is getting a pick in return is tremendous as well and speaks to the type of trades that they have been looking to execute this offseason.

Recall that the Cowboys were awarded four compensatory picks as free agency began. At the time of this post’s initial publishing, it is unknown exactly which of their fifth-rounders Dallas is sending to New England, but they have three to work with so we will update this to reflect which one it is once we know.

Credit to the Cowboys for being a bit honest here as Stephen Jones said earlier this week from the league’s owner meetings in Florida that he felt like they were still in the market to pull off a veteran trade and specifically mentioned backup quarterback as a position to watch. Look at Stephen calling his shots!

Joe Milton was a sixth-round pick of the Patriots last year in the 2024 NFL Draft. Collegiately he played at Michigan before transferring and finishing his career with Tennessee. He was regarded as being extremely athletic while in college and was thought to be one of the finer athletes in last year’s quarterback class as it was being assembled.

#Tennessee QB Joe Milton has some of the most impressive drive throws you will see at the college level.

His game lacks refinement, but there is plenty of optimism in scouting circles - some believe he will be a top-100 pick next April. https://t.co/VxVAXAlABS

— Dane Brugler (@dpbrugler) August 16, 2023​

This is a fantastic trade for the Cowboys as Milton’s athleticism is a lottery ticket of sorts. He has enough potential playmaking abilities to be intrigued by and that could (in the best case scenario) be the flash in the pan you need in a pinch if Dak Prescott has to miss time, and to be fair Prescott has missed some time in four of the last five seasons now (he did not in 2023).

This is the exact kind of trade that the Trey Lance one should have been when the Cowboys pulled it off. Unlike with Lance though, the Cowboys still maintain several years of team control over Milton what with him only being on the second year of his rookie contract. It is brilliant and addresses a position of need before the draft even arrives.

Source: https://www.bloggingtheboys.com/202...iots-quarterback-7th-round-pick-stephen-jones

 

[Dallas Cowboys]

Report: Patriots had many suitors and better offer for Joe Milton, but he preferred Cowboys

Photo by Fred Kfoury III/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images

Joe Milton reportedly had several suitors across the NFL but preferred to play for the Cowboys.

The Dallas Cowboys landed pin high on the green Thursday morning when they traded a fifth-round pick to the New England Patriots to acquire quarterback Joe Milton. Dallas also received a seventh-round pick in return.

Shockingly to many of us, the Cowboys have spent this offseason addressing many of their positions of need ahead of the NFL Draft. This is shocking because they did the direct opposite of that a year ago, and several times in offseasons prior.

You may or may not like this or that move. Ultimately there is no question that at the very least, the quantity of moves that Dallas has made is significantly higher than in years past and the Joe Milton trade in particular seems to be garnering universal approval.

As if the trade couldn’t get any better, it was reported shortly after it happened by Jordan Schultz that Milton had several suitors before ultimately landing with the Cowboys. According to him the Las Vegas Raiders, Philadelphia Eagles, New York Giants and Pittsburgh Steelers were also in on the discussion.

My understanding is since Joe Milton became available at the start of the offseason, teams that showed interest included the Raiders, Eagles, Giants, Steelers and the Cowboys.

The #Patriots had a better offer for Milton but chose to send him where he wanted out of respect for… https://t.co/kNDFPA4yem pic.twitter.com/iHKhmhRsCv

— Jordan Schultz (@Schultz_Report) April 3, 2025​

What’s more is that according to Schultz, the Patriots had a better offer for Milton on the table but chose to trade him where he preferred out of respect to him. That is nice, but it makes you wonder what else everyone was willing to part with or at least what the more premium offer was.

As far as the teams mentioned the Raiders and Giants landed new starters this offseason in Geno Smith and Russell Wilson, respectively. The latter also signed Jameis Winston as a backup option, maybe that is the role they wanted Milton to play (guessing a bit).

The Steelers are the likely landing spot for Aaron Rodgers and perhaps were also interested in Milton in some sort of reserve role. It stands to reason that nobody saw him as a starting option.

Consider that the Eagles actually traded away Kenny Pickett and received Dorian Thompson-Robinson in return. It is fair to wonder if Milton could have filled that role.

Whatever the case is or isn’t, it is nice to see that the Cowboys got a better price than someone else was willing to pay.

Source: https://www.bloggingtheboys.com/202...ers-preference-eagles-raiders-steelers-giants

 

[Dallas Cowboys]

Cowboys draft: Updated list of picks following trade for quarterback Joe Milton

Photo by John Smolek/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images

Here is an updated look at Dallas Cowboys draft capital following the Joe Milton trade.

The Dallas Cowboys landed a new quarterback on Thursday when they sent a fifth-round pick to the New England Patriots in exchange for Joe Milton and a seventh-round pick.

It took a little while for the exact details to emerge, but we finally learned about an hour after the trade that Dallas was sending pick number 171 to the Patriots and receiving 217 in return. To be clear 171 was the higher of Dallas’ compensatory selections in the fifth round with 174 being the other.

Keeping track of the picks that the Cowboys have has proven to be a bit more difficult than in recent seasons. We are barely in the first week of April and they have now executed three different trades involving draft capital. This is why we take notes, though.

2025 Dallas Cowboys Draft Picks, Updated After The Joe Milton Trade​

• 1st Round (12th overall)
• 2nd Round (44th overall)
• 3rd Round (76th overall)
• 5th Round (149th overall)
• 5th Round (174th overall) [compensatory pick]
• 6th Round (204 overall) [from Kaiir Elam trade]
• 6th Round (211th overall) [compensatory pick]
• 7th Round (217 overall) [from Joe Milton trade]
• 7th Round (239th overall) [from Kenneth Murray trade]
• 7th Round (247th overall) [from Jonathan Mingo trade]

The Cowboys still have 10 draft picks from a quantitative standpoint. They originally had six at season’s end and received four compensatory selections to add to the list. While they have traded picks on three different occasions, each time they have done so they have received a pick in return (which has added to the confusion).

Each of the trades that Dallas has made involved picks on Day 3 being exchanged and obviously involved a veteran joining the Cowboys roster.

• Dallas dropped 34 spots to acquire Kaiir Elaim (moved from 170 to 204)
• Dallas dropped 51 spots to acquire Kenneth Murray (moved from 188 to 239)
• Dallas dropped 46 spots to acquire Joe Milton (moved from 171 to 217)

This is very smart, efficient and shrewd from the front office. We have implored them to do these exact kind of things (like they did a couple of years ago with Stephon Gilmore and Brandin Cooks) in the name of capitalizing on veterans who are available that can fill roster holes before the NFL Draft.

Source: https://www.bloggingtheboys.com/202...erback-joe-milton-compensatory-kenneth-murray

 

[Dallas Cowboys]

BTB Thursday Talk: What other NFL team has caught your eye this offseason?

Photo by Mitchell Leff/Getty Images

What non-Cowboys team has caught your eye this offseason?

The month of April has been here for a couple of sleeps now, and because of that we know that the NFL Draft is right around the corner.

We also know that most of free agency is well in the rearview mirror. Teams look different than they did the last time we saw them on the field, and obviously some in a much larger sense than others.

For our Thursday discussion here on the blog we want to know what non-Cowboys team has caught your eye so far this offseason? To be clear “caught your eye” doesn’t mean you are rooting for them or anything, but just a team that caught your attention in a way that they didn’t necessary have it before.

The New York Giants have a new quarterback in Russell Wilson. I suppose that’s relevant.

The Seattle Seahawks also have a new quarterback in Sam Darnold. From a non-quarterback standpoint the Washington Commanders traded for Laremy Tunsil and Deebo Samuel. You get the point.

So let’s hear it. Who has impressed you? Or better, who are you shocked by?

Source: https://www.bloggingtheboys.com/202...r-nfl-team-has-caught-your-eye-this-offseason