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[Dallas Cowboys]

Report: Micah Parsons is in attendance for Cowboys voluntary workouts

Photo by Jayne Kamin-Oncea/Getty Images

Cowboys start voluntary workouts, Micah Parsons is there

The Dallas Cowboys window for voluntary workouts is now open. Given they have a new head coach in Brian Schottenheimer, the team can get a head start compared to some other franchises around the league.

The biggest question heading into Monday was whether or not All-Pro pass rusher Micah Parsons would be in attendance given on-going contract negotiations. Turns out Parsons is a man of his word.

The Cowboys open the voluntary offseason program and a source said Micah Parsons is in attendance, as Brian Schottenheimer said he expected. In the previous 2 years, Parsons mostly worked out on his own before OTAs, minicamp. He is entering the 5th-year option of his rookie deal.

— Todd Archer (@toddarcher) April 14, 2025​

For the last few seasons, Parsons has chosen to skip voluntary workouts in favor of his personal training routine. There’s nothing wrong with that given the true meaning of “voluntary.” These workouts are completely optional for the players to participate, but it certainly looks better if all team leaders are present.

Parsons has openly spoke about being a better leader for the defense, and that is needed given DeMarcus Lawrence’s absence has left a void in that role.

A month ago, Parsons said he would be at the workouts to be around free agents and eventual rookies who are new to the team. This is also a sign of good faith to owner Jerry Jones when it comes to an eventual contract extension. At the owners meetings a few weeks ago, Jones said he does not feel a sense of urgency to get a deal done with his franchise star, wanting to see “a few more cards played.”

Source: https://www.bloggingtheboys.com/202...dance-voluntary-workouts-brian-schottenheimer

 

[Dallas Cowboys]

Cowboys roster: Concern that Trevon Diggs will start the season on the PUP list

Photo by Michael Owens/Getty Images

Could Trevon Diggs miss the start of 2025?

While the Dallas Cowboys have kept a relatively optimistic tone publicly regarding Trevon Diggs’ injury, sources close to the situation suggest the reality might be more complicated. Diggs, who suffered a torn ACL two seasons ago, is currently rehabbing for a cartilage surgery the cut short his 2024 season. There are signs that his recovery is not progressing as quickly as hoped.

Some within the organization fear that the injury could linger well into the 2025 season, raising concerns not just about his availability for training camp but also about his readiness for the early portion of the schedule.

Cowboys EVP Stephen Jones said last week that there’s a “good chance” Diggs (knee) “may not be available” come Week 1, Nick Harris of the Fort Worth Star-Telegram reports.

His explosive style of play, which relies heavily on agility and burst, makes a complete and confident return especially challenging after such a serious knee injury. This issue raises huge concerns for the cornerback position in Dallas, but also the monumental price tag Diggs carries after he was given a $97 million contract extension.

Cowboys CB Trevon Diggs to undergo surgery (knee), could be out up to eight months. (via @RapSheet) pic.twitter.com/HLZ2SigYtg

— NFL (@NFL) December 16, 2024​

We had the chance to get a a clearer picture of the situation when we spoke with longtime Cowboys insider Mickey Spagnola who works deep inside The Star at Frisco. According to Spagnola, the expectation at this point is that Diggs could start training camp on the Physically Unable to Perform (PUP) list. If that holds true, it means Diggs would miss critical time ramping up in camp, time that’s essential for re-establishing chemistry with the defense and getting live reps.

More importantly, a stint on PUP during training camp could carry over into the regular season, potentially forcing him to miss games as the Cowboys open their 2025 campaign. While nothing is official yet, Spagnola’s take underscores that the situation may be trending in a more cautious, and possibly more prolonged, direction than the team has hoped.

pic.twitter.com/Kg6zkiwYeh

— Mike Poland (@kenfigkowboy) April 13, 2025​

If the team is feeling the same thing, you have to ask the question whether this changes the direction they will go during the draft, and is pick 12 going to be a cornerback? This season’s draft class at the cornerback position is less than ideal when it comes to depth and there’s a high demand for the position this year. With that being the case, along with issues of depth for Dallas, this could force the team to address the position early, putting calls for running back and wide receiver in doubt.

Here was the #Cowboys CB room before the Kaiir Elam trade:

Daron Bland
Trevon Diggs (major knee injury)
Caelen Carson (major shoulder injury)
Josh Butler (torn ACL)
Kemon Hall (ended season on IR)
Andrew Booth (bad)

— Marcus Mosher (@Marcus_Mosher) March 12, 2025​

Spagnola did add some positive news on the injury front. He told us that Dak Prescott is looking healthy and strong, and also that Sam Williams has worked out all season and is looking strong, ready to take on the challenge of the 2025 season. He noted that both these players were the furthest along in terms of condition and health.

We got an injury update when we spoke to Mickey Spagnola on @the_worlds_team

Sam Williams and Dak Prescott were noted as the furthest long and most game ready. That’s good news for both players and exciting to start seeing them return as the team gets ready for early practices.… pic.twitter.com/T9296I3sK1

— Mike Poland (@kenfigkowboy) April 13, 2025​

Source: https://www.bloggingtheboys.com/202...gs-possible-start-season-pup-list-depth-draft

 

[Dallas Cowboys]

Examining Dane Brugler's ‘The Beast' as it relates to the Cowboys 2025 draft

Photo by David Eulitt/Getty Images

'The Beast' could help shine light on the Cowboys potential draft targets.

Christmas came early for many of us when Dane Brugler of The Athletic released his 2025 NFL Draft guide, "The Beast". This source of information is arguably the most thorough and in-depth draft guide available and is an essential tool for the biggest event of the offseason, which is now just a little over a week away (April 24-26).

How could it apply to the Dallas Cowboys? While Dallas' draft rankings may vary from "The Beast" to some degree, it's safe to assume they'll both be pretty similar. Here are some takeaways from the guide as it relates to Dallas.

First-round grades​

According to Dane Brugler, only 13 players have a first-round grade for him in the 2025 draft class. That seems to be the consensus conclusion for many scouts and other personal people around the league, emphasizing the lack of top-level talent available this year.

Brugler also assigned an additional 22 players with a 1st/2nd-round grade, bringing the total to 35 who could be first-round draft picks. With the 12th overall pick in the first round, it's reasonable to believe the Cowboys will draft one of those first-round graded players.

Cowboys targets at No. 12​

Barring a surprise trade, staying put at No. 12 is looking more and more likely. That's not necessarily a bad thing for the Cowboys. Several of Brugler's first-round graded players should still be on the board.

1. CB/WR Travis Hunter, Colorado
2. EDGE Abdul Carter, Penn State
3. RB Ashton Jeanty, Boise State
4. DT Mason Graham, Michigan
5. EDGE Jalon Walker, Georgia
6. OT Will Campbell, LSU
7. OT Armand Membou, Missouri
8. TE Tyler Warren, Penn State
9. EDGE Shemar Stewart, Texas A&M
10. EDGE Mike Green, Marshall
11. TE Colston Loveland, Michigan
12. WR Tetairoa McMillan, Arizona
13. QB Cam Ward, Miami

Of these 13, it's safe to assume Cam Ward isn't of interest to them and Travis Hunter and Abdul Carter will also more than likely be gone by the time Dallas is on the clock. And, given the nature/value of the QB position, it wouldn't be surprising to see Sheduer Sanders and possibly Jaxson Dart as Top 10 picks, pushing some of this talent further in Dallas' lap.

---

Top 100 ​

The Cowboys currently hold three picks in the Top 100 (12, 44, 76). About the only position we can probably rule out in the first three rounds is quarterback. Dak Prescott is the unquestioned QB1 with the Will Grier and Joe Milton, who they recently traded for, competing to be his backup. Every other position is probably in play to some degree. Let's take a look at potential targets by position according to "The Beast".

• Running back

Javonte Williams and Miles Sanders were added to the roster in free agency, but neither is really considered RB1 material at this point in their careers. While this is a deep RB draft class, drafting one in the first three rounds seems highly likely for the Cowboys.

Dane Brugler has a total of nine RBs in his Top 100, headlined by Ashton Jeanty (3), who may or may not still be there for Dallas at No. 12. After that, keep an eye on Omarion Hampton (29), Kaleb Johnson (44), TreVeyon Henderson (46), Quinson Judkins (60), Dylan Samson (74), Jordan James (77), RJ Harvey (93), and Trevor Etienne (95) for the Cowboys.

• Wide receiver

Finding a WR2 to pair with CeeDee Lamb and to give Dak Prescott another reliable target in the passing game looks to be a priority. They traded a 2025 fourth-round pick last year for WR Jonathan Mingo and added Paris Campbell via free agency, but neither look to be a clear upgrade over Brandin Cooks so far in Dallas.

"The Beast" has a total of 12 WRs in the Top 100 who could be of interest to Dallas. Tetairoa McMillan (12), Matthew Golden (15), Luther Burden (27), and Emeka Egbuka (28) could be first-round targets. Jaylin Noel (42), Jayden Higgins (45) make sense in the second round and Jalen Royals (63), Tre Harris (65), Jack Bech (72), Isaiah Bond (88), Elic Ayomanor (90), and Kyle Williams (91) in the third round.

• Tight end

Although the Cowboys look to be in good shape at TE right now, we can't completely rule out them drafting one in the Top 100. Jake Ferguson is coming off a down season and entering the final year of his rookie contract and Luke Schoonmaker has yet to live up to his second-round draft status.

If Dallas does draft a TE, Tyler Warren (8) and Colston Loveland (11) makes a little bit of sense at No. 12 if they are the top-ranked players on the board. After that Mason Taylor (33), Elijah Arroyo (41), Terrance Ferguson (75), Harold Fannin (82), and Gunnar Helm (97) rounds out the TEs Dane Brugler has ranked in the Top 100.

• Offensive line

Due to Zack Martin's retirement and the uneven play of Tyler Guyton and Terence Steele last year, both of which are projected to start in 2025, it wouldn't be a surprise if the Cowboys decided to try to upgrade the offensive line by using one of their three picks in the Top 100.

Brugler has a total of 17 offensive lineman in his Top 100 rankings. He has nine tackles, six guards, and two centers ranked in that range. However, several of those players have the versatility to play different positions that he has them listed at. Whether it's an OT or iOL, there should be several options for Dallas to select from if they so choose.

• EDGE

Defensive end may be an underrated roster "need" for the Cowboys. Micah Parsons' future still hangs in limbo until Dallas signs him to a contract extension, Marshawn Kneeland is still a bit of an unknown, and Sam Williams is entering the final year of his rookie contract. Drafting a DE early is very much in play.

"The Beast" has a surprising amount of EDGE rushers (17) in the Top 100. Brugler has three ranked in the Top 10 in the first-round, two with 1st/2nd-round grades, six with second-round grades, two with 2nd/3rd-round grades, and three with third-round grades. The Cowboys could have their choice from this group at either 12, 44, or 76.

• Defensive tackle

The Cowboys re-signed Osa Odighizuwa and brought in Solomon Thomas via free agency to man the 3-tech position in Matt Eberflus' 4-3 defensive scheme, but still need to upgrade the 1-tech position. Mazi Smith has yet to live up to his first-round draft status, which could mean DT could be considered a draft "need" in the Top 100 for Dallas.

According to Brugler, the 2025 DT draft class is a deep one throughout and has a total of 11 currently ranked in the Top 100 in the first three rounds. After that, he has a total of six with 3rd/4th-round grades and an additional 17 DTs with draftable grades. That's a total of 34 DTs with draftable grades the Cowboys could pick and choose from.

• Linebacker

The Cowboys signed Jack Sanborn and traded for Kenneth Murray to help upgrade their linebacker position so far this offseason, but that doesn't necessarily rule them out of drafting one early in the 2025 NFL Draft. And, with DeMarvion Overshown's availability for 2025 unknown, LB could be an underrated "need" for them.

The talent at LB in the 2025 draft class isn't a very top-heavy. "The Beast" has only four ranked in the Top 100. Jihaad Campbell (14) is considered the best of the group followed by Carson Schwesinger (38), Danny Stutsman (87), and Jeffrey Bassa (99). Considering this, it would be somewhat surprising to see Dallas draft-a LB in the Top 100.

• Cornerback

With Trevon Diggs' 2025 status up in the air, DaRon Bland in the last year of his rookie contract, and Jourdan Lewis leaving via free agency, upgrading the cornerback position in Dallas as a top priority. The Cowboys could address this position as early as No. 12 or with the next two picks at either 44 or 76 in the second- or third-round.

Brugler has a total of 11 CBs ranked in the Top 100. Travis Hunter (1), Will Johnson (18), Jahdae Barron (30), Maxwell Hairston (35), Trey Amos (39), Azareye’h Thomas (51), Shavon Revel (62), Nohl Williams (66), Jacob Parrish (67), Benjamin Morrison (69), and Quincy Riley (95) are CBs to keep an eye out for the Cowboys according to "The Beast".

• Safety

The Cowboys seem pretty set at safety heading into 2025. But, the future of the position could tempt them to potentially draft one of the Top 100 if that player happens to be the top-ranked prospect on their big board.

"The Beast" has six safeties ranked in the Top 100. Nick Emmanwori (17), Malaki Starks (19), Xavier Watts (54), Kevin Winston Jr. (83), Billy Bowman Jr. (85), and Jonas Sanker (97) are the safeties to keep an eye on for Dallas if they decide to draft one of the Top 100.

Source: https://www.bloggingtheboys.com/202...hton-jeanty-omarion-hampton-tetairoa-mcmillan

 

[Dallas Cowboys]

Cowboys news: Micah Parsons in attendance at offseason program, concern for Trevon Diggs’ recovery

Photo by Richard Rodriguez/Getty Images

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

Cowboys begin 2025 voluntary OTAs, key players file to launch the Brian Schottenheimer era - Patrik Walker, DallasCowboys.com​

Micah Parsons is doing his part early to help the Cowboys establish a new team culture under HC Brian Schottenheimer and DC Matt Eberflus.

The rubber officially meets the road for the first time during the Brian Schottenheimer era with the start of voluntary OTAs on Monday, April 14 at The Star in Frisco; and a list of players have already begun filing in — including Micah Parsons.

It’s notable to mention Parsons’ attendance for very obvious reasons, the biggest being his ongoing contract talks and the fact that, as stated, this portion of the offseason training program is indeed voluntary.

Others who have also been seen early on the first day include, but are not limited to, Dak Prescott, who continues to recover from a season-ending hamstring injury, DaRon Bland, KaVontae Turpin (newly-extended), Jake Ferguson, Cooper Beebe, Juanyeh Thomas and many others, including newly-signed defensive lineman Solomon Thomas.

No holdout yet for Micah Parsons, who attends Cowboys’ 1st voluntary workout - Frank Schwab, Yahoosports.com​

Micah Parsons continues to wait for a new contract, and could have sat out the Cowboys’ offseason program. But he didn’t.

It’s a good-faith gesture by Parsons, who will likely get a contract that could match or exceed the four-year, $160 million deal Myles Garrett signed with the Cleveland Browns this offseason. Parsons will make a little more than $24 million this season after the Cowboys picked up the fifth-year option on his rookie contract, but he wants a longer (and bigger) deal after dominating for his first four NFL seasons.

Parsons told the team’s site late last year that he didn’t plan to hold out.

“I definitely think I need to be here in camp because, honestly, when so much of the defense is surrounded by your play and your presence, and others are getting lined up based off of you, I need to be here so that way I can get these guys accordingly,” Parsons told the team’s site. “We can rush together, build that chemistry.

“So I think it’s of extreme importance that I’m back at OTAs, minicamp.”

Dak Prescott advises Micah Parsons to ‘stay positive’ in contract talks with Cowboys - Tommy Yarrish, DallasCowboys.com​

Dak Prescott knows what it is like to be a star player waiting until the last possible moments for a new contract.

“There’s a lot of slates at a lot of positions. Obviously, Micah Parsons, you’ve got CeeDee Lamb, you’ve got guys that you can name, but there’s a lot of the guys that have an opportunity to step up.”

Amongst Prescott, Lamb and Parsons, only one is heading into the final year of his rookie deal: Micah Parsons.

Parsons’ contract extension has been a major talking point of Dallas’ offseason, amplified after Cowboys owner and general manager Jerry Jones alluded to wanting to see more from Parsons from a leadership standpoint before offering the All-Pro a new deal.

“In every aspect of Micah, he’s got great potential to do more,” Jones said at the NFL’s league meetings. “Every aspect, whether it be in my mind physically or from the standpoint of physically, he has a lot of potential and he is so capable mentally that he could make us all follow him a little bit.”

“I think he’s that kind of individual and that kind of person. But I will tell you that those are the kinds of things that I want to personally have total and complete satisfaction that I’ve got a commitment from him, and that I can see that it’s not just contract talk.”

Prescott said that he and Parsons have spoken in the locker room about his leadership role and that the talk would stay there, but he, like Jones, is high on Parsons’ ceiling as a voice for the team.

“Very confident in [Micah Parsons] and what he can do,” Prescott said. “Who he is and what he wants to is as important as anything. And that’s in being a leader.”

Cowboys roster: Concern that Trevon Diggs will start the season on the PUP list - Mike Poland, Blogging The Boys​

The Cowboys situation at cornerback is a somewhat overlooked issue.

Diggs, who suffered a torn ACL two seasons ago, is currently rehabbing for a cartilage surgery the cut short his 2024 season. There are signs that his recovery is not progressing as quickly as hoped.

Some within the organization fear that the injury could linger well into the 2025 season, raising concerns not just about his availability for training camp but also about his readiness for the early portion of the schedule.

Cowboys EVP Stephen Jones said last week that there’s a “good chance” Diggs (knee) “may not be available” come Week 1, Nick Harris of the Fort Worth Star-Telegram reports.

His explosive style of play, which relies heavily on agility and burst, makes a complete and confident return especially challenging after such a serious knee injury. This issue raises huge concerns for the cornerback position in Dallas, but also the monumental price tag Diggs carries after he was given a $97 million contract extension.

We had the chance to get a a clearer picture of the situation when we spoke with longtime Cowboys insider Mickey Spagnola who works deep inside The Star at Frisco. According to Spagnola, the expectation at this point is that Diggs could start training camp on the Physically Unable to Perform (PUP) list. If that holds true, it means Diggs would miss critical time ramping up in camp, time that’s essential for re-establishing chemistry with the defense and getting live reps.

More importantly, a stint on PUP during training camp could carry over into the regular season, potentially forcing him to miss games as the Cowboys open their 2025 campaign.

Todd McShay explains why Cowboys may favor Tetairoa McMillan over Matthew Golden - Koby Skillern, Sports Illustrated ​

On The Mina Kimes Show NFL analyst Todd McShay explained why the Cowboys would likely pick Tetairoa McMillan over Matthew Golden.

“What the Cowboys will very likely do in that scenario if it’s down to those two picks is take Tetairoa McMillan,” said McShay.

“You’ve got your difference-maker on the other side. You look for a big one-on-one guy in Tet — jump balls, don’t need him to be a great route runner in year one. You continue to develop him.”

On The Mina Kimes Show, @McShay13 had the choice between Tet McMillan or Matthew Golden for the #Cowboys at 12th overall in a mock draft:

“What the Cowboys will very likely do in that scenario if it’s down to those two picks is take Tetairoa McMillan.”

( : @minakimes on YT) pic.twitter.com/pzzjIkGTnl

— Brandon Loree (@Brandoniswrite) April 14, 2025​

“I would take Matthew Golden in most other circumstances — this is a Dallas thing specifically, with their offense, their weapons, and Dak’s style.”

Source: https://www.bloggingtheboys.com/202...fseason-voluntary-program-trevon-diggs-injury

 

[Dallas Cowboys]

Your daily Cowboys trivia game, Tuesday edition

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, April 14, 2025
Sunday, April 13, 2025
Saturday, April 12, 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/2025/4/15/24408785/sb-nation-cowboys-daily-trivia-in-5

 

[Dallas Cowboys]

BTB Tuesday Take: Hitting in the second-round is more impressive than the first this year

Photo by Sam Hodde/Getty Images

The Cowboys absolutely have to hit on their second-round pick this year.

In our Monday discussion prompt here at BTB we discussed how it is very unlikely that the Dallas Cowboys will do something in the first round that will upset us. The second round, on the other hand, is an entirely different story.

Consider the last 10 players who the Cowboys have taken in the second round:

• 2024: Marshawn Kneeland
• 2023: Luke Schoonmaker
• 2022: Sam Williams
• 2021: Kelvin Joseph
• 2020: Trevon Diggs
• 2019: Trysten Hill
• 2018: Connor Williams
• 2017: Chidobe Awuzie
• 2016: Jaylon Smith
• 2015: Randy Gregory

This list is questionable at the very best. We still have high hopes for Marshawn Kneeland and Sam Williams has shown flashes but is coming off of a torn ACL, and obviously Trevon Diggs is also coming back from a knee issue. Ultimately the point here is that you have to really reach to constitute the second round as a success for the Cowboys in recent history.

When we discuss what the Cowboys have done in the first round in the same span then there are plenty of positive things to say. But hitting in the second round is clearly more of a challenge and therefore one that the Cowboys have to take seriously this year.

To this point, the Cowboys even hold the 12th overall pick in this year’s draft. No one is saying that overseeing a draft is an easy thing, but again making sure you get a playmaker when you have a pick that high is clearly less difficult than doing so at 44 overall which is where the team’s second-rounder lies.

This season (and every honestly) it would be more impressive for the Cowboys to show up and show out in the second round. They are due to say the least.

Let us know if you agree in the comments below.

Source: https://www.bloggingtheboys.com/202...d-is-more-impressive-than-the-first-this-year

 

[Dallas Cowboys]

Dallas Cowboys 2025 draft scouting report: Ohio State DL Tyleik Williams

Photo by CFP/Getty Images

Could Tyleik Williams be the pick in the second round?

We continue our 2025 NFL Draft preview of draft prospects that could interest the Dallas Cowboys. Today we are looking at defensive lineman Tyleik Williams out of Ohio State.

Height: 6-foot-3
Weight: 334-lbs
Arm Length: 32”
Hand Size: 10 1/4”

Strengths:​

+ Stout, well-built nose tackle with three-down ability

+ Hands are violent and relentless when working through blocks

+ Powerful human that does not get moved in the running game

+ Takes on double teams with good technique and strength

+ Sinks into hips and legs well when doubled to plug up holes

+ NFL size and athleticism to be an instant contributor

+ Maximizes his length to keep his chest clean and not get washed

+ Better athlete and pass rush profile than given credit for

Weaknesses:​

- Needs to do a better job of firing off the ball to not get reached early in reps

- Plays a bit tall for a shorter interior lineman

- Hot motor leads to a bit of recklessness giving up gap integrity

- Lack of pass rush plans to a lot of stagnant rushes

- Needs to find a go-to counter to work off his bull rush

- Will need to see about the severity of the injury he suffered during his pro day

Round Grade:​

2nd

Overall Summary:​

The Cowboys need to improve their run defense along the interior in this year’s draft. Tyleik Williams can be that guy for them. While he is more known for his strength in the trenches against the run, Williams possesses intriguing pass rush traits to develop his three-down ability in the NFL. Williams will need to play with better knee-bend and improve his get off to avoid being reached easily, but overall he is an impact run defender who can walk in as competition for Mazi Smith at the 1-technique spot.

Source: https://www.bloggingtheboys.com/202...ate-defensive-line-tyleik-williams-mazi-smith

 

[Dallas Cowboys]

4 scenarios that could trigger a potential trade-back opportunity for the Cowboys

Photo by Matthew Visinsky/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images

What do you think would have to happen for the Cowboys to find a trade-back partner in the first round?

The Dallas Cowboys have a very important decision to make when they are on the clock in the first round of the 2025 NFL Draft. It’s unclear in which direction they go as there are a few different things they could do that would help their team. One of those things is trading back.

Trading back would be helpful in giving them more draft capital to address more areas on the roster rather than putting all the pressure on those first three picks. But for the Cowboys to do that, they’ll need a trade partner. And every year, the landscape of the draft creates entirely new scenarios that dictate what type of trade opportunities exist. What could we expect in this draft?

That is what the crack staff of the Cowboys drafting department will try to figure out as they play through as many scenarios as they can to get a feel for what could go down on draft day. We don’t have the manpower or draft prowess to pull off such a task, but it won’t stop us from at least exploring a few hypotheticals. What could happen this year that could open up a trade-back scenario for the Cowboys? Before we get to that, let’s first identify what won’t trigger it.

Trading up for a quarterback​

Normally, the thing that shakes up the first round for trades is the need for a quarterback. This season, there are five teams in the market for a new quarterback. Here are those teams and where they pick in the first round:

• Tennessee Titans #1
• New York Giants #3
• New Orleans Saints #9
• Pittsburgh Steelers #21
• Los Angeles Rams #26

There are two top-tier quarterbacks in this draft. They are Miami’s Cam Ward and Colorado’s Shadeur Sanders. They both are expected to go in the top 10. That means the Titans and Giants are in the best position to get a new quarterback, with the Saints next in line should one of them go another direction.

Mississippi’s Jaxson Dart is the only other quarterback expected to go in the first round, but he is projected later, with his most possible landing spot being Pittsburgh. If the Rams want to jump the Steelers to steal Dart, they would only need to move inside the top 20 picks, but not as far as 12. Factoring in all these things, the quarterback sweepstakes is not likely to have any impact on the Cowboys.

So, if that won’t create a trade-back opportunity, what will? Here are four other scenarios that might create some opportunities for movement.

Last chance to get an elite offensive tackle​

There are three offensive tackles expected to go in the top 10. They are LSU’s Will Campbell (Patriots at #4), Missouri’s Armand Membou (Jets at #7), and Texas’ Kelvin Banks (Bears at #10). But after those three, there’s a gap in talent, with the next best option being Ohio State’s Josh Simmons, who is projected to go to Houston at pick 25.

If one of them (most likely Banks) makes it out of the top 10, the next best landing spot will be the Miami Dolphins at pick 13. There are a couple of teams who might be interested in jumping Miami to get a premier LT, and they are the Arizona Cardinals (pick 16) and Seattle Seahawks (pick 18). For the Cardinals, moving up four spots would cost them 200 points according to the NFL Trade Value Chart, equivalent of the 78th overall pick in the draft, which conveniently lies with Arizona.

This is just an example, and because OT is one of the biggest needs of the Dolphins, it creates a small window of opportunity for a trade-down scenario for the Cowboys.

Last chance to get an elite cornerback​

The same kind of situation is present at cornerback. The three top guys, Colorado’s Travis Hunter, Michigan’s Will Johnson, and Texas’ Jahdae Barron, are projected to go early, but after that, there’s a gap. If the right guy falls, there could be a team that is interested in making a deal.

Fans might remember that this is the exact scenario that played out last year when Alabama’s Terrion Arnold slid to 24. The Lions wanted him, and the Cowboys were able to squeeze out an extra third-round pick. It’s hard to know if the interest in a corner will be there, but this talent gap creates the possibility.

Someone has to have their receiver​

Wait? Aren’t the Cowboys a team that is in the market for a receiver? The answer is yes. And if the receiver the Cowboys want is still there at 12, they’ll make the pick. While we all think there is a natural order between Arizona’s Tetairoa McMillan, Texas’ Matthew Golden, Ohio State’s Emeka Egbuka, and Missouri’s Luther Burden, how teams view those players is subjective. We witnessed this first-hand when Henry Ruggs and Jerry Jeudy were taken before CeeDee Lamb in 2020.

If the Cowboys don’t believe a particular receiver is worth the 12th overall pick, but another team does, it could provide an opportunity to swing a deal. Seattle (pick 18), Denver (pick 20) and both Los Angeles teams (picks 22 and 26) have needs at wide receiver.

Someone loves Jihaad Campbell​

The draft is about supply and demand, and there is only one linebacker ranked inside the top 50. That player is Alabama’s Jihaad Campbell. While off-ball linebacker isn’t a premium position that initiates big trades, teams will do it if they feel it’s their last chance to get a good player at a position of need. The Jacksonville Jaguars did exactly that when they traded up to select Utah LB Devin Lloyd in 2022. That year, Lloyd and Georgia’s Quay Walker were the top guys and Walker had already been selected by the Packers. Rather than settle for the next tier, the Jags made their move.

With Campbell being the only star linebacker in this draft class, the supply is low. He’s been projected to a handful of different teams, such as Indianapolis (pick 14), Atlanta (pick 15), Cincinnati (pick 17), and Tampa Bay (pick 19). If a team wants to get ahead of the others, it could look for a chance to trade down.

Source: https://www.bloggingtheboys.com/202...trade-back-opportunity-quaterback-left-tackle

 

[Dallas Cowboys]

Why it shouldn’t matter that Micah Parsons reported for voluntary workouts

Photo by Kevin Sabitus/Getty Images

Micah Parsons showing up to voluntary workouts is nice, but it should not have been a requirement.

The Dallas Cowboys began voluntary workouts on Monday. It marked the first football-ish activity to happen for the team since the organization hired Brian Schottenheimer to be their head coach. Getting off to a promising start is certainly what everybody wants, but setting Schottenheimer up for as much success as possible is ideal.

This idea is why the would-be status of Micah Parsons was of high interest as Monday approached. Parsons and the Cowboys have been in the middle of contract extension talks for some time and the history of the club on these matters does not exactly suggest that they are in a hurry to get it done (despite a mountain of evidence that doing so is wise). From a strictly factual standpoint, Parsons held no responsibility to show up on Monday given the voluntary nature of the activities and choosing not to do so, while he hasn’t in the past when not in contract discussions, could have served as a sign/tactic of sorts.

We needn’t concern ourselves with that hypothetical because Parsons was present and accounted for on Monday. Thank goodness we avoided any of those discussions.

It shouldn’t matter whether or not Parsons showed up or not on Monday​

To be clear, we are all allowed to have our opinions. If you believe that Parsons needed to show up on Monday for reasons X, Y or Z then you certainly hold the right to feel that way.

But there is a strong argument that Parsons didn’t need to do anything. It should not have been some requirement, not saying that it was one, for him to show up and prove anything at this point. He is the best player on the team. He is among the best players in the entire league. In terms of off the field activities he has never done anything to suggest he is not worth paying, and this offseason alone he has taken to social media to defend the reputation of the team when his former teammate DeMarcus Lawrence called them out.

Word around social media following news of Parsons’ attendance offered things like “this shows good leadership!” or “this is great to see.” Why? It is nice, but there is no reason that Parsons had to give even more to this point to justify what is likely going to be the biggest non-quarterback contract in league history when he signs it.

Recall that CeeDee Lamb did not show up to anything voluntary last year as he was in the middle of his own contract negotiations. He took a lot of heat for it, but the same thing was true for him at the time as it is for Parsons. Lamb’s career accomplishments spoke for themselves before anything voluntary or mandatory began last year as they did for Parsons prior to Monday. If the Cowboys are truly wanting to have something proven to them then that is where this whole thing has jumped the shark a bit.

Every negotiation is different.

If you never miss OTAs, skipping them sends a message about how serious you are about getting a deal done.

If you attend them sporadically, as Micah Parsons has in recent years, showing up gets that same message across. https://t.co/mdknBrbgzC

— David Moore (@DavidMooreDMN) April 14, 2025​

Perhaps Parsons chose to attend on Monday just of his own accord and independent of any wants or wishes related to his contract. Obviously anything is possible.

He deserves an extension. This was true before Monday and is equally true whenever you are reading this, unless it is somehow broken that Parsons has a brand new deal with the team by the time you are. Waiting this long has already cost the team more than if they had shown a level of proactivity as many have called for them to do. Are we to believe that the decision for them to hand out somewhere around $40M per year rests on someone reporting to a voluntary workout? That would be horrible process if it were.

It is a good thing that Parsons reported on Monday. Group camaraderie that is built at this time of year is a great thing. It is awesome to see.

Now what would be even greater is for any and all distractions of the contract variety to get taken care of. Parsons has done his part. More so now. Time for the Cowboys to do theirs.

Source: https://www.bloggingtheboys.com/202...ary-workouts-brian-schottenheimer-ceedee-lamb

 

[Dallas Cowboys]

2 'selectively aggressive' moves Cowboys can make to instantly impact 2025 roster

Photo by Quinn Harris/Getty Images

The Cowboys still have the opportunity to add some quality starters before the NFL Draft.

The Dallas Cowboys were very active once free agency kicked off in March. They've signed more than 10 guys. Although they didn't make any major moves, they did make a few that would have an instant impact, like edge rusher Dante Fowler Jr. and linebacker Jack Sanborn, who will likely earn a contributing role.

With that being said, Dallas still has holes on their roster that can be addressed before the NFL draft and allow them to have some flexibility in their strategy. Fortunately, there are still some veterans on the open market that could come in and instantly be starters on the Cowboys. Let's take a look at two in particular.

Keenan Allen, WR​

Photo by Todd Rosenberg/Getty Images

CeeDee Lamb is one of the top wide receivers in the NFL. He's also the only weapon on the outside that the Cowboys can have full confidence in. Keenan Allen is long in the tooth at 32 years old (will be 33 when the season starts), but he's still a reliable player at the receiver position as he registered 70 receptions for 744 yards and seven touchdowns in 2024 (was a Pro Bowler in 2023). He's very savvy and always finds a way to get to open spots in the zone.

With a playmaker like Lamb on the opposite side drawing so much attention, Allen can provide a perfect complement to him and give quarterback Dak Prescott and dependable option to keep the chains moving. There’s also the veteran presence in the locker room aspect that Allen can provide. Getting a player of his caliber to be around younger guys like Jalen Tolbert, Ryan Flournoy, and other inexperienced receivers will be beneficial.

Asante Samuel Jr., CB​

Photo by Brandon Sloter/Getty Images

With Trevon Diggs and his availability for the 2025 season up in the air and losing Jourdan Lewis in free agency, the Cowboys need another cornerback. Samuel had a shoulder injury that limited him to just four games in 2024. However, with the Cowboys being very frugal when it comes to spending, that can work in their favor as they will likely get him for cheaper with the injury concerns.

Samuel has been a very good NFL corner when he's on the field. He racked up six interceptions and 35 pass breakups during his first three seasons in the league. Bringing him on the roster would give the Cowboys another quality player at the cornerback position, and it would also allow them to be more cautious with Diggs and his return.

Another key point in regards to Allen and Samuel is that they wouldn't hinder the Cowboys from addressing either position in the draft. In fact, it would actually give them two starters for 2025 and give younger players the opportunity to develop instead of having to play right out of the gate like most draft picks in Dallas have to do.

Source: https://www.bloggingtheboys.com/202...-moves-2025-roster-keenan-allen-asante-samuel