Cowboys Team Notes

Major Takeaways: New Cowboys coaches offer impressive insights, philosophies for '25

The Dallas Cowboys are entering a new era for the franchise, which began when they hired Brian Schottenheimer as their new head coach earlier this offseason. The change at the top has also meant turning over almost their entire coaching staff as the club prepares to move forward.

Early assessments of the compiled staff have earned rave reviews, and that was before the coaches had a chance to speak publicly about their new roles and intentions. In their first media session, the staff painted a bright picture on what to expect from their respective units. Talk is cheap and the coaches will need their philosophies on the field to match their words, but it was a strong initial outing for the new staff in Dallas.

Many hoped Schottenheimer would be able to build a strong staff, a group that would change some of the culture with the Cowboys, which appears to be the case. It was a great start for the new hires, and something to be positive about as the offseason begins.
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Source: https://cowboyswire.usatoday.com/lists/cowboys-coaches-media-session-takeaways/
 
11 is the Mic! Cowboys rage-baiters intensify focus on Parsons' podcast

Micah Parsons is under fire… again.

Media, fans, and NFL legends are up in arms over his podcast… again.

And Parsons clapped back… again.

At this point, it’s practically an offseason tradition. The recent comments by Lawrence Taylor and DeMarcus Ware are just parts of a tired refrain.

But this time, Parsons’ response had a slightly different tone. He took to X (formerly Twitter) with a pointed question:

“Lol I wonder do people hate my podcast because it’s actually good or do people hate it because it’s bad?? Because hella people in the NBA and NFL have podcasts and no one has a problem.”

Lol i wonder do people hate my podcast because it’s actually good or do people hate it because it’s bad?? Because hella people in the nba and NFL have podcast and no one has a problem
👀
👀
👀


— Micah Parsons (@MicahhParsons11) February 20, 2025
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Here’s the likely answer: Most critics don’t care whether Parsons’ podcast is good or bad. They know talking about it stirs the pot, and this time of year, in the NFL’s dead zone—where real stakes are nonexistent—Cowboys discourse is easy engagement farming.

Cowboys rage-baiting is tried and true. It’s low effort, high reward. When Dak Prescott was the favorite target, all it took was a conveniently low QB ranking to flood the mentions. But with Prescott out for most of the season due to injury, that easy engagement has to come from somewhere. Parsons’ podcast is polarizing, and unlike other Cowboys stars, he actually responds—making him an easy mark.

But here’s what people aren’t acknowledging: Parsons is a high achiever Cowboys fans should be proud of—maybe even an overachiever.

Despite the narrative that he’s “distracted” and needs to “focus on football,” Parsons is stacking up a career most players would kill for.

  • 2× First-Team All-Pro
  • 4× Pro Bowler
  • 52.5 sacks in 63 games
  • Top 5 in sacks among NFL linebackers in 2024—despite missing games

And he’s still regarded as being on pace to become a future Hall of Famer and the most dominant defensive weapon the Cowboys have deployed.

As for the so-called “distraction,” Parsons isn’t just hosting a podcast. He’s the President of B/R Gridiron, the first active athlete to hold such a position at a sports media company. He’s not just talking into a mic—he’s shaping content strategy, expanding Bleacher Report’s reach, and launching new shows.

Instead of questioning whether this is taking away from his game, maybe folks should be asking: How is he doing all of this at such a high level?

Two careers. Elite in both. Most people don’t see this level of success in a lifetime.

When Parsons accepted his new title with Bleacher Report last May, Warner Bros. Discovery and Bleacher Report held an event to welcome him to their offices. He shared this message with his new co-workers:

“I have a no-excuse rule. You’re either a go-getter, or you’re not. If you’re just doing enough, you’ll never be great.”

Criticism is easy. Learning from greatness? That takes effort.

Instead of nitpicking, maybe it’s time to take notes.

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Source: https://cowboyswire.usatoday.com/2025/02/21/cowboys-micah-parsons-podcast-discussion/
 
Pick of the Litter: Cowboys options to draft RB could lead to Day 2 selection

One conversation the Dallas Cowboys are probably having this offseason is when to draft a running back. Whether free agent Rico Dowdle is retained or not, the Cowboys are in the market for a starting-quality ball carrier. Luckily for them, the 2025 NFL draft just happens to feature one of the most gifted classes in years.

Headlined by Boise State’s Ashton Jeanty, the 2025 draft class is strong from top to bottom. The top four prospects look like stars in the making and game breakers capable of leading a ground game on Day 1.

Kaleb Johnson (Iowa), Omarion Hampton (North Carolina) and TreVeyon Henderson (Ohio State) figure to be the next three off the board after Jeanty. In what order and how long after Jeanty is the real question.

Kyle Crabbs, a long-time draft analyst and current scout for 33rd Team, recently ran his official mock draft. In it he shows how big of a chasm there is between Jeanty and the others and who the Cowboys could be looking at when they go on the clock in the second round at Pick 44.

In this scenario Jeanty drops off the board at No. 6 when the Las Vegas Raiders select him with their first pick. It just so happens the next RB to get selected isn’t until the Broncos pick Johnson at 52. Hampton proceeds to get picked by the Chargers at 54 and finally Henderson gets picked at 62. It sets the stage for the Cowboys to be in a very advantageous position in the second round because they could have their pick of that elite second tier.

Obviously in Crabbs’ mock draft Dallas did not pick a RB, choosing instead to pounce on the value that Derrick Harmon, a defensive tackle from Oregon, offered on Day 2. It would be hard to argue with that logic since Harmon plays a position of need and comes with a tantalizing pass-rushing skill set too good to pass up at Pick 44. It also speaks to the depth of the draft and how many good starting quality RBs will be available late on Day 2 and into Day 3.

But for those who are gauging value and trying to prepare for various draft day scenarios this is an enlightening exercise to go through. If the Cowboys fall in love with one or two of the remaining RBs in that second tier, they may get their shot at him at Pick 44.

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Source: https://cowboyswire.usatoday.com/2025/02/21/mock-draft-cowboys-pick-rb-round-2-nfl-draft/
 
Former Saints 1st-round pick, $54 million-DT late addition to potential Cowboys free agency target list

Two things are not in alignment. When the Dallas Cowboys hired Matt Eberflus to be their new defensive coordinator, the impetus of having a strong, deep rotation at defensive tackle became paramount. Eberflus doesn’t like to blitz a ton, so having tackles who can penetrate and disrupt, as well as be strong against the run became a top priority for a team that hasn’t really focused on those needs in recent years.

Unfortunately, not only have the Cowboys DTs underwhelmed, they also don’t have many in the stable as their in-house free agent list is littered with folks who play that position. Of the five DTs who made the 2024 opening roster, only Mazi Smith is currently on the team’s payroll, and the 2023 first-round pick has disappointed in his two seasons. Dallas is going to need to find help from the outside.


A new name has been added to the list of potential free-agent targets for Dallas, as Cincinnati has released 30-year old DT Sheldon Rankins. Rankins, a former first-round pick of the New Orleans Saints, spent just one season in the Queen City, playing just seven games thanks to injury and illness.

Rankins has spent about half of his career as a starter, with a lull from 2019 through 2021 where he was a backup for the Saints and NY Jets. He returned to a starting role for New York in 2022, Houston in 2023 and started all seven contests he appeared in for the Bengals in 2024.

Over the course of his nine-year career, Rankins has made over $54 million in the league. Releasing Rankins saves the Bengals his $9.6 million salary and leaves $2 million of dead money on their 2025 cap.

Rankins averages 4.5 sacks a season and has 30.5 over the course of his career. His Pro Football Focus grades have fluctuated, but in his last full season posted a career-best 74.7 pass-rush grade in 2023 with the Houston Texans.

If he’s willing to come down in price, Rankins might make a good fit as a rotational DT in Dallas.
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Source: https://cowboyswire.usatoday.com/2025/02/22/cowboys-free-agency-sheldon-rankins-saints-bengals/
 
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