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[Dallas Cowboys]

Cowboys 2025 draft scouting report: CB Trey Amos

Photo by David Rosenblum/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images

Here is our scouting report on Trey Amos from Ole Miss.

We continue our 2025 NFL Draft preview of draft prospects that could interest the Dallas Cowboys. Today we are looking at cornerback Trey Amos from Ole Miss.

Tre Amos​

CB
Ole Miss Rebels
Senior
3-star recruit
6’1”
195 lbs

Photo by Jacob Kupferman/Getty Images

History​

Trey Amos, born Trenayvian Amos on March 3, 2002, in New Iberia, Louisiana, developed into a highly-regarded athlete before embarking on his journey through college football.

Amos attended Catholic High School in New Iberia, where he showcased his versatility and athleticism. He played both quarterback and cornerback, demonstrating his adaptability on the field. Beyond football, Amos excelled in track and field, winning the Louisiana 2A state championship in the long jump in May 2019. This explosive athletic ability would later translate to his performance as a defensive back.

His college football career began at the University of Louisiana at Lafayette, where he played for the Ragin’ Cajuns from 2020 to 2022. Over three seasons and 34 games, Amos recorded 59 tackles, one interception, and 13 pass breakups, establishing himself as a reliable contributor in the secondary. After the 2022 season, seeking a new challenge, he entered the transfer portal and committed to the University of Alabama.

At Alabama in 2023, Amos appeared in all 14 games under legendary coach Nick Saban, starting one and playing significant defensive snaps. He tallied 12 tackles, one tackle for loss, and five pass breakups, gaining valuable experience in the SEC. Despite being in line to potentially start the following season, Amos entered the transfer portal again after the 2023 season and transferred to Ole Miss.

The 2024 season at Ole Miss marked a breakout year for Amos. As a senior, he started all 13 games at cornerback, becoming a cornerstone of one of the better defenses in Rebels history. He finished with 50 tackles (fifth on the team), four tackles for loss, a team-leading three interceptions, and a team-high 13 pass breakups, the most by an Ole Miss player since 2015.

2024 Statistics​

841 Defensive Snaps
515 Coverage Snaps
50 Total Tackles
4 Tackles For Loss
13 Pass Breakups
3 INT
1 Forced Fumble
54.5 Passer Rating Allowed
3 Penalties

NFL Combine/Pro Day​

10-Yard Split- 1.60s (20%)
40-Yard Dash- 4.43s (75%)
Vert- 32.5” (11%)
Broad- 126” (76%)
Bench- 13 reps (36%)

Awards​

First-team All-SEC (2024)

Scorecard​

Overall- 83.9
Speed- 82
Acceleration- 79
Agility- 85
Strength- 67
Tackling- 83
Zone Coverage- 79
Man Coverage- 83
Press- 85
Run Defense- 80
Discipline- 88

THE GOOD​

• Amos has an ideal frame for an outside cornerback in the NFL. His length allows him to disrupt receivers at the catch point and contest passes effectively.
• Amos excels in press coverage, using his physicality and quick feet to jam receivers at the line of scrimmage.
• He consistently reroutes opponents, throwing off timing in the passing game.
• He demonstrates excellent hand-eye coordination and timing when attacking the ball.
• He is a willing and reliable tackler, not afraid to engage in the run game.
• His track background translates to on-field athleticism. This is seen most when he’s asked to cover underneath routes and uses his recovery speed to stick with receivers.
• Played both man and zone schemes effectively across his stops at Louisiana, Alabama, and Ole Miss.
• His experience in varying complex defensive schemes shows adaptability to various systems.

TAPE TIME
CB Trey Amos
Ole Miss

THE GOOD#scouting #NFLDraft #OleMissRebels pic.twitter.com/sT9DdOEy2a

— Mike Poland (@kenfigkowboy) March 6, 2025​

THE BAD​

• While Amos has good recovery speed, he lacks the elite burst to match the NFL’s fast receivers. This could be exposed against true burners on go routes.
• His physicality in press coverage sometimes leads to penalties or over-committing, leaving him vulnerable to double moves or savvy route-runners who bait him into biting early.
• Before his breakout 2024 season at Ole Miss, Amos had only one start. Some scouts may question whether his sample size as a full-time starter is sufficient to project consistent NFL success.
• While fairly competent in zone coverage, his mental errors show up more while in zone, he’s more comfortable in man-to-man,
• He occasionally loses track of secondary receivers crossing into his zone, a fixable but notable flaw.

TAPE TIME
CB Trey Amos
Ole Miss

THE BAD#scouting #NFLDraft #OleMissRebels pic.twitter.com/jDS2LybdK1

— Mike Poland (@kenfigkowboy) March 6, 2025​

THE FIT​

Trey Amos projects as a high-upside CB2 with some CB1 potential in the right scheme and coaching. His 2024 season at Ole Miss showcased a rare blend of size, physicality, and ball production that NFL teams love in outside corners. He thrives in press-man schemes where he can use his length and aggression to disrupt receivers early, but he’s also shown enough fluidity and awareness to handle zone duties. His tackling ability and willingness to support the run make him a three-down player, though he’ll need to refine his discipline and deep speed to lock down elite NFL wideouts.

His top-end speed, while not a complete weakness, may not match the elite burners at the pro level, requiring him to rely on technique and positioning. He also needs to refine his zone coverage awareness, as he occasionally loses sight of receivers entering his area. Additionally, his aggressive press-man style sometimes leads to over-committing, making him susceptible to penalties. Discipline will be critical for him in the NFL. Addressing these will elevate him from a reliable CB2 to a potential lockdown corner.

Amos could be a solid fit for the Cowboys, particularly thanks to his versatility and being such a physical cornerback. With Trevon Diggs entrenched as the CB1 and DaRon Bland offering ball-hawking skills, Amos would compete with rookie Caelen Carson to be the third corner. His 6’1” frame and press-man prowess align perfectly for disrupting receivers at the line. Amos’s tackling ability would bolster Dallas’s run defense, a priority given their 2024 struggles.

However, his occasional over-aggressiveness could draw flags in the NFC East’s receiver-rich matchups (AJ. Brown/Terry McLaurin), and his top-end speed might be tested by speedsters like DeVonta Smith. If drafted in the second round, he’d provide immediate depth and long-term starter upside, especially now that Jourdan Lewis departed in free agency. Amos’s fit hinges on refining his discipline, but his tools match the Cowboys’ defensive plans.

COMPARISON:​

James Bradberry, Philadelphia Eagles

BTB GRADE:​

39th

CONSENSUS RANKING:​

49th
(Consensus ranking based on the average ranking from 90 major scoring services, including BTB)

Source: https://www.bloggingtheboys.com/202...cornerback-trey-amos-trevon-diggs-daron-bland

 

[Dallas Cowboys]

Cowboys news: A look at a couple of Dallas’ recent signings

Photo by Brandon Sloter/Getty Images

Your Sunday morning Cowboys news.

Cowboys agree to terms on one-year deal with veteran WR Parris Campbell -Tommy Yarris, dallascowboys.com​

Newly-signed wide receiver fills Cowboys’ need for speed.

The Cowboys are adding another veteran to their roster through free agency this time at the wide receiver position, agreeing to terms with former Philadelphia Eagle Parris Campbell on Saturday afternoon.

Campbell, 27, is coming off a Super Bowl LIX championship with the Philadelphia Eagles. Last season, he played in five games and caught six passes for 30 yards and a touchdown.

By joining the Cowboys, Campbell will play for his fourth team in the last four season and his third team from the NFC East, as he spent the 2023 season with the New York Giants before heading to Philadelphia in 2024.

The first four years of Campbell’s career were with the Indianapolis Colts, who selected him in the second round with the 59th overall pick in the 2019 NFL draft out of Ohio State. In his four years with the Colts, he caught 97 passes for 983 yards and five touchdowns.

Campbell’s best season came in 2022 with the Colts where he was the team’s second leading receiver with 63 receptions for 623 yards and three touchdowns.

Insider Notes on 2025 NFL Free Agency: Why Kaiir Elam is a steal for Cowboys - Tony Pauline, Sportskeeda,com​

People around the league believe the Cowboys hit a home run with the Kaiir Elam trade, Pauline explains why.

Why the Cowboys may have struck lightning in a bottle with Elam

Firstly, Elam is not a problem player, rather a very technical cornerback who studies game film and works on his preparation. His biggest problem is his emotions, as Elam struggles getting it back together after he gets beat; and that’s something you can’t do at the cornerback spot.

The big reason people believe Dallas may have struck lightning in a bottle with Elam is scheme; he was in the wrong scheme with the Bills, but the Dallas system will play to his strengths. Elam struggled in the mostly zone scheme he lined up in for Buffalo. Yet Dallas plays mostly man, which fits his physical style.

Prior to the 2022 NFL Draft, my scouting report on Elam reflected exactly this sentiment, as I mentioned that Elam had a physical style, engaging opponents at the line of scrimmage and staying step for step with receivers all over the field. I talked about the explosion, suddenness and aggression Elam played with, and his polished ball skills.

Unfortunately for the 2022 first-round pick and the team that drafted him, none of these skills translated to the NFL system he was thrown into. Elam now has a second life in the NFL, and many expect that the change of scenery, and new system, will do him well.

The Cowboys have taken a lot of criticism this offseason; from the elevation of Brian Schottenheimer to head coach to several questionable moves during the first week of free agency, the experts have not been kind to the franchise. Yet trading for a former first-round pick who admits he now has a chip on his shoulder could be something the team and its fans fondly look back on.

Miles Sanders: Get to know Dallas Cowboys new running back - Randi Gurzi, SI.com​

What the Cowboys are getting with Miles Sanders

It hasn’t been the flashiest offseason for the Dallas Cowboys, but they’ve at least been active and filled several holes on their roster during NFL free agency. This isn’t exactly a loaded class, so the best results might come from the middle-tier signings, which is where the Dallas front office loves to shop. One of those moves includes them signing Miles Sanders, who was recently released by the Carolina Panthers.

Sanders joins Javonte Williams, who was signed earlier in free agency, and Deuce Vaughn in the Dallas backfield. They could still look for more depth but for now, let’s see who they landed in Sanders.

Miles Sanders’ college days tie him to Dallas superstar

Sanders is a Pennsylvania native. He was born in Pittsburgh and played high school ball in nearby Churchill. He stayed local for his collegiate career, playing for the Penn State Nittany Lions. He spent the first two seasons of his career backing up Saquon Barkley, but took off in 2018 when he finally got the chance. That season, Sanders ran for 1,274 yards and nine touchdowns.

While he was dominating on offense, a freshman on the other side of the ball was emerging as a star. Micah Parsons broke out that year with 83 tackles for the Nittany Lions. He and Sanders were only teammates for that season, but they know one another well.

Cooper Kupp signing adds question marks for Cowboys - Mark Heaney, Inside the Star​

The Cowboys still aren’t playing in the deep end of the pool of free agency.

On Friday, the Seahawks added fuel to their offseason, signing former Super Bowl MVP Cooper Kupp to a three-year, $45M deal. Before that, however, the Cowboys were rumored to be pursuing the Rams legend. Now, that opportunity has passed. Dallas’s need at wide receiver is clear. The team needs significant reinforcements at the position to ease the pressure on both Dak Prescott and CeeDee Lamb.

Initially, it seemed the front office was going to hold off on improving there nil the NFL Draft. That was until Adam Schefter reported the two sides were discussing a deal early Friday morning. Clearly, the Cowboys saw something they liked in the aging superstar.

With Kupp now out of the way, it’s a good time to ask what’s next for the Dallas Cowboys wide receiver room?

Free Agency: Could Cowboys Sign Somebody?

The Kupp-Dallas connection surprised people for one main reason: they did not seem interested in this class of free agent wide receivers. Dallas spent a lot of time in this free agency pursuing defensive depth pieces, former first-round picks that haven’t panned out, and veteran running backs as they prepare to draft their next starter. Aside from a contract extension to KaVontae Turpin, their offseason focus has avoided wide receiver, but that could change with similar players to Kupp still out there.

If they were willing to escalate talks with him, what would hold the Cowboys back from reaching out to Keenan Allen, Stefon Diggs, or their old friend Amari Cooper? If the money there is more favorable than Kupp’s, it could happen. The Cowboys need to realize that signing a veteran or re-signing Brandin Cooks doesn’t rule out drafting a wide receiver in the first round. More weapons are always better, and they shouldn’t change course from that because of Cooper Kupp’s decision.

Cowboys 2025 draft scouting report: CB Trey Amos - Mike Poland, Blogging the Boys​

After losing Jourdan Lewis, here’s a cornerback prospect to keep and eye on.

History

Trey Amos, born Trenayvian Amos on March 3, 2002, in New Iberia, Louisiana, developed into a highly-regarded athlete before embarking on his journey through college football.

Amos attended Catholic High School in New Iberia, where he showcased his versatility and athleticism. He played both quarterback and cornerback, demonstrating his adaptability on the field. Beyond football, Amos excelled in track and field, winning the Louisiana 2A state championship in the long jump in May 2019. This explosive athletic ability would later translate to his performance as a defensive back.

His college football career began at the University of Louisiana at Lafayette, where he played for the Ragin’ Cajuns from 2020 to 2022. Over three seasons and 34 games, Amos recorded 59 tackles, one interception, and 13 pass breakups, establishing himself as a reliable contributor in the secondary. After the 2022 season, seeking a new challenge, he entered the transfer portal and committed to the University of Alabama.

THE GOOD

Amos has an ideal frame for an outside cornerback in the NFL. His length allows him to disrupt receivers at the catch point and contest passes effectively.

Amos excels in press coverage, using his physicality and quick feet to jam receivers at the line of scrimmage.

He consistently reroutes opponents, throwing off timing in the passing game.

He demonstrates excellent hand-eye coordination and timing when attacking the ball.

He is a willing and reliable tackler, not afraid to engage in the run game.

Source: https://www.bloggingtheboys.com/202...ent-miles-sanders-parris-campbell-cooper-kupp

 

[Dallas Cowboys]

What the Cowboys are getting by trading for linebacker Kenneth Murray

Photo by Timothy Nwachukwu/Getty Images

Just how excited should fans be about the Cowboys trade for Kenneth Murray?

The Dallas Cowboys entered the offseason with some huge concerns at the linebacker position. Last year, they relied on veteran Eric Kendricks, second-year redshirt DeMarvion Overshown, and rookie Marist Liufau to handle the majority of the workload. They also had Damone Clark and Nick Vigil, but both played less than 15% of the snaps on defense yet in the top five in snaps on special teams.

Entering the new season, the Cowboys were running quite thin at linebacker. Kendricks was only on a one-year deal and was a Mike Zimmer-guy many weren’t expecting to return. Overshown suffered a terrible knee injury last season and it’s unclear what his recovery will be like and if he will even play in 2025. Vigil was also on a one-year deal so he’s out, and while Clark still has one year remaining on his rookie deal, he’s not expected to hold a meaningful role after an unimpressive 2023 season. That essentially left Liufau as the team’s sole survivor at linebacker.

With the situation bleak, the Cowboys took action, first signing former Chicago Bears linebacker Jack Sanborn. Primarily a backup, this undrafted free agent made 19 starts for the Bears over three seasons. Like Clark and Vigil, Sanborn spent significant time on special teams. This signing wasn’t anything that was going to move the needle much.

But then, the Cowboys got a little more serious. They swapped some late-round picks from next month’s draft to acquire former first-round pick Kenneth Murray from the Tennessee Titans. Murray has one year left of the two-year, $15.5 million deal he signed last offseason. The Cowboys will now pick up his $7.4 million cap hit, sending a sixth-round pick and gaining a seventh-round pick in next month’s draft.

The move for Murray is interesting. The Cowboys saw that starting linebackers were going for over $10 million a season in free agency. Instead of throwing money in that direction, the team got on the phones and worked a deal for Murray. They get a 26-year-old player who already had 67 starts under his belt. And while he hasn’t lived up to this first-round pedigree, Murray is a guy who can help fill the void at the linebacker position.

Murray possesses good athleticism and can get from point A to point B in a hurry. He’s an excellent gap shooter and strong sideline pursuer. In the open field, he’ll chase people down. There are certainly traits he has that can help the defense.

Kenneth Murray is a firecracker off the snap. He has nice speed and doesn't hesitate. He's more of a finesse shedder than a physical one, so he'll get washed out when blockers square up on him, but he has enough athleticism to make plays. Good move by the Cowboys. pic.twitter.com/4rMPyqMd1j

— Dan Rogers (@DannyPhantom24) March 13, 2025​

But it’s not all good. There are many things Murray has issues with as well. When blockers square up on him, he’s in trouble. He doesn’t exhibit the strength or hand fighting fundamentals to get himself out of trouble. He also is a gambler. He’s decisive so he’ll act fast, but sometimes that results in poor angles and getting washed out of plays.

presented without comment pic.twitter.com/o46oLb4KQA

— John Owning (@JohnOwning) March 13, 2025​

The Cowboys are better at linebacker than they were before free agency started and with their new defensive coordinator Matt Eberflus specializing in linebacker, it’s reasonable to be optimistic about the addition of Murray. There’s certainly something to work with. At the same time, it’s wise to temper expectations as well. There will be plays where fans won’t be happy and opposing teams will run off a big play. How effective he’ll be for the Cowboys is a big TBD.

With Liufau building off a good rookie season and the hope that Overshown eventually returns, there is a shiny light way down yonder. The Cowboys need to buy themselves some time and the trade for Murray helps them do that. As long as we have a realistic expectation of what they’re getting, fans should be satisfied with this move.

Source: https://www.bloggingtheboys.com/202...c-kensricks-demarvion-overshown-matt-eberflus

 

[Dallas Cowboys]

Cowboys free agents who remain unsigned

Photo by Kevin Sabitus/Getty Images

Some Cowboys free agents haven’t found new teams yet. Could this lead to their return to Dallas?

After about a week of 2025 free agency, some of last year’s Cowboys have yet to find new teams. But as Dallas has already added 10 new players on top of re-signing others, the chances that certain unsigned veterans could return may be slim to none. Let’s check in on these guys and see how things stand.

LBs Eric Kendricks & Nick Vigil​

Despite leading the Cowboys in tackles and forced fumbles last year, the 33-year-old Kendricks is still on the market. But with Mike Zimmer gone, it’s not surprising if Kendricks future isn’t in Dallas. They’ve already brought in two linebackers by trading for Kenneth Murray Jr. and signing Jack Sanborn, who followed Matt Eberflus from Chicago. Marist Liufau and Damone Clark are still here as young prospects, and of course they’re hoping to get DeMarvion Overshown back at some point in 2025. So while he did everything right in his one year in Dallas, it doesn’t seem like Kendricks will get another.

Nick Vigil was another Zimmer guy, playing for him in Minnesota in 2021. He was also connected to former assistant Paul Guenther from their time in Cincinnati, but Guenther has followed Zimmer out the door. Turing 32 this August, Vigil has likely been replaced by the aforementioned moves and whatever’s still to come in the draft.

WR Brandin Cooks​

Another veteran with age concerns, Cooks is one of several thirty-something receivers still looking for employment. Dallas has done a little work at WR by re-signing KaVontae Turpin and just adding Parris Campbell, but these aren’t moves that preclude them from bringing in someone else who could compete for the other starting job. It wouldn’t be shocking to see Cooks re-signed after testing the market, but it could just as easily be a different veteran like Keenan Allen, Stefon Diggs, or Amari Cooper as well. Alternatively, the Cowboys could just be focused on the draft for CeeDee Lamb’s next wingman.

QBs Cooper Rush & Trey Lance​

Both of last year’s reserve passers are still unsigned in an increasingly thinning pool. While Jameis Winston remains the premier backup QB out there, unless Aaron Rodgers or Russell Wilson accept stunning demotions, Rush is not far behind and Lance is still just 24 years old with potential intrigue. Dallas only has Will Grier right now behind Dak Prescott, so it’d be no surprise if they eventually bring back one of them. But it’s also possible that the Cowboys are waiting to see what comes in the draft, as there are usually veteran backups available in May.

DE Carl Lawson​

Lawson had a strong year in Dallas’ pass-rushing rotation. But now that the Cowboys have signed Dante Fowler and expect Sam Williams back from injury, it feels like Lawson will have to try to parlay his 2024 performance into a contract with a new team. While Dallas does need more DE talent to replace DeMarcus Lawrence and Chauncey Golston, they’re likely focused on run-stoppers.

DTs Linval Joseph & Carlos Watkins​

Like the linebackers mentioned before, Joseph was also connected to Mike Zimmer from the Vikings. While Dallas has re-signed Osa Odighizuwa and added Solomon Thomas, they could still use another true nose tackle for run defense. But Joseph turns 37 this October, so it’s hard to say how the team sees him or if he’s even still looking to continue his career.

Watkins could still be appealing as a cheap backup, at least for camp, but is hardly the level of player that Dallas should be concerned about right now. The Cowboys will likely see what they come out of the draft with before filling out the rest of their 90-man roster, which is where we could see Watkins return.

CB Amani Oruwariye​

Dallas’ rough year with CB injuries forced them to play Oruwariye off the practice squad far more than they would’ve liked. He’s best known for a blunder on a blocked punt that played a huge role in a loss to the Bengals. At 29 years old, Oruwariye probably wasn’t coming back anyway but was made even more expendable after Dallas traded for Kaiir Elam and re-signed Israel Mukuamu.

Source: https://www.bloggingtheboys.com/202...ndricks-brandin-cooks-cooper-rush-carl-lawson

 

[Dallas Cowboys]

Baltimore Ravens signing former Cowboys QB Cooper Rush

Photo by Ron Jenkins/Getty Images

The Cowboys will need a new backup QB

After seven seasons with the Dallas Cowboys, Cooper Rush has found a new home in Baltimore serving as Lamar Jackson’s backup. Ian Rapoport of NFL Network announced this morning that Rush has agreed to terms with the Ravens on a two-year, up to $12.2 million dollar deal.

A new backup for Lamar: The #Ravens and former #Cowboys QB Cooper Rush have agreed to a 2-year contract worth up to $12.2M, per me and @TomPelissero.

After a long stint in Dallas, Rush heads to Baltimore in a deal negotiated by @EquitySports CEO Chris Cabott. pic.twitter.com/5zPnbeH7lm

— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) March 16, 2025​

Rush started a ton of games over the last few years filling in for an injured Dak Prescott. His most notable season came in 2022 where he started five games for the Cowboys, finishing with a 4-1 record and keeping the Cowboys alive for an eventual playoff berth.

Rush has proven to be one of the league’s most reliable backups over the course of his career, and despite his lack of play-making ability, has posted a 9-5 record in Dallas.

With Rush leaving the Cowboys are in need of a backup quarterback, with Trey Lance a free agent. Will Grier is the only quarterback under contract as of today, but Stephen Jones spoke at the combine about the team’s hopes of adding a quarterback in the 2025 draft class.

The #Cowboys now need a backup QB. Here is what COO Stephen Jones said recently https://t.co/bKLqb4sfzr pic.twitter.com/XzR3tUly32

— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) March 16, 2025​

Source: https://www.bloggingtheboys.com/202...rterback-cooper-rush-lamar-jackson-will-grier

 

[Dallas Cowboys]

Dallas Cowboys 2025 draft: Fixing the roster through the draft

Photo by Nicholas Faulkner/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images

Hoe the Cowboys can fix their roster holes in the draft

The Dallas Cowboys have many roster holes going into the season and with the NFL Draft just around the corner this would be a great place to restock and rebuild. Let’s try fixing the roster by looking at the ideal prospect to take in each round and make this the “best-fix” solution draft. All players taken have to be realistic here (we used the Mock Draft Database), and it’s no trades as we try and find the best player for each pick given what the team has to play with.

ROUND 1 (12)​

Tetairoa McMillan
WR
Arizona

The Cowboys lose Brandin Cooks and need a viable WR2 to complement CeeDee Lamb. The team has a great collection of WR3’s and WR4’s but lacks a true number two or a possession type receiver on the outside. McMillan is the best X-receiver in the draft and fills a huge need on the Cowboys offense. Since the departure of Dez Bryant this team has missed having that big, physical boundary receiver on the outside and they don’t get much better in this year’s class than the Arizona prospect. The wide receiver talent-shelf drops off fast this year, so grabbing a position of need that has a low amount of depth in the draft makes this a smart move to get in early.

TETAIROA MCMILLAN NOW HAS FOUR TOUCHDOWNS AND 248 RECEIVING YARDS

IT'S ONLY THE THIRD QUARTER pic.twitter.com/WD7u2uTluc

— ESPN (@espn) September 1, 2024​

ROUND 2 (44)​

Omarion Hampton
Running back
North Carolina

For some scouts, Omarion Hampton is the best running back and that doesn’t seem crazy when you break it down. Ashton Jeanty dominated last season and did so in the Mountain West. He did face a solid defense at the end of the season in Penn State and go watch that game, it will leave you asking questions. Add the fact Jeanty has 750 carries under his belt in college, you have to be concerned about the wear-and-tear already. Hampton offers a solution in the second round, and a very talented solution. He blew the combine out the water, finishing with a Relative Athletic Score (RAS) of 9.61, that’s about as perfect as you can get. His 10-yard split and broad jump were both in the 97th percentile which shows his explosiveness which is seen often on tape. He’s an immediate three-down starter and his violent running style and insane contact balance will punish defenders for years to come.

Omarion Hampton (RB4) has all the physical traits to succeed at the next level https://t.co/1AZ2sz6Okr pic.twitter.com/eT5IhWqsvI

— The 33rd Team (@The33rdTeamFB) March 6, 2025​

ROUND 3 (76)​

Wyatt Milum
Offensive Tackle
West Virginia

So far it’s all offense, but don’t panic defensive help is coming up. The offensive line is the foundation of any team and last year the Cowboys foundation was best described as rocky. Running the ball was a hard task for most of the season and the right hand side of the line really struggled in that regard. By taking Milum here it solidifies the line and gives the team options. Should Guyton stay on the left then Milum offers a solution at right tackle to take over from Terence Steele who really had issues in run-blocking last season. Or maybe the coaches choose to push Guyton to his natural position and play Milum on the left. The good news is Milum has played snaps on both sides, and in his last three years playing at West Virginia he allowed zero sacks. He also finished last season with a run-blocking grade of 89.2 and a pass blocking grade of 92.5. He’s a steal in the third round.

The dream is about to be realized @MilumWyatt | #NFLCombine pic.twitter.com/ehMD0Wydxj

— West Virginia Football (@WVUfootball) March 2, 2025​

ROUND 5 (149)​

David Walker
Defensive End
Central Arkansas

With no fourth round pick it’s a long wait for the Cowboys first pick on Day 3. The best way to start is with a small school guy that’s going a little under the radar. Sure, competition level is a concern with David Walker, but he was insanely productive at Central Arkansas. He left the Bears with a career of 152 pressures and 37 sacks over a three-year period, that’s some wild production. But he proved in the Senior Bowl he could hang with the big guys and actually looked like one of the stars during the week. The Cowboys love Senior Bowl standouts and Walker ticks that box immediately. Adding to his appeal is his combine results where he looked great during the on-field workout. But at 265 pounds he ran a 40-yard time of 4.69s (88th percentile), made a vertical of 35” (84th percentile), cranked out 26 reps on the bench (84th percentile), and finished his agility drills that ranks in the 77th percentile. He fills a huge need for Dallas, all nicely bundled with the 150th pick.

Central Arkansas ED David Walker was outstanding to wrap up Senior Bowl week with a slew of pressures during live reps.

His ability to create push from different alignments is what makes his profile so intriguing. pic.twitter.com/UNoOpZwZDL

— Ryan Fowler (@_RyanFowler_) February 4, 2025​

ROUND 5 (171)​

Kobe King
Linebacker
Penn State

The Cowboys added to the linebacker position through a trade and free agency, and it helps to fill the void left by Eric Kendricks while DeMarvion Overshown will miss time during the 2025 season. Marist Liufau has given fans optimism and played great in Overshown’s place, but this Cowboys defense needs all the help it can get at run stopping. King is a rock solid run-stuffing MIKE linebacker and that’s exactly what Dallas needs for the future. He may not flash great speed or agility, and he has struggles in pass coverage, but as a run defender you won’t find much better in Day 3 than King. He made 97 total tackles last year along with nine tackles for loss and three sacks.

Kobe King has been BALLING for Penn State pic.twitter.com/LodyK3jfWJ

— PFF College (@PFF_College) January 8, 2025​

ROUND 5 (174)​

Kyle McCord
Quarterback
Syracuse

Stephen Jones announced the team is in the market for a quarterback in the draft, and Cooper Rush has now signed with another team. Kyle McCord had a great 2024 season which was capped off by proving his skills at the Shrine Bowl and easily being the standout player during the week. He finished last season ranking first nationally in pass completions (391), passing yards (4,779), and ranked fifth in the nation in passing touchdowns (34). Sure there’s some work to do, mostly with his decision making. But he can sit and learn while being groomed for the future.

Syracuse's Kyle McCord showing off the deep ball!

: #NFLCombine on @NFLNetwork
: Stream on @NFLPlus pic.twitter.com/6X3hCOWWkK

— NFL (@NFL) March 2, 2025​

ROUND 6 (204)​

Mello Dotson
Cornerback
Kansas

With Jourdan Lewis gone the cornerback position needs players and depth. Mello Dotson primarily lines up as an outside cornerback, but with question marks on Trevon Diggs with his health, Dotson could certainly help out. He has a great sense of where to find the ball and his production speaks for itself. In the last three years, Dotson has racked up 11 interceptions, four pick-sixes and 24 pass breakups. Those are wild numbers. His issues lay in athleticism which is why you’ll find him this far down in the draft. He’s not fast and lacks functional strength. He’s a guy that needs some work with the strength and conditioning team, then you have a solid cornerback for years to come.

I thought #RockChalk CB Mello Dotson helped himself today - pretty good positional workout. His transition quickness on these reps were impressive; showed up multiple times. pic.twitter.com/GIpQmTtHXT

— Fran Duffy (@FDuffyNFL) March 1, 2025​

ROUND 6 (211)​

Nazir Stackhouse
Defensive Tackle
Georgia

With Osa Odighizuwa signing his contract extension, inside defensive line need is down a little, not completely though. The team still needs numbers and a solid nose tackle behind Mazi Smith. Nazir Stackhouse doesn’t just have a great defensive tackle name, he’s a solid run stopper. At 6’4” and 327 pound, he’s an object that is hard to move. He’s strong, anchors better than most in this year’s class and is a very smart player. He helped Georgia to two national championships and in the last three years he registered 84 tackles, eight tackles for loss and 44 defensive stops. He earned a run defense grade of 83.1 by PFF and this far down in the draft he makes for a great value pick. The reason he’s deemed a sixth-round talent is no pass rush. But let’s get the run defense fixed, sack numbers was not the problem last year.

Impressive power from Georgia DT 78 Nazir Stackhouse on this play. pic.twitter.com/a0xWwrMy9G

— Russell Brown (@RussNFLDraft) February 20, 2025​

ROUND 6 (239)​

Tahj Brooks
Running back
Texas Tech

What better way to add to the firepower provided by Hampton and Javonte Williams than with a complementary back like Brooks. Another violent, downhill runner that may not be athletically gifted but will carve up defenses with his sharp cuts and instinctual running. He’s a safe runner with defenders finding it hard to dislodge the ball and he has a great knack of always finding yards on broken or well-defended plays. He’s like a viscous bowling ball knocking everything down in his path.

TD for Tahj Brooks!! @TexasTechFB pic.twitter.com/Pqyr5s3s2S

— FOX College Football (@CFBONFOX) October 6, 2024​

ROUND 7 (247)​

R.J. Mickens
Safety
Clemson

There are some questions at safety with both Malik Hooker and Donovan Wilson. Both have concerns with their production and how their future looks in Dallas. Wilson is in a contract year so covering him both this year and what ever happens beyond is a smart plan. Getting an athletic free safety to learn off a guy like Hooker for a year would be a great move here with Mickens. His 40-yard time of 4.49s (84th percentile) shows functional speed, but his vertical of 41.5” (98th percentile) is something the Cowboys defense will want to tap into. He’s explosive, has great change-of-direction skills and has shown good versatility at the safety position in Clemson. He needs coaching on pursuit angles and tackling, which is why he’s ranked so low. But he gets that down then Dallas could be onto something with Mickens.

Southlake Carroll and Clemson product, safety RJ Mickens, met with the Cowboys yesterday, per @tommy_yarrish.

One to watch this week at the @ShrineBowl. pic.twitter.com/mOoETt3gvK

— Joseph Hoyt (@JoeJHoyt) January 26, 2025​

Source: https://www.bloggingtheboys.com/202...etairoa-mcmillan-omarion-hampton-wyatt-millum

 

[Dallas Cowboys]

Cowboys would be wise to follow subtle advice from Zack Martin about young linemen, balance in offense

Photo by Sam Hodde/Getty Images

The Cowboys should pay attention to Zack Martin’s advice.

The Dallas Cowboys are officially living in a post-Zack Martin world, with the All-Pro, future Ring of Honor and Hall of Fame member already holding his retirement press conference. The Cowboys are in the midst of changing their approach under new head coach Brian Schottenheimer, and immediately having a player the caliber of Martin to replace at right guard will certainly put the front office and coaching staff’s “selectively aggressive” plan to the test.

The Cowboys are no strangers to investing heavily in the offensive line and supporting coaches that believe in making this position group the lifeblood of the team. With so many other roster holes for Schottenheimer to address though, they must find a dynamic way to do so that involves developing young players and not relying on having the type of situation Martin stepped into where established stars like Tyron Smith and Travis Frederick were already in place playing at a high level. The only outside additions the Cowboys have made to their offensive line so far in free agency are Robert Jones and Dakoda Shepley, but unlike in past offseasons, both players are far from the biggest name the team has acquired overall.

The Cowboys came into this signing period with so many needs, that even their unexpected and frankly surprising flurry of moves can be met with the criticism they became so necessary thanks to the team not having the depth needed to compete at all last season. This is still a franchise that’s going to favor drafting at certain positions and relying on younger talent at these spots though, and right now the Cowboys are making a clear statement about where they plan on doing this by the positions they haven’t addressed with an outside signing or trade.

There is another element to how the Cowboys can create an ideal situation through the rebuild of their offensive line, and it is already something they’ve talked about numerous times as a major point of emphasis this offseason. Zack Martin even dropped some insight into the topic when answering questions at his press conference. If you haven’t guessed by now, we’re once again talking about the running game for the Cowboys.

When asked about when he knew he had adjusted to play in the NFL after seemingly making it look “too easy” as a rookie in 2014, Martin had this to say:

“I came into a perfect situation for a young offensive linemen. The running game was a big part of what we did. It really allowed me to develop. A lot of young linemen get thrown into the fire throwing the ball 50 times a game. We were running it 30-40 times a game, it allowed me to develop some of those things I wasn’t great at when I first got here.”

Just using the eight games starting quarterback Dak Prescott played in last season, the Cowboys threw the ball 323 times and ran it just 173 times. In the three games they won in this stretch, the Cowboys beat the Browns with a +7 differential in passing 32 to 25, the Giants with a +4 advantage with the pass 27 to 23, and the Steelers with +11 more passes compared to runs at 42-31. When this differential ballooned to numbers like 18 in Week 2, 35 in Week 3, 27 in Week 6, and 29 in Week 9, the Cowboys lost by 25, three (but trailed by 22 in the second half), 38 to the Lions, and six to the Falcons in Prescott’s last appearance of the year. This was a Mike McCarthy offense designed to have balance, but lacked the personnel to achieve this.

The Cowboys seem hellbent on bringing in the personnel to have a stronger run game, with clear needs on both sides of the equation in the backfield and up front. Making the stronger commitment to a running back may actually be the key to getting the most out of the developing offensive line, where last year’s rookie starters Tyler Guyton and Cooper Beebe are still in place and ready to build on being day one starters to make a year two jump under OC Klayton Adams and highly-regarded OL coach Conor Riley.

Yes, the Cowboys have brought in new running backs Javonte Williams and Miles Sanders, but lost last year’s most productive player here in Rico Dowdle. The Panthers signing Dowdle is what made Sanders expendable to them, and allowed the Cowboys to pull off something of a swap. A depth chart of Williams, Sanders, Malik Davis, and Deuce Vaughn still falls well short of the imposing run game Martin described as such an enhancement to his game early on. This is why many expect Dallas to still be aggressively targeting running back early in the draft, leaving just the offensive line as a position where they may be more dependent on incumbent talent taking the next step. As Martin also alluded to, these two things go hand in hand, should the Cowboys actually draft a running back that makes a day one impact.

Photo by Stacy Revere/Getty Images

The Cowboys are not going to fix all of their roster needs and be some version of the super-team that their bitter rival Philadelphia Eagles just assembled to win the Super Bowl in Schottenheimer’s first offseason. What they are learning is how to lean harder into the position groups that do have established talent, and make the few current strengths they have even stronger in hopes of establishing an identity. The Cowboys have all but renamed AT&T Stadium to “We Want to Run The Ball Stadium” while sending the message of what they hope this identity can be. The defensive front seven under new DC Matt Eberflus has become the primary focus ahead of the draft in hopes of complementing this identity, giving the Cowboys a more tough-nosed and athletic group to pair with their potential ball-controlling run game.

For all of the complications of football, a team as desperate as the Cowboys to get back to the basics in a lot of ways could do well to start with four that any coach at any level will preach the importance of. Protect the quarterback on offense, get after the opposing quarterback on defense, run the ball effectively on offense, stop the run defensively. Of these four elements, the Cowboys have seen before how their own elite run game can mask over a lot of deficiencies in the other three. For example, the 2014 Cowboys were led in sacks by Jeremy Mincey with six and Henry Melton with five. It would take a long time in any conversation about that year’s team to bring up the pass rush, because so many other elements were working at a high level to make Dallas successful, none more so than the ground game.

If the opinion of one of the best players in franchise history means anything to Jerry and Stephen Jones, who both beamed with pride sitting to the left and right of Zack Martin at his press conference, they will continue to see the merits in looking to build up a strong run game again. If successful, the Cowboys could get the best football out of left guard Tyler Smith, center Cooper Beebe, and right tackle Terence Steele who all excel at getting out in space to block running plays. This will also be key in supporting Prescott with the strong play-action game that Schottenheimer has alluded to, and playing the elusive complementary style of football that allows their defense to play with the lead more often. For a team expected to blitz less often under Eberflus compared to their one season under Mike Zimmer, this is an all-important detail for the defense. New linebackers Kenneth Murray and Jack Sanborn are both players that Dallas ideally wants playing downhill as often as possible, not constantly dropping into pass coverage.

Schottenheimer was also a coordinator under McCarthy over the stretch of time the former head coach swore he would make the team more physical overall, something the Cowboys already have some of the pieces to achieve up front but continue to lack in the backfield despite their additions. If last year’s unsatisfying answer of Ezekiel Elliott was the response to who this team wants in a tough short yardage situation, their current options may somehow be even worse. The Cowboys will have their opportunity in next month’s draft to solve for this role at minimum, and a whole lot more should they want to by targeting any number of backs in a deep class.

Photo by Robin Alam/ISI Photos/Getty Images

It is slightly poetic that the best, most recent example of the Cowboys playing this style came in Zack Martin’s rookie season, one that ended in what he laughingly referred to as the “Dez catch” in the Divisional playoffs at the Packers. A full eleven years later, the Cowboys are facing lining up without Martin for the first time, having missed out on the playoffs as the result of a down year spurred by 2023’s Wild Card loss also to the Packers.

Unfortunately, for as dominant and humble as Martin will be remembered for in his playing days, the Cowboys front office also has to face the fact he’s the latest team legend to retire with minimal playoff success, never reaching the conference championship game. Learning this lesson by directly getting back to the type of play that Martin excelled in over his prime years, the idea of using top resources in the draft at running back are starting to make more and more sense. The Cowboys deserve a lot of credit for how they’ve stepped out of their comfort zone and attacked other roster needs to make the possibility of drafting a running back as high as 12th overall much more comfortable.

Source: https://www.bloggingtheboys.com/202...gn-young-linemen-balance-offense-running-game

 

[Dallas Cowboys]

DeMarcus Lawrence’s journey with the Cowboys and why he should be remembered as one of the greats

Jim Cowsert/Fort Worth Star-Telegram/Tribune News Service via Getty Images

Let’s remember DeMarcus Lawrence for the right reasons.

The Dallas Cowboys have moved on from DeMarcus Lawrence as the veteran pass rusher signed a three-year deal with the Seattle Seahawks. The departure came with a little drama as Lawrence made some parting remarks about the Cowboys organization and their inability to win a Super Bowl. Former teammate and current Cowboys player Micah Parsons didn’t care for that and had some words of his own. Banter ensued and sports media outlets ate up every bit of it.

Sadly, our last impression of Lawrence has been tarnished due to these recent events, but it would be terrible to leave things like that. It feels only appropriate to take a final look at Lawrence’s journey and remember him the way he should be remembered, a Cowboys great.

It’s been quite the ride for the Cowboys star defensive end, starting at the beginning. He should have been a first-round pick, but character issues caused him to fall out of Day 1. He was suspended on three separate occasions at Boise State for violating team rules, although details of those events have never been disclosed. The Cowboys took advantage of his sliding draft stock and traded away their third-round pick to move up towards the beginning of the second round to select him.

Lawrence had a rough rookie season. He broke his foot in training camp and missed the first half of the season. When he finally stepped on the field, it was in a backup role. He never started a game and didn’t record a single sack during the regular season of his rookie year. He did leave his mark in the playoffs, however, recording the game-cinching sack against the Detroit Lions in the wild card game. This redeemed himself after he had just blown a previous game-cinching fumble recovery when he picked up a loose ball and tried to run, only to cough it up and give the Lions new life.

After battling injuries in two of his first three years in the league, Lawrence had a breakout season in 2017 where he recorded 14.5 sacks and forced four fumbles. It came at a good time as he was in a contract year. Because of this potential “phantom” year of production, the Cowboys played it safe and franchise tagged him the following season. In 2018, he put together another strong year finishing with 10.5 sacks en route to another Pro Bowl season. The front office tagged him again, only this time, as a placeholder and negotiating ploy. However, Lawrence played back at them, delaying shoulder surgery until they agreed on a long-term deal. It worked. A month after slapping the franchise tag on him, the Cowboys signed him to a five-year, $105 million contract.

The years that followed came with mixed reviews. Lawrence never reached seven sacks again, but he was a consummate disruptor. His performance against the run made him a dynamic player, repeatedly forcing fumbles and batting down balls. Starting with his playoff strip his rookie year, Lawrence never went a season without forcing a fumble.

But lacking the inflated sack numbers, some viewed him as overpaid, and that included the Cowboys front office in 2022. Because of his high cap hit, he was considered a potential cap casualty, but the front office was able to finagle a contract reduction that made his cap hit go from $27 million to just $14 million. Lawrence remained in Dallas and secured some more guaranteed money, but at a lower pay rate.

Lawrence finished his modified three-year extension and became an unrestricted free agent this offseason. While the perfect scenario would have been a team-friendly deal to keep him in Dallas, it wasn’t meant to be, and just like that, Lawrence is off to the Pacific Northwest.

“I mean everything really happened so fast. The offers came across the table and Dallas offer wasn’t there. I had a decision to make and that’s what happened.”

It’s easy to see how Lawrence’s departure from the Cowboys created some emotion. The front office played games with him not once, not twice, but three times over his career in Dallas. And when it came time to talk about 2025, it was crickets. That can’t feel good.

We can debate how good he was on the field, but his résumé speaks for itself. He’s had four years where he missed extended time due to injuries, but in the other seven he was pretty darn fantastic, including four Pro Bowl seasons. He has over 60 sacks and a 20/20 in forced fumbles/batted down balls in his career. He also finishes with 97 tackles for a loss as he lived in the backfield of opposing offenses.

And the love for Lawrence extended more to just what he did on the field. He was a true leader of this defense. Thanks to behind the scenes footage from Hard Knocks and All or Nothing, we got to see how respected he was. From Jason Garrett calling out him and Tyrone Crawford during a film study or his unimpressed demeanor walking in on Tarrel Bashem doing an impression of him, Lawrence said so much by saying nothing. He was good-natured and a family person who just like the rest of us, expects Chuck E. Cheese to show up when he pays extra for it. When it came time to step up the intensity, he did. When he opened his mouth, his teammates took notice as he was a vocal leader in huddles before games.

Lawrence’s time in Dallas wasn’t without drama. There were bumps along the way, but we shouldn’t lose sight of how hard this guy played for this football team. His body did him wrong at times, but the guy played through a lot of it, including two seasons dealing with a torn labrum. We can focus on the social media cat fight or instead appreciate him for what he gave us fans over the years. I’m choosing the latter.

Regardless of what's happened on social media in recent days, can we at least take a moment to appreciate DeMarcus Lawrence for everything he gave to the Dallas Cowboys. I know I speak for many when I say we love you, DLaw. Thank you so much. pic.twitter.com/WeF9fKjCh6

— Dan Rogers (@DannyPhantom24) March 15, 2025​

Source: https://www.bloggingtheboys.com/202...d-great-player-micah-parsons-seattle-seahawks

 

[Dallas Cowboys]

Cowboys news: Ranking the Dallas free agent additions

Mark J. Rebilas-Imagn Images

Notable headlines surrounding America’s team.

Ranking the Top 5 Cowboys Free Agent Additions - Mark Heaney, Inside The Star​

Looking at the newest crop of Cowboys players.

2. Jack Sanborn, Linebacker

Speaking of Eberflus, the Cowboys’ new defensive coordinator, his former linebacker from Chicago comes in at the second spot on this list.

Sanborn is a very underrated signing by Dallas, and I trust him more than Murray going into the 2025 season. His overall production and name recognition may not stack up with his newly acquired teammate, but Sanborn’s film is superior.

Few players show up with more determination when he is on the field. Sanborn has 164 career tackles in just 19 career starts because of that.

His connection with Eberflus, who took a chance on him as an undrafted free agent from Wisconsin, is significant as well.

The Cowboys free agent class is much stronger with Jack Sanborn in it. His one-year deal didn’t make the headlines, but I’m willing to bet that when the 2025 season is over, he’ll be one of the top new contributing additions in Dallas.

Cowboys lose Dak Prescott insurance policy in NFL free agency - Randy Gurzi, Sports Illustrated​

Thank you for your time here, Mr. Rush.

Rush is once again heading out of Dallas with Ian Rapoport reporting that he signed a deal with the Baltimore Ravens. The veteran will backup Lamar Jackson and can earn up to $12.2 million with his new team.

Rush became a fan favorite during his first start, when he led the Cowboys to a last-second win over the Minnesota Vikings. In that Week 8 showdown, he had 325 yards and two touchdowns, while hitting Amari Cooper for a game-winner.

He then started five games in 2022, leading Dallas to a record of 4-1. That kept their playoff hopes alive while Prescott recovered from a hand injury.

This past season, he led them to a 4-4 record in place of an injured Prescott, finishing his time in Dallas with a mark of 9-5. Rush was the quintessential game-manager, completing 60.7 percent of his attempts for 3,463 yards with 20 touchdowns and 10 picks.

Cowboys sneakily may have just signed their Jourdan Lewis replacement - Jerry Trotta, Cowboys Wire​

Was the replacement on the roster all along?

The Cowboys have announced they signed defensive back Isarael Mukuamu to a one-year deal, confirming he’ll play a fifth season for the organization.

Mukuamu was drafted in the sixth-round by Dallas in 2021. He is someone that fans have been screaming from the heavens to get more playing time.

Even though Mukuamu was drafted as a cornerback out of South Carolina, he is listed as a safety on the depth chart largely for depth purposes. For whatever reason, Mukuamu has struggled seeing the field at both positions, even though Dallas’ safety play hasn’t been the best.

After falling out of favor with Dan Quinn, Mukuamu finally got some run at cornerback under MIke Zimmer last season. While injuries had a lot to do with that, Zimmer wisely used him in the nickel more than out wide. He played 92 snaps in the slot compared to 41 on the perimeter, per PFF.

Nobody is saying that Mukuamu is ready to replace Lewis or if he can duplicate Lewis’ production or impact.

Lewis has been the heartbeat of the Cowboys’ secondary for several years. He’s underrated in coverage and is happy to get stuck in defending the run. He’s a trash-talker and plays with a bulldog mentality that inspires teammates to play with an edge.

Cowboys announce $5M in performance-based bonuses; this unlikely player got biggest bump - Todd Brock, Cowboys Wire​

Some Cowboys players got extra cash.

OC Cooper Beebe: $705,000

Beebe was a rock in his first year as a pro and his first year playing center. The third-round draft pick played just over 90% of the Cowboys’ offensive snaps last season and was in on nearly 12% of the special teams plays. Beebe’s bonus almost doubled his base salary for the season.

WR Jalen Tolbert: $593,000

Tolbert actually led all Cowboys wide receivers in snaps in 2024, with the third-year man lining up on over 76% of offensive plays on the year. He appeared in every game (but logged stats in just nine of those contests) to ensure a nice end-of-year boost to his $1.17 million base salary.

DE Chauncey Golston: $580,000

Golston agreed to terms with the New York Giants for the 2025 season, but he played enough (over 71%) of the Cowboys’ defensive snaps- plus more than a third of the special teams snaps- in 2024 to rack up a $580K bonus before leaving. His base salary for last year was $1.33 million.

Cowboys would be wise to follow subtle advice from Zack Martin about young linemen, balance in offense - Sean Martin, Blogging The Boys​

It would be wise to listen to the future Hall of Famer.

There is another element to how the Cowboys can create an ideal situation through the rebuild of their offensive line, and it is already something they’ve talked about numerous times as a major point of emphasis this offseason. Zack Martin even dropped some insight into the topic when answering questions at his press conference. If you haven’t guessed by now, we’re once again talking about the running game for the Cowboys.

When asked about when he knew he had adjusted to play in the NFL after seemingly making it look “too easy” as a rookie in 2014, Martin had this to say:

“I came into a perfect situation for a young offensive linemen. The running game was a big part of what we did. It really allowed me to develop. A lot of young linemen get thrown into the fire throwing the ball 50 times a game. We were running it 30-40 times a game, it allowed me to develop some of those things I wasn’t great at when I first got here.”

Just using the eight games starting quarterback Dak Prescott played in last season, the Cowboys threw the ball 323 times and ran it just 173 times. In the three games they won in this stretch, the Cowboys beat the Browns with a +7 differential in passing 32 to 25, the Giants with a +4 advantage with the pass 27 to 23, and the Steelers with +11 more passes compared to runs at 42-31.

Source: https://www.bloggingtheboys.com/202...ooper-rush-jourdan-lewis-israel-mukuamu-beebe

 

[Dallas Cowboys]

3-round Cowboys mock draft: Dallas adds some playmakers on both sides of the ball

Photo by Patrick Mulligan/Getty Images

Here is our latest three-round mock draft.

There is just a little over a month standing between the Dallas Cowboys and the 2025 NFL Draft. After hitting some depth pieces in free agency, the Cowboys still have plenty to accomplish in the draft if they want to be a true contender next season.

Today, we take a look at what the first three rounds of the draft could look like for the Cowboys come April. For today’s mock draft, we will be using the Pro Football Focus simulator, which you can try out here.

Round 1, 12th Overall​

With the 12th overall pick in the 2025 NFL Draft the Dallas Cowboys select...​

Ashton Jeanty, Running Back, Boise State​

Photo by Christian Petersen/Getty Images

When we get on the clock at pick 12, there are plenty of intriguing prospects still on the board. Offensive playmakers Ashton Jeanty, Emeka Egbuka, and Luther Burden III are still available, as are offensive tackle Josh Simmons and edge rusher Mykel Williams.

While beefing up either side of the line is intriguing, we need to add a dynamic weapon to our offense. Both Burden and Egbuka have appealing traits, but no offensive player in the draft may have as much immediate impact on an offense as Boise State running back Ashton Jeanty.

The 21-year-old running back is a total package, dynamic playmaker who would fit perfectly in Dallas’ offensive scheme. Jeanty would provide some much-needed explosiveness to the Cowboys’ offense and could be a feature back who plays nearly every down.

You could argue that Jeanty is the most talented offensive player in the entire draft class, so getting him at pick 12 is an absolute steal. Here’s what Lance Zierlein of NFL.com had to say about the running back.

Jeanty plays a position that has become devalued on draft day, but his unique talent and the resurgence of the run game in the NFL should force teams to reconsider that factor when weighing his value. He’s the ultimate yardage creator, with the talent and skill set to succeed independent of the quality of his blocking. Jeanty’s speed forces linebackers to flow hard outside, creating cutback lanes and chunk runs, while his vision, balance and elusiveness get it done along the interior. The threat of what he can do on the ground should create ideal play-action opportunities for his team, allowing his next play-caller to, say, unburden a young quarterback or any other passer being asked to shoulder too much of the offense. He’s compact and muscular, but there could be some minor concern surrounding his massive workload in 2024. This top-flight running back is capable of becoming the face of an offense in a league where the pendulum might be swinging back to the running game. Jeanty has future All-Pro talent.

Round 2, 44th Overall​

With the 44th overall pick in the 2025 NFL Draft the Dallas Cowboys select…​

Trey Amos, Cornerback, Ole Miss​

Photo by David Rosenblum/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images

After drafting an offensive playmaker in round one, we get back on the clock at pick 44, looking to do the same on the defensive side of the ball. Cornerbacks Trey Amos and Shavon Revel are both still on the board, as are defensive tackle Alfred Collins and edge rushers Landon Jackson and Jack Sawyer.

While adding another talented defensive tackle to play next to the recently-signed Osa Odighizuwa is tempting, finding a potential starter at the other two positions is a more significant need right now. With Sam Williams set to return from injury and second-year defensive end Marshawn Kneeland potentially progressing as a player, not to mention Dante Fowler returning, we opt to stay away from the edge rushers and focus on finding a starting-caliber cornerback.

While Amos and Revel are both very talented players, Revel’s recent ACL tear back in September 2024 gives us some pause. With Trevon Diggs’ injury looming, we need someone who we can rely on to be healthy and start right out of the gate, ultimately making the Ole Miss cornerback our selection.

Amos is a lengthy defender who was named First-Team All-SEC last season, leading Ole Miss with 13 PBUs and three interceptions. The 23-year-old could immediately slide in opposite DaRon Bland as the Cowboys' starting outside cornerback, giving Dallas’ defensive a much-needed upgrade on the backend.

Here’s what NFL.com had to say about the Ole Miss product.

Long press cornerback who proved he could make the jump from the Sun Belt to the SEC without a hitch. Amos can disrupt the release and plays with good short-area movement in man coverage. He can get a little lost at the top of the route and needs occasional safety nets over the top. He has twitchy feet to close and sees the action clearly from zone but can be hampered by indecisiveness, despite favorable instincts. Amos uses physicality and length to shrink the 50/50 odds in his favor. He can play in multiple coverage but is most consistent in zone. Amos needs to ramp up his run support and trust his eyes in space, but he has the goods to become a solid starting outside corner.

Round 3, 76th Overall​

With the 76th overall pick in the 2025 NFL Draft the Dallas Cowboys select…​

Jalen Royals, Wide Receiver, Utah State​

Photo by Derick E. Hingle/Getty Images

After adding an offensive and defensive player with our first two picks, we’re free to go in any direction in the third round. A trio of defenders, edge rusher Kyle Kennard, defensive tackle Jordan Phillips, and linebacker Carson Schwesinger, are all still on the board.

While all three would be a fit at positions of need, with the lack of impact moves so far this March, we need to take another shot at adding one more impactful playmaker to our offense. With that in mind, we zero in on the wide receiver position. Tre Harris, Tez Johnson, Jalen Royals, and Savion Williams are four of the top receivers still on the board.

While all four have some intriguing traits, we need a player who can consistently line up on the outside and give CeeDee Lamb the flexibility to play in the slot when needed. This basically eliminates Johnson from the discussion, narrowing it down to a three-man race. While Harris and Williams have intriguing physical traits, Jalen Royals is the most complete package of the group, making him our selection.

The 22-year-old wideout would be a great complement to Lamb in Dallas’ offense. His natural instinctiveness and ability to manipulate space should allow him to make an immediate impact at the NFL level. Royals could slide in as the Cowboys’ starting Z receiver this fall and would be a much-needed upgrade to their receiver room.

Here’s what NFL.com had to say about the Utah State wideout.

Skilled and instinctive, Royals might lack the desired explosiveness, but he makes up for it with his body control and feel for the game. He has good size and is keenly aware of defenders around him, which allows him to adjust routes and improve his chances on contested catches. He’s a decent route-runner but doesn’t have the short-area foot quickness and burst to open wide windows for his quarterback. He’s excellent as a zone-beater and uses plus body control and play strength to bring in catches in traffic. Royals is a smooth athlete who can play inside or outside and is best suited for an offense that will value him as a possession target over the first two levels.

Source: https://www.bloggingtheboys.com/202...aymakers-ashton-jeanty-trey-amos-jalen-royals

 

[Dallas Cowboys]

Cowboys 2025 draft: 5 later-round backup quarterbacks Dallas could pick

Photo by Bryan Bennett/Getty Images

It seems inevitable that the Cowboys will draft a quarterback.

The Dallas Cowboys know they need to draft a quarterback in this year’s NFL draft. Cooper Rush is officially out of Dallas and will backup Lamar Jackson in Baltimore, and Trey Lance unlikely to return, so the only other quarterback on the roster behind Dak Prescott is Will Grier. A backup quarterback is now a need and expect the team to pick up a guy in Day 3 of the draft. Here are the top-five late round guys that fit Dallas in this year’s draft.

1. Kyle McCord (Syracuse): McCord would be a solid fit for the Cowboys as a developmental backup and ranks at the top of this list. He has a strong arm, experience in a pro-style system, and has shown an ability to handle high-pressure situations. Originally playing for Ohio State, he then transferred to Syracuse and played in big games, showing flashes of being a capable pocket passer with good decision-making skills. At the Shrine Bowl, McCord was easily one of the highlights during the week and proved he was no fluke.

He would fit the offensive plan for Dallas that will look to add more play-action and his deep ball accuracy is extremely exciting to watch. While he needs to improve his mobility and consistency under pressure, sitting behind Dak Prescott in Dallas would give him the time to develop his mechanics and understanding. With the Cowboys’ strong supporting cast at wide receiver, McCord could thrive as a long-term backup, and when called on to spot the offense if needed.

.@CuseFootball QB Kyle McCord with a picture perfect deep ball

: 2025 #NFLCombine on NFL Network
: Stream on @NFLPluspic.twitter.com/NLdbFY3S7l

— NFL Network (@nflnetwork) March 2, 2025​

2. Dillon Gabriel (Oregon): Size is against Gabriel at only 5’11” and just over 200-pounds. But it’s what’s between the ears that makes Gabriel a fine choice for Dallas. His pre-snap reads and awareness, along with quick reactions and processing make Gabriel one of the best in this department among all the prospects on this list. The way he dissects defenses and throws with a very quick release, he almost compares to Tony Romo. Where he differs from Romo (apart from size) is his speed and mobility. He has some wheels to get out and go. The issue is no matter how much coaching Gabriel has by NFL coaches, they cannot coach his size. He’s a smart quarterback, but you’ll find him this far down in Day 3 of the draft due to him being an outlier due to the physical measurable’s.

WHAT A DIME

Dillon Gabriel to Tez Johnson for the @oregonfootball TD pic.twitter.com/Xbvt0to6id

— FOX College Football (@CFBONFOX) September 29, 2024​

3. Kurtis Rourke (Indiana): Rourke is another great fit for Dallas as a late-round backup due to his size and poise, and he’s another guy that has a lot of experience in a pro-style offense. The Indiana quarterback looks more like a linebacker with his size which makes him hard to bring down, and he has a strong arm with good accuracy. He also has the ability to make quick decisions with the ball. He suits the Cowboys’ passing attack needs with a proven track record; last season he threw for a 70% completion rate, over 3,000 yards, with 29 passing touchdowns to only five interceptions.

He isn’t the most mobile quarterback, but his pocket presence and ability to read defenses make him a very solid developmental option. He would make a great fit in terms of being the closest comparison to Dak than most of the guys on this list and the fact he’s much older (24), isn’t so much of a factor when you’re asking him to be your developmental QB2. The biggest hindrance to Dallas drafting him is the medicals, which includes an ACL injury that came late in the season. That’s one reason you’ll hear most scouts saying his a late Day 3 pick. But Rourke is a huge sleeper in this draft.

Indiana QB Kurtis Rourke vs Purdue:

23/31
349 YDS
6 TDS
0 INTS@IndianaFootball pic.twitter.com/rtTsRIfz19

— PFF College (@PFF_College) December 1, 2024​

4. Brady Cook (Missouri): Cook led Missouri to two 10-win seasons, earning accolades such as the Music City Bowl MVP and Goodyear Cotton Bowl Offensive MVP. He has above average arm strength, good agility, and is known for his leadership (something comparable to Dak). However, his areas for improvement revolve around his decision-making, which is a serious issue, and also his general ball placement. Cook is projected to be selected in the seventh round and would need a lot of coaching, mostly with his arm strength and footwork. But if the Cowboys coaches can put in the time to coach him up, Cook could be a great career backup quarterback for Dallas.

After an ELITE #NFLCombine performance, @MizzouFootball QB Brady Cook combined proven experience against elite competition, tested leadership as a three year captain, and an outstanding athlete at the position.

He leaves #Missouri as one of the most prolific passers in school… pic.twitter.com/p1Qdyzzl79

— Eric Galko (@EricGalko) March 4, 2025​

5.. Seth Henigan (Memphis): It’s more than likely Henigan goes undrafted, but there’s a chance a team goes to get him late in round seven to make sure he doesn’t get picked up in the undrafted free agent pool. Dallas has one of the last picks of the draft at pick 247 so they may pull trigger on Henigan. If not he’s a good pickup as a UDFA.

Henigan was an efficient and consistent point-producer during his college career. In 2024, he completed 65% of his passes for 3,502 yards with 25 touchdowns and six interceptions. His experience and consistency make him an intriguing late-round selection. His arm talent is average, he has good mobility, and reads the field well. That’s checking a lot of boxes this late in the draft for a backup quarterback. His potential hinges on his capacity to address his mechanical issues and improve his general physical tools.

A walk-off win — Seth Henigan to Jack Bech — in the @seniorbowl! pic.twitter.com/naAx04zhWG

— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) February 1, 2025​

Source: https://www.bloggingtheboys.com/202...acks-kyle-mccord-dillon-gabriel-kurtis-rourke

 

[Dallas Cowboys]

How the Ja’Marr Chase deal could affect the Cowboys offseason plans

Photo by Perry Knotts/Getty Images

Getting a Micah Parsons extension done asap continues to be a good idea.

The Dallas Cowboys have spent more money this offseason than in recent history. They will spend much more depending on how soon the front office wants to extend defensive end Micah Parsons.

Cleveland Browns defensive end Myles Garrett agreed to a new deal last week that made him the wealthiest non-quarterback in the NFL, earning $40 million annually. On Sunday night, the Cincinnati Bengals surpassed that number with a new deal for their star wide receiver, Ja’Marr Chase.

BREAKING: #Bengals WRs Ja'Marr Chase and Tee Higgins exclusively tell me they’ve agreed to contract extensions with the team.

Ja'Marr gets: 4-years, $161M with $112M guaranteed — making him the highest-paid non-QB in NFL history.

Tee gets: 4-years, $115M with the first two… pic.twitter.com/zbdnEDELgz

— Jordan Schultz (@Schultz_Report) March 17, 2025​

Breaking down the new deal for Chase, he surpasses Garrett, making $40.25 million. It was only a matter of time before Parsons was in the conversation for highest-paid non-quarterback in the NFL.

Before the season ended, Parsons mentioned he wanted to finalize a contract sooner rather than later, allowing the team to concentrate on free agency spending. Thus far, those conversations have been minimal and have yet to advance to a contract proposal. Even before Garrett signed his deal, Las Vegas Raiders defensive end Maxx Crosby signed an extension giving him $35.5 million a year.

No one knows for sure if the Parsons plan was always to hold out for some of the league's stars to raise his eventual price tag, but the way he’s talked about in the past, all he was looking for was enough money for a lake house.

Micah Parsons reiterated that he doesn't need to be paid $40 million. @clarencehilljr: "38$?"

"I just need somewhere where I could have a lake house."

One reporter joked that could be $20 million. Another said $1M.

"It could be a lake house in Lake Tahoe. You don't know?"

— Joseph Hoyt (@JoeJHoyt) December 19, 2024​

Last year, the front office waited until the last minute to finalize deals with CeeDee Lamb and Dak Prescott. It’s puzzling to many that they continue to do business this way. With the Chase deal done, Trey Hendrickson remains the only player who could potentially surpass his teammate as the highest-paid player who does not play quarterback.

However, Hendrickson is not on the same level as Parsons, despite leading the league in sacks in 2024. Parsons is a younger player with his prime right in front of him. The asking price for the Cowboys All-Pro pass rusher could exceed $40.5 million a year.

Source: https://www.bloggingtheboys.com/202...n-plans-micah-parsons-extension-myles-garrett

 

[Dallas Cowboys]

Cowboys 2025 draft scouting report: DE Princely Umanmielen

Photo by David Rosenblum/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images

Here is our scouting report on Princely Umanmielen from Ole Miss

We continue our 2025 NFL Draft preview of draft prospects that could interest the Dallas Cowboys. Today we are looking at edge defender Princely Umanmielen from Ole Miss.

Princely Umanmielen​

DE/OLB
Ole Miss Rebels
Senior
4-star recruit
6’4”
244 lbs

Photo by Wesley Hitt/Getty Images

History​

Princely Umanmielen was born on April 18, 2002, in Manor, Texas, and attended Manor High School, where he excelled as a four-star recruit. During his senior year of high school in 2019, he recorded 90 tackles, 27 tackles for loss, and 10 sacks, helping his team reach the Texas UIL Class 5A, Division 1 state championship quarterfinals. Ranked ninth among strong-side defensive ends nationally, he committed to Florida over offers from Auburn, Baylor, and Texas.

As a true freshman at Florida, Umanmielen saw limited action but began to display his potential. He appeared in a handful of games, finishing the season with four tackles, two for a loss, and two sacks. His early contributions hinted at his athleticism and ability to disrupt opposing offenses, setting the stage for increased responsibility in subsequent years.

In his second year with the Gators, Umanmielen’s role expanded as he played in more games and showed improvement. He recorded 17 tackles, including two for a loss, along with two sacks and a forced fumble. This season marked his development as a rotational player, gaining valuable experience in the SEC while refining his skills against top competition.

Umanmielen’s junior year was a breakout campaign, as he became a key contributor on Florida’s defensive line. He tallied 39 tackles, with ten for a loss, five sacks, and two forced fumbles, including a notable strip sack against Texas A&M’s Haynes King. His performance demonstrated his growing consistency and ability to impact games, earning him recognition as a rising star in the SEC.

In his final season with Florida in 2023, Umanmielen solidified his reputation as one of the conference’s top edge rushers. Starting all 12 games, he posted another career-high 39 tackles, 12 tackles for loss, seven sacks, and a team-leading 17 quarterback hurries, earning second-team All-SEC honors. His decision to transfer to Ole Miss after this season was driven by a desire for further development, setting the stage for his next greatest season.

Transferring to Ole Miss, Umanmielen had a transformative year under coach Lane Kiffin and defensive coordinator Pete Golding. Playing in 12 games with six starts, he recorded 37 tackles (19 solo), 14 tackles for loss, and a team-high 11 sacks, tied for second-most in Ole Miss single-season history. His efforts helped the Rebels lead the nation in sacks (52) and tackles for loss (120), earning him first-team All-SEC and second-team All-America honors.

2024 Statistics​

474 Defensive Snaps
37 Total Tackles
14 Tackles For Loss
4 Missed Tackles
27 Defensive Stops
55 Total Pressures
11 Sacks
1 Forced Fumble
1 Fumble Recovery TD
0 Penalties

NFL Combine/Pro Day​

10-Yard Split- 1.62s (71%)
40-Yard Dash- 4.72s (75%)
Vert- 38” (93%)
Broad- 126” (95%)
Shuttle- 4.46s (44%)
3C- 7.33 (36%)

Awards​

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

Scorecard​

Overall- 83.8
Speed- 79
Acceleration- 77
Agility- 80
Strength- 84
Tackling- 71
Pass Rush- 92
Run Defense- 78
Coverage- 60
Discipline- 96

THE GOOD​

• Umanmielen’s quick get-off allows him to threaten offensive tackles immediately off the snap, creating instant angle disadvantages.
• His acceleration off the edge is elite, often catching linemen off-balance.
• He has an ideal build for an NFL edge rusher.
• His length aids in disengaging from blocks and extending his tackling radius.
• Displays rare hip and ankle flexibility to dip his shoulder and turn tight corners while maintaining speed, making him a lethal speed rusher from wide alignments.
• Has a fantastic speed rush and inside spin. His inside spin move is particularly effective and technically refined, often set up with hesitation or fakes.
• Shows strong recognition skills, squaring up blocks with his length and anticipating run directions.
• His pursuit speed and effort make him a factor chasing plays from the backside.
• Consistently plays with urgency, delivering second and third efforts in both pass rush and run defense.

TAPE TIME
DE Princely Umanmielen
Ole Miss

THE GOOD#scouting #NFLDraft #OleMissRebels pic.twitter.com/UJ9CX9b6ez

— Mike Poland (@kenfigkowboy) March 7, 2025​

THE BAD​

• Lacks elite upper-body strength and punch power to consistently convert speed to power or collapse the pocket with bull rushes.
• While sufficient as an edge-setter, he struggles to hold ground against double teams or larger linemen due to moderate play strength and a high pad level at times.
• Can get washed down on outside runs.
• Relies heavily on his speed rush and spin move, with fewer effective inside counters or secondary moves when his initial plan fails.
• Needs to diversify his arsenal to beat NFL linemen consistently.
• His long-striding athleticism limits twitchiness in tight spaces, impacting his ability to redirect quickly or dominate in stunts requiring sudden changes of direction.
• Occasionally plays too upright, reducing his leverage and bend when turning the corner or slanting inside, which can stall his rush against technically sound tackles.

TAPE TIME
DE Princely Umanmielen
Ole Miss

THE BAD#scouting #NFLDraft #OleMissRebels pic.twitter.com/k7cwh0bMM8

— Mike Poland (@kenfigkowboy) March 7, 2025​

THE FIT ​

Princely Umanmielen is a long, explosive, and flexible edge rusher whose 2024 season at Ole Miss showcased his ability to dominate as a pass-rushing specialist. His elite first step, bend, and technical growth make him a tantalizing prospect for NFL teams seeking speed off the edge. He’s best suited for an aggressive 4-3 defense as a wide-9 defensive end or on 3-4 defenses as a stand-up outside linebacker. His length, speed, and bend make him a natural fit for one-gap schemes that prioritize edge disruption over stout anchoring.

He does have some issues to watch for. His lack of a pronounced power game and inconsistent run defense anchor suggest he’ll need development to become a complete player. Early in his career, he’s likely to thrive as a situational pass rusher in obvious passing downs, with the tools to grow into a full-time starter in the right situation. His consistent statistical improvement signal a prospect on the rise, making him one of the most intriguing EDGE talents in the 2025 class, but he comes with a risk while he looks to develop.

Umanmielen could be a strong fit for the Dallas Cowboys as a developmental edge rusher within their defensive scheme. His physical attributes and skill set align well with the team’s needs and defensive philosophy, though there are areas where he’d need to improve to maximize his impact.

The Cowboys could use depth and youth at the defensive end position behind Micah Parsons. DeMarcus Lawrence has moved on to Seattle. Sam Williams is coming off an ACL injury and it’s unknown how he will perform. Marshawn Kneeland is still developing and is just potential right now. The Cowboys added veteran Dante Fowler Jr. to bring experience and production. Umanmielen’s explosive upside makes him an appealing developmental piece who could initially be a back up and bolster the team’s pass-rush depth, an area of focus as they look to maintain pressure on opposing quarterbacks.

He needs significant development to become a valuable asset to the Cowboys’ defense. But his speed, length, and motor match the team’s scheme and needs, making him a candidate to contribute immediately in pass-rush situations while growing behind established players. If he can address his weaknesses, particularly by adding power and refining his run defense, he has the potential to evolve into a valuable starter. For now, he projects as a worthwhile investment for a team aiming to enhance its defensive line with a young, explosive talent.

PRO COMPARISON:​

Marcus Davenport, Detroit Lions

BTB GRADE:​

41st

CONSENSUS RANKING:​

50th
(Consensus ranking based on the average ranking from 90 major scoring services, including BTB)

Source: https://www.bloggingtheboys.com/202...fensive-end-princely-umanmielen-micah-parsons

 

[Dallas Cowboys]

Cowboys free agent moves on the defensive line show they are serious about taking the ball away

Photo by Patrick Smith/Getty Images

The Cowboys appear to be really focusing on defense so far.

The defense of the Dallas Cowboys took a nice step forward when Dan Quinn arrived in 2021. During his time with the team, the defense was one of the better squads in the NFL in generating pressure and taking the ball away. Quinn left for a head coaching job in Washington and the team replaced him with former Cowboys defensive coordinator Mike Zimmer. Under Zimmer, the defense played admirably considering how decimated they were with injuries. It was a mixed bag with both outstanding and atrocious play by the defense last year.

The Cowboys have again changed out their defensive coordinator and brought back another former Cowboys coach, Matt Eberflus, who was their linebackers coach from 2011-2017. Eberflus will try to make this defense stronger. A few weeks ago he was asked by the Cowboys media how he could get the defensive line to a championship level.

“It’s really about getting the depth that we need. We’ve had some free agents leave us over the last couple of years. There are some good pieces that are there to work from. It’s exciting to be able to look at that in the future in terms of the draft and acquiring other players that are special talent guys and we’re excited to get that done.”

It’s good to see Eberflus acknowledge how depth along the defensive line has presented some challenges for Dallas in recent years. The Cowboys had seven defensive linemen with at least two sacks in 2023, and four of those players were not available last year.

• Dorance Armstrong (free agency)
• Dante Fowler (free agency)
• Sam Williams (injury)
• Jonathan Hankins (free agency)

And attrition is at work again this year. The Cowboys had six defensive linemen with at least two sacks last year, and four of them are not on the team this year.

• DeMarcus Lawrence (free agency)
• Chauncey Golston (free agency)
• Carl Lawson (unsigned)
• Linval Joseph (unsigned)

Unlike last year, the Cowboys aren’t sitting on their hands in free agency to replace the players they’ve lost. We’re only one week into free agency and the Cowboys have already made the following additions.

• Signed Dante Fowler to a one-year deal
• Signed Solomon Thomas to a two-year deal
• Signed Payton Turner to a one-year deal

Add in the four-year, $80 million deal that Osa Odighizuwa got a week ago, and suddenly the Cowboys have some bodies. And don’t forget that Sam Williams returns after sitting out all last year with a knee injury.

The Cowboys have a good assortment of pass rushers, but creating pressure hasn’t been the issue for this defense. Of course, it helps when you have one of the best defensive players in the league in Micah Parsons on the roster. The Cowboys have finished in the top three in sacks in two of the last three years. What’s impressive about that stat is that one of those years was last year, where they had to reach deep down the depth chart to get help.

While the pass rush was still there, the Cowboys have seen a drop off in creating turnovers over the last two years. In 2021 and 2022, the Cowboys defense led the league in takeaways, but in each of the past two seasons, they have finished outside the top 10. That is something the defense would love to get back. Eberflus was asked what concept or philosophy is the hallmark of his defense and he was quick to respond.

“It’s pretty simple. We take the ball away. That’s what we do.”

And when you look at the pieces they have combined with the pieces they’ve added, that’s not just lip service. It appears they are making a concerted effort to have players who not only can get to the quarterback, but have the ability to attack the ball and jostle it loose.

One thing about the Cowboys' revamped pass rush that will make it fun to watch is that these guys are splash makers.

Micah Parsons, Osa Odighizuwa, Dante Fowler, Sam Williams, and Payton Turner...they don't just sack you, they take the ball away. pic.twitter.com/OLAvPN4R10

— Dan Rogers (@DannyPhantom24) March 16, 2025​

Source: https://www.bloggingtheboys.com/202...ers-osa-odighizuwa-dante-fowler-micah-parsons

 

[Dallas Cowboys]

Cowboys news: Matt Eberflus defense coming into focus after personnel additions

Photo by Cooper Neill/Getty Images

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

Cowboys’ Dante Fowler Jr. fired up for 2nd stint with team after free agency reunion - Ali Jawad, Sports Illustrated​

In a reverse of last offseason, the Cowboys got back a defensive lineman that previously followed Dan Quinn to the Commanders.

After a season in the nations capital Fowler Jr. opted to return to the Cowboys last week, signing a one-year free agent contract.

“It feels amazing to be back, I’m definitely happy to be here in Dallas,” Fowler Jr. told DallasCowboys.com. “I’m ready to get going with the guys for sure. I’m definitely excited to be back in this defense and to help get this defense to be one of the top defenses in the league and to help the team get some wins.”

During his first run in Dallas, Fowler Jr. appeared in 34 games and recorded 40 tackles, 12 tackles for loss, 10 sacks, and three forced fumbles.

In his lone season in Washington, the former 2015 first-round pick proved just how productive he can be when playing away from attention-getting players like Pro Bowlers Micah Parsons and DeMarcus Lawrence.

Fowler Jr. recorded 39 tackles, 10.5 sacks, 14 tackles for loss, 20 pressures, and a pick-six last season with the Commanders. He credited his breakout season in Washington thanks to his first run in Dallas.

“It was pretty big, just to be able to go out there and show the people that I’m still here and be able to produce at a high level,” Fowler Jr. said. “I felt really confident going into this season especially with these past two years getting to work from coach [Aden Durde], Micah [Parsons] and [DeMarcus Lawrence] with the d-line group that we had.”

Cowboys free agent moves on the defensive line show they are serious about taking the ball away - Dan Rogers, Blogging The Boys​

Turnovers are once again a point of emphasis for the Cowboys defense, with a very new-look front seven to get after the ball.

And attrition is at work again this year. The Cowboys had six defensive linemen with at least two sacks last year, and four of them are not on the team this year.

DeMarcus Lawrence (free agency)

Chauncey Golston (free agency)

Carl Lawson (unsigned)

Linval Joseph (unsigned)

Unlike last year, the Cowboys aren’t sitting on their hands in free agency to replace the players they’ve lost. We’re only one week into free agency and the Cowboys have already made the following additions.

Signed Dante Fowler to a one-year deal

Signed Solomon Thomas to a two-year deal

Signed Payton Turner to a one-year deal

Add in the four-year, $80 million deal that Osa Odighizuwa got a week ago, and suddenly the Cowboys have some bodies. And don’t forget that Sam Williams returns after sitting out all last year with a knee injury.

The Cowboys have a good assortment of pass rushers, but creating pressure hasn’t been the issue for this defense. Of course, it helps when you have one of the best defensive players in the league in Micah Parsons on the roster. The Cowboys have finished in the top three in sacks in two of the last three years. What’s impressive about that stat is that one of those years was last year, where they had to reach deep down the depth chart to get help.

While the pass rush was still there, the Cowboys have seen a drop off in creating turnovers over the last two years. In 2021 and 2022, the Cowboys defense led the league in takeaways, but in each of the past two seasons, they have finished outside the top 10. That is something the defense would love to get back.

New Cowboys linebackers Jack Sanborn and Kenneth Murray Jr. on Dallas’ new-look defense - Tommy Yarrish, DallasCowboys.com​

The Cowboys have completely flipped the depth chart at linebacker under Eberflus, with new additions Jack Sanborn and Kenneth Murray ready to hit the ground running.

“I feel like we’ve got every piece that we need to be a dominant defense in the NFL,” Murray said. “Just looking at our personnel, we’re going to be a really fast defense, a really violent defense.”

That identity falls right under the umbrella of what new defensive coordinator Matt Eberflus is looking for. Sanborn spent the first three years of his NFL career with Eberflus and now Cowboys linebackers coach Dave Borgonzi in Chicago, and he knows exactly what to expect now that they’ve all reunited again.

“Both are great coaches, and both are great defensive minds. I think that is one thing that stood out for me with my time in Chicago, and at the same time just both great people, people that you want to play for, and two people that kind of get the best out of me,” Sanborn said. “I really enjoyed working with them, I’m excited to work with them more and have a great defense here.”

When Eberflus’ defenses have been at their best in the past, they specialize in being able to stop the run and take the ball away. Turnovers have been a staple of the Cowboys defense in recent years, but they’ve struggled to stop the run, finishing 29th in the league last season and have not finished top 10 in the league since 2018 in the run defense category. Sanborn thinks all that will change soon.

“Being aggressive, one of the big things is he wants to stop the run,” Sanborn said. “I think being aggressive, being physical, flying around to the football, tackling well, and we’ve got to get the football taken away from opposing offenses and that’s what he harps on and is something he wants to get accomplished.”

Jourdan Lewis’ replacement might already be on Dallas Cowboys roster thanks to overlooked free agency decision - Mauricio Rodriguez, A to Z Sports​

The Cowboys retaining their own free agents has been overlooked slightly by their outside additions, but players like Israel Mukuamu might get a real chance.

Fortunately, the emerging vacancy at slot cornerback might already have a solution on the roster.

That’s because when the Cowboys decided to re-sign defensive back Israel Mukuamu to a one-year deal, they secured a starting-caliber nickelback. Mukuamu, a sixth-round draft pick back in 2021, has struggled to get on the field -and stay on it- in Dallas. He started out his career at safety and has been asked to play all over the field but for one reason or another, he has failed to crack the starting lineup.

Personally, I attribute that to the fact the Cowboys have had a quality secondary for a few years now. Trevon Diggs, DaRon Bland, and Lewis were never going to be sent to the sidelines by him. The same goes for Stephon Gilmore while he was in Dallas. What was surprising though is the Cowboys didn’t seem to consider him a lot even when they were hit hard by the injury bug.

But those paying attention know Mukuamu was once tossed into the nickel spot when facing Tom Brady and Chris Godwin in the 2022-2023 playoffs. He was solid, forcing two incompletions in eight targets and allowing only a 69.3 passer rating.

If given the chance to start, Mukuamu, who told me early in his career he preferred to play cornerback over safety, has the traits necessary to be solid.

Kaiir Elam looks forward to new opportunity after being in the “back seat” with the Bills - Charean Williams, Pro Football Talk​

The Cowboys also have a trade asset acquired from the Bills to help at either cornerback position, former first-round pick Kaiir Elam.

“Coming to Buffalo, I was a kid that just wanted to improve and learn and really show off my talents, but I was always put in the back seat,” Elam said, via Ryan Talbot of newyorkupstate.com. “I continued to put my head down and work, continued to make plays throughout the season and in the playoffs and stuff like that. I just took everything I learned from there and all the baggage and improvements I felt like I needed to make and just packaged it up and worked on it every day. I don’t really see it as a negative. I really just see it as a growing opportunity for me to go shine somewhere else.”

Elam was unable to beat out the competition in Buffalo, with Christian Benford, Rasul Douglas and Dane Jackson among those who saw more playing time. Elam totaled 81 tackles, six passes defensed and two interceptions with the Bills.

Buffalo will receive a 2025 fifth-round selection and a 2026 seventh-rounder, while sending a 2025 sixth-round choice to the Cowboys along with Elam.

Outside corner Trevon Diggs will miss most if not all of the 2025 season after bone graft surgery on his left knee, and slot corner Jourdan Lewis left for the Jaguars. That gives Elam an opportunity to earn more playing time than he had in Buffalo when he was a healthy scratch for multiple games and played only 939 defensive snaps in his time there.

“I’m confident because I’m coming into a staff that truly believes in me,” Elam said.

Source: https://www.bloggingtheboys.com/202...ades-jack-sanborn-kenneth-murray-dante-fowler

 

[Dallas Cowboys]

What Derek Stingley raising the cornerback market means for Cowboys, DaRon Bland

Photo by Cooper Neill/Getty Images

Prices continue to go up at expensive positions and the Dallas Cowboys should take notice.

The Carolina Panthers were met with plenty of raised eyebrows. As free agency activity was taking off they signed cornerback Jaycee Horn to a four-year, $100M extension ($70M guaranteed). As the Panthers paid Horn, they officially made him the highest-paid cornerback in the league from an annual average value perspective.

Horn was taken in the first round of the 2021 NFL Draft a little before before Micah Parsons, and the whole extension was a little bit surprising. Horn has been an okay player to this point in his career, but we are talking about making him the highest-paid cornerback in the entire NFL. That felt a bit rich.

The Panthers obviously have quarterback Bryce Young on a rookie contract (we’ll see how that goes) and therefore have some more financial freedom than other teams, but maybe their motivation was more about getting in front of the pack than anything else. This was evidenced by Monday’s news of the Houston Texans locking up Derek Stingley Jr. to a deal that now makes him the league’s top-paid corner.

Record deal: Texans All-Pro CB Derek Stingley Jr has agreed to a three-year, $90 million extension including $89 million guaranteed. At $30M base value per year, Stingley is now the highest paid defensive back in NFL history. The CB market has been completely reset.

Deal… pic.twitter.com/g8nzFFFQvj

— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) March 17, 2025​

Stingley’s extension is only of the three-year variety, but the AAV is significantly higher than Horn’s and comes in at $30M per year. The Panthers already have quite the bargain on their hands.

This principle is among the most critical for NFL front office’s to master. When it is your turn to pay the piper you do so and understand that it was simply your turn as noted. But the good news is that coming around the corner is the time for someone else to do so and the piper charges everyone market rate which continues to go up and up.

The three highest-paid CBs in the NFL on a per-year basis are now:

Derek Stingley Jr.: $30M
Jaycee Horn: $25M
Jalen Ramsey: $24.1M

— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) March 17, 2025​

Horn and Stingley are both cornerbacks, and the Cowboys have an impending decision to make on that position. The latter is a member of the 2022 NFL Draft class and so is current Cowboys cornerback DaRon Bland. You will recall that Bland led the team in interceptions as a rookie before setting the league record for most pick sixes in a season as NFL sophomore.

Like Stingley, Bland is eligible for an extension for the first time in his career this offseason. Getting ahead of that deal would be wise, even with the Horn and Stingley deals already done (Kansas City Chiefs cornerback Trent McDuffie is another domino that will likely fall soon). The piper has turned the corner and is looking Dallas square in the face. They are among the teams who are eligible to take a turn and they would be wise to do so.

While we talk so much about how the Cowboys are traditionally late on deals like this it is important to remind everyone that that is not always the case. The Cowboys were early on a deal for Bland’s fellow cornerback in Trevon Diggs, a decision that people believe now was a mistake given that he has had injury issues. There is even question about what Diggs’ future is and whether that is with the Cowboys.

But consider that the Cowboys have an ability to escape the contract with Diggs now and not later because they got it done when they did. The thought process, philosophy and overall disposition behind getting it done early remain sound, and what’s more, if there are truly questions about whether or not Diggs is going to be a part of the team’s future then that would raise the importance of Bland which would serve as further motivation to get this done and to do so as soon as possible.

You may not have seen, but the last line of the Adam Schefter tweet notes that the Stingley deal was negotiated by David Mulugheta of Athletes First, the same representation that Micah Parsons has.

This whole thing has one inevitable outcome, whether we are talking bout Parsons or Bland, and the Cowboys would be best served to understand that as quickly as possible.

Source: https://www.bloggingtheboys.com/202...n-cornerback-market-daron-bland-micah-parsons

 

[Dallas Cowboys]

Cowboys 2025 draft scouting report: FS Malaki Starks

Photo by Jonathan Bachman/Getty Images

Here is our scouting report on Malaki Starks from Georgia

We continue our 2025 NFL Draft preview of draft prospects that could interest the Dallas Cowboys. Today we are looking at safety Malaki Starks from Georgia.

Malaki Starks ​

FS
Georgia Bulldogs
Junior
5-star recruit
6’1”
197 lbs

Photo by Steve Limentani/ISI Photos/Getty Images

History​

William Malaki Starks was born on November 13, 2003, in Commerce, Georgia. He attended Jefferson High School in Jefferson, Georgia, where he excelled as a two-sport athlete in football and track and field. In football he was a multi-positional star playing on both offence and defense. By the end of his high school career, he was ranked fourth nationally by 247 Sports in the 2022 class and was a five-star recruit. Starks received offers from top programs like Alabama, Clemson, and USC but chose to stay close to home, committing to the University of Georgia.

Starks enrolled at Georgia in January 2022 and made an immediate impact as a true freshman. He started every game after Week 1, contributing to Georgia’s second consecutive national championship. His stats included 68 tackles, seven pass breakups, and two interceptions, earning him recognition as a key defensive player on a star-studded roster.

Starks continued to shine in 2023, earning consensus All-American honors and First-Team All-SEC recognition. He recorded 52 tackles, seven pass breakups, and three interceptions, solidifying his reputation as one of the nation’s top defensive backs. His performance also landed him on watch lists for awards like the Jim Thorpe Award.

In his final season at Georgia, Starks registered a career high of 77 tackles, three pass breakups, and one interception. Off the field, he was honored as part of the Allstate AFCA Good Works Team for his community service, including his work with cancer-related charities in memory of his mother, and was named Scholar Athlete of the Game at Stegeman Coliseum, reflecting his academic excellence.

2024 Statistics​

765 Defensive Snaps
426 Coverage Snaps
77 Total Tackles
4 Tackles For Loss
1 INT
3 Pass Breakups
1 TD Allowed
86.7 Passer RTG Allowed
1 Penalty

NFL Combine/Pro Day​

10-Yard Split- 1.51s (87%)
40-Yard Dash- 4.50s (73%)
Vert- 33” (19%)
3C- 7.26s (10%)
Shuttle- 4.45s (6%)

Awards​

All-America (2024)
All-America (2023)
Second-Team All-SEC (2024)
First-Team All-SEC (2023)

Scorecard​

Overall- 88.6
Speed- 82
Acceleration- 90
Agility- 78
Strength- 80
Tackling- 77
Zone Coverage- 89
Man Coverage- 81
Press- 72
Run Defense- 87
Discipline- 97

THE GOOD​

• Elite range as a free safety, capable of covering sideline to sideline, thanks to his rapid speed and elite change-of-direction.
• Excels in zone coverage, particularly in deep-third or two-deep schemes,
• Shows great his instincts and football IQ.
• Has fantastic pre-snap recognition and ability to diagnose plays quickly.
• Rarely out of position in zone coverage, showing discipline and awareness in deep responsibilities.
• Effective communicator on the back end, aligning the secondary and making adjustments pre-snap.
• Willing and physical run defender, capable of stepping into the box to support against the run.
• Uses length and leverage to disengage from blockers, particularly against slot receivers.
• High-character player, voted team captain at Georgia, reflecting leadership and respect from peers.

TAPE TIME
S Malaki Starks
Georgia

THE GOOD#scouting #NFLDraft #UGA pic.twitter.com/NxrgcQCnQz

— Mike Poland (@kenfigkowboy) March 9, 2025​

THE BAD​

• Not as effective in man coverage, particularly against shifty slot receivers or tight ends, where technical refinements are needed.
• Can struggle with transitions out of backpedals, occasionally opening his hips too early, which allows separation against quicker opponents.
• While a willing tackler, Starks occasionally misses tackles in space.
• Needs to improve wrap-up technique to avoid arm tackles.
• Rarely asked to play press coverage at the line of scrimmage, limiting evaluation of his ability to jam receivers and disrupt timing.
• Occasionally over-aggressive in jumping routes, which can lead to missed plays or being out of position.
• Pursuit angles need a fair amount of coaching.
• Can be overpowered by larger tight ends or linemen when engaged as a blocker, requiring better use of technique to shed blocks consistently.

TAPE TIME
S Malaki Starks
Georgia

THE BAD#scouting #NFLDraft #UGA pic.twitter.com/NHWHqrNuQt

— Mike Poland (@kenfigkowboy) March 9, 2025​

THE FIT​

Malaki Starks projects as a first-round pick in the 2025 NFL Draft, likely in the top 20 range, due to his combination of athleticism, football IQ, and production in a pro-style defense at Georgia. His elite range and instincts make him an ideal fit for NFL defenses needing a centerfield-type free safety. While he needs technical refinement in man coverage and tackling, his upside is significant, particularly in schemes that prioritize zone coverage and a back-end commander.

He best fits as a free safety in a Cover 3 or Cover 2 scheme, where his range, instincts, and ball skills can be maximized as a deep-third or split-field defender. With refinement and coaching he could develop into a versatile safety in a Cover 1 or man-heavy scheme if he can improve his man coverage skills, potentially playing both free and strong safety roles.

For the Dallas Cowboys he would fit as a dynamic safety whose coverage skills, versatility, and athleticism align with the new defensive vision. He addresses potential roster needs, contributes on special teams, and positions the team for long-term success in a pass-dominated league. Starks would be a valuable addition to the Cowboys’ defense, enhancing their competitiveness in the NFC.

The Cowboys’ current safety tandem of Malik Hooker and Donovan Wilson both have an uncertain future in Dallas due to contract situations and performance considerations. Starks, with his versatility to play either safety role, could serve as a long-term solution. His addition would provide depth and flexibility, allowing the Cowboys to adapt to various defensive scenarios while grooming a potential starter. His presence would complement the existing roster, offering both immediate depth and future upside.

COMPARISON:​

Jessie Bates III, Atlanta Falcons

BTB GRADE:​

16th

CONSENSUS RANKING:​

18th
(Consensus ranking based on the average ranking from 90 major scoring services, including BTB)

Source: https://www.bloggingtheboys.com/202...ting-report-free-safety-malaki-starks-georgia

 

[Dallas Cowboys]

Jacob Parrish compares favorably to CBs of Cowboys past, Terence Newman and Jourdan Lewis

Photo by Peter G. Aiken/Getty Images

There's a lot to like about Jacob Parrish and his potential fit with the Cowboys.

Losing Jourdan Lewis to the Jacksonville Jaguars in free agency was a tough blow to the Dallas Cowboys. Add that to the unknown timetable of when Trevon Diggs can return from his season-ending injury last year, and there's currently a lot of uncertainty at the cornerback position in Dallas.

To keep from being absolutely desperate at CB heading into the 2025 NFL Draft, the Cowboys did re-sign versatile DB Israel Mukuamu and traded for former first-round pick Kaiir Elam. Unless either or both suddenly has a career resurgence, the need to still upgrade the position remains at a high level of urgency.

Sadly, the only secure thing at CB for the Cowboys currently is DaRon Bland, who is entering the final year of his rookie contract. This could further complicate things at the position considering Derek Stingley just agreed to a three-year, $90 million deal with the Houston Texans. That could further complicate things at CB for the Cowboys for the future.

Add all of this up and it's pretty obvious the cornerback position still needs to be addressed, most likely with one of the Cowboys premium picks in the first three rounds. It wouldn't at all be surprising if they use their first- or second-round pick on a CB, but if they wait until the third-round there is a player they could have their sights set on.

Kansas State CB Jacob Parrish could be close to an ideal fit for what Matt Eberflus is looking for in his secondary. Parrish has inside/out versatility and is equally effective in press-man or zone coverage. At 5'10", 191-pounds he's a little undersized compared to what the Cowboys have preferred to the position recently, but fortunately not in Eberflus' scheme.

While it's still unknown how his talent will translate at the next level in the NFL, comparing him to present and past cornerbacks who have had success in the league with similar size and athletic testing numbers should be encouraging.

Jacob Parrish is a CB prospect in the 2025 draft class. He scored an unofficial 9.27 #RAS out of a possible 10.00. This ranked 182 out of 2480 CB from 1987 to 2025.

Splits projected, times unofficial.https://t.co/tAtrKRDuj8 pic.twitter.com/icQxfDZoeV

— Kent Lee Platte (@MathBomb) February 28, 2025​

Terence Newman​

HT: 5'10" | WT: 189 | Arm: 31 3/8" | 40: 4.37 | 10-yd split: 1.56 | Broad: 11'4" | Vert: 41" | Bench: 10 reps​

Like Jacob Parrish, Terence Newman is also a Kansas State alum and was drafted by the Cowboys fifth overall in the first round in the 2003 NFL Draft. The two-time Pro Bowler's size and athletic testing numbers are nearly identical to Parrish's, minus Newman besting him in the broad and vertical jump. Newman was a fan favorite during his time in Dallas and it wouldn't be all that surprising if Parrish follows in his footsteps if drafted by the Cowboys.

Jourdan Lewis​

HT: 5'10" | WT: 188 | Arm: 31 5/8" | 40: 4.47 | 10-yd split: 1.59 | Broad: 10'1" | Vert: 34.5" | Bench: 15 reps​

Could Jacob Parrish be the next Jourdan Lewis for the Cowboys? It's entirely possible if we were to solely base his fit comparing their size and athletic testing numbers. Lewis was a former third-round pick (92nd overall) in the 2017 NFL Draft and was a mainstay in Dallas' secondary. Parrish is also projected to be a third-round selection and very well could step in as Lewis' replacement in the slot as a rookie.

Jaylon Johnson​

HT: 5'11" | WT: 193 | Arm: 31 3/8" | 40: 4.50 | 10-yd split: 1.59 | Broad: 10'4" | Vert: 36.5" | Bench: 15 reps​

Jaylon Johnson was a was a second-round pick (50th overall) in the 2020 NFL Draft by the Chicago Bears. His comparison to Jacob Parrish may carry more weight considering he excelled in Matt Eberflus' defense during their time together in Chicago. The two-time Pro Bowler and one-time Second-Team All-Pro CB provides some evidence Parrish's lack of ideal size shouldn't hinder his fit in Eberflus' defense on the outside or even in the nickel.

Jaire Alexander​

HT: 5'10" | WT: 196 | Arm: 31 1/8" | 40:4.38 | 10-yd split: 1.52 | Broad: 10'7" | Vert: 35" | Bench: 14 reps​

Jaire Alexander was a first-round pick (18th overall) in the 2018 NFL Draft by the Green Bay Packers. Although injuries have been a problem for him lately, he's been one of the better outside CBs when healthy since entering the league and has been named to the Pro Bowl twice as well as being a two-time Second-Team All-Pro., Maybe Jacob Parrish can follow suit, minus the injuries of course.

Overall, while it's true there's no way of knowing how Jacob Parrish will do at the next level, these comparisons based on size and athletic testing numbers, at the very least, provide encouragement he can be successful. And considering he seems like a good fit in Matt Eberflus' defense as well as being linked to former Kansas State and the new Cowboys OL coach Conor Riley, there is a good reason to believe he's already on Dallas' radar.

Source: https://www.bloggingtheboys.com/202...acks-terence-newman-jourdan-lewis-daron-bland

 

[Dallas Cowboys]

Cowboys roundtable: Discussing free agency, team needs, and the backup QB position

Photo by Ryan Kang/Getty Images

Our latest Cowboys roundtable hits on remaining free agent targets

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

How would you describe this year’s free agency period from Dallas?​

Jerry Jones and the Dallas Cowboys have been very uncharacteristically busy during the first wave of free agency. They made additions that include running backs Javonte Williams and Miles Sanders, defensive linemen Solomon Thomas, Payton Turner and Dante Fowler, offensive guard Robert Jones, linebackers Jack Sanborn and Kenneth Murray Jr, and cornerback Kaiir Elam. What makes the Cowboys free agency period even more noteworthy is the fact it includes two trades, something Cowboys fans haven’t seen in quite some time. All this points to a front office that wants to prove they made a smart choice hiring Brian Schottenheimer.

Brian: Surprisingly active, yet still disappointing. I’m not sure anyone the Cowboys signed or traded for upgraded the roster any. Their draft needs are still pretty much the same entering the 2025 NFL Draft, meaning they will be relying heavily on upgrading their roster with rookies once again.

Tom: I thought Stephen Jones was uttering a non sequitur when he talked about being selectively aggressive, but it makes sense now. Unfortunately it turned out to mean going after the same third or marginal second-tier players to plug holes they always get, just not waiting to see what landed at the bottom of the barrel. It’s progress, I suppose, but not nearly enough.

Jess: I think the term Stephen should’ve used was “actively passive.” Yes, the Cowboys have added 10 new players in a week and re-signed 11 others. That’s far more activity than we saw at this point last year. But as Brian and Tom already said, outside of Osa Odighizuwa’s new contract, the moves are all still steeped in financial conservatism and not making the team more competitive. Dallas is clearly still focused on the draft as the primary source of new talent.

Howman: I would describe it as best case scenario. Anyone who legitimately thought the Cowboys were going to suddenly try and cosplay as Howie Roseman and spend a ton of money in the first wave of free agency was always dreaming. The Cowboys didn’t have a ton of holes on this roster, but they went to work in finding appropriately priced options to fill those holes. I think it’s been a good offseason so far, and can’t comprehend the continued dissatisfaction among others. Are we mad they didn’t give $45 million for a perpetually injured Cooper Kupp, or match the $42 million for a DeMarcus Lawrence who was chomping at the bit to trash the organization the moment he was no longer on the payroll? I like the moves and I think the front office deserves some appreciation for what they’ve done this offseason.

---

What are the biggest needs on the roster after the free agent moves? ​

There are still glaring holes on the roster and the free agent moves definitely help in terms of filling some of those holes in preparation for the draft. Offensive line is an obvious place that needs stocking up in the draft, as well as cornerback, wide receiver, and even running back despite the two new additions in free agency. A big run-stopping nose tackle is a need as well as safety.

Brian: I’m going to go with CB closely followed by DT. The Cowboys not only need to replace Jourdan Lewis in the slot, but there is still a significant concern about Trevon Diggs’ timetable to return. I still think they need another CB or two either in free agency or the draft to help solidify the position, even after trading for Kaiir Elam.

Tom: I think CB, WR, and EDGE. If they address those on days 1 and 2, I think they can improve the roster.

Jess: After re-signing Odighizuwa and adding Thomas, Fowler, and Turner to the defensive line, receiver became the top need. Corner isn’t far behind, but at least there’s hope with young guys like Carson and Elam plus the chance of getting Diggs and Butler back during the season. But even if everyone’s healthy at WR, you’re still missing a true starter. Trusting Jalen Tolbert to step up is a risk that could kill the entire offense if he disappoints.

Howman: I agree with Jess on it being receiver, but I held that opinion before free agency too. Parris Campbell and Jalen Tolbert can be productive guys in this league, but the Cowboys need a legitimate second option when CeeDee Lamb is getting doubled. There’s no such option in free agency (though I’d still happily welcome Tyler Lockett to Dallas) so that has to come via the draft, ideally with Tetairoa McMillan or Luther Burden.

---

Cooper Rush signs with Baltimore and Trey Lance doesn’t look like he’s coming back to Dallas. Who on Day 3 in the draft do you think fits well as the new backup quarterback?​

With both Cooper Rush and Trey Lance on the move, Will Grier in as the backup quarterback for Dallas. This puts the position up for grabs in the draft and there are some interesting late-round prospects the Cowboys scouting department will now be digging deep on. How early in the draft they look to address the position will all depend how much value they see in this year's class. Keep close watch on those 30-visits and who they watch on Dallas Day.

Brian: I’m not a big fan of the 2025 QB draft class as a whole and definitely not a fan of wasting a draft pick on one, even a late-rounder. For the sake of argument though Quinn Ewers or Tyler Shough are two QBs I think the Cowboys would be interested in. Both have starting potential, but both also carry injury concerns.

Tom: It looks like the plan, or at least the hope is to make Will Grier QB2. With the position likely to be overdrafted again this year, I just want them to use a day three pick to pick up a QB they think has some developmental upside. But it wouldn’t crush me if they wait until the seventh, or even go UDFA.

Jess: Of guys that I think will be there in the fifth round, Kyle McCord strikes me as having a good mix of positive traits. I like that he improved after moving from Ohio State to Syracuse, showing the ability to respond to new surroundings and an arguably inferior supporting cast. Sounds like a guy who’s coachable and adaptable, which speaks to his developmental potential. But I’m also with my colleagues that in what’s considered a weak class overall, I’m not upset if Dallas ignores the QBs this year.

Howman: It sounds like Will Grier is the new backup, which I’m very happy with. I don’t think anyone from this draft class, save for the top three guys, are capable of being a serviceable backup as a rookie. But if I’m looking for a guy with upside and traits, I like Max Brosmer out of Minnesota and Will Rogers out of Washington.

Source: https://www.bloggingtheboys.com/202...quarterback-position-cornerback-wide-receiver

 

[Dallas Cowboys]

NFC East news: Eagles poach a pass rusher from the Giants

Photo by Cooper Neill/Getty Images

The latest news from around the division.

Pass rusher Azeez Ojulari becomes latest Giants player to sign with Eagles - Nick Shook, NFL.com​

Another former Giant finds his way to Philadelphia in free agency.

The New York-to-Philadelphia pipeline remains strong.

The Eagles signed former Giants edge rusher Azeez Ojulari to a one-year deal, the team announced Monday.

Ojulari is the latest Giants player to head to the Eagles, joining linebacker Patrick Johnson and cornerback Adoree’ Jackson this offseason and following last year’s mega signing of running back Saquon Barkley.

Philadelphia is buying low on Ojulari, adding a player with experience to a defensive front that watched Josh Sweat and Milton Williams leave for Arizona and New England, respectively, in free agency. With little risk associated for Philly, Ojulari arrives to the Eagles with minimal pressure and a chance to contribute as a rotational edge rusher with relative upside.

A 2021 second-round pick, Ojulari peaked as a rookie, recording eight sacks in his first season and a career-best 49 tackles. 2021 was his only double-digit season in starts, and two stints on injured reserve between 2022 and 2023 hampered his development. He played 58% of defensive snaps in 2024, but started just five games (11 total appearances) as his role diminished following the Giants’ trade for Brian Burns.

When healthy and given a chance, Ojulari still shows flashes of being a potential difference-making rusher. He finished with six sacks last season, but didn’t see enough action to truly produce at a rate worth retaining for Big Blue.

Paulson Adebo, Jevón Holland are ingredients in ‘recipe for excellence’ - Dan Salomone, Giants.com​

The defensive side of the ball seems to be improving for New York.

It’s the question on everyone’s mind, but Jevón Holland didn’t ask it.

“My job as a defender is to give the ball back to the quarterback,” the former Dolphins safety said in his first interview since signing with the Giants.

Paulson Adebo, a cornerback who spent his first four seasons in New Orleans, didn’t make it a prerequisite either. He is more concerned with keeping his eyes on the opposing quarterback.

“I just got here, figuring out how I can help the team,” he said. “And then I’ll let whoever has to make those decisions handle those. But I’m excited and confident that we’ll make a good decision.”

In the meantime, the two defensive backs from the south came up north to join forces in a revamped secondary.

While the Giants led the league in sacks for a good portion of last season, it went through an 11-game drought without an interception. The unit closed with three in the final three weeks, but their five total interceptions were 31st in the league. Their 60 passes defensed were tied for 25th.

The team is looking to turn things around in 2025.

Brian Daboll hired a new secondary coach/pass game coordinator (Marquand Manuel) and cornerbacks coach (Jeff Burris) to serve under coordinator Shane Bowen, who enters his second season with the Giants. Adebo and Holland are here to help.

Adebo, a third-round pick out of Oregon, has started 51 of 52 games in four seasons. His career numbers include 251 total tackles, 43 passes defensed, 10 interceptions, seven tackles for loss, two forced fumbles, and two fumble recoveries.

“I feel like I can play man or zone,” Adebo said. “In New Orleans we did play a lot of man, bump-and-run coverage. But I feel comfortable playing in a zone scheme. Did that in college a lot. I really feel good either way.”

Laremy Tunsil Explains Why Texans Traded Him to Commanders - Liam McKeone, Sports Illustrated​

The Pro Bowl tackle knew the business side of the NFL was cause for his trade.

The Houston Texans’ decision to trade veteran Pro Bowl left tackle Laremy Tunsil to the Washington Commanders constituted one of the most surprising moves of the 2025 NFL offseason.

Tunsil had a difficult season in 2024 and was flagged for penalties 19 times, but Houston had a big problem protecting C.J. Stroud across the board. Still, it’s hard enough to find good offensive linemen in today’s NFL that it is rare to see a team trade a five-time Pro Bowler, especially one at left tackle, arguably the most important position on any offense other than quarterback.

On Monday, Tunsil spoke to media as a member of the Commanders for the first time and explained the reasoning behind the trade, as told to him by the Texans.

Per The Athletic’s Nicki Jhabvala, Tunsil said the Texans informed him they were trying to keep their young core of linemen together. “It’s a young man’s game, and I’ve seen it for myself,” Tunsil said.

The implication there is that Tunsil’s contract would make it difficult to keep that young core together. The left tackle has two years remaining on his three-year, $75 million extension he signed in 2023. His cap hit for 2025 will be over $20 million. It’s a lot of money to allocate to one player and Houston seems to have decided the organization is better off using that money elsewhere.

Source: https://www.bloggingtheboys.com/202...ork-giants-secondary-commanders-laremy-tunsil