RSS Cowboys Team Notes

[Dallas Cowboys]

Cowboys 2026 offseason preview: Offensive tackles

DENVER, CO - OCTOBER 26: Tyler Guyton #60 of the Dallas Cowboys, during a game between the Dallas Cowboys and the Denver Broncos at Empower Field at Mile High in Denver, CO on October 26, 2025. (Photo by Kevin Langley/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) | Icon Sportswire via Getty Images

If the Dallas Cowboys make any significant moves on the offensive line this offseason, it will likely be at tackle. While they could stand pat with the current players, there may be an opportunity for upgrades. If nothing else, Dallas may be able to maintain the same level of performance while also creating some salary cap space.

Under Contract​

Tyler Guyton – It’s been a mixed bag from Guyton in his young NFL career. He’s been far from a bust, but also hasn’t been as consistent or immediately impactful as you’d like from a first-round pick. Missing nearly all of last year’s training camp with a knee injury, and then seven games last year with other issues, certainly didn’t help. The Cowboys are banking on Guyton to blossom in his third season, and he’s flashed enough at times that it’s a reasonable expectation.

Terence Steele – Another offseason, another discussion about whether or not Steele should keep his job. This annual exercise gets more intriguing as he turns 29 this summer, offers major potential cap relief, and could be replaced by in-house options. We’ll dive deeper into these scenarios shortly. But suffice to say, Steele’s immediate future is one of the murkiest of any Cowboy under contract for 2026.

Nathan Thomas – We heard the team was high on Thomas in 2024 when the seventh-round rookie was stashed on injured reserve. We saw why last season as Thomas, essentially a redshirt rookie, emerged as the swing tackle. He started four games while Guyton dealt with injuries and wasn’t awful given his inexperience. As with Guyton, more is needed for him to find a lasting home. But the potential is there, and hopefully another full offseason will yield results.

Ajani Cornelius – The sixth-round rookie was carried on the roster most of the year, only dressing for one game and taking a few special teams snaps. He was eventually placed on IR with a knee issue. The team obviously thought enough of Cornelius’ potential to protect him with a roster spot and preserve his rookie contract. He’ll be one to watch this summer as the competition for OL depth resumes.

Marcellus Johnson – A late-season addition to the practice squad, Johnson went undrafted in 2024 and has bounced around other squads the last two years. He’s agreed to a futures deal to return this year. While on the small side for a tackle, Johnson is credited with the athleticism and versatility to play either side. Those could help him compete for a roster spot, speaking to depth and special teams potential.

Free Agents​

Hakeem Adeniji – The veteran journeyman signed with Dallas as a depth option last spring and ended up playing in 12 games, mostly on special teams but with one start on offense. Still just 28, he could easily be re-signed to compete for a similar role against the younger prospects. His odds improve if the Cowboys do move on from Steele.

What’s Needed?​

If the Cowboys decide to keep rolling with Terence Steele, then probably not much. They’ll also likely continue to work with Tyler Guyton on the left side, knowing they have Nathan Thomas to compete and also the emergency option of sliding Tyler Smith over. Given the youth of Guyton and Thomas, plus the welcome consistency of the offensive staff carrying over from last year, there’s a case to be made for preserving what you have and banking on development.

However, there’s also a case to be made for finally moving on from Steele and trying to get stronger on the edges. Steele continues to be what he’s always been, a solid run blocker with very limited pass protection ability. We kept hoping the latter would improve with experience, but that ship has sailed after five seasons. Now turning 29 this summer, Steele’s liabilities will only worsen with any athletic decline.

If Dallas does want to move on, it could be beneficial to the salary cap. Steele is scheduled to count about $18.1 million in 2026 and only has $9.4 million in dead money left. They could cut him outright for $8.75 million in cap space, usable in this year’s free agent market, or get $14 million with the June-1st provision.

That said, Steele’s cap hit isn’t that unreasonable for a decent starting tackle. As the game has evolved and right tackles are generally making the same as the lefties, Steele makes about $10 million less per year than the league’s top tackles. So, depending on how much they value his run blocking over how he limits you in the passing game, the front office could be okay with his compensation level.

The big question is whether Dallas thinks it can get the same level of play while reducing costs. Could they run with Thomas as the new RT, or maybe play him at left and move Guyton to the right side? Would they decide to move Tyler Smith to tackle permanently and let Guyton and Thomas compete for the right job? We can argue all day about the pros and cons of converting Smith to tackle over keeping him as an All-Pro guard, but the narrow view is that it would likely upgrade the LT position from the last two years. And Guyton, who played right tackle in college, could maximize his upside returning to that spot.

The Cowboys could also use some of the funds from cutting Steele to sign his replacement. One guy to watch is Jonah Williams, a former first-round pick by the Bengals, who was with Arizona in 2024 when Klayton Adams was their offensive line coach. He’s battled injuries the last two years with the Cardinals, but has been named the starting right tackle both seasons. He’s set to become a free agent and could be a bargain coming off the injuries, which we know Dallas’ front office is always intrigued by.

Again, they could easily decide to run it back with the current group. They’ve been content with Steele for a while now, so only the lure of cap space will likely change that. But it’s easy to see them sticking with the veteran and hoping for development from Guyton and Thomas to solidify the group. Upgrades are possible, but also not the most dire need. With a defense to makeover and even bigger offensive concerns at receiver and running back, tackle is a position that could go either way for offseason attention.

Source: https://www.bloggingtheboys.com/dal...offensive-tackles-tyler-guyton-terence-steele

 

[Dallas Cowboys]

Dak Prescott will “get involved” in the George Pickens negotiations if he has to

Oct 19, 2025; Arlington, Texas, USA; Dallas Cowboys quarterback Dak Prescott (4) and wide receiver George Pickens (3) ceelbrate after a touchdown against the Washington Commanders during the third quarter of the game at AT&T Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Kevin Jairaj-Imagn Images | Kevin Jairaj-Imagn Images

After a second consecutive losing season, the Dallas Cowboys have shown they are trying to do things differently. It started with letting go of Matt Eberflus and breaking the requirement that a defensive coordinator have previous head-coaching experience. The hiring of Christian Parker feels like the winds are changing. Hopefully, that can lead to an all-too-familiar business practice related to contract extensions in Dallas.

Over the last few years, the Cowboys’ front office has dragged out contract extensions with their star players to the point of exhaustion. It happened with CeeDee Lamb and Dak Prescott in 2024, and it happened with Micah Parsons in 2025 before he was traded. The next star player up for a new deal is All-Pro wide receiver George Pickens.

While there have been no discussions of a new deal as of Monday, the Cowboys have made it known they’d like to keep Pickens in Dallas beyond the 2026 season. That doesn’t mean the team won’t use the franchise tag in the meantime to allow negotiations to extend past the start of free agency. But will the front office forego their usual approach of long-winded contract talks and get the deal done sooner? Dak Prescott sounds like he’s willing to apply a little pressure if needed, telling Clarence Hill he would get involved if he needs to but has trust that things will get done.

Dak Prescott spoke exclusively to @clarencehilljr in San Francisco this afternoon:

– Could he get involved in Pickens negotiations?
– The Super Bowl cloud that keeps growing over Dallas

Watch the FULL interview coming up at 3pm CT

: https://t.co/d9RrJsyvYK pic.twitter.com/gbDX1ulqwY

— DLLS Cowboys (@DLLS_Cowboys) February 2, 2026

In the past, Prescott has usually kept to himself when it comes to other players and their money. However, Pickens played a vital role in the offense this year, leading to one of Prescott’s best seasons as a pro. A player like that will earn the backing of the franchise quarterback.

Prescott, who turns 33 years old in July, is closer to the end of his football career than the start of it. If he wants to win a Lombardi Trophy before his playing days are done, then the math is simple to him—having Pickens on offense only makes the team better. Letting him walk or miss the entire offseason of workouts will only hurt the team. You don’t have to go back far to see what gridlocked negotiations can do to a quarterback’s chemistry with his wide receiver (2024).

The Cowboys franchise star is willing to change his usual tune and become more vocal if he has to. The hope is he won’t have to if the front office continues its course correction and gets a deal done with Pickens way before the start of offseason workouts.

Source: https://www.bloggingtheboys.com/dal...pickens-negotiations-free-agent-franchise-tag

 

[Dallas Cowboys]

Why loving DeMarcus Lawrence and Micah Parsons isn’t cheating on the Cowboys

Leaving the Dallas Cowboys is a lot like breaking up with a high school sweetheart. Sometimes fate leads you to better things, and you find yourself hoisting the Lombardi Trophy. Other times, you’re Jason Witten in a Las Vegas Raiders jersey. Historically, the post-Dallas experience has been a mixed bag. Whether it’s Jimmy Smith becoming a star in Jacksonville or Dez Bryant’s brief, confusing cameo in Baltimore, the grass isn’t always greener, but sometimes it is.

Two guys grazing in different grass this past season were DeMarcus Lawrence and Micah Parsons, who both found themselves under the media microscope this week, fielding endless questions about their exits from the Cowboys. Lawrence, ever the straight-shooter, didn’t hold back, which is what created a stir last offseason when he infamously got into a social media dispute with Parsons after saying, “Dallas is my home…But I know for sure I’m not going to win a Super Bowl there”. This prompted a spicy social media retort from Parsons, who labeled the sentiment “rejection and envy” and “clown (bleep)”. Lawrence’s comeback was equally legendary: “Maybe if you spent less time tweeting and more time winning, I wouldn’t have left.” It’s the kind of high-stakes family fallout that usually requires a therapist and a very large bucket of popcorn. And with every family fallout, people always take sides.

Since landing with the Seattle Seahawks, Lawrence has been living his best life in the Pacific Northwest. This season, he tallied 53 total tackles, six sacks, and forced three fumbles. Perhaps most impressively, he also scooped up two fumbles and returned them for touchdowns in a single half against the Cardinals. It seems the Seattle rain has been a fountain of youth for the 33-year-old veteran pass rusher, who is now one win away from the Super Bowl ring he predicted he’d never get in Texas. Apparently, all Tank needed to find his groove was some Starbucks and a defense that could play cohesively as a complete unit.

Looking back at his time in Dallas, Lawrence was the heartbeat of a defense. That was, until Parsons arrived. Over 157 games as a Cowboy, Lawrence racked up 61.5 sacks, 21 forced fumbles, and 450 total tackles. He was a four-time Pro Bowler and the literal definition of a splash player. He was a true leader, never complained, and went out and gave his all, even though his contract stuff got messy at times. And for that, we salute him.

Meanwhile, Parsons has been a lightning bolt for the Green Bay Packers this year after a shock trade that sent him north right before the season started. In just 14 games, he exploded for 12.5 sacks, earning All-Pro honors. He became the first player in the history of the NFL to have 12 sacks in each of his first five seasons in the league. Though his season was tragically cut short by a torn ACL, he still finished near the top of the league in pressures and pass-rush win rate. Seeing Parsons in green and gold was tough to stomach, especially watching him do what he did in Dallas, which was repeatedly wreck opposing quarterbacks. It turns out that when you trade a superstar, the superstar still tends to do superstar things.

Before the move, Parsons’ career in Dallas was nothing short of historic. He amassed 52.5 sacks as a Cowboy, earning three All-Pro nods and making the Pro Bowl every single year he was in Texas. He repeatedly ranked near the top in the voting for Defensive Player of the Year, and he did it with the kind of swagger that suggested he could probably play any position out there if the coaches let him. Cowboys’ fans miss him. Partly because the defense has been a hot mess without him, and partly because he ran like a deer and hit like a Mack truck.

It is perfectly okay to root for Lawrence and Parsons even if they don’t have a star on their helmet anymore. Rooting for their success doesn’t mean you love the Cowboys any less. It just means you recognize elite talent when you see it. And any struggles they have don’t vindicate the front office for letting them get away. These guys gave their all for the Cowboys, and denying their greatness now would be blatant stubbornness. So, go ahead and cheer for them, unless they’re playing against the Cowboys or affecting the team’s draft capital. All other times, it’s perfectly fine.

Source: https://www.bloggingtheboys.com/dal...ah-parsons-super-bowl-trades-rotting-interest

 

[Dallas Cowboys]

This Super Bowl Challenge game sheet is the ultimate party companion

Super Bowl parties are arguably the best gatherings of the year! It is the perfect opportunity to get together with friends, enjoy some fantastic food, and watch the biggest game of the season. The atmosphere is always electric, full of excitement, and naturally an opportunity to showcase your football knowledge and earn bragging rights with your friends. What’s a party without flexing on your brotato chips?

The game provides the entertainment, but my Super Bowl Challenge game sheet takes it to another level. It truly enhances the game-watching experience, keeping guests engaged during commercials and lulls in the action. It’s a fantastic way to make the Super Bowl even more exciting, even if the actual game turns into a bit of a snoozefest. With this game sheet, there’s always something to cheer for!

The game is simple to play. You simply circle your answers for various questions on the sheet. Questions are grouped into sections with different point values, with more points awarded for higher-difficulty questions. Not every question is related to the game itself, as you’ll find questions about the half-time show or which commercial will air first. From the moment pop singer Charlie Puth hits the first note singing the national anthem, the clock starts!

This game sheet is available to you to create a fun contest at your own Super Bowl party. You can play for fun, or turn this into a high-stakes competition. The choice is yours. Hand out prizes, play for cash, or just play along with the family for bragging rights. Once you play this game, it will be a regular part of your Super Bowl-watching experience!

Source: https://www.bloggingtheboys.com/general/196257/super-bowl-challenge-game-sheet-bets-predictions

 

[Dallas Cowboys]

4 prospects who fit Christian Parker’s vision for the Cowboys linebacker corps

LUBBOCK, TEXAS - AUGUST 31: Jacob Rodriguez #10 of the Texas Tech Red Raiders defends during the first half of the game against the Abilene Christian Wildcats at Jones AT&T Stadium on August 31, 2024 in Lubbock, Texas. (Photo by John E. Moore III/Getty Images) | Getty Images

The defense of the 2025 Dallas Cowboys was not good. While the defensive line saw mid-season reinforcements, the linebacker corps was dreadful, frequently exploited by opposing teams. The Cowboys’ linebackers struggled to chase down players. Whether from a lack of athleticism or undisciplined gap integrity, they often found themselves out of position against any remotely creative run schemes and high-low passing concepts. Wherever opposing offenses went, the linebackers weren’t.

Despite the unwavering faith the coaching staff had in veteran linebacker Kenneth Murray Jr., the defense lacked the true leader needed to stabilize pre-snap alignments and get the boys situated. As a result, the linebacker group spent most of the season running around in disarray. To take a promising step forward, the Cowboys must prioritize a complete overhaul of the position, seeking players who possess the rare blend of cerebral processing and physical violence.

Enter new defensive coordinator Christian Parker, whose philosophy centers on structural discipline and three-down versatility. Parker’s system demands linebackers who are not merely athletes, but problem-solvers. He prioritizes elite speed to erase outside gains and a high football IQ to identify offensive tells before the ball is even snapped. Under Parker, a linebacker must be balanced, equally comfortable defeating lead blocks or escorting a tight end down the seam. Most importantly, Parker seeks proficient gap-shooters who possess the hand technique to shed blockers instantly. For a coach who expects to do more with less, evading blockers is a must.

For Parker and the new-look Cowboys defense to succeed, the team needs to find the right type of players to add to the linebacker room. This will require one of the stronger linebackers coming out of the 2026 NFL Draft. Which players fit the mold? Here are four linebackers who possess the traits Parker looks for in his defense.

C.J. Allen, Georgia​

Allen enters the 2026 draft cycle as the gold standard of the modern, well-rounded linebacker. Emerging from the powerhouse Georgia defense, Allen has spent his collegiate career operating in a pro-style system that mirrors the complexities of the NFL. He is constantly around the ball, consistently leading the Bulldogs in tackles while anchoring a unit that rarely conceded explosive plays. His ability to read and react to the game’s flow allowed him to thrive as a primary signal-caller in the SEC, making him one of the most battle-tested prospects in the nation.

For Parker, Allen is the ultimate set it and forget it asset. His versatility makes him a true three-down player who remains effective whether he is dropping into coverage or crashing the A-gap. Allen’s elite speed allows him to chase down ball carriers from anywhere on the field, while his Georgia pedigree ensures he can handle the high-level communication and pre-snap adjustments Parker requires. He is the defensive equivalent of a Swiss Army knife, except this one is designed specifically to dismantle NFL offenses. Allen is so good at reading offenses that he probably knows what you’re having for dinner before you’ve even opened the fridge.

#Georgia LB CJ Allen was terrific vs. Florida pic.twitter.com/rekEX0OkEC

— Jordan Reid (@Jordan_Reid) November 2, 2025

Anthony Hill Jr., Texas​

Hill Jr. has established himself as one of the most punishing defenders in college football, characterized by a violent downhill playstyle. During his tenure at Texas, Hill became a highlight-reel constant, racking up an incredible 16.5 tackles for loss in 2024. His game is built on elite instincts and a seek-and-destroy mentality that consistently disrupts the opponent’s backfield. With a 6’3″, 235-pound frame and remarkable arm length, Hill has the physical tools to match his high-octane production.

Hill is the prototypical middle linebacker for Parker’s 2026 vision. He is a smart communicator who anticipates play development with eerie accuracy, allowing him to shoot gaps before offensive linemen can climb to the second level. His ability to use his long arms and raw strength to disengage from blockers makes him a nightmare for interior linemen trying to seal him off. In Parker’s scheme, Hill would serve as the physical heartbeat of the defense, providing the thump that was missing last season.

Anthony Hill Jr. | LB | 6-3 285 LBS

Instinctive, downhill LB with NFL-ready size. Quick to diagnose, shoots gaps, plays sideline to sideline and finishes as a sure tackler. Best vs the run, still developing in coverage. One of the younger players in the class. pic.twitter.com/QKZrvm4b7J

— Price Carter (@priceacarter) December 27, 2025

Jake Golday, Cincinnati​

Golday is a mountain of a man who defines the prototypical size Parker covets. At Cincinnati, Golday made a name for himself as a block-shedding specialist, utilizing elite hand usage to fight off blockers and maintain his assignment. His collegiate tape is a clinic in physicality, showing a player who can hang in the trenches against heavy personnel while possessing the discipline to drop into passing lanes. He is widely regarded as one of the most assignment-sound players in the draft, rarely taking a false step or missing a gap.

The Bearcat back fits the Parker mold as the disciplined anchor of the linebacker room. His size allows him to absorb contact without giving up ground, but it’s his violent hands that truly make him a scheme fit. He destroys blocks rather than just taking them on. For a Cowboys defense that got washed out by double-teams, Golday provides the necessary grit to keep the second level clean. He is a wise, cerebral player who understands his responsibilities and executes them with surgical precision.

Jake Golday continues to stand out in a really strong LB class. I think there are 3 future Pro Bowl LBs playing college football in Ohio right now.

He’s an elite athlete compared to most sub-LBs, but at 6’3”/240 you aren’t making any tradeoffs in run support. Plays blocks as… pic.twitter.com/109TUv4meX

— James Foster (@NoFlagsFilm) October 7, 2025

Jacob Rodriguez, Texas Tech​

Rodriguez is perhaps the most unique prospect in the 2026 draft class. He’s a former quarterback and just finished fifth in the Heisman voting. His background under center gives him a strong understanding of offensive formations and pre-snap tells. Physically, he is a freak of nature, having been clocked at a blistering 19 miles per hour during the Senior Bowl. His career at Texas Tech was defined by a nose for the football, culminating in 13 career forced fumbles, including a nation-leading seven in 2025.

Rodriguez is the turnover creator Parker’s defense craves to flip the field. He plays with good sideline-to-sideline pursuit and possesses the violent hands needed to shed blockers in an instant. His ability to play the middle against the run and then transition into pattern-match coverage makes him an ideal hybrid for Parker. Whether he is shooting a gap or stripping a ball carrier, Rodriguez plays the game at a different mental speed than everyone else on the field. He reads quarterbacks so well that opposing teams should pay him royalties for co-authoring their own playbooks.

This is every one-on-one rep for Texas Tech LB Jacob Rodriguez in coverage at the Senior Bowl:

He was beating the crap out of these poor RBs. pic.twitter.com/LQL2n5gBzP

— Marcus Mosher (@Marcus_Mosher) January 30, 2026

The Cowboys must get better on defense. By prioritizing linebackers, Parker can implement a system that is as cerebral as it is physical. These prospects offer the speed to cover, the strength to shed, and the intelligence to lead, all traits that will transform the Cowboys from a defense that reacts to a defense that dictates. Smart, fast, and fearless, any one of these prospects is the right type of guy for what their new coach needs. If Dallas can land one of these star-caliber players, the team will take a positive step in fixing the defense.

Source: https://www.bloggingtheboys.com/dal...an-parker-scheme-fit-jacob-rodriguez-cj-allen

 

[Dallas Cowboys]

Ranking all of the Cowboys 2026 free agents by importance

ARLINGTON, TEXAS - NOVEMBER 03: Javonte Williams #33 of the Dallas Cowboys walks off the field after the game at AT&T Stadium on November 03, 2025 in Arlington, Texas. (Photo by Sam Hodde/Getty Images) | Getty Images

The Cowboys have 22 players designated as free agents for the upcoming offseason. Today, we’re going to rank all 22 in terms of their importance to the team for being re-signed or replaced. Among these players, who should be Dallas’ top concerns?

There are multiple factors that contribute to these rankings. The biggest, of course, is how well a player has performed and is projected to in the future. But along with that, how badly is the team hurt if they depart? Is there another guy waiting in the wings who can probably maintain that performance level, or at least partially fill the void?

#22 – CB Corey Ballentine (UFA)​

If you’re not sure who this guy is, don’t feel bad. He was added to the practice squad in late September and was called up for five games, primarily for special teams. Turning 30 in April, Ballentine is the least of Dallas’ offseason concerns.

#21 – RB Miles Sanders (UFA)​

The veteran probably only stuck around because Jaydon Blue didn’t impress early, and then went out in October with a knee injury. He wasn’t very impressive at any point and now, turning 29 this spring, has no perceivable value given Dallas’ younger RB prospects.

#20 – ST C.J. Goodwin (UFA)​

It’s time for the annual mistake of discounting what Goodwin means to the team. He turns 36 next week, so it seems more likely than ever that Dallas will finally find a younger guy to play gunner on return coverage. But Goodwin survived the change in special teams coordinator from John Fassel to Nick Sorensen, so he could easily return again. But given his niche role, it’s hardly a priority.

#19 – LB Jack Sanborn (UFA)​

Brought in as an “Eberflus guy” to help our former defensive coordinator install his scheme, Sanborn looked uncomfortable and unathletic before finally going out with a groin injury after six games. With Matt Eberflus now gone, Sanborn’s best asset went out the door with him. And based on last year’s performance, it may have been his only one.

#18 – LB Kenneth Murray (UFA)​

The other veteran added to help upgrade the linebacker corps, Murray was a borderline disaster. Dallas found out why Tennessee only needed a sixth-round pick for him, as Murray was a constant liability in the middle of the field. Unless Christian Parker thinks he can work some magic with this former first-round pick, there’s little reason to think Murray will return.

#17 – DE Payton Turner (UFA)​

Another former first-rounder, Turner was one of Dallas’ latest attempts to find value in another team’s castoff. He had a quiet training camp and then spent the year on IR with a rib injury. With more 3-4 looks expected under Parker, Turner may be less appealing now than in the previous scheme. At least, unlike Murray and Sanborn, he didn’t put a bunch of negative stuff on tape. Maybe they give him another chance.

#16 – G Rob Jones (UFA)​

Signed for experienced depth and a potential starting option, Jones never really got to compete as a neck injury took him out in early August. Thankfully, Tyler Booker was more than adequate in his rookie season. Jones could still get another shot, though, as other interior depth guys like Brock Hoffman and T.J. Bass are also free agents and could have stronger markets. If Dallas considers shaking things up at tackle, particularly if Tyler Smith is involved, they may want Jones back as an insurance policy.

#15 – OT Hakeem Adeniji (UFA)​

The veteran provided some much-needed depth at offensive tackle this year. While he doesn’t have Jones’ résumé or experience, he could be more valuable in 2026 if Dallas makes moves at the position. If Terence Steele becomes a cap casualty, Adeniji could be brought back as an inexpensive body with legitimate potential to make the roster again.

#14 – RB Malik Davis (RFA)​

Davis was a fun story when he got playing time in 2025, ripping off a huge run in Dallas’ Thanksgiving win over Kansas City and leading the backfield on Christmas against Washington. Maybe the Cowboys should just call him up for holiday games? Jokes aside, Davis has always shown he can be an effective ball carrier, but has never been able to stick to the roster with limited value in other parts of his game. Even if Dallas isn’t re-signing Javonte Williams, Davis is still a low-priority backup at best.

#13 – DE Sam Williams (UFA)​

If Williams could make defensive plays the way he does on special teams, he might be at a very different point in his career. But alas, the former second-round pick has reached the end of his rookie deal without a great case for returning. With immaturity off the field, and even some on it with reckless penalties, Williams has never delivered on his potential. Still, if he doesn’t find love in free agency, he could get an inexpensive deal to return for depth and special teams work.

#12 – G T.J. Bass (RFA)​

After three years of providing solid interior depth, Bass will be a restricted free agent. His return isn’t a slam dunk: Dallas would have to spend a projected $3.5 million just to keep him on the first-refusal tender. Bass has been able to play enough, 10 starts since 2023, that he could be another team’s radar. The Cowboys aren’t going to overpay for an assured backup on their roster, so they may lose him to the open market.

#11 – DE Dante Fowler (UFA)​

Fowler’s return to Dallas didn’t go as hoped. Despite playing in all 17 games, he only had three sacks and lost ground in the pass-rushing rotation to Jadeveon Clowney and James Houston. Set to turn 32 in August, Fowler will likely be allowed to test the FA waters. If he doesn’t find a new home, the Cowboys may bring him back on the cheap for depth and veteran leadership.

#9 – CB Reddy Steward & Josh Butler (ERFAs)​

Unlike most Eberflus guys, Steward was a positive contributor as Dallas’ nickel corner for parts of the year. He deserves a chance to compete in the offseason and show the new staff what he can do. As for Butler, after a lost year due to a 2024 ACL injury, he hopes to get back into the mix of intriguing DB prospects. Both will be easy to retain as exclusive rights free agents, meaning the Cowboys only have to offer them minimal deals. And both could be needed as the entire secondary is under review.

#8 – WR Jalen Tolbert (UFA)​

This may seem high for Tolbert after losing his job to Ryan Flournoy, but WR4 is no trivial position. With your third receiver being a pseudo starter in the modern NFL, the fourth guy is one injury away from playing major snaps. Without Tolbert, Dallas may be lacking there as Jonathan Mingo’s never shown anything and KaVontae Turpin hasn’t been reliable enough. Assuming Tolbert’s gone, the Cowboys should be in the market for a talented addition to their WR depth.

#7 – C Brock Hoffman (RFA)​

Hoffman has been an exceptional backup center and occasional guard, and that versatility enhances his value. Like T.J. Bass, Hoffman has had enough playing time that other teams could be looking his way. But given that he can cover two spots, the Cowboys may be more inclined to open their wallets to keep him.

#5 – S Donovan Wilson (UFA) & Juanyeh Thomas (RFA)​

Some would argue that the entire safety position needs an overhaul, so they wouldn’t lose sleep if neither Wilson nor Thomas returned. But you wouldn’t want Malik Hooker and Markquese Bell as the starting duo, so that means creating a major replacement need. Wilson turns 31 this month and remains very limited in coverage. His time in Dallas is probably over.

Thomas, who was flashing potential in his first two years, was limited last season due to injuries. It’d be worth giving him another look and seeing what Christian Parker could mine from him. This isn’t to say Dallas shouldn’t explore a significant upgrade at one or both safety spots, but losing Wilson or Thomas, and especially both, will at least create the need for more bodies and probably one starter.

#4 – DE Jadeveon Clowney (UFA)​

Clowney was Dallas’ best pass rusher by the end of last season. That wasn’t a tall mountain to climb, but that doesn’t diminish how good Clowney looked in the rotation and the value of his veteran presence. He’s not going to be a three-down player anymore, or even close to it, but he was better at his job than most defensive players last year. He should fit just as well in Parker’s scheme, and Dallas is looking at a potential edge rusher exodus with Dante Fowler and Sam Williams also free agents. If only one of them returns, we want Clowney.

#3 – RB Javonte Williams (UFA)​

You probably guessed who the top three would be at the start of the article. Williams’ was the most surprising of our individual success stories in 2025. Signed off the bargain bin, he finished as a top-10 runner for a fraction of the price. Now looking to parlay that into a payday, and probably his last one as he turns 26 in April, Williams may not give the Cowboys much of a discount. The front office has said they want him back, but their recently-adopted philosophy on running back value could make negotiations interesting.

If Williams doesn’t return, there is no new starter among the in-house options. Jaydon Blue only got out of the doghouse for the Week 17 finale: hardly enough to trust him going forward. We already discussed Malik Davis’ limitations, and Phil Mafah is just as unproven as Blue. And without a Day 2 draft pick in 2026, Dallas couldn’t rely on the draft to find a new RB1. That gives Williams some leverage, but it could also send the Cowboys back to veteran Goodwill for his replacement.

#2 – K Brandon Aubrey (RFA)​

Kickers aren’t generally this high on lists like these, but Aubrey isn’t your general kicker. A game-changing weapon on special teams, he makes things possible with his range that can dramatically impact outcomes. He turns 31 next month, which could make Dallas nervous about signing him long-term with much guaranteed money. But since he’s only a restricted free agent, they may use the second-round tender at around $5.8 million to keep him on a one-year deal. That’s about the going rate for the league’s best kickers, anyway, and Aubrey is certainly among them.

And if someone wants to give the Cowboys a second-round pick to sign him away, we could live with that outcome, too. We’d miss Butter terribly, but that’d be quite a consolation prize.

#1 – WR George Pickens (UFA)​

No surprise here, right? Pickens is not only Dallas’ most critical free agent but will be one of the biggest prizes of the offseason if allowed to hit the open market. He’ll be just 25 next month and is coming off an All-Pro breakout, undoing most of whatever damage his Steelers days did to his stock. As a potential one-hit wonder, he may not command the same money as other franchise receivers with more established production. But he’s the only impending free agent with clear franchise-level talent, so he will have plenty of interest.

It’s up to the Cowboys if they’re going to let him explore those options. Pickens is, by far, the most likely candidate to get the franchise tag. Projected at $28.8 million for WRs this year, that would be quite the spike in his cap hit from just $3.66 million last year. Thankfully, the NFL’s projected $22-$26 million increase in the salary cap will go a long way to helping Dallas bridge that gap. But the Cowboys would still be better off doing a multi-year deal, letting them massage those cap hits into additional space for other business.

If Pickens doesn’t return, Dallas is immediately in the market for a new starter. We all enjoyed Ryan Flournoy’s emergence as WR3, but counting on him to take the next step would be risky at best. The Cowboys could maybe turn to someone like the Colts’ Alec Pierce, who is more in the traditional WR2 mold and should cost far less than Pickens. It could also become a target point for one of their two first-round draft picks, though they’d hate to take one of those away from their major defensive needs.

The renovation project on defense is a big reason why they should do everything possible to re-sign Pickens. A defensive revival probably won’t happen right away, especially for the first half of the season. The best strategy for 2026 is to keep blowing up scoreboards while Christian Parker works on getting the defense back to basic solvency, making it harder for opponents to keep up. That’s the more attainable goal for Dallas this year, and Pickens is crucial to maintaining that same offensive potency.

Source: https://www.bloggingtheboys.com/dal...ts-importance-george-pickens-javonte-williams

 

[Dallas Cowboys]

Cowboys 2026 mock draft: First-round trades highlight defense heavy draft

Tennessee defensive back Jermod McCoy (3) celebrates after making a play during a college football game between Tennessee and Georgia at Sanford Stadium in Athens, Ga., on Saturday, November 16, 2024. | Brianna Paciorka/News Sentinel / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images

With the conclusion of the East-West Shrine Game and the Senior Bowl, the 2026 NFL Draft season is heating up with all of the new influx of information that could shake up player rankings and put different prospects on the radar. As player rankings change, draft boards do as well, which makes these mock draft exercises change focus over time.

Today, we thought we’d attempt to predict who the Dallas Cowboys could select with each of their draft picks this complete seven-round mock draft using Pro Football Focus’ draft simulator. We believe we’ve upgraded nearly all of Dallas’ team “needs” and even used in expendable former second-round pick, reuniting him with Mike McCarthy, to select a coveted defensive playmaker.

This draft is very trade heavy for Dallas in an attempt to cover as many roster spots as possible. While the Cowboys doing something this extensive with trades is unlikely, as an exercise it demonstrates what is possible.

*TRADE*​

Cowboys receive 1.14, 4.115; Baltimore receives 1.12

Round 1, Pick 14 – CB Jermod McCoy, Tennessee​

The player we would’ve selected at No. 12 was still on the board two picks later for the Cowboys. McCoy’s medicals have to come back clean, but he’s an ideal fit in Christian Parker’s scheme on the outside. He’s a Day 1 plug-and-play player who will upgrade and solidify Dallas’ CB room.

*TRADE*​

Cowboys receive 1.28, 3.69; Texans receives 1.20, 5.150

Round 1 Pick 28 – S Emmanuel McNeil-Warren, Toledo​

The last time Dallas drafted a safety in the first-round was in 2002 (Roy Williams). We decided to buck the trend this year though because Emmanuel McNeil-Warren is a perfect fit for Christian Parker’s defense. He checks all the boxes from a physical standpoint and has the versatility to play in the box, deep, or in the nickel.

Round 3, Pick 69 – EDGE Derrick Moore, Michigan​

Taco Charlton and Mazi Smith were bust for the Cowboys, but Derrick Moore should break that trend as far as former Michigan players are concerned. He needs to further improve his pass rush repertoire, but his athleticism, strength, and flexibility to capture the edge should make him an immediate contributor as a rookie.

*TRADE*​

Cowboys receive 3.99; Steelers receive 4.112, TE Luke Schoonmaker

Round 3, Pick 99 – LB Jacob Rodriguez, Texas Tech​

Jacob Rodriguez was still hanging around at the end of the third-round so we pulled off a trade with the Steelers to snatch him up. Rodriguez is a football player in every sense of the word and the playmaker Dallas needs at MLB. He should immediately upgrade the position.

Round 4, Pick 115 – OT Dametrious Crownover, Texas A&M​

Weighing in at 331-pounds and at nearly 6’7″with 35 5/8″ arms, Dametrious Crownover is a massive RT prospect who possesses an elite physical foundation (strength, power, athleticism). He’s a better run blocker than pass protector right now, but he has the tools and skill set to potentially replace Terence Steele immediately.

Round 5, Pick 177 – TE Tanner Koziol, Houston​

After parting ways with Luke Schoonmaker in the trade with the Steelers, we go back to the TE well to add an impressive prospect who would bring something different to the position with the Cowboys. Tanner Koziol (6’6″, 247 with 34″ arms) is a contested catch machine and could be an immediate red zone threat in Dallas.

Round 6, Pick 215 – EDGE Vincent Anthony Jr., Duke​

At 6’6″, 250-pounds, Vincent Anthony not only looks the part of of a starting caliber pass rusher in the NFL, but possesses the talent as well. Despite that, he still needs a lot of work from a technical standpoint, making him a development project. His upside is worth betting on at this point in the draft.

Round 7, Pick 221 – RB Kaelon Black, Indiana​

Kaelon Black is pretty similar to Kyle Monangai, the Bears seventh-round pick last year. He’s a smaller back (5’9″, 208), but runs with surprising power for his size. He shows a good understanding of setting up his blocks, has smooth footwork, and proved to be a better than expected receiver at the Senior Bowl.

Round 7, Pick 225 – CB Charles Demming, SFA​

Charles Demming made himself a lot of money at the Senior Bowl. At 6’1″, 191-pounds with 32″ arms he fits the prototypical size in an NFL CB. The small school prospect proved he belonged amongst his peers and was in the hip pocket of several of the WRs in Mobile. His draft stock could skyrocket. Getting him here would be a steal.

Source: https://www.bloggingtheboys.com/dal...first-round-trades-defense-heavy-jermod-mccoy

 

[Dallas Cowboys]

Christian Parker’s arrival is a huge boost for Shavon Revel Jr.

ARLINGTON, TX - NOVEMBER 23: Shavon Revel Jr. #34 of the Dallas Cowboys lines up before the snap during an NFL football game against the Philadelphia Eagles at AT&T Stadium on November 23, 2025 in Arlington, Texas. (Photo by Cooper Neill/Getty Images) | Getty Images

Christian Parker’s arrival is a direct force multiplier for Shavon Revel Jr. because Parker’s calling card isn’t just scheme, it’s year-over-year, detail-driven defensive back development. Dallas’ own decision-makers have already framed the hire in exactly those terms. They wanted a teacher, and Revel was one of the first young defensive backs names highlighted internally which matters because it tells fans how the building views Revel’s ceiling and why Parker was targeted to get him there.

Oh, yeah. Cowboys got a dude in Shavon Revel Jr (top of the screen in all clips).

Full thoughts on the rookie's debut below. pic.twitter.com/bq6UUClmNO

— Mauricio Rodríguez (@MauNFL) November 19, 2025

The most concrete evidence point is what Parker’s secondaries produced in Philadelphia. In 2024, the Eagles finished best in the league with an elite pass-defense allowing 2,961 passing yards on 62.2% completions, along with 22 passing touchdowns allowed, and an 82.5 opponent passer rating. Then in 2025, the Eagles followed that up finishing top-10 with 3,226 opponent passing yards, a 56.8% opponent completion rate, and most notably just 14 opponent passing touchdowns allowed with a 75.4 opponent passer rating, all best in the league. Put simply, Parker’s track record says corners don’t just look better on tape, the unit measurably suppresses completions, explosive throws, and red-zone passing results.

The #Eagles defense

Opponent passer rating against

2024 — 82.5 (3rd in #NFL)
2025 — 75.4 (2nd)

Opponent completion rate against

2024 — 62.2% (6th)
2025 — 56.8% (1st)

Sacks

2024 — 41 (13th)
2025 — 42 (t-12th)

Pressure rate

2024 — 37.1% (7th)
2025 — 40.2% (5th)

— Jeff Kerr (@JeffKerrPHL) January 7, 2026

For Revel specifically, Parker’s fit is good because Revel’s 2026 improvement path is mostly about technique, timing, and confidence. The exact areas that tend to jump on a defensive backs second offseason. Revel’s ACL timeline is a key part of why 2026 is a big year, he returned to action in 2025 after a torn ACL and only debuted midseason, which almost always means players in this situation are playing catch-up on lower-body confidence.

Medical history consistently shows typical returns trend closer to two years for many athletes, which maps to why the second year after return is where fans often see cleaner movement and fewer hesitation reps. By the 2026 offseason and early season, Revel should be further removed from the return phase, which is exactly when a coaching staff can push more aggressive technique work without the player subconsciously protecting the knee on every sudden stop-start.

Eagles defensive backs didn’t treat Parker leaving like just another assistant coach move. Cooper DeJean’s reaction was blunt, “They got a great one… wouldn’t be the player I am without Coach CP”, and that’s the kind of quote you only give when a coach has changed how players prepare and execute. Other Eagles defensive backs publicly echoed that gratitude as well, reinforcing the leaguewide reputation Dallas is betting on.

Mannnn. They got a great one wouldn’t be the player I am without Coach CP https://t.co/AyQycoOsPs

— Cooper DeJean (@cooperdejean) January 22, 2026

So what does that mean for what specifically should show up in Revel’s 2026 tape and stat profile? Expect better vision and decisions with spacing in zone-match, cleaner leverage in man, and better anticipation on in-breakers and stop routes as Parker elevates his footwork. Parker’s Eagles units were consistently tough to complete passes against, and that typically comes from having more than great talent, it includes coaching landmarks, route recognition, and more.

The Parker hire gives Revel a rare combination, a teacher with recent and verifiable top-tier pass-defense results, a reputation validated by his former players’ public praise, and the timing that aligns with Revel’s ACL recovery. If everything stays on schedule, the most reasonable expectation isn’t that Revel suddenly becomes a shutdown cornerback overnight, it’s that he becomes noticeably more consistent week-to-week with fewer easy completions, fewer late to the spot reps, more plays on the ball, and steadier tackling that keeps him on the field in every situation. That’s exactly the kind of real growth that turns a talented young corner into a trusted NFL starter.

#Cowboys CB Shavon Revel was built for press-man coverage. He ran it nearly his entire life.

Zone? That he barely had any experience playing.

Story on how Revel has become a quick learner.

“He continues to amaze me, man.”https://t.co/Y6xlBhociH pic.twitter.com/2JpTlfCBcw

— Joseph Hoyt (@JoeJHoyt) December 3, 2025

Source: https://www.bloggingtheboys.com/dal...ge-boost-shavon-revel-jr-secondary-cornerback

 

[Dallas Cowboys]

How far behind are the Cowboys from Seattle and playing in a Super Bowl?

SAN JOSE, CA - FEBRUARY 04: LB DeMarcus Lawrence (0) of the Seattle Seahawks answers questions during the Wednesday press conference on February 4, 2026 at the San Jose Marriott in San Jose, CA. (Photo by Bob Kupbens/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) | Icon Sportswire via Getty Images

It’s Super Bowl week, and once again the Dallas Cowboys and their fans are onlookers as two teams aim to win the Lombardi trophy. Dallas hasn’t played in the big game since the 1995 season, and although a cherished memory, it is a relic of the past and a brutal reminder that the Cowboys have to find a way to reach the mountain top after such a long time. Since 1995, the Cowboys have watched every team in their conference at least reach the doorstep of playing in the Super Bowl by making it to the NFC title game. That is, except for the Cowboys. In that span, the Washington Commanders have played in the NFC title game last season despite not winning a postseason game since 2005. Also, the Philadelphia Eagles have won two Super Bowls in the last ten years. Clearly, the Cowboys aren’t doing something right.

To pour some salt in the wound, Dallas fans will watch as former Cowboy and Pro Bowler DeMarcus Lawrence attempts to compete for a championship. This comes after he famously said this past offseason that he wasn’t going to win a championship in Dallas.

Seattle was good last season, but they were far from world-beaters and failed to make the postseason in 2024. Now, they could win their second title in franchise history with a win over the New England Patriots on Sunday. Following Seattle’s sudden success and Lawrence’s comments, one has to wonder: How far away are the Cowboys from competing for a championship? Here’s a comparison of Seattle and Dallas, and how the Cowboys could close the gap on Seattle to be where they are next season.

Seattle offense vs. Dallas offense​

When assessing both offenses, let’s start at the quarterback position. Sam Darnold is having a career renaissance and, after a brief stop in Minnesota last year, has carried over that confidence to Seattle. He looks like the quarterback the New York Jets were expecting when they drafted him with the third overall pick in 2018. Darnold has made the Pro Bowl in consecutive seasons and has won 28 regular season games in the last two years. However, Dak Prescott’s body of work with the Cowboys has been as impressive if not more. Prescott is consistently one of the best quarterbacks in the NFL with elite processing before the snap. He was an All-Pro in 2023 and has made the Pro Bowl four times. His leadership is and resilience is his defining trait.

As far as pass catchers, you can make the case that Jaxon Smith-Njigba is equal to CeeDee Lamb in the way that they can play from anywhere on the field and a have a flare for acrobatic plays. Yet, when you add George Pickens and Jake Ferguson into the equation, it sure appears that Dallas has the stronger pass-catching group. Cooper Kupp isn’t what he used to be, and Rashid Shaheed doesn’t have the consistency as a receiver to rival George Pickens; the advantage goes to the Cowboys in that area.

Where Seattle does gain an edge is their running back rotation, at least when healthy. Of course, Javonte Williams was fantastic last season and had his best year as a pro. Still, the depth behind him was cause for concern. Malik Davis showed flashes but there was nothing much from Jaydon Blue who was buried on the depth chart and usually inactive on game days, along with Phil Mafah who didn’t play until the end of the season.

Seattle had a great combination of Kenneth Walker and Zach Charbonnet. Walker is an elusive runner that breaks tackles much like Williams except he has more shiftiness to his game. Charbonnet is tank of a runner that bears deceptive speed to go along with soft hands as a pass catcher. He tore his ACL against the San Francisco 49ers a few weeks ago. Yet, it’s clear that Dallas needs more at running back and the duo of Walker and Charbonnet provided a balance that the Cowboys need in their running game.

You can say that the Cowboys and Seahawks offensive lines are mirror opposites of one another. Seattle has adequate protection at the tackle position but lacks experience on the inside and as a result is among the worst rated units as Sports Illustrated notes. The interior is comprised of replacement-level players while Charles Cross and Abraham Lucas are solid starters on the outside. For the Cowboys, it’s the inverse. Tyler Booker, Cooper Beebe and Tyler Smith are terrific run blockers inside, but you worry about Tyler Guyton and Terence Steele keeping Dak Prescott upright. Foundationally, the Cowboys seem to have the better offense. Prescott has the edge over Darnold, their pass catchers are a level above and their interior offensive line makes up for a questionable running back rotation.

Advantage: Dallas

Seattle defense vs. Dallas defense ​

When you’re as bad as the Cowboys were defensively last year, you can’t possibly make the case that they are anywhere close in comparison to a respectable defense in the NFL, let alone one as good as the Seahawks. Sure, they make have comparable talent along the interior defensive line like Osa Odighizuwa and Quinnen Williams to compare to Leonard Williams and Byron Murphy. Still, Seattle attacks the edges much better than the Cowboys do. Dallas’ pass rush went radio silent at times last year, showing flashes of pressure, but it didn’t translate to sacks. Donovan Ezeiruaku was tasked with being a big part to fill a void left behind after the team traded Micah Parsons to the Green Bay Packers, and he managed only two sacks. The back seven is where Seattle truly separates themselves over the Cowboys.

Dallas’ veteran linebackers weren’t very good last year. Jack Sanborn was severely underwhelming when he came over from the Bears with Matt Eberflus, who has since been fired, and Kenneth Murray had a forgettable year in 2025. DeMarvion Overshown could be the best linebacker on either team in terms of talent but recovery from a knee injury didn’t have him looking like himself. Whereas Seattle has Ernest Jones, he has been an anchor in the middle of their defense and just was named an All-Pro this season. When you examine the secondary, it widens the gap even more.

The Cowboys’ cornerback group is a rudderless ship. Who knows what version of DaRon Bland the Cowboys can expect after yet another surgery and can Shavon Revel rebound from a very trying rookie season? Meanwhile, Seattle has premier talent in Devon Witherspoon who is arguably among the best in the league. Riq Woolen is susceptible to mental errors, but you can’t deny his range as a man-to-man corner and his physicality at the line of scrimmage. Finally, the Cowboys don’t have a game-changer at safety. Donovan Wilson and Malik Hooker are average at this stage in their careers. Yet, rookie Nick Emmanwori has all the tools you ask of a safety. He can play near the line of scrimmage, he can play in man coverage, and has the ability to cover the deep half. He is brimming with star potential.

Advantage: Seattle

Final verdict​

Collectively, is Seattle vastly better than the Cowboys? Yes. While you can make the argument that the Cowboys’ offense is slightly better than Seattle’s, the chasm between the Seahawks’ defense and Dallas is far too wide to argue otherwise. However, there is light at the end of the tunnel. New defensive coordinator Christian Parker specializes in developing secondary talent, and the Cowboys should be in the mix for defensive talents like cornerback Delane Mansoor and safety Caleb Downs, with two first-round picks.

Sonny Styles is also a great prospect that would immediately give the Cowboys a dynamic force at linebacker to pair with Overshown. Are the Cowboys far behind the Seahawks and far from competing for a Super Bowl? For now, they are. That said, if they can add the right talent on defense, they could close the gap significantly in one offseason. Parker is building a great staff that can change everything for the Cowboys. Dallas has a great return specialist like the Seahawks do and the best kicker in football in Brandon Aubrey. All the Cowboys need is the defense to be somewhere near the top third of the NFL. With that, the Cowboys could be neck-and-neck with Seattle in terms of overall talent on paper and make for a competitive matchup when Seattle hosts the Cowboys during the regular season next year.

Source: https://www.bloggingtheboys.com/dal...s-seattle-seahawks-super-bowl-offense-defense

 

[Dallas Cowboys]

Super Bowl predictions 2026: Cowboys, NFL fans predict winner of Seahawks vs. Patriots

Earlier this week, we asked for you thoughts on who would win the upcoming Super Bowl. Would it be the Seattle Seahawks or the New England Patriots? The results weren’t even close. It was one of the more lopsided polls we’ve ever had here at Blogging The Boys.

The emphatic choice was the Seahawks by an 88% to 12% margin. That lines up with what the betting experts say. At this moment FanDuel has the Seahawks as 4.5 point favorites over the Patriots.

Was this some NFC-homer bias? Maybe some love for DeMarcus Lawrence? Or just plain ol’ football analysis where the Seahawks seem like the superior team heading into the big game?

Hit the comments and tell why the Seahawks will win. Also, what’s your prediction on DeMarcus Lawrence’s game? Gives us his tackles, sacks, splash play (strip sack, fumble recovery etc.) line.

Visit FanDuel for any last minute Super Bowl bets you want to place.

Source: https://www.bloggingtheboys.com/dal...ons-2026-cowboys-fans-picks-patriots-seahawks

 

[Dallas Cowboys]

2026 NFL Draft: Underrated favorites for Cowboys at each position on offense

Indiana Hoosiers running back Kaelon Black (8) rushes the ball for a touchdown Friday, Jan. 9, 2026, during the Peach Bowl and semifinal game of the College Football Playoff against the Oregon Ducks at Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta. | Grace Hollars/IndyStar / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images

It’s only natural to have your own personal favorite players you hope the Dallas Cowboys draft. We all have our own vision of who we believe can help the organization improve. It’s one of the reasons why all of these mock draft exercises are fun and entertaining. And, it’s a great way to learn about certain players you may have overlooked or had ranked differently than someone else.

As far as the Cowboys are concerned, they definitely have their own way of doing things regardless of what we think. The one thing we know right now though is that this year’s draft class is expected to be a defensive-heavy one. Despite that, it wouldn’t be all that surprising to see them use a few draft picks on the offensive side of the ball, which is why we’ve shared some of our underrated favorites for them today.

QB Mark Gronowski, Iowa (6’2″, 235)​

Odds are Gronowski will end up being an undrafted free agent, but being a late-round selection is possible as well. He has some Taysom Hill similarities to his game due to the physicality he shows when running the ball and his willingness to do the dirty work. He also has shown the arm talent to become a longtime backup QB. Pairing him and Joe Milton to compete for the QB2 job could be an interesting position to watch.

RB Kaelon Black, Indiana (5’9″, 208)​

After winning a National Championship to immediately turning round to compete in the Senior Bowl, you can’t help but fall in love with Kaelon Black’s competitiveness and love for the game. He is a smaller compact RB who doesn’t possess great breakaway speed, however, his foot quickness, vision, contact balance, and ability to get small through the whole makes them difficult to tackle. He’s also a better-than-expected receiver.

WR Reggie Virgil, Texas Tech (6’2″, 188)​

Reggie Virgil is expected to be drafted at some point on Day 3, which is about where the Cowboys may decide to target the position if they do it all. He has the versatility to play inside or out and has the vertical ability to be a deep threat as well as the short area quickness to work underneath in the short to intermediate areas of the field. With his versatility and talent he could compete for a roster spot as a rookie with the Cowboys.

TE Tanner Koziol, Houston (6’6″, 247)​

Tanner Koziol is an intriguing Day 3 TE prospect who could add a little something different to the position for the Cowboys. At 6’6″, 247 pounds with 34″ arms he has proven throughout his career at Houston he’s one of the better contested-catch players the last couple years. He could carve out a role for himself as a move TE as a rookie and become an immediate red zone threat, an area in Dallas can definitely stand to improve.

iOL Sam Hecht, Kansas State (6’4″, 297)​

With the future of Brock Hoffman and T.J. Bass up in the air right now as restricted free agents, the Cowboys could potentially be losing some important depth on the interior of their offensive line. Sam Hecht is a starting caliber center prospect with guard versatility with Kansas State connections to Cooper Beebe and Cowboys OL coach Conor Riley. He’s a potential Day 2 selection who could give Dallas intriguing options with their OL.

OT Dametrious Crownover, Texas A&M (6’6″, 331)​

Dametrious Crownover is a massive right tackle prospect with 35″ arms and the athletic ability/skill set to be a Top 100 selection. However, despite being a really good run defender, he still needs to further improve his technique and fundamentals as a pass protector. His floor right now is probably a slightly better version of Terence Steele, but with the upside to be much better. He’ll likely be selected at some point one Day 3.

Source: https://www.bloggingtheboys.com/dal...ts-offense-underrated-favorites-each-position

 

[Dallas Cowboys]

Dallas Cowboys Super Bowl 2027 odds: Middle of the pack

May 23, 2018; Frisco, TX, USA; 5 Vince Lombardi trophies won by the Dallas Cowboys organization sit in the lobby at Dallas Cowboys headquarters at The Star. Mandatory Credit: Matthew Emmons-Imagn Images

The NFL season has concluded with the completion of the Super Bowl. Now, every fanbase begins looking ahead to next season. In truth, we’ve been in offseason mode for roughly two months now, but the conclusion of the Super Bowl really moves us into the 2026 offseason.

It’s never too early to dream about the Dallas Cowboys finally returning to their former glories. Honestly, just getting past the Divisional Round would be a tremendous achievement, but since it’s dream season (otherwise known as the offseason), were shooting for the stars. What are the Cowboys odds of winning the big one for the upcoming season?

FanDuel has some Super Bowl odds out and Dallas comes in at +3000, which basically puts them in the middle of the NFL pack. There are 15 teams with better odds, including the leader and new champ, the Seattle Seahawks, at +750. The Cowboys are tied with the Cincinnati Bengals at +3000.

As for our NFC East brethren, the Philadelphia Eagles are at +1500, the Washington Commanders are +4500 and the New York Giants are +7500.

So let’s hear about it BTB. How do those odds sound to you? Too high, too low? What would it take this offseason to lay a bet down on the Cowboys to win the Super Bowl?

For all your sports betting needs, head to FanDuel. Bet responsibly!

Source: https://www.bloggingtheboys.com/dal...per-bowl-2027-odds-bet-gamble-spread-nfc-east

 

[Dallas Cowboys]

Former Cowboys pass rusher DeMarcus Lawrence wins Super Bowl with Seahawks

Feb 8, 2026; Santa Clara, CA, USA; New England Patriots quarterback Drake Maye (10) is hit as he throws by Seattle Seahawks defensive end DeMarcus Lawrence (0) in the second half in Super Bowl LX at Levi's Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-Imagn Images | Kirby Lee-Imagn Images

Congratulations to DeMarcus Lawrence. The Seattle Seahawks defeated the New England Patriots on Sunday night in Super Bowl LX which means a very special thing for Tank.

DeMarcus Lawrence is a Super Bowl Champion

Obviously this has been possible since Lawrence and the Seahawks won the NFC two weeks ago but it is now official. Lawrence left Dallas with some interesting words, they were memorable to say the least.

“Dallas is my home… But I know for sure I’m not gonna win a Super Bowl there” pic.twitter.com/F31fVSZLC4

— ᴅᴏxx ️ (@new_era72) March 13, 2025

You may recall that Lawrence’s words were met with a lot of pushback from Cowboys fans when he first said them. He did so after initially signing with Seattle back in March.

Whatever the case, he sort of called his shot and helped the Seahawks make good on it. He not only reached the NFC Championship Game in his first season away from the Cowboys, but he and his teammates went the whole way and lifted the Lombardi Trophy. Lawrence was able to add a huge achievement to his résumé. Congrats to him.

Source: https://www.bloggingtheboys.com/dal...s-lawrence-super-bowl-winner-seattle-seahawks

 

[Dallas Cowboys]

Cowboys 2026 free agency: Why the ‘6-7′ trend hits home

In the unlikelihood you’ve been living under a rock, you’ve no doubt seen or been exposed to the popular “6-7” trend that captivated our youth around the nation. It’s funny how something that is absolutely meaningless spreads like wildfire, and it continues to hold on through its dying embers. Eventually though, all things must come to an end.

Now, you’re probably asking yourself why were talking about this meaningless and definitely annoying “6-7” trend, and for good reason. In the grander scheme of things it has absolutely nothing to do with the Dallas Cowboys. However, in a roundabout way it kind of does, as the Cowboys probably need to sign “6-7” starting-caliber players in free agency to fill all their holes. We know they probably won’t sign that many high-level players in free agency, but we’re looking at them all anyway.

As the roster stands right now, and assuming George Pickens is retained via a long-term contract or franchise tag, the Cowboys have a lot of holes to fill and the majority of them need immediate starters if the organization truly wants to upgrade things and be a serious contender next season. Some of these roster “needs” could be filled by the draft, but if Dallas wants a known commodity to start immediately, free agency is the way to go.

By signing proven commodities in free agency who can start immediately would not only free the Cowboys up to truly select the best player available (BPA) in the 2026 NFL Draft, but also quickly upgrade certain positions from the get-go instead of depending on rookies to get up to speed as quickly as possible. We all know just about every single rookie regardless of position goes through some growing pains early on.

Below are the positions we’ve identified as the ones who need starting-caliber free agents. Unsurprisingly, they are mostly on the defensive side of the ball.

EDGE (2)

What they have: Donovan Ezeiruaku, James Houston

What they’re losing: Jadeveon Clowney, Dante Fowler, Sam Williams

Jadeveon Clowney is a target to be re-signed by the Cowboys, at least according to them, but he is getting older and could decline in production at any time. That means the Cowboys probably need to sign another free agent pass rusher and probably draft one as well to fill out and hopefully upgrade the position.

Cornerback (1)

What they have: DaRon Bland, Shavon Revel, Caelen Carson, Reedy Stewart, Josh Butler

What they’re losing: Trevon Diggs, C.J. Goodwin

With another foot injury that required surgery, DaRon Bland’s future availability is up in the air and Shavon Revel needs a second-year leap. Right now they are the only two CBs with starting potential on the roster, but they also come with more questions than answers. That’s why we believe Dallas needs to sign a starting-caliber CB.

Safety (2)

What they have: Malik Hooker, Markquese Bell

What they’re losing: Donovan Wilson

With Malik Hooker being a potential salary-cap casualty, it’s quite possible Dallas could be losing both of their starting safeties in 2025. To make matters worse, there’s really no one else on the roster who screams starter. Because of that, Dallas needs to sign a couple free agent safeties who fit Christian Parker’s scheme.

Linebacker (1)

What they have: Logan Wilson, DeMarvion Overshown, Marist Liufau, Shemar James

What they’re losing: Kenneth Murray, Jack Sanborn

Logan Wilson will likely become a salary-cap casualty, joining Kenneth Murray and Jack Sanborn in free agency. This leaves a big void at MLB that will probably best be filled via free agency. There are quite a few free agent LBs available who can step in and immediately to be an upgrade over what Dallas deployed the position last year.

Running back (1)

What they have: Jaydon Blue, Phil Mafah

What they’re losing: Javonte Williams, Miles Sanders

The hope is in Dallas re-signs Javonte Williams to eliminate this roster “need”, because Jaydon Blue and Phil Mafah are not yet starting-caliber RBs in the NFL. If for whatever reason the Cowboys are not able to bring back Williams, they need to replace him with another veteran RB, maybe two.

Source: https://www.bloggingtheboys.com/dal...g-players-needed-cornerback-linebacker-safety

 

[Dallas Cowboys]

Post-Super Bowl mock offseason for the Cowboys (Part I)

Another season has come and gone for the Dallas Cowboys, and we all head into year 31 looking for the next Lombardi Trophy. As frustrating as the “drought” (shoutout Stephen Jones) may be, the front office members and players have no time to dwell. Like any of us who work the ol’ 9-to-5, after a bad day, week, month, or year at work, we have to strap on our boots and get to work.

That is exactly what the Cowboys will be doing here over the next few months.

A little bit of work started over the weekend, as Adam Schefter reported that the Cowboys plan on placing the franchise tag on star wide receiver George Pickens. For starters, this is a procedural move by the Cowboys that will allow them to maintain control of Pickens as they work towards a long-term deal. The use of the franchise tag is likely being used as a place holder as of now, but if a deal is not worked out before free agency, that could seriously hinder the Cowboys ability to “bust the budget” (shoutout Jerry Jones) in free agency.

Today we are going to do a mock offseason for the Dallas Cowboys to take a look at some of the different route’s they could go this offseason to improve their team heading into 2026. In part one, we are going to look at internal free agents, restructures and things of that sort. In part two coming tomorrow, we’ll look at outside free agents, the draft and a potential starting lineup on both sides of the ball.

Part I​

As of today, the Cowboys are not in a great space in terms of cap space, ranking 30th in the NFL in cap room at roughly $29M over the cap. The good news? The cap is very easily manipulated and with a few simple moves they can generate over $80M in cap space at the snap of a finger.

Team Cap Space (as of today): – $29M​

Releases​

The releases of aging veterans who have either been on the decline, or have larger cap figures with little guaranteed money left on their deal, is the beginning. Logan Wilson is probably the easiest move to be done this offseason from a release standpoint. The Cowboys had a dreadful season at linebacker in 2025. They made a last ditch effort at the trade deadline to improve the linebacker play in Dallas by trading for Wilson. Fortunately for the Cowboys, they only traded a 2026 seventh-round pick to the Cincinnati Bengals for the 29-year old linebacker. Unfortunately for the Cowboys, Wilson really struggled in his limited time on the field for Dallas.

While that hurt the 2025 season, it ultimately helps the 2026 season as moving on from Wilson saves the Cowboys $6.5M on the cap.

A tougher decision comes with safety Malik Hooker who is due $8.8M in 2026. The Cowboys can save $6.8M by releasing Hooker with a pre-June 1 designation. Hooker has been a solid player for the Cowboys over the last few seasons, but you can start to see some decline in the 30-year old safeties play over the last two seasons. Given his large cap figure and decline in play, the Cowboys would be wise to move on from Hooker and look to replace him in a rather deep safety draft class and free agent pool.

Jonathan Mingo is another player to release.

LB Logan Wilson – cap savings $6.5M​

S Malik Hooker – cap savings $6.8M​

WR Jonathan Mingo – cap savings $1.9M​

Restructures​

Some of the easier switches to flip to save large chunks of cap space are similar contract restructures. Please do not get restructures confused with players taking a pay-cut. Restructures are accounting triggers placed in large contracts that allows teams to convert a player’s current base salary or roster bonus into a signing bonus to gain immediate cap relief. Think of this as a credit card. The Cowboys can take money now, but have to pay it back later.

The three big ones we should expect to see are Dak Prescott, CeeDee Lamb, and Tyler Smith.

QB Dak Prescott – 2026 cap savings $31M​

WR CeeDee Lamb – 2026 cap savings $19M​

OL Tyler Smith – 2026 cap savings $17.6M​

Extensions​

Another question mark for the Cowboys this offseason is will they elect to extend Quinnen Williams now or wait another year or two. Like we always seem to talk about with this team, the longer they wait, the more they pay. The Cowboys went all-in for Williams at the trade deadline this past season. Extending him now will not only save money on the 2026 cap, but it will also save money down the road as the interior defensive line market value continues to rise. The Williams extension is a pretty easy decision, but the Kenny Clark conversation is where things get interesting.

Kenny Clark is due $21.5M in 2026. That is a massive number for a 30-year old interior defensive lineman who played just “okay” for the Cowboys in 2025. The Cowboys have the ability to release Kenny Clark and save $21.5M or they could look to do an extension (which will likely end up looking like a pay-cut from an average per year perspective, but guarantee him more money upfront). It’s hard to imagine Jerry Jones releasing Clark after speaking so highly of him during the Micah Parsons trade debacle, but the cap savings, while not tying anymore years or guaranteed money to Clark’s contract is extremely intriguing.

DL Quinnen Williams – 2026 cap savings $15.5M​

DL Kenny Clark – 2026 cap savings $15.3M​

After making a few accounting moves to improve the Cowboys ability to spend this offseason, the team now has roughly $85M in cap space to improve their roster during free agency.

Cap Space After Roster Moves: $84.6M​

In-House Free Agent Signings:​

In most cases, the Cowboys are very active re-signing their own right before or just as free agency starts. While it is being reported that the Cowboys will place the franchise tag on George Pickens, that is likely a placeholder until they can workout a long-term deal with Pickens. Similar to the Kenny Clark conversation we had above, Jerry Jones has too much pride to speak so boldly about how he traded Micah Parsons so he can improve his roster for the short and long-term, to not follow through with locking up Pickens long-term.

WR George Pickens – Pickens signs a four year, $136 million contract.​

2026 Cap Hit: $24.4M

As we have seen, Jerry has no problem paying big money to his own players, even if the process or thought process behind makes very little sense. We should expect Pickens to reach a long-term agreement with the Cowboys and a four year, $136M deal should get it done. While it’s tough to project guarantees, a $34M average annual salary would rank third in the NFL tied with Cowboys’ WR CeeDee Lamb. The Cowboys could realistically backload the contract making Pickens cap figure extremely small in 2026, but we rarely seem them do those sorts of accounting gymnastics with big money deals.

RB Javonte Williams – Williams signs a three year, $24M extension.​

2026 Cap Hit: $5.8M

For Javonte Williams, both Jerry and Stephen have already talked about how much they would like to have Williams back and have even hinted at negotiations already starting with his agent. We should expect this to get done at or around $8M annually, unless Williams market is well above his projected market value that OverTheCap.com and Spotrac.com has projected.

K Brandon Aubrey – Aubrey signs a four year, $26.5M extension.​

2026 Cap Hit: $7.3M

Brandon Aubrey is another interesting case to be studied this offseason. There’s no denying Aubrey’s ability, but paying kickers big money is often a risky move, especially for a team that has had little playoff success in the last three decades. We should expect Aubrey to be back, but there is some risk with the deal given the figure and the quicker decline of kickers when over the age of 30.

EDGE Jadeveon Clowney – Clowney signs a one year, $7M contract.​

2026 Cap Hit: $7M

Similar to JaVonte Williams, Clowney has already hinted at wanting to return and the Cowboys’ brass has hinted at wanting him back. Dallas signed Clowney to an extremely team-friendly deal after the start of the 2025 season, but we should expect to see Clowney get a bigger deal this year after impressing in 2025. Clowney is still likely to sign a one-year deal this offseason and a $7M fully guaranteed deal is beneficial for the Cowboys and Clowney.

That concludes much of the internal work that needs to be done. In part two, we’ll go over adding players through free agency and the draft. At the end, we’ll have our new offensive and defensive lineups.

Source: https://www.bloggingtheboys.com/dal...-salary-cap-restrucutres-internal-free-agents

 

[Dallas Cowboys]

Dear Steelers: Mike McCarthy’s time with Cowboys proves he’s not the answer you’re looking for

The Brian Schottenheimer era with the Dallas Cowboys is only one year old, and despite a season that saw plenty of bumps and bruises, there still remains a fresh sense of optimism surrounding his leadership and ability to foster a more authentic, bonded locker room. Fans are hopeful that his offensive prowess and collaborative approach with the front office will provide the winning touch.

Schotty came aboard following the departure of Mike McCarthy after his contract expired after the 2024 season. Following a disappointing 7–10 season and a tenure laced with early playoff exits, Jerry Jones and McCarthy opted to part ways. While a contract dispute was claimed to be a dealbreaker, the front office repeatedly expressed a level of uncertainty whenever they were asked about McCarthy’s future with the team. Combine that with the team’s underwhelming finishes, and it just seemed that his time in Dallas had run its course.

McCarthy spent last season unemployed. Maybe it was his time to reflect, watch tape, or just take some time to relax. After a year hiatus, he landed on his feet, and those feet landed in Pittsburgh. Returning to his hometown, he replaces Mike Tomlin and becomes only the fourth head coach the Steelers have employed since 1969. The other three have won Super Bowls for the Steel City.

While the Steelers are hoping that streak continues as they bank on his championship experience, most Cowboys fans are mostly just relieved that he’s now someone else’s problem. We wish the Steelers the best of luck (not really), as they have effectively replaced a defensive ace with a man whose shrivels up anytime he enters the red zone.

Having gone through the McCarthy experience, Cowboys fans have a laundry list of grievances, and this serves as a good time to remind ourselves what they were. In no particular order, here are the top 10 reasons Cowboys fans should be happy he’s no longer wearing the headset in Dallas.

The facade – McCarthy was a big talker, but we found out later he was a bit of an embellisher. He admittedly lied about watching “every single play” of the Cowboys’ 2019 season because he wanted the job. He also got fans excited about his belief in analytics, only to turn around and defy them in his coaching decisions.

A culture of deflection – Accountability was not his thing, as he regularly shifted blame for his in-game decisions to someone else. Whether it was the officiating, reluctance to throw the challenge flag, or justifying clock mismanagement (we’ll get to that in a bit) by stating the stadium game clock “went blank,” McCarthy was notorious for deflecting. Sadly, that kind of stuff trickles down, and his players were often found playing the blame game.

The 12-Man Penalty Habit – The 12th man meant something different in Dallas than it does in Seattle. Under McCarthy’s watch, the Cowboys were known for repeatedly having too many players on the field during crucial fourth-down situations, showing a level of organization usually seen during a grade-school fire drill.

Discipline Issues – Year after year, his players couldn’t get out of their own way. Whether it was young players making poor decisions to cover up deficiencies or overzealous veterans, McCarthy oversaw a team that committed 570 penalties during his five years with the Cowboys, the most in the NFL during that span.

Fake punt failures – It’s very puzzling, but the Cowboys were very bad at this under McCarthy. Technically, the fault lay with the special team’s coach, John Fassel, but whatever agreement the two had about how they went about this was not a good one. The timing, the poor execution, the whole shebang was just terrible, and everyone watching just shook their heads in disbelief.

Chronic clock mismanagement – He was notorious for burning timeouts early in the game for no excusable reason, leaving the team helpless during two-minute drills. He was also known for not using timeouts when he should, sometimes just letting the clock run and settling for a field goal when they still could have taken shots at the end zone.

The static offense – Once believed to be an offensive savant, his stint with the Cowboys consisted of an outdated, conservative offensive philosophy that lacked pre-snap motion and creativity. He openly criticized Kellen Moore for “lighting up the scoreboard” instead of his desire to “run the damn ball.”

The embarrassing blowout – The Cowboys are no strangers to losing in the playoffs, but you’d have to go back a ways to see them stomped the way they were against the Green Bay Packers in 2023. They remain the only No. 2 seed that has lost to a No. 7 seed.

Offseason practice fines – It’s silly that the team can’t follow simple rules. Not once, but twice, the Cowboys were fined by the NFL for excessive contact during offseason drills, proving that even during practice, they can still find a way to lose.

While the transition to Schottenheimer promises nothing, the Cowboys appear to be in better hands with a coach who prioritizes modern offensive practices and discipline than one who stands there dumbfounded when explaining why things didn’t go according to plan. Will things work out differently for McCarthy in Pittsburgh? Maybe. But if things follow what took place in Dallas, it’s only a matter of time before they bring down the steel curtain.

Source: https://www.bloggingtheboys.com/dal...-failures-playoffs-clock-management-penalties

 

[Dallas Cowboys]

Complete 2026 NFL first-round mock draft prediction: The Dallas Cowboys select…

Congratulations to the Seattle Seahawks for their 29-13 Super Bowl winning victory over the New England Patriots. With this game now complete, we can officially close the book on last season and start looking towards 2026. So, with that in mind, below is a prediction for the first round of the draft in April for all 32 teams who hold a pick in the first-round. This is a no-trade mock draft.

1. Las Vegas Raiders: QB Fernando Mendoza, Indiana​

There should be no mystery here. The only way Mendoza isn’t the No. 1 pick as if someone makes an offer the Raiders can’t refuse. That seems highly unlikely though.

2. New York Jets: EDGE/LB Arvell Reese, Ohio State​

Unfortunately for the Jets there’s not a QB worthy of drafting here. Reese is a nice consolation prize though due to his position flex to play either LB or Edge, which are both positions of need for the Jets.

3. Arizona Cardinals: OT Spencer Fano, Utah​

Plug-in Spencer Fano opposite Paris Johnson Jr. at right tackle in the Cardinal suddenly have been upgraded offensive line ready to protect whoever they decide to play QB in 2026

4. Tennessee Titans: EDGE Ruben Bain Jr., Miami​

Getting help for second-year QB Cam Ward could be the priority here, it may be too hard for new HC Robert Saleh to pass up on Ruben Bain. Pairing him with DT Jeffrey Simmons would be huge for their defense.

5. New York Giants: WR Makai Lemon, USC​

With all of the top WRs on the board the Giants decide to bypass their OL need to get second-year QB Jaxson Dart another weapon. Lemon is the most QB-friendly WR in the draft and complements Malik Nabers nicely.

6. Cleveland Browns: EDGE David Bailey, Texas Tech​

Despite the need for the Browns to really address/upgrade their OL, the idea of pairing David Bailey with Myles Garrett is too good to pass up. This pass rushing duo would be absolutely terrifying.

7. Washington Commanders: LB Sonny Styles, Ohio State​

Bobby Wagner out, Sonny Styles in? The Commanders defense was pretty bad last year and Styles can step in as a rookie and immediately upgrade things. He’s a foundational piece they can build around for years to come.

8. New Orleans Saints: RB Jeremiyah Love, Notre Dame​

It’s a copycat league and after watching the Falcons have the success they’ve had by drafting Bijan Robinson, the Saints decide to follow suit. Love is an upgrade who would immediately help second-year QB Tyler Shough.

9. Kansas City Chiefs: WR Carnell Tate, Ohio State​

Patrick Mahomes could use some more help around him whether it’s protection up front, another weapon in the passing game or at RB. Carnell Tate would be a great addition and fill one of those needs.

10. Cincinnati Bengals: OL Francis Mauigoa, Miami​

In order to help keep Joe Burrow healthy and fill a need on their OL, Francis Mauigoa makes a ton of sense here. He was in OT during his time at Miami, but is expected to kick inside to OG at the next level.

11. Miami Dolphins: CB Jermod McCoy, Tennessee​

As a defensive minded HC, Jeff Hafley could prioritize upgrading that side of the ball. Miami’s CB position has been a problem spot for them, but Jermod McCoy could improve that as long as his medicals checkout.

*12. Dallas Cowboys: S Caleb Downs, Ohio State​

The way the things has played out so far has arguably the best player in the entire draft still on the board for the Dallas Cowboys at No. 12. Caleb Downs is one of the few blue-chip players in the 2026 draft class and could be a perfect fit in Christian Parker’s defensive scheme. He is a difference-maker and would immediately make his impact felt on the field as a rookie. He also fits the culture Brian Schottenheimer is continuing to try to build in Dallas. This would mark the first time Dallas has drafted a safety in the first-round since 2002 (Roy Williams).

13. Los Angeles Rams: CB Mansoor Delane, LSU​

The Rams have use Band-Aids at the cornerback position for years now, but finally choose to address one of their bigger roster “need” by drafting Mansoor Delane. He’s a scheme diverse plug-and-play starter as a rookie.

14. Baltimore Ravens: G Vega Ioane, Penn State​

The Ravens need to do a better job of protecting and keeping QB Lamar Jackson healthy, and it starts in the trenches. Vega Ioane is a plug-and-play starter who will immediately upgrade their interior OL.

15. Tampa Bay Buccaneers: EDGE Keldric Faulk​

Keldric Faulk’s lack of QB sacks production during his time in Auburn is a bit alarming, but he has a higher ceiling than just about any other pass rusher in this draft class. He also fills big “need” for Tampa Bay.

16. New York Jets: WR Jordyn Tyson, Arizona State​

Talent wise Jordyn Tyson would’ve been off the board much earlier than this, but his concerning injury history he could slide right in the lap of the Jets. He and Garrett Wilson would give them a young talented WR duo.

17. Detroit Lions: EDGE Akheem Mesidor, Miami​

Since becoming the Lions HC Dan Campbell seems to have a good idea of exactly the type of players he wants on his team. Akheem Mesidor fits the criteria and addresses a need and DE opposite Aiden Hutchinson.

18. Minnesota Vikings: CB Avieon Terrell, Clemson​

Avieon Terrell has the versatility to play inside or out and didn’t shy away from run support. That versatility and his stickiness in coverage would make him a good fit in Brian Flores’ blitz-heavy scheme.

19. Carolina Panthers: WR Denzel Boston, Washington​

Carolina has more pressing needs on defense as well as replacing some of their iOL they’ll be losing to free agency, but the idea of pairing Boston with Tet McMillan is too good to pass up.

*20. Dallas Cowboys: EDGE Cashius Howell, Texas A&M​

With Jadeveon Clowney, Sam Williams, and Dante Fowler all hitting free agency, and with just Donovan Ezeiraku and James Houston under contract, defensive end is a glaring “need” for the Cowboys. Cashius Howell fills the prototypical size Dallas typically look for at the position, but if they are implementing more 3-4 disciplines under new DC Christian Parker that may no longer be the case. Howell would fit in nicely in Parker’s scheme and likely become an immediate sub-package player while he pushes for in every-down role as a rookie.

21. Pittsburgh Steelers: QB Ty Simpson, Alabama​

Even if Aaron Rodgers returns to Pittsburgh, they still need to find their QB of the future. There’s a lot to like about Ty Simpson, but further improvement is needed and a year behind Rogers could be a win-win for everyone.

22. Los Angeles Chargers: OT/G Kadyn Proctor, Alabama​

Kadyn Proctor (6’7″, 360) was a three-year starter at LT during his time in Alabama, but is expected to kick inside to G in the NFL. With Zion Johnson hitting free agency the 20-year-old could step in and fill that void Day 1.

23. Philadelphia Eagles: TE Kenyon Sadiq, Oregon​

With Dallas Goedert more than likely exiting via free agency, the Eagles need to find his replacement. Kenyon Sadiq is an athletic TE who could make an immediate impact as both a blocker and receiver as a rookie.

24. Cleveland Browns: OT Caleb Lomu, Utah​

There’s a possibility the Browns could lose the majority of their OL to free agency. Selecting Caleb Lomu here helps address that glaring need and gives them a blindside protector to build around.

25. Chicago Bears: DT Kayden McDonald, Ohio State​

Ben Johnson rebuilt/upgraded the offensive line last year and in a plan to do the same defensively this year. At 6’6″, 330-pounds, McDonald would be a good starting point to build around and upgrade the unit.

26. Buffalo Bills: WR KC Concepcion, Texas A&M​

With Josh Allen needing more weapons in the passing game and with a new offensive minded HC (Joe Brady), selecting KC Concepcion make sense here. He could be an immediate starter as a Z or in the slot as a rookie.

27. San Francisco 49ers: OT Monroe Freeling, Georgia​

While Trent Williams is still playing at a Pro Bowl level at almost 38 years old, the 49ers may need to invest in his replacement sooner than later. Freeling has the potential to start right away, but even a year behind Williams wouldn’t be bad.

28. Houston Texans: G Chase Bisontis, Texas A&M​

The Texans need to continue to invest and upgrade their OL if they want to give their QB C.J. Stroud the best chance to succeed. Drafting Bisontis here would help accomplish that goal. He’s a plug-and-play starter.

29. Los Angeles Rams: CB Colton Hood, Tennessee​

Cornerback is arguably the Rams biggest roster “need” and Colton Hood could immediately help upgrade the position as a rookie. He’s explosive, aggressive, and has continued to improve his route recognition.

30. Denver Broncos: LB CJ Allen, Georgia​

With Alex Singleton and Justin Strnad both potentially exiting via free agency, the Broncos could be looking for new starter. CJ Allen really misses tackles, is quick to read/diagnose, and would start immediately as a rookie.

31. New England Patriots: EDGE T.J. Parker, Clemson​

New England could be losing their best pass rusher to free agency (K’Lavon Chaisson), which is why T.J. Parker makes sense here. He had a disappointing 2025 season, but improved draft stock at the Senior Bowl.

32. Seattle Seahawks: CB Brandon Cisse, South Carolina​

With Tariq Woolen, Josh Jobe, and even Coby Bryant all possibly leaving in free agency, Seattle needs to find the replacements. Brandon Cisse not only fits the need, but could be an upgrade as a rookie as well.

Source: https://www.bloggingtheboys.com/dal...-first-round-picks-caleb-downs-cashius-howell

 

[Dallas Cowboys]

Cowboys 2026 offseason preview: Defensive ends

Our preview series now moves into the defense, and with it comes a big shift in urgency. This comes as no surprise after one of the worst defensive seasons in team history, but the Cowboys have a lot of work to do at just about every position. That’s certainly true at defensive end, where the best pass rusher from 2025 is a free agent and plenty more are also on expiring deals.

Under Contract​

Donovan Ezeiruaku – For all of the offseason hype, and even what he flashed in August, Ezeiruaku had an underwhelming rookie year. Despite leading all edge players in total snaps, he only finished with two sacks. He did have 2025’s only safety and was among the team leaders in QB hits, but Ezeiruaku didn’t seal the deal on enough plays to be impactful. The hope is that this is more a symptom of the overall defensive issues under Matt Eberflus and that the overhaul of the coaching staff will allow Ezeiruaku and many other players to shine.

James Houston – Unlike his rookie teammate, Houston did carry preseason momentum into the real games. His 5.5 sacks were good enough for second on the team, and you felt his presence more than most Cowboys on defense. Dallas has him back this year for a cheap $1.1 million, which is outstanding for a solid rotation piece among your edge rushers.

Isaiah Land – A darling of preseasons past, Land spent 2025 on Dallas’ practice squad after a two-year stint with the Colts. He was a painful loss during 2023 final cuts, getting claimed by Indy off the Cowboys’ waivers. Dallas got him back last August and signed him to a futures deal for next season. Now a fourth-year veteran with some real experience, we’ll see if he can capitalize on this second shot with the Cowboys.

Adedayo Odeleye – Also coming off a year on Dallas’ practice squad, Odeleye was added after missing the cut in Baltimore last summer. A native Nigerian who learned football and rugby in the UK, Odeleye has spent four years on practice squads for the Texans, Ravens, and now Cowboys. With a unique background, he’ll be an interesting camp body to watch,

Free Agents​

Jadeveon Clowney – Leading the team with 8.5 sacks despite playing just 34% of the defensive snaps, Clowney was easily the best pure edge rusher. He turns 33 this Saturday, so you can’t expect him to take on a larger role going forward. But the Cowboys have to take his free agency seriously, either keeping him in the rotation as a pass-rushing specialist or making sure someone else is filling the void.

Dante Fowler Jr. – Many assumed Fowler would fill the role that eventually became Clowney’s, the veteran edge rusher who mainly played on passing downs. But unfortunately, Fowler was much less impactful outside of a Dan Quinn defense. Turning 32 this summer, Fowler probably won’t have much of a market. It’s doubtful that Dallas would re-sign both him and Clowney, and Fowler would now seem like the much lesser priority.

Sam Williams – After a disappointing four-year run, this former second-rounder’s time in Dallas could easily be over. At the very least, he would probably be very cheap to re-sign on a one-year flyer. The Cowboys might consider it, hoping that Williams could be better under Christian Parker and another year removed from a major 2024 knee injury. Williams was solid on special teams last year, which is always a good way to earn a backup job.

Payton Turner – Speaking of second chances, Turner’s didn’t go too well in Dallas. A 2021 first-round pick by the Saints, Turner didn’t get a new deal and joined the Cowboys as a reclamation project. He was placed on IR last August with a rib injury and never reactivated. Turner seems unlikely to return, but you never know with how many other free agents Dallas is facing. He’d be a camp body at the most.

What’s Needed?​

Oh, plenty! Even if the Cowboys re-signed every single free agent, they’d still be in trouble based on last year’s results. The loss of Micah Parsons was felt across the board, and even improving the middle of the line with Quinnen Williams and Kenny Clark wasn’t enough to set up the edge rushers for success. Again, we hope that the biggest problem went out the door with Eberflus. But a lack of overall talent was still a major contributor.

Trying to replace a talent like Parsons is a tough assignment, if not a fool’s errand. Top edge rushers generally don’t make it to free agency, and this year is no exception. The two best guys are probably Trey Hendrickson, a 31-year-old coming off hip surgery, and Odafe Oweh, who’s only 27 but has only posted double-digit sacks once in five years. Either would probably still be Dallas’ best DE in 2026, but you run the risk of overpaying them as the best options in a weak market.

The idea of trading for Vegas’ Maxx Crosby is out there, but even he isn’t quite the pure pass-rushing savant that Parsons was. Still, it’s probably the only move out there to add an immediate high-impact guy to the defense. The question is how much draft capital Dallas would be willing to part with to do it, which could have major long-term consequences given that Crosby is already near the end of his prime.

Counting on the draft to add a premier pass rusher is much more dangerous. While Dallas does have two picks in the first round, top prospects like Rueben Bain and David Bailey will likely be gone by the 12th pick. And without any picks in the second or third rounds, packaging #12 and #20 to move up isn’t happening. Dallas could probably land someone like Cashius Howell or T.J. Parker between those two picks, but expecting either of them to come in and immediately elevate the front seven is tricky.

This is what Dallas signed up for by trading Parsons away. Yes, they have the resources to bring in new edge talent. But they gave up the “bird in hand,” and one that only a few guys on earth can match in terms of overall impact. It’s certainly possible, as we just saw with the Seahawks, to have a great defense without one dominant pass rusher. But you can’t just re-sign Clowney and expect Christian Parker to work miracles. They have to fill some of that Parsons void with superior talent to what they fielded in 2025.

What moves in this area would you make to improve the pass rush?

Source: https://www.bloggingtheboys.com/dal...son-preview-defensive-ends-free-agents-trades

 

[Dallas Cowboys]

NFL expert predicts Dallas Cowboys QB Dak Prescott to win MVP in 2026

ARLINGTON, TX - OCTOBER 19: Dak Prescott #4 of the Dallas Cowboys celebrates after scoring a touchdown against the Washington Commanders during the second half of an NFL football game at AT&T Field on October 19, 2025 in Arlington, Texas. (Photo by Cooper Neill/Getty Images) | Getty Images

Next year carries a lot of possibilities. 31 teams are hoping to have to coordinate with their local city officials in the name of planning a Super Bowl parade the way that the Seattle Seahawks just did. The path there for whoever winds up taking it begins now, and it likely begins with great quarterback play, although the recently-crowned world champions are a great example at how you need a full and total team to complement the most important position in sports.

As matters relate to the Dallas Cowboys, this past season provided the latest example that even a very good quarterback is not enough on their own. Dak Prescott offered one of his better individual seasons and the Cowboys still fell short of even making the playoffs. It was not exactly the same Prescott that we saw in 2023, but in some respects he was arguably even better.

Prescott played so well this past season that one NFL expert believes he will receive the highest individual award that an NFL player can receive next year. ESPN recently offered predictions for a variety of things relating to the 2026 season and Matt Bowen predicted that Prescott will win the league’s Most Valuable Player award.

Who’s your pick for next season’s MVP?

Bowen: Dak Prescott, QB, Cowboys. Prescott had more than 4,500 passing yards and threw 30 touchdowns this past season. With the Cowboys expected to retain wide receiver George Pickens, whom they will likely give the franchise tag, look for Prescott to produce high-level numbers again for a team that could challenge for the NFC East title in 2026 with an improved defense.

Bowen notes that the Cowboys are expected to retain George Pickens which makes sense given the report over Super Bowl weekend that the team will place the franchise tag on him. One way or another it makes sense that Pickens will at the very least be a part of the mix in 2026.

Year two with Pickens opposite of CeeDee Lamb certainly presents as promising for Prescott. Calling for him to win MVP certainly feels out there, but he did finish second in the aforementioned season of 2023. So much of the award is offensive-driven and it is typically awarded to a quarterback. If things are par for the course there for the Cowboys, and they reach the playoffs, then it isn’t so farfetched.

The easiest way to reach the playoffs is obviously to win the NFC East which Dallas hasn’t done since, sensing a common theme here, 2023. In the same crop of predictions Seth Walder declared that this will happen once more.

Walder: The Cowboys will win the NFC East. Dak Prescott and the Dallas offense played extremely well last season, which went under the radar in part because the defense was so bad. The latter should improve through regression alone. If Dallas can get its defense to be just OK, the Cowboys could become contenders very quickly.

If the offense is indeed driving things as Walder believes, then all of this can quite possibly work together in the right kind of harmony. That “if” is doing a lot of work, though.

Source: https://www.bloggingtheboys.com/dallas-cowboys-roster/196931/dak-prescott-mvp-2025-season-prediction

 

[Dallas Cowboys]

Cowboys are far from glory as defense reigns supreme in Super Bowl again

SANTA CLARA, CALIFORNIA - FEBRUARY 08: Drake Maye #10 of the New England Patriots is sacked by Rylie Mills #98 of the Seattle Seahawks during the second quarter in Super Bowl LX at Levi's Stadium on February 08, 2026 in Santa Clara, California. (Photo by Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images) | Getty Images

The Seattle Seahawks are Super Bowl LX champions, defeating the New England Patriots 29-13 to cap off a dominating playoff run that ended with them hoisting the Lombardi trophy for the second time in franchise history – and in familiar fashion. It was the Seahawks “Legion of Boom” defense that won Super Bowl XLVIII with a 43-8 rout of the Denver Broncos, and while the 2025 Seahawks defense doesn’t have quite as cool of a nickname, they were equally impressive.

In that Super Bowl blowout of the Broncos, the Seahawks had enough points in hand to win the game by the second quarter after a one yard Marshawn Lynch rushing touchdown. Going ahead 15-0 behind a safety on the game’s first play from scrimmage, two field goals, and that touchdown was game over from MetLife Stadium in New Jersey. It technically took until the fourth quarter in Santa Clara for the Seahawks to have the 19 points they needed to win after the game’s first touchdown was scored by A.J. Barner on a pass from Sam Darnold. What will be remembered from those that viewed this game though is how it felt nearly over after the Seahawks led just 9-0 on three first half field goals. That is the impact Mike Macdonald’s defense made.

The Seahawks zone coverage on the backend gave the Patriots no answers in the passing game, but their dominance of this game started from an even more familiar point. Just like the Vic Fangio Philadelphia Eagles defense dominated the Kansas City Chiefs offensive line to win that game up front in last year’s Super Bowl, the Seahawks beat up on the Patriots offensive line to speed Drake Maye up. They hit him 11 times, got home for six sacks including one for a fumble recovery, and force two interceptions, the second of which went for the dagger touchdown.

Seattle relied on more than just their front to generate this game-wrecking amount of pressure on the second-year starter Maye, going deep into their bag of exotic pressures to get free rushes for linebackers, cornerbacks, and safeties as well. For the most part though, the tale of this game was the Seahawks winning with their big guys against the Patriots big guys in the trenches, leaving them with plenty of numbers in coverage, and using this formula that worked so well for the Super Bowl champion before them to win with style points.

Elsewhere in the NFL prior to this Super Bowl, ten teams fired and replaced their head coaches. Six out of the ten coaches hired into these vacancies would be considered “offensive minded”, some directly promoted from the “head coach in waiting” position that offensive coordinator on most staffs has become. The Cowboys were not part of this cycle this year, but were last year, and went the offensive coordinator promotion route with Brian Schottenheimer. Coach Schotty did a lot of great things with the Cowboys offense in his first season as both HC and play-caller, but was doomed by an all-time bad defense that kept the team from making any real noise at all.

The Cowboys may not know any better than the ten teams with new coaches going into 2026 if their offensive mind is enough to be the next Super Bowl champion, considering how those stories have been written with mostly defense. The Seahawks making light work of Kyle Shanahan, Sean McVay, and Josh McDaniels as opposing offensive play-callers on their playoff run was nothing short of seismic, and absolutely should have general managers still over-obsessed with just the offensive side of the ball rethinking their strategies.

The Cowboys do know their head coach has things to build off from year one that new coaches won’t though, and he has already gotten to work in his first full offseason addressing the terminal problem from year one which was Matt Eberflus’ defense. Christian Parker, a disciple of Fangio and Super Bowl LIX champion, is now in place as defensive coordinator, and so too is an impressive staff of assistants.

The work the Cowboys did to try and improve their defense from last offseason until now carries over as well. Not only is Kenny Clark in place as the return player from the Micah Parsons trade, but he’s in line to play alongside Quinnen Williams for a full season for the first time in 2026. Dallas has both first round picks in April’s draft as well.

Even through all of this, the eye test difference between not only the Seahawks defense (led in a big way by former Cowboys defensive end DeMarcus Lawrence) but others around the league to the Cowboys defenses of much more than just last season continues to feel staggering. When it comes to which Super Bowl team the Cowboys are currently closest to, the answer has to be the Patriots – ironically introduced by Jon Bon Jovi during their runout in pregame. The famous line mostly anyone on the street can recite from Bon Jovi?

“…We’re halfway there, WOOOOOOOAAAAAAHHH, living on a prayer”

Perhaps Jerry Jones is feeling the Patriots big game loss as a personal win after stating his goal to surpass their owner Robert Kraft in Super Bowl wins, but for the better part of three decades his team’s approach to “living on a prayer” hasn’t been good enough to even sniff a Super Bowl appearance.

Assuming something of a best case scenario for how the Schottenheimer/Parker coaching duo tries to turn this fortune in Dallas and deliver a team that can truly win on both sides of the ball for the first time in too long of a time, the Cowboys can also currently relate to the “we’re halfway there” part of the Patriots’ super fan lyric.

Coach Schottenheimer’s desire to have a team that heavily emphasizes winning the line of scrimmage on both sides of the ball is nothing new, and has been evident from the very start of his tenure. The opportunity to blend this philosophy with a defensive mind that comes from past schemes that operate out of winning with four up front regularly is an exciting one. In this way, the Cowboys are inching closer to the teams that can make it to February.

Then comes the all-important personnel side of things. It’s unfortunate that talks of past missed chances to win with talented teams that have all gone by the wayside have become lasting, memorable quotes from the likes of both Jerry as well as starting QB Dak Prescott. While the Cowboys desire to win with Prescott aligns with their other desire to have their stars shine the brightest, supporting Prescott with other stars in the most marketable positions like wide receiver has made the most sense. Going into an offseason in which Sam Darnold is the reigning Super Bowl champion and the Seahawks defense just won Seattle a Super Bowl though, it’s flat out hard to picture the Cowboys taking on anything close to a similar identity.

The Cowboys have always been about keeping score. Their five Super Bowls from the past. Their value as a franchise. The size of their video board inside AT&T Stadium. Their attendance. Their viewership numbers. Year after year in recent memory as well, they haven’t had much of a problem fielding teams that can score with ease between the lines. With the lasting, burning image of the 2025 season being the Seahawks proving that it’s not about how much you can flat out score on offense, it’s about how well you can make any points you do score hold up, this Cowboys approach that yet again left a talented offense at home for the playoffs as a whole feels off.

As a fan of America’s Team that wasn’t around for the era of the Doomsday defense, the feeling post-Super Bowl is one of more actual doom. Somewhere within that sinking feeling though, there is hope that the Cowboys will figure out their defensive woes in time to still have their core players on offense in place, see the benefits of all the work they’ve done on the offensive and defensive lines pay off with postseason success, and have their own “sixth string ring in hock”.

Source: https://www.bloggingtheboys.com/dal...nse-seahawks-jerry-jones-brian-schottenheimer