Your Sunday Morning Cowboys news.
Does the Cowboys defense need new life in the secondary? – Mark Heaney, Inside the Star
The Cowboys secondary needs some fresh bodies.
The Cowboys defense is getting a fresh staff with coaching, as Matt Eberflus takes Mike Zimmer’s spot, but the unit may need new faces too. The team’s secondary is aging and might need a full reset in 2025. It was a struggle for the Dallas defensive back corps for the entirety of the 2024 campaign. With Al Harris’ departure for Chicago, we could see the Cowboys move off of some current players in favor of younger, Eberflus scheme-fitting options.
Keep in mind, the Cowboys also want to keep a tight budget There are a few veterans that would actually save Dallas money if they were cut, and a few more that they could let walk in free agency. Change isn’t always a bad thing, especially when a group struggles as much as the Dallas secondary did in 2025. So, let’s look at a few ways that the Cowboys defense could inject youth into its coverage unit this offseason.
Stale Safeties: Upgrading the Last Line
It feels like Malik Hooker and Donovan Wilson have been the Cowboys’ two starting safeties forever. Since Hooker joined the team in free agency in 2021, the two have played nearly 60 games together. Now, they will be 29 and 30 years old at the start of the 2025 season. In the case of Wilson, the older of the pair, the unfortunate reality is he may have played his final game as a Dallas Cowboy.
Wilson isn’t getting any younger, and it showed up in his performance in 2024. He struggled badly in coverage and couldn’t keep up with athletic tight ends, and his success was mostly confined to run support and blitzing. He scored 4.5 sacks and 82 tackles, though the latter number has decreased for him in each of the last three seasons. Additionally, Zimmer’s scheme allowed Wilson to blitz more, while only one Bear had more than one sack in Eberflus’ defense last year.
Cutting Wilson after June 1st would save Dallas around $7M, and that money may be better off in the hands of somebody younger. In Hooker’s case, he is younger and did have a strong 2024 performance, totaling 82 tackles, a career-high five passes defended, and two interceptions. Still, cutting him after June 1st would give the Cowboys nearly $6M in cap relief, and that may be considered with him nearing 30.
Cowboys’ Jerry Jones Explains Thought Process Behind Brian Schottenheimer Hire as HC – Jack Murray, Bleacher Report
For the Cowboys, football is a family business. Head coach Brian Schottenheimer’s father, Marty, played a part in being named the coach of the Cowboys.
Dallas Cowboys owner Jerry Jones feels quite confident about his choice to hire Brian Schottenheimer as the team’s next head coach. Jones spoke with Dianna Russini of The Athletic at the NFL Honors and explained that Schottenheimer’s experience and family lineage factored heavily into the decision. “I looked at 25 years of being on many staffs in the NFL,” Jones said.
“I looked at sitting around that dinner table with his daddy, Marty Schottenheimer, and I know what osmosis does. It doesn’t fall far from the tree.” Jones also noted the “ball of fire” he believes that Schottenheimer will have as a new coach, along with his experience and buy-in from the Cowboys players, made the hire an easy choice.
“What an opportunity to get a man, a coach, that’s coming out of the shoot for the first time and the ball of fire that comes with that, and yet at the same time has his experience,” Jones said. “Plus, his greatest rooting section is our players, people like Dak Prescott. So, when you add all of that up, this was risky because it’s a first-time head coach, but we got here by taking risks.”
Cowboys Could Sign Star LB in Free Agency Poach of Rival Per Insider – Timm Hamm, Athlon Sports
One way to weaken your rival is to lure their free agents away.
As two division rivals – Philadelphia and Washington – faced each other in the NFC Championship game this year and the Eagles prepare to play in Super Bowl LIX on Sunday, Dallas has some catching up to do just to compete in the NFC East. Jones and the Cowboys were conspicuously quiet in free agency, signing just one player—linebacker Eric Kendricks—to a one-year deal. The results of Dallas’ lack of moves in the offseason were clear: The Cowboys struggled to a 7-10 record and fell out of relevance in the NFL standings.
It’s unlikely Dallas will repeat those mistakes, but it should be diligent in making moves to contend once again in the East and the league. One area the team needs to focus on is widely considered to be on defense at linebacker. And Pro Football Focus thinks it knows who the Cowboys should target – and he’s already familiar with the NFC East.
“With Eric Kendricks potentially departing in free agency, Wagner stands out as another strong veteran leader that the Cowboys can bring in to replace him this offseason,” PFF wrote. “Wagner is reaching the end of his NFL career and likely hopes to join a roster that will compete in 2025. Ideally, the Cowboys can be aggressive enough in free agency, which includes adding him to the lineup, that they can deliver on that potential.
“DeMarvion Overshown looked like a great long-term option for Dallas this past season, but another significant injury puts his 2025 at risk and creates a need for a one-year linebacker to come in and hold things down until he can get healthy.”
Emmitt Smith warns Ashton Jeanty of scary reality if drafted by Cowboys -Jerry Trotta, The Landry Hat
Cowboys legend Emmitt Smith had some interesting thoughts on Ashton Jeanty.
If you thought the running back discourse surrounding the Dallas Cowboys last offseason was exhausting, it’s going to be more of the same this year. It’s become clear that Dallas has de-emphasized the running back position, so they stand to lose breakout star Rico Dowdle in free agency. Dowdle could fetch a handsome contract on the open market after he ran for 1,079 yards andfinished seventh among RBs in rushing success rate.
All signs point to the Cowboys drafting a running back this year after they shockingly bypassed the position last April. It is one of the deepest RB classes in recent memory. So much so that starting-caliber prospects could be found as late as day three. Despite the wealth of backs, the Cowboys continue to be linked to Ashton Jeanty, who rushed for 2,601 yards and 29 touchdowns in his final season at Boise State, with the No. 12 overall pick.
Jeanty is projected to be an instant star in the NFL, so surely legendary running back Emmitt Smith wants his former team to select the former Bronco, right? Not even close.
Cowboys legend Emmitt Smith’s comments on Ashton Jeanty don’t make sense
“If he comes to the Cowboys right now he’s going to get beat up,” Smith told Maggie Gray and Andrew Perloff on Radio Row.” I don’t think we’re ready. We don’t have the right mindset. We don’t have the right commitments.” “I think we’re drafting… we’re drafting exciting pieces… exciting pieces that get fans all… oh we got Ashton Jeanty, oh we are going to be able to run the ball.”
Smith isn’t off-base in saying Dallas shouldn’t draft Jeanty. It’s his argument that is difficult to understand. While the value of RBs undoubtedly improved this past season and Jeanty might be the best player on the board at No. 12 overall, the Cowboys have far too many roster holes to spend a first-round pick on a non-premium position.
Wide receiver, offensive tackle, edge rusher and defensive tackle are all huge question marks. Whether it’s Omarion Hampton, Kaleb Johnson, TreVeyon Henderson, Devin Neal, R.J. Harvey, or Ollie Gordon II, Dallas can get a dynamic rusher in the final six rounds.
