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Getting deal for Micah early ‘was always the goal’ – Nick Eatman, DallasCowboys.com
This is exactly what the Cowboys should do.
The narrative surrounding the Cowboys’ ability to re-sign their own players in a timely matter was magnified last season.
And rightfully so, considering CeeDee Lamb missed all of training camp with a contract holdout and Dak Prescott didn’t sign his deal until minutes before the Week 1 game in Cleveland.
While the Cowboys’ front office has taken plenty of criticism, both Jerry Jones and Stephen Jones have tried to point out – respectfully of course – that it’s a two-way street and that the initial asking prices from Dak and CeeDee caused there to be plenty of back-and-forth negotiations that took plenty of time.
All of that is pointed out now as the Cowboys have turned their attentions to signing Micah Parsons to a long-term contract, something both sides have said is a priority for this offseason. And let’s not forget, the Cowboys did prevent Osa Odighizuwa from getting to free agency next week by signing him to a four-year, $80 million deal last week.
Parsons is on the fifth-year option of his deal, awarded to first-round picks. The Cowboys issued the option for Parsons, which stands at $24.007 million for this season.
However, the Cowboys could give Parsons a new deal, which would likely lower his 2025 salary cap as much as $11-12 million.
Stephen Jones categorized the talks with Micah as “preliminary” last week when asked about where things stand with Micah. He was then asked if the goal is to get him done early, meaning before the start of free agency next week.
“That’s always the goal. The goal was to get CeeDee done early,” Jones said with a smile. “The goal is to get it done when you can get it.
How tightfisted Dallas Cowboys evolved from big spenders to bit players in NFL free agency – Calvin Watkins, Dallas Morning News
The Cowboys have done a complete 180 from decades past.
The Cowboys used to play the role of Evil Empire in free agency. Remember?
You may have forgotten they spent $32 million in signing bonus money in 2005 on four players for coach Bill Parcells, which included starting quarterback Drew Bledsoe.
Did you forget there was a wide receiver (Terrell Owens) who showed up in 2006 saying “Get your popcorn ready!” because it was going to be a show?
Jerry Jones signed a cornerback (Deion Sanders) in September 1995 to the largest contract for a defensive player in league history. Sanders was playing for a Major League Baseball team as a part-time job, by the way.
The Cowboys spent the money. It worked for three Super Bowl titles in the Jones era. Major free agent signings and drafting elite players propelled the Cowboys to those titles.
Now, the Cowboys are bit players in free agency, with little evidence it will change.
Open Market: Jourdan Lewis headlines free agency options at cornerback for Cowboys – Patrik Walker, DallasCowboys.com
Lewis is a big in-house priority considering the state of the cornerback position in Dallas.
What’s Here:
Jourdan Lewis: Snubbed. That is exactly what it feels like when discussing the fact Lewis was named to neither the Pro Bowl nor the All-Pro list, not even as a second-teamer, after the season he produced in 2024. Nonetheless, he was not only one of the best players in the building, but in the NFL, consistently grading out as the best nickel corner in the entire league; and it bears mentioning it wasn’t so long ago that he thought his career was over with a shattered foot that now requires a custom cleat — still playing at the highest level of his career while vocally pushing the locker room to do better on the field. Sign him yesterday to a multi-year deal, seeing how the prove-it deal last time around featured lots and lots of proof, or rather a reminder of what he’s capable of. (P.S. Matt Eberflus and Lewis have a great relationship from their first stint together in Dallas, so…. get’er done.)
Israel Mukuamu: OK, I realize I said there wouldn’t need to be any safeties on this list but, technically, Mukuamu is [still] listed as one by the Cowboys, so here we are. Technicalities aside, the versatile defensive back made his way to the NFL as mostly a cornerback at South Carolina before being shoehorned into the safety room for depth reasons. But with the emergence of Markquese Bell and Juanyeh Thomas behind contract-extended talent, i.e., Donovan Wilson and Malik Hooker, Mukuamu has found his way onto the field as a cornerback for Dallas and been more than serviceable in doing so. A fiery, capable backup who should come at a reasonable price makes this potential keep a hell yes for me.
Former Cowboys wide receiver plotting a comeback for 2025 season after recent retirement – Bryan DeArdo, CBS Sports
The former third-round pick for the Cowboys wants to get back on the gridiron.
Less than a year after abruptly retiring, Michael Gallup is plotting a comeback. Gallup, a veteran wideout who spent his first six NFL seasons with the Dallas Cowboys, intends to resume his career in 2025, according to his agent (via NFL Media).
Gallup, who recently turned 29, retired just before the start of training camp last summer. He hung up his cleats less than two months after signing a one-year contract with the Las Vegas Raiders. Gallup had been released by the Cowboys last March in a cost-cutting move.
A 2018 third-round pick, Gallup’s career appeared to be on the fast lane after he eclipsed 1,100 yards receiving during his second season in Dallas. But after having another productive campaign in 2020, Gallup suffered through injuries in 2021 that included a season-ending ACL tear in Week 17.
A huge opportunity just came up for the Cowboys to parlay $80 million deal into one of the scariest duos in the entire NFL – Mauricio Rodriguez, AtoZ Sports
Getting this player would change the Cowboys’ entire defense.
I wonder what opportunity needs to come across the desk of Dallas Cowboys EVP Stephen Jones for him to select to be aggressive. After all, that’s what he described the team’s free agency plan as back at the NFL Scouting Combine.
“We’re going to look at everything we can, we’re going to be selectively aggressive,” Jones told reporters.
Now, I think anyone in their right mind isn’t expecting the Cowboys to target the top free agents in the market. In all likelihood, the front office won’t be changing its team-building ways anytime soon.
However, there’s one opportunity that just came up in the NFL world that is the perfect opportunity to choose aggression and it’s one that could make slight sense for the Cowboys, who are always down to look into players at a discount.
I’m talking about standout defensive tackle Jonathan Allen, who was released by the Washington Commanders, the team announced Friday.
Allen will immediately become one of the best defensive tackles in the market, something NFL teams will be excited about since the Cowboys took Osa Odighizuwa off the table with an $80 million contract.
Cowboys mock draft 2.0: Trying to fill every roster hole in 7 rounds – Jon Machota, The Athletic
Dallas goes heavy on the offensive side of the ball early in this mock draft.
Round 1, Pick 12
Tetairoa McMillan, WR, Arizona
This pick came down to the 6-4 wide receiver, Tennessee DE James Pearce Jr., Missouri WR Luther Burden III and Michigan CB Will Johnson. CeeDee Lamb is Dallas’ obvious No. 1 WR and top offensive weapon. But he needs help. While the Cowboys have Jalen Tolbert, KaVontae Turpin, Jonathan Mingo, Jalen Brooks and Ryan Flournoy, none have done enough to lock up that No. 2 spot. More playmakers are needed. A big-body pass catcher like McMillan would be an ideal complement to Lamb and give Dak Prescott an outstanding red zone target.
This will be Brian Schottenheimer’s first draft as head coach. It’s a decent bet his first pick will be on the offensive side of the ball.
Here are who the Cowboys have drafted with the first pick during each coach’s first season in Dallas:
Tom Landry: Bob Lilly
Jimmy Johnson: Troy Aikman
Barry Switzer: Shante Carver
Chan Gailey: Greg Ellis
Dave Campo: Dwayne Goodrich
Bill Parcells: Terence Newman
Wade Phillips: Anthony Spencer
Jason Garrett: Tyron Smith
Mike McCarthy: CeeDee Lamb
Round 2, Pick 44
Kaleb Johnson, RB, Iowa
Even if the Cowboys re-sign Rico Dowdle in free agency, another back is needed. Johnson has good size (6-1, 225) and can contribute on all three downs. He had a breakout season last year with 1,537 rushing yards and 21 rushing touchdowns. At the time of this pick, the only running backs off the board were Ashton Jeanty, who went No. 4 overall, and Omarion Hampton, who went with the final pick in the first round. Jeanty would make sense as a possibility at No. 12, but this is considered a good running back class, so maybe the second or third round is better value at a major position of need.
Round 3, Pick 76
Jordan Phillips, DT, Maryland
The Cowboys re-signed DT Osa Odighizuwa earlier this week, but more help is needed at the position. Mazi Smith hasn’t shown enough over the last two years to think they are set. Another starting-caliber player is needed to compete with Smith and at the very least provide depth.
