The latest headlines surrounding the Dallas Cowboys all in one place.
Dallas Cowboys have a strong presence at Texas A&M Pro Day – Randy Gurzi, Sports Illustrated
Brian Schottenheimer brought a nice crew with him to evaluate potential draftees at Texas A&M Pro Day.
According to Dallas insider Nick Harris, head coach Brian Schottenheimer, defensive coordinator Matt Eberflus, and defensive line coach Aaron Whitecotton are there to represent the coaching staff. Executives on hand include vice president of player personnel Will McClay, director of college scouting Mitch LaPoint, and national scout Ross Wuensche.
Stewart is a player who has been linked to the Cowboys at No. 12 overall and it’s easy to see why. The 6-foot-5, 267-pounder put on a show during the NFL Combine, posting a 4.59 40-yard dash, and a 40-inch vertical jump.
It would have been nice to see Stewart put in more work but he’s done enough to prove he should be selected in the top 20.
Other names to watch include Nic Scourton, a defensive end who is also expected to go in Round 1. Scourton had 10 sacks in 2023 with Purdue before transferring to Texas A&M where he recorded 37 tackles and five sacks.
There’s also Shemar Turner, a projected Day 2 pick. Dallas can also get a long look at Turner since he’s eligible to visit as a ‘Dallas Day’ prospect.
Brian Schottenheimer attending Ohio State Pro Day fuels Quinshon Judkins, TreVeyon Henderson ideas – RJ Ochoa, BTB
More pre-draft work for the staff.
It stands to reason that head coach Brian Schottenheimer wants to gather some information at a Pro Day or two to make a decision. As the head coach, he obviously does not have an infinite amount of time to spare, but it is interesting to note that on Wednesday it was reported that he was in attendance for Ohio State’s Pro Day
them. What we are about to do is speculate a little bit which is somewhat reckless, but also a little bit of fun!
We know that Schottenheimer wants to run the ball. History tells us this. He has said it. All signs point to the Cowboys trying to find some sort of identity on the ground. Consider that running back is one of the positions that the team has already double-dipped on in free agency by bringing in both Javonte Williams and Miles Sanders.
Even if you feel great about those moves, obviously not everybody does, there is more that is going to have to be added to the positional room. Ohio State has two very interesting running back options who will be in the draft, Quinshon Judkins and TreVeyon Henderson, and adding either one of them to the mix could lead to a very solid overall group.
Why delaying Micah Parsons’ extension has already cost Cowboys — waiting will make it worse – Saad Yousuf, The Athletic
Now that Max Crosby, Myles Garrett, Ja’Marr Chase have pushed the non-quarterback market higher, Micah Parsons’ price tag is only going up.
“I don’t need $40 million,” Parsons said in December, one breath after saying that he didn’t need to be the highest-paid non-quarterback.
That quote from Parsons will be revisited often as negotiations drag out this offseason. When Parsons made those comments about not needing $40 million per year, the highest-paid non-quarterback was Justin Jefferson, averaging $35 million per season, just ahead of Nick Bosa’s and Lamb’s $34 million. At the time, Parsons’ words weren’t about a specific dollar amount, even though he verbalized it as such. The context of what Parsons said was that he didn’t need to reset the non-quarterback market by an average of $5 million.
If Parsons’ deal now comes right around the $40 million mark, some may look at Parsons’ comments in December as blusterous falsehoods. Maybe it was and Parsons was just playing nice for the cameras. Maybe his representation was never going to really allow Parsons to come in below market value. But Parsons’ demeanor felt sincere.
If the Cowboys moved quickly on the deal once their offseason began, the benchmark they would be working with would have been Jefferson’s $35 million. They could have signed Parsons for an extension that averaged around $36 million, giving him the respect on paper that would make him feel validated, momentarily placing him on top of the mountain — at the same time holding him to his words that he didn’t need to go far beyond market heights.
Next Man Up: Carving out a role for Hunter Luepke – Nick Eatman, DallasCowboys.com
Will Hunter Luepke find a more prominent role in a new Schottenheimer/Adams-led offense?
The Present: Luepke’s role with this new offensive system has yet to be determined, but his versatility will likely help his chances of making the team for a third year. With his ability to play some tight end/H-back, Luepke is always a candidate to be on the game-day roster, which is why he’s only missed one game in his career. From his ability to carry the ball in short-yardage situations, to his knack for getting the first down on the catch, Luepke has become a reliable option in many ways.
The Future: Players who have a role on special teams, but can always get 10-12 offensive snaps in the game, usually find a place on the roster. That’s why Luepke could have an extensive career. This is a big season for Luepke, who will be an exclusive rights free agent at the end of the season. The Cowboys most definitely want to run the football this year in Brian Schottenheimer’s offense and while the Cowboys have acquired Miles Sanders and Jovante Williams and could even draft a running back early in the upcoming NFL Draft, there could be a role for Luepke, based on his versatility to line up across the field.
Possible Pick: Derrick Harmon’s traits finally starting to mirror his production – Tommy Yarrish, DallasCowboys.com
Derrick Harmon may be a great target for the Cowboys if they look to add a DT in the early rounds of this year’s draft.
Where He’s Projected:
Harmon has typically come off the board early on Day 2 in most projections, but some have seen him sneak into the back end of the first round. He’s widely considered to be amongst the best in this year’s defensive tackle class.
How He Helps the Cowboys:
Size is one of the biggest things that the Cowboys are in need of up front on the defensive line, and Harmon brings that and then some. He’s a big, wide-bodied defender that is hard to move and plugs up gaps well in the run game with a quick punch and great twitch right off the bat.
That athleticism translates and allows him to move around anywhere on the line and can help him fit in across several fronts, and he uses those quick moves up front with a good amount of speed to move very well at his size.
Harmon may not be a double-digit sack guy, but that’s what Odighizuwa is for, and their play styles would have a chance to complement one another nicely if paired together. He has a way of playing instinctually to help out his linebackers, which would be a welcome addition to a defense that has struggled against the run but looks to turn things around under Matt Eberflus.
