Your Sunday morning Cowboys news.
Can the Cowboys’ defense trust Kenneth Murray? – Inside the Star, Shane Taylor
Under a new defensive coordinator, how much faith should the Cowboys have in newcomer Kenneth Murray?
One important piece to new defensive coordinator Matt Eberflus’ defense is going to be the man wearing the green dot, and as you look at his career thus far, it makes you wonder can this team trust Kenneth Murray? Dallas traded for former first-round pick Murray, who has racked up 416 tackles and 8.5 sacks in five years. This past season, he gave the Tennessee Titans 95 tackles, 3.5 sacks, and one pick. Still, he’s not seen as a difference-maker, which is how the Cowboys landed him for a low price.
Defensive Outlook
Under new DC Eberflus (a notable linebacker whisperer), either one of them – or both – are expected to be in the starting lineup to start this season with DeMarvion Overshown still recovering from injury. Marist Liufau and Damone Clark are other candidates to start as returners from last year.
In his first year with the Titans last year, Murray earned captain status on the defense and finished with 95 tackles and 3.5 sacks, as I noted above. He started in every game he played in and has two more years of NFL experience than Sanborn. That is why he will be the one wearing the green dot, having direct communication with the coaching staff.
“I think it’s a great fit,” Murray said, via Clarence Hill of All City DLLS. “I’ve been enjoying myself, obviously transitioning over from being traded and getting up to speed and stuff like that. Lot of things work to my strengths, coming down hill, playing the coverage, stuff like that. It’s been good. It’s been great being here during the offseason program, getting around the guys and just trying to come in and establish a culture and get better every day.”
Passing on name CBs shows Cowboys still haven’t shaken their cheap, bargain-shopping ways – Ben Grimaldi, Cowboys Wire
The Cowboys did a lot this offseason, but there are calls for more.
The Dallas Cowboys made two moves this week, signing defensive tackle Perrion Winfrey and cornerback Robert Rochell as they continue to churn the bottom of the roster.
While both additions were at positions of need, it’s the signing of Rochell that continues to demonstrate how cheap the organization has become. Adding Rochell shows the Cowboys understood they need help at CB, but instead of signing a quality player, they once again went bargain basement shopping. There were numerous free agent signings the team could’ve made at the position, with Rochell likely being the least expensive option.
That point was hammered home when prior to the Cowboys signing Rochell, the Baltimore Ravens added free agent CB Jaire Alexander. The timing of both signings, hours apart, made Jerry and Stephen Jones look even cheaper, and proved how differently organizations pursue the Super Bowl.
The Cowboys didn’t need to sign Alexander, and it’s probably smart they stayed away. Dallas’ CB room has enough injury questions, but they could’ve signed someone who has shown more ability than Rochell. Among the CBs still available are Asante Samuel, Mike Hilton and Stephon Gilmore, all of whom are more accomplished than Rochell. This isn’t about the player they didn’t sign, it’s about the Cowboys’ approach.
The Ravens already had one of the best secondaries in the league, boasting an All-Pro CB and safety in Marlon Humphrey and Kyle Hamilton, respectively. They also have two of the game’s best young secondary pieces in second-year CB Nate Wiggins and rookie first-round pick safety Malaki Starks, so it was a stacked group that didn’t necessarily need an upgrade.
Dak Prescott warned he could repeat Cowboys fans’ biggest heartbreak (but worse) – Jared A’Latorre, The Landry Hat
Dak Prescott is trying to change the narrative.
In what will be a historic result of the 2025 NBA Finals, sports talk shows are still finding themselves talking about Dallas Cowboys quarterback Dak Prescott’s legacy.
Prescott made headlines this week when he was asked about his own legacy. He explained he doesn’t really care about how people see him, but for his own sanity, he wants to win a Super Bowl. The hardcore faithful of America’s Team has been waiting three decades to get back to the NFC Championship game, and Prescott might be the last hope to get them there before they have to reboot with another QB.
David Helman of Fox Sports claims that if Prescott doesn’t win a Super Bowl it will actually be more embarrassing than not completing the same goal as his predecessor and former teammate, Tony Romo.
Dak Prescott not winning a Super Bowl would potentially put him below Romo in Cowboys legacy
Helman’s comments are bold if we’re being honest.. The barbershop dialogue always go back to the QBs that have won a Super Bowl. While Prescott has said that doesn’t care about his legacy, Helman says that he has to win a Super Bowl, or else, Cowboys fans will always mirror him back to Romo, or even worse.
“People have warmed to Romo’s legacy over time, and most acknowledge now that he was a far better player than he often got credit for when he was trying to shoulder the hopes and dreams of America’s Team…The best way to secure (Prescott’s) legacy, or to silence the debate about it, would be to win the championship that’s eluded the Cowboys for so long.”
David Helman
A pair of Cowboys players are projected to make the 2025 NFL All-Rookie team-Brian Martin, Blogging the Boys
Two Cowboys rookies enter the year with big expectations.
Gennaro Filice for NFL.com recently projected who he believes will make the 2025 NFL All-Rookie team, and guess what, a pair of Dallas Cowboys players made his cut, one on offense and one on defense.
That’s right, a team that will be relying heavily on several of their young players, including this year’s 2025 draft class, may have drafted a couple of impacts starters. What’s more, both rookies play positions where they saw two of the longest tenured players move on this offseason.
Have you guessed which Cowboys rookies where alluding to? If you guessed Tyler Booker and Donovan Ezeiruaku you are right. Booker is expected to step in and replace future Hall of Famer Zack Martin, and Ezeiruaku is expected to compete for the starting job to replace DeMarcus Lawrence.
Here is what Gennaro Filice had to say about both Tyler Booker and Donovan Ezeiruaku.
OG Tyler Booker, Alabama
DRAFTED: Round 1, No. 12 overall
A lot of people think Dallas overdrafted Booker at No. 12 overall. I disagree with that sentiment. And I could take this opportunity to remind everyone of this Cowboys regime’s sparkling track record when it comes to selecting offensive linemen in Round 1, or I could just point you to the hardest quote of the draft cycle.
“Football is a child’s game,” Booker said on Bleacher Report’s draft reaction show. “So, people wake up being like, ‘Man, I can’t wait to play this football game today.’ They listen to their hype music, they take all the pre-workout, they get so excited to play football … until they come across Tyler Booker. And then when I’m going after you — quarter after quarter, play after play, series after series — and I start to see that love leave their eyes, that’s what makes me love the game.”
Micah Parsons was on the Bleacher Report set that night, and he let out a scream just listening to his new teammate go FULL METAL.
Being the first offensive guard off the board in the 2025 NFL Draft comes with high expectations. Those expectations may be a little higher considering who he’s replacing with the Cowboys. That is none other than the future Hall of Famer Martin, who decided to retire this offseason. Those are some big shoes to fill for Booker.
