It’s time for the first Mock Offseason projection for 2025.
Despite winning four of their last six games, the Dallas Cowboys are in trouble as a franchise. After three years of strong regular season performances followed by disappointing playoff outings, the damn broke on the regular season. Not only did the franchise exit the gate with a thud, but the relative injury luck the team has enjoyed as deteriorated with disgusting results.
Already, two key members of the defense are going to miss a significant portion of next year. LB DeMarvion Overshown and CB Trevon Diggs, who both missed all or most of 2023, are going to miss all or most of 2025.
The injuries are a mask, though. This team was broken to begin with, even when relatively healthy, and that’s why fans should hope Jerry Jones doesn’t make the mistake of retaining head coach Mike McCarthy. McCarthy’s tenure was on its last legs because they have been unable to overcome their nerves in the playoffs. The team fighting like crazy even though the season has long been over doesn’t erase those shortcomings.
The injury losses for 2025 are on top of a long list of impact players set to become unrestricted free agents and before conversations need to be had about several starters who probably need to be upgraded.
It’s going to be a long several months for fans as this team which has a problem with opening their wallets in the first place tries to navigate out from under what will likely be their first sub-.500 season since 2020. The first step will be to determine what the coaching staff looks like, and then to move on to players to fit their scheme.
We’re here to help.
Head Coach Hire: Joe Brady, current Bills OC
Jan 8, 2023; Orchard Park, New York, USA; Buffalo Bills quarterbacks coach Joe Brady poses for a picture with fans prior to the game against the New England Patriots at Highmark Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Gregory Fisher-USA TODAY Sports
In our most recent Mike McCarthy Replacement Rankings, Brady wrestled the No. 1 spot away from Detroit’s Ben Johnson, so we roll with him in our initial mock offseason. Brady runs a passing offense that is huge on pre-snap motion (66% this year) and a West Coast attack, which Dak Prescott has run under McCarthy. The run game is a zone scheme, which has worked in Dallas in the recent past.
Brady’s first order of business is bringing in a defensive coordinator, and for that we’ve pegged Dennis Allen. Allen was the DC in New Orleans when Brady cut his teeth in the NFL as an assistant. As DC in New Orleans, he stewarded a top unit that led to him succeeding Sean Payton as head coach.
Re-Sign Own Free Agents
CHARLOTTE, NORTH CAROLINA – DECEMBER 15: KaVontae Turpin #9 of the Dallas Cowboys takes the field before playing the Carolina Panthers at Bank of America Stadium on December 15, 2024 in Charlotte, North Carolina. (Photo by Grant Halverson/Getty Images)
Who Walks:
DT Osa Odighizuwa
OG Zack Martin
LB Eric Kendricks
WR Brandin Cooks
QB Cooper Rush
RB Ezekiel Elliott
P Bryan Anger
Who Returns:
RB Rico Dowdle
DE DeMarcus Lawrence
QB Trey Lance
CB Jourdan Lewis
DL Chauncey Golston
DE Carl Lawson
WR KaVontae Turpin (RFA)
Safety Markquese Bell (RFA)
Safety Juanyeh Thomas (ERFA)
Center Brock Hoffman (ERFA)
Outside Free Agents: Offense
Dec 11, 2022; East Rutherford, New Jersey, USA; New York Giants wide receiver Darius Slayton (86) catches the ball during the second half against the Philadelphia Eagles at MetLife Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Vincent Carchietta-USA TODAY Sports
LT Alaric Jackson, Los Angeles Rams – sends Tyler Guyton to right tackle, the position he played in college and ends the experiment on the left side.
WR Darius Slayton, New York Giants – a speedy pairing with good size to add to the mix opposite CeeDee Lamb. Slayton, Turpin and Flournoy gives a solid core in addition to anything Jonathan Mingo provides.
Outside Free Agents: Defense
Aug 18, 2018; Carson, CA, USA; Seattle Seahawks defensive tackle Poona Ford (97) looks on during the second half against the Los Angeles Chargers at StubHub Center. Mandatory Credit: Jake Roth-USA TODAY Sports
DT Teair Tart, Los Angeles Chargers
DT Poona Ford, Los Angeles Chargers
LB Elandon Roberts, Pittsburgh Steelers
CB Paulson Adebo, New Orleans Saints
Draft Needs
Aug 20, 2022; Inglewood, California, USA; Dallas Cowboys owner Jerry Jones (left) talks with vice president of player personnel Will McClay before the game against the Los Angeles Chargers at SoFi Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports
If the above haul and defections were to take place, then Dallas would be left with some wiggle room at several positions. The depth chart would be fine at quarterback, the starting OL would be missing a guard with Brock Hoffman penciled in as the replacement-level starter. Running back would need help.
Wideout and tight end could be upgraded but wouldn’t have to see a premium pick.
On defense the edge rush position is secure and the DT spot could use a dog to headline a decent rotation. Linebacker will always need bodies but has starters with Liafau and Roberts. The secondary, as always, could use more bodies, but there’s nothing egregious here after Adebo is added as a stop-gap for Diggs for a year.
4-Round Mock Draft
Sep 14, 2024; Columbia, South Carolina, USA; LSU Tigers offensive tackle Will Campbell (66) warms up before a game against the South Carolina Gamecocks at Williams-Brice Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Scott Kinser-Imagn Images
1.13: OG Will Campbell, LSU
TRADE DOWN: 2.45, 6.187 to Pittsburgh fo 2.57, 3.89
2.57: DT Derrick Harmon, Oregon
3.77: WR Jalen Royals, Utah State
3.89: HB Bhayshul Tuten, Virginia Tech
