Here is one way to go about fixing the Cowboys.
With Brian Schottenheimer now taking over as the new head coach, and his coaching staff now filled, we are entering a new era for the Dallas Cowboys. The amount of unknown surrounding this organization is at an all-time high right now, not really knowing what to expect from the coaching staff or their plans for the offseason, but the one thing we do know is they have a lot of work to do and little time to do it.
Due to the all of the unknown, all we can do right now is speculate what the Cowboys may do in both free agency and the upcoming 2025 NFL Draft. By now we all have a pretty good idea of their most pressing roster “needs” and the fact that they could have upwards of $100 million in salary-cap space at their disposal, despite Stephen Jones insistence money will be tight.
Today, we go step-by-step through the offseason and share the moves we’d like to see the Cowboys make to put themselves back into contention once again. We start with the players they should re-sign and the ones they should let go, then move on to free agency and the NFL draft.
3 contracts to renew, 2 to let go
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Players to Re-sign
- DT Osa Odighizuwa
Other than locking up Micah Parsons long-term, re-signing Odighizuwa should be a top priority for the Cowboys. The 3-technique is one of the most important positions in Matt Eberflus’ defense, making No. 97’s return all the more important.
PFF contract projection: 4-years, $21.25m ($42.5m guaranteed, $85m total)
- DE DeMarcus Lawrence
D-Law was off to a really good start in 2024 before a foot injury ended his season prematurely. Although he’s on the wrong side of 30, he’s still an ideal fit in Matt Eberflus’ defense and would provide some much-needed depth/experience to the position.
PFF contract projection: 2-years, $7.5m avg/yr ($8m guaranteed, $15m total)
- CB Jourdan Lewis
DaRon Bland is the only CB the Cowboys can count right now. Re-signing Jourdan Lewis would add much-needed depth and experience to the position as well as lesson the need to use a premium pick in the 2025 NFL Draft.
Spotrac contract projection: 2-years, $4.5m ($2.25m avg/yr)
Players to let go
- S Donovan Wilson
Wilson was a liability in coverage last season and could be a salary-cap casualty because of it. Dallas can save $5.35 million releasing him out right or $7 million by designating him a post June 1 cut.
- LB Damone Clark
Clark continues to slide further down on the Cowboys LB depth chart and played just 14.76% of the defensive snaps in 2024. Unless Matt Eberflus believes he still brings value, Dallas can save a little over $3 million by releasing him.
Free agent moves to make
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- LB Dre Greenlaw
Greenlaw missed the majority of the 2024 season, but is still considered one of the top LBs available on the open market. He’s one of the best coverage LBs in the entire league and fits what Matt Eberflus likes at the position at either MIKE or WILL.
PFF contract projection: 1-year, $6m avg/yr ($5m guaranteed, $6 total)
- DT Poona Ford
The Cowboys are extremely thin at DT and Ford would provide some much-needed depth and a potential starter. He was one of the top graded DTs last year according to PFF and is a disruptive player who would fit in nicely in Matt Eberflus’ defense.
PFF contract projection: 1-year, $3.5m avg/yr ($1.5m guaranteed, $3.5m total)
- RB J.K. Dobbins
Dobbins has a well documented injury history, but when healthy is capable of producing like one of the top RBs in the league. He is a Texas native and at the very least would provide some much-needed depth in Dallas at an affordable price.
PFF contract projection: 2-years, $3.5m avg/yr ($4m guaranteed, $7m total)
2025 mock draft after offseason moves (Mock draft database simulator)
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1.12 – *TRADE*
Buccaneers trade up for EDGE Mykel Williams, Cowboys receive 1.18, 2.53
- 1.18 – WR Emeka Egbuka, Ohio State
Egbuka could be the ideal Robin to CeeDee Lamb’s Batman. He is a savvy route runner and at 6’1″, 205-pounds, he can play inside or out. He is extremely QB-friendly and has a blue-collar mentality doing the dirty work as a blocker.
- 2.44 – RB Omarion Hampton, North Carolina
Hampton is considered by some to be the best RB after Aston Jeanty in the 2025 draft class. He’s been one of the more productive backs in the NCAA the last few years and at 6’1″, 220-pounds he has the size and skill set to be a significant upgrade as the starter in Dallas.
- 2.53 – OL Jonah Savaiinaea, Arizona
Savaiinaea (6’4″, 339) played both right and left OT at Arizona and has the length (34″ arms) to remain there in the NFL, but kicking inside to OG may be best for his long-term future. His OT/G versatility could give Dallas another Tyler Smith on the right side of their OL.
- 3.76 – S Kevin Winston Jr., Penn State
If not for a season-ending ACL injury Winston likely would’ve been a top 50 pick. At 6’2″, 208-pounds, he is one of the top safety prospects this year and could be an immediate upgrade over Donovan Wilson on the back end of Dallas’ secondary.
*TRADE*
Cowboys send 5.170, 5.172, 5.174 to Falcons for 4.117
- 4.117 – CB Nohl Williams, Cal
Even after re-signing Jourdan Lewis, CB is a concern with Trevon Diggs working back from a season-ending knee injury and with DaRon Bland in the final year of his rookie contract. Williams (6’1″, 200) is a playmaker with 7 INTs and 16 passes defensed just last season.
- 5.150 – EDGE Oluwafemi Oladejo, UCLA
Landing Oladejo here in the fifth-round would be an absolute steal. He spent his first three seasons as a MIKE LB before transitioning to an edge role. That 6’3″, 261-pounds he still a little raw, but has tremendous upside with further development.
- 6.190 – Kyle Monangai, Rutgers
Monangai is a smaller back (5’9″, 208) with a big RB mentality. He has good short area quickness and vision and runs with a toughness that makes them difficult to tackle. Pairing him with J.K. Dobbins and Omarion Hampton would give Dallas an impressive RB trio.
- 6.211 – DT Jamaree Caldwell, Oregon
At 6’1″, 340-pounds, Caldwell would add much needed beef to the interior of the Cowboys defensive line. Add him to the mix of Osa Odighizuwa, Mazi Smith, and Poona Ford and this group would be a significant upgrade from last year’s DTs.
- 7.249 – TE Luke Lachey, Iowa
This could be another great value pick for the Cowboys. Lachey could be the next Iowa TE to make his mark in the NFL. He has the all around skill set as both a blocker and receiver to develop into a starter at the next level.
