Your Sunday morning Cowboys news
6 most explosive Cowboys heading into the 2025 season includes two defenders – Ben Grimaldi, Cowboys Wire
These are the most likely Cowboys to make a game-changing play in an instant.
The Fourth of July is known for fireworks, and with the Dallas Cowboys known as America’s Team, it feels like an appropriate weekend to identify their most explosive players.
The Cowboys weren’t a team that excelled in lighting up the scoreboard in 2024, but this offseason has changed the outlook for 2025. With a healthy Dak Prescott back at quarterback, the offense could return to grilling up 40-burgers once again.
The Cowboys added speed and explosive pieces to a team that already had some playmakers, which should make them fun to watch; and it’s not just on offense where the team has exciting players. Here’s a look at the six most explosive players on the Cowboys.
WR CeeDee Lamb
He might not be known as a speedster, but when the All-Pro wide receiver has the ball in his hands, he makes big plays. Lamb gets open with ease and if he makes a defender miss, he’s off to the races and rarely caught.
Lamb has eight touchdowns of at least 40 yards in career, a number that swells to 11 if including scores of at least 35 yards. He’s a premiere WR and a threat to score anytime he touches the ball.
WR George Pickens
One of the biggest pieces the offense added in the offseason was trading for the vertical threat who thrives on big plays. Pickens dominates as a deep-ball WR who makes contested catches without needing a ton of separation.
The Cowboys needed a WR who could win down the field and Pickens was the perfect player for their offense. Pickens led the NFL in yards per catch at 18.1 in 2023, and he did that without a top-tier quarterback. Finally pairing Pickens with a top caliber QB like Prescott means fans should expect fireworks.
WR KaVontae Turpin
One of the more overlooked playmakers in Dallas is their kick return specialist, who also contributes on offense. Turpin is an All-Pro kick returner who scored on both punt and kick returns last season.
Turpin has grown as a WR in each of his three years with the Cowboys and can also be used out of the backfield. The speedy, twitchy Turpin has found the end zone as a receiver five times, as well as a runner once, making him one of the most versatile and explosive players on the roster.
Cowboys’ worst contract is painfully clear (and it’s not Dak Prescott) – Jerry Trotta, The Landry Hat
Injuries have been the issue for Trevon Diggs.
Dak Prescott does not have the playoff success to validate his record-setting contract, but quarterbacks aren’t paid based on playoff success. If that was the case, only a handful of QBs would currently have big-money extensions. They are paid based on regular-season success. When Prescott is healthy, the Dallas Cowboys are seemingly always in the playoff hunt. That year-to-year consistency carries a ton of weight, which is why Prescott’s contract is not the worst on Dallas’ payroll.
That mantle belongs to Trevon Diggs, who signed a five-year, $97 million extension with the franchise in July of 2023. The deal is worth up to $104 million with incentives and its $19.4 million annual average value made him the fifth-highest-paid cornerback at the time.
Trevon Diggs’ extension has not aged well for the Cowboys
Diggs is now the eighth-highest-paid CB based on AAV, but regardless the Cowboys have not gotten elite cornerback play from their ball-hawk. A lot of that has to do with injuries. Diggs has played 13 of a possible 34 regular-season games since signing his extension. He suffered a torn ACL just two games into the 2023 campaign and sat out the remaining six games last year with another knee injury that required surgery. The second operation is especially alarming as it was performed to repair damaged cartilage.
In fairness to Dallas, this is more an unfortunate run of luck than a poor use of resources. Diggs was a no-brainer extension candidate at the time of his extension. He was only 24 years old and had racked up a league-leading 17 interceptions over his first three seasons. Health notwithstanding, though, Diggs did not play up to his contract in 2024 before his season-ending injury. His 56.6 PFF player grade was the worst of his career and ranked 145th out of 222 cornerbacks, per PFF. Furthermore, his 43.9 run-defense grade ranked 206th at the position. That can be attributed to his 12 (!) missed tackles.
The GOAT of the Dallas Cowboys – Cody Warren, Inside the Star
Why this Cowboy is the greatest in the history of our storied franchise.
When fans debate the greatest of all time (GOAT) in Dallas Cowboys history, emotions run high. From the star-studded ’70s dynasty to the triplet-powered ’90s, the franchise has produced NFL legends. But when the dust settles, one name consistently rises above the rest—Emmitt Smith.
In terms of production, longevity, leadership, and championship impact, Smith holds the crown as the undisputed GOAT of the Dallas Cowboys.
Why Emmitt Smith Is the Greatest Cowboy Ever
1. NFL’s All-Time Leading Rusher
Numbers don’t lie, and Emmitt Smith’s numbers are historic. With 18,355 yards and 164 rushing touchdowns, he’s the NFL’s all-time leading rusher, surpassing Hall of Famer Walter Payton.
Even two decades after his retirement, no player has come close to his record. Smith’s dominance wasn’t a flash in the pan; it was consistent year after year.
Smith posted 11 straight 1,000-yard seasons, an NFL record, and carried the ball a staggering 4,409 times in his career, also the NFL record.
His durability and toughness were unmatched, especially at a position known for short careers.
2. Three-Time Super Bowl Champion
Emmitt Smith wasn’t just a stats monster—he was a winner. During the Cowboys’ 1990s dynasty, Smith was the engine of the offense.
Alongside Troy Aikman and Michael Irvin, he helped lead Dallas to three Super Bowl titles in four years (1992, 1993, and 1995). But even among “The Triplets,” it was Smith who stood tallest.
His performance in Super Bowl XXVIII, where he rushed for 132 yards and two touchdowns, earned him the Super Bowl MVP award.
Just weeks earlier, he had famously played through a separated shoulder in a must-win game against the Giants, rushing for 168 yards in one of the grittiest performances in NFL history.
Honorable Mentions in the GOAT Debate
The Cowboys have several all-time greats who also deserve recognition in the GOAT discussion:
Roger Staubach: The original Captain America. A two-time Super Bowl champion and a Heisman Trophy winner, Staubach’s leadership and clutch play set the foundation for the franchise’s success.
Troy Aikman: Aikman may not have the gaudy stats, but his calm under pressure and precision helped guide Dallas to three Super Bowl wins.
Cowboys could improve a weakness by signing veteran CB Stephon Gilmore-Matthew Lenix Jr., Blogging the Boys
With so many questions about cornerback, the Cowboys could sign this veteran to ease their concerns.
The Dallas Cowboys came into the offseason with a big problem. The cornerback position needed some answers. Veteran DaRon Bland, who was limited in 2024 due to a foot injury, is the only player at the position that the Cowboys can say they have complete faith in.
Trevon Diggs is coming off a major knee operation and likely won’t be ready to start the season. Rookie Shavon Revel is expected to be ready for training camp, but there’s still no guarantee he’ll be ready once real games are played. Kaiir Elam made strides in OTA’s, but that’s only in shorts and helmets. Lastly, Caelen Carson is looking to bounce back from a tough rookie campaign. So, with that being said, the Cowboys should seriously consider bringing back Stephon Gilmore.
The first reason is pretty simple, he’s affordable with a market value of around $5 million. While he isn’t considered one of the elite cornerbacks in the league anymore, Gilmore is still playing at a pretty high level for a guy north of 30 as he compiled the fourth-most tackles of his career with 56 last season as well as nine pass breakups and an interception.
One thing about Gilmore that’s also appealing is his professionalism. Ever since he’s been in the league, he has always kept himself prepared and ready to play no matter what team he was on. Gilmore is still close to the Cowboys as well. Back in April, he was spotted in the building. Also, he was shouted out by Cowboys’ safety Juanyeh Thomas on Tuesday after the two chopped it up.
Gilmore wants to play another year.
Free agent cornerback Stephon Gilmore wants to play a 14th NFL season.
“I want to play this year,” Gilmore said on The Money Down podcast. “It’s got to be the right situation. You know what I’m saying? It’s got to be the right situation for me. You know what I’m saying? I’m not just going to sign anywhere, so it’s got to be the right situation
