We’re counting down to the season opener (Day 62) with some Cowboys history We’re counting down the days until the Dallas Cowboys battle the Philadelphia Eagles in the season opener of the 2025 NFL season. To pass the time and mark the days, we running through 100 Days of Cowboys. So sit back and enjoy some Cowboys history while we countdown to football. Today – number 63. Terence Newman Born: September 4, 1978. Salina, KansasPosition: CornerbackDallas Cowboys: 2003-2011Awards: Pro Bowl– 2007, 2009 Photo by R. Diamond/WireImage Terence Newman played cornerback for the Dallas Cowboys from 2003 to 2011, after being selected with the fifth overall pick in the 2003 NFL Draft out of Kansas State. Known for his speed, intelligence, and technique, Newman became a long-time starter in the Cowboys’ secondary. He recorded 32 interceptions and 122 pass breakups (most in team history) during his time in Dallas and earned two Pro Bowl selections. A steady presence in the backfield, Newman was often tasked with covering opponents’ top receivers and remained a consistent playmaker for nearly a decade. He remains sixth in Cowboys history in interceptions, holds the record for most breakups and ranks ninth in most tackles made. It’s been 10 years since Roy Williams & Terence Newman have seen each other. Watch as the two reunite & talk all things #CowboysDraft. First & Then presented by @DrPepper Zero Sugar pic.twitter.com/IuCB8Ul1Ue — Dallas Cowboys (@dallascowboys) April 26, 2021 Best known for:Newman was best known for his longevity as a shutdown corner in Dallas, playing for a total of 15 seasons in the NFL and retiring at the age of 40. Here is the selection of #Cowboys CB Terence Newman during the 2003 NFL Draft: pic.twitter.com/9BoyzZ9Iv4 — Marcus Mosher (@Marcus_Mosher) June 13, 2023 Lesser known fact:Newman was a college track star, posting a 10.20-second 100-meter dash and 21.17-second 200-meter time at Kansas State, setting school records. This blazing speed helped him become one of the fastest players in the NFL during his career. ✭ COUNTDOWN TO KICKOFF ✭ With 100 days to go until the #Cowboys kickoff the season against the #Eagles, we are counting down with a @BloggingTheBoys Top-100 consensus ranking. We asked staffers to give in their top-100, here is: DAY 62Terence Newman#DallasCowboys… pic.twitter.com/VfTGbq8CN1 — Mike Poland (@kenfigkowboy) July 4, 2025

Photo by Jevone Moore/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images Cowboys roster review for the safeties As we wrap up our 2025 roster bubble series, it’s ironic that our final position may not even have one. For this year’s Dallas Cowboys, safety may be the easiest spot to predict who will and won’t make the roster. That isn’t to say surprises aren’t possible, but it means one of our veterans may have to suffer a big fall to make room for one of the hopefuls. Three guys we know will make the team are Malik Hooker, Juanyeh Thomas, and Markquese Bell. Hooker has not only become one of the more underrated Cowboys, but he’s also now a bridge player to help his teammates adapt to their new defensive coordinator. Hooker played under Matt Eberflus from 2018-2020, albeit with a lot of injury issues during that span. Hooker isn’t a superstar but he’s a solid starter, and his presence this year may be more valuable than ever. An exciting backup for the last two years, Thomas might be starting for Dallas in the near future. He’s also cheap, not being eligible for unrestricted free agency until 2027. He’d make for exceptional depth this year, locking him onto the roster, but also has a real shot at competing for the starting job. Thomas offers more athleticism and coverage ability than Donovan Wilson, which is big for the two-high safety approach that Eberflus is known for. Bell just got a new three-year deal to stick around in Dallas, so the team likely has a plan for him at least in 2025. The Cowboys could’ve gone with just a one-year restricted free agent deal to keep Bell. Experienced both on defense and special teams, plus having some positive flex from his one year at linebacker, Bell covers a lot of bases. While these are the only guys we’re prepared to declare as locks, we’re highly confident that Wilson and Israel Mukuamu will also be on the team. That would give you five safeties, which is probably all Dallas would carry. But since there’s a foreseeable chance one or both of these veterans won’t make it, let’s dig into them a little more, and also a few of the guys who could steal their jobs. Donovan Wilson As mentioned, Wilson may have a hard time fighting off Thomas for the starting job. He was a better fit in Dan Quinn and Mike Zimmer’s defenses, able to do more work closer to the line of scrimmage where his hard-hitting style shone. Wilson has always had to make up for coverage liability with playmaking, and that could be harder with Eberflus. The Cowboys can also clear about $7 million in cap space by releasing or trading him. The fact that he wasn’t a cap casualty last March was already surprising to some, so something happening now wouldn’t be out of nowhere. Israel Mukuamu Still officially listed among the safeties, Mukuamu’s job security may come more for his versatility as a cornerback option. He’s been getting work there so far this offseason, which could prove vital with Trevon Diggs, Shavon Revel, and Josh Butler all questionable at best for Week 1. Though he got a fairly minimal one-year deal to return to Dallas this year, Mukuamu’s experience and versatility will make him hard to oust. Alijah Clark Dallas made Clark their highest-paid UDFA and he’s the current frontrunner to sneak onto the roster. Clark offers position flex as a safety and slot corner, with the latter being of high importance right now after Jourdan Lewis’ exit and other CB injury issues. He’s been making noise so far in the spring camps, but it will take a lot more than that to force his way past one of the veterans. His best hope is likely that Mukuamu goes to cornerback full time.

John Jones-Imagn Images The latest news from around the division. Cover 3: Biggest question remaining for Giants – John Schmeelk, et al., Giants.com Three weeks prior to training camp, here are some questions surrounding New York. John Schmeelk: I thought about doing something basic for this one like “who will be the Giants’ second starting outside cornerback” or “will someone play well enough in training camp and preseason to unseat one of the starters on the offensive line” – but I decided against it. While those questions are certainly important and I’m interested in seeing how they are resolved, neither is the biggest question I still have about this team. The same goes for questions about how they will deploy the running backs and edge rushers. Those potential answers might impact wins and losses, but they are not big enough for me. My thoughts still go back to the quarterback position, but not in the way some fans might be thinking about it. Russell Wilson is the team’s starting quarterback. The team needs the stability that he brings to the position in terms of leadership, organizing the offense, and getting the team into the right plays. The confidence the team has in him was palpable throughout the spring. Physically, his arm and deep ball are still more than good enough to succeed in the NFL. I need to see if Wilson, coupled with the Giants’ scheme and offensive line, can get his sack rate down a bit. Last year, Wilson had an 8.9% sack rate, which was fifth-highest in the league, only better than Jalen Hurts and three young quarterbacks (Will Levis, Caleb Williams and Drake Maye). If the Giants can get Wilson’s sack rate down to the 7% range, which would put him towards the middle of the league in the neighborhood of Justin Herbert, Joe Burrow, and Dak Prescott, the offense will have a real chance to be excellent. The reason this is still a big question for me is we haven’t seen it yet with pads. Without contact in spring practices, you can’t see anything regarding the offensive line, pass rush, or how the quarterback will handle it. Commanders set to reveal bold new look with upcoming uniform announcement – David Harrison, Sports Illustrated New… or old… threads are on the way for Washington. Washington Commanders fans won’t have to wait long before seeing what the next effort to reconnect with the franchise’s proud heritage will be. According to a report from SportsLogos.net, the Commanders will be the first of several teams to unveil their new alternate helmet and jersey. “Our sources have indicated that the Washington Commanders will be the first to reveal a new alternate helmet and jersey on July 9,” the report says. The team confirmed the report’s accuracy a short time later. Earlier this offseason, radio host Kevin Sheehan stated that he had information that the new uniform will resemble one of the uniforms used in the previous eras of the franchise’s history. Sheehan also clarified that it would not be the most recent logo used prior to the team switching to the Washington Football Team before becoming the Commanders. There are two candidates we specifically discussed as potential inspirations for the new alternate uniform, starting with the spear helmet logo first worn in 1965. The other candidate we could foresee inspiring this new uniform would be the Circle-R logo, which debuted in 1970. Overall, the thought is that the new alternative uniform won’t be a replica or throwback, but rather a new design inspired by one of the older ones. Perhaps, we could be in store for a mashup of all previous uniforms, with something from each era’s threads brought in to create a new, fresh look. The report that revealed this date also suggests that this alternate uniform could be used similarly to the way the New York Jets introduced a throwback version of their uniforms as an alternate in 2023 before switching to that throwback look completely as the team’s 2024 road uniform. ESPN’s Adam Schefter shuts down latest Eagles trade rumor involving Steelers’ stud pass rusher – Kelsey Kramer, A to Z Sports Don’t believe everything you read. Pittsburgh Steelers star defender T.J. Watt has been absent this offseason, fueling trade rumors, with the Philadelphia Eagles emerging as one of the teams he’s been linked to. As enticing as the idea may be for the reigning Super Bowl champion Eagles to add another elite pass rusher like Watt to an already loaded defense, the odds of general manager Howie Roseman making that a reality appear slim. According to ESPN’s Adam Schefter, that move is highly unlikely due to the financial hurdles and the Eagles’ current focus on extending their own young stars rather than taking on a massive veteran contract. “I think the Eagles are planning and budgeting to pay their own players,” Schefter said during an appearance on 97.5 The Fanatic. “They’re going to have any number of young stars from Jalen Carter to the two cornerbacks [Cooper DeJean, Quinyon Mitchell] that they drafted last year, they have to go pay in the future. They already paid Zack Baun, and they paid Saquon Barkley. At some point, they’re going to have to address the offensive side. “There’s so many contractual situations that you have, and it makes it hard to go trade for a TJ Watt and pay him upwards of $30 million dollars a year. It just doesn’t work. Would you love to have him? Of course. Every team would. But can you make it work feasibly, financially, and structurally? That would be incredibly challenging for the Eagles to do.”

Chris Jones-Imagn Images The Dallas Cowboys news is here. Schottenheimer looks to past stars to inspire Cowboys – Todd Archer, ESPN What happens on the field matters most, but don’t overlook the culture-building of Brian Schottenheimer. Time was running out and the Dallas Cowboys’ meeting room was getting louder and louder. Joe Looney needed to make one more free throw to win the competition for the offense as 30 seconds ticked down to zero. And when he did? Chaos ensued. “It was sick, man,” right tackle Terence Steele said. “Everyone was cheering. It was awesome. Everyone loves it.” Never mind that Looney last played for the Cowboys in 2020 and the player he competed against, Bradie James, last played for them in 2011. There were bragging rights on the line. The central theme to Brian Schottenheimer’s approach in his first year as the Cowboys’ head coach is “Compete Every Day.” It’s on the wall leading from the locker room to Ford Center. It’s on a wall in his office. On May 30, Schottenheimer extended it to the former Cowboys as part of what they called “Legends Day,” when about 25 former players from different eras of Dallas history came to one of the organized team activities at The Star. This wasn’t just about watching a little practice and grabbing a bite to eat. They were in the team room for the meetings, which is why Looney and James were competing in the free throw shooting competition, just like the current players do. They were in the position meetings, too. They spoke to the current players, offering tips and mentorship. They watched the practice. It was a way for Schottenheimer to bridge the generations of Cowboys and have current players meet some of the former players who helped build “America’s Team.” 12) Who needs to take a bigger leap – Guyton or Mazi? – Staff, DallasCowboys.com This is a good question. 12) Most important leap – Guyton or Mazi? Tommy: Mazi Smith. The Cowboys are going to need everything they can get out of their interior defensive line in 2025, and Smith taking the leap the Cowboys have been looking for would change the entire trajectory of the Cowboys’ defense. If they can stuff up the run in the middle between Smith and Osa Odighizuwa consistently, then things will already be faring better than they did last season for the Cowboys. With Guyton, there’s still help you can give him on the left side if he’s continuing to struggle, and depth behind him should there end up being a better option. In Smith’s case, there’s not many bodies on the roster that have NFL experience in his role, which makes things more difficult and makes his next step all the more important. Kyle: Anytime a this-or-that question is brought up, my first response is to see how it affects the quarterback. That means Tyler Guyton is the most important leap for the Cowboys success in 2025. Does Mazi Smith still need to take big step forward? Absolutely. However, Guyton’s presence on the offensive line will dictate just how successful the re-vamp of the offensive line has been. Dallas has taken a first-round offensive lineman in three of the last four NFL Drafts, with two of them being unproven as a pro. Guyton’s success could solidify the re-build, especially if Tyler Booker stands out as a rookie at the right guard spot. Should Guyton continue to sputter in his second year at left tackle, there will be questions of how to further protect Dak Prescott in the future, which could mean more premium draft picks used on the offensive line. George Pickens should plug a hole in the Cowboys’ offense, but will he be a temporary fix? – Joseph Hoyt, DMN The long-term part of the George Pickens trade is an unknown. But how long will Pickens be here? He’s on the final year of his deal, meaning this season likely ends in two ways for the Cowboys. Either things don’t go as planned, and that need to grow up presents itself again, or things go so well that Pickens is likely to cash in on a major deal in free agency next offseason. A potential contract comparison for Pickens is Cincinnati Bengals wide receiver Tee Higgins, who has developed into one of the best secondary receiving options in the NFL next to Ja’Marr Chase. Higgins signed a four-year, $115 million ($28.75 AAV) deal after he received the franchise tag for the second-straight season. A deal like that could net the Cowboys a third-round compensatory pick in the 2027 NFL draft, based on past contract history. There’s always the potential for an extension or a potential franchise tag from the Cowboys, as well, but there are some problems with those approaches, too. The Cowboys are likely willing to let Pickens prove himself in 2025. If he does, then he won’t be the only one the Cowboys could have interest in bringing back. Cornerback DaRon Bland and tight end Jake Ferguson are among a long list of potential free agents after this season. If Pickens departs, then the Cowboys will be stuck in the same position they were this offseason: looking for another wide receiver to complement Lamb. Finding one won’t be easy. Free agency is one option, but the Cowboys aren’t likely to find a player who fits the bill at the price they’re willing or allowed to pay. The Cowboys are slotted to have just over $5 million in cap space in 2026, though that should change after an extension for Micah Parsons and other salary cap moves are made. Even if the Cowboys opened up space, they’ve proven unwilling of late to go after the big-ticket free agents. The last time they signed an external free agent for more than $10 million annually over multiple years was cornerback Brandon Carr in 2012. Washington wide receiver Terry McLaurin — currently seeking an extension — and Tampa Bay wide receiver Mike

Kevin Jairaj-Imagn Images It would be wise for the Cowboys to get a Micah Parsons deal done before T.J. Watt gets a new one himself. As we approach training camp, the one major question surrounding the Dallas Cowboys is Micah Parsons getting a new deal before the start of the season. This offseason has been filled with back-and-forth from Micah Parsons and the Jones’ in terms of negotiation through the media. Parsons has been on record multiple times asking Jerry and Stephen to “call his agent”, while the Jones’ joked they would deal with Parsons himself instead of his agent, who Jerry claimed not to know. The negotiations feel like they are at a standstill with both parties seeming comfortable waiting until sometime during training camp. It sure sounds like Parsons is looking to be the highest paid non-quarterback in the NFL, which would put his average annual value at or around $40 million per year, eclipsing Myles Garrett’s four year, $160 million contract extension with the Browns signed earlier this year. One holdup here now is Pittsburgh Steeler’s edge rusher T.J. Watt. The latest #Steelers offer to T.J. Watt would make him the highest paid non-QB by APY but there is still a ways to go on getting the deal done. Expect a deal to get done closer to camp #HereWeGo #HappyCanadaDay pic.twitter.com/nnadVIm8A5 — Rickey (@SlickRickScoops) July 1, 2025 Watt is currently in a similar situation as Parsons, as he is currently under contract but not happy with his contract situation. According to Adam Schefter, teams have began reaching out to the Steelers to see if he is available on the trade market, but the Steeler’s have no intent of trading their star defender. Whether it is in Pittsburgh or in a new city, it sounds like Watt will also be looking to be paid in the same realm as Myles Garrett, Ja’Marr Chase, and Maxx Crosby. In the end, that is bad news for the Cowboys and their salary cap, as waiting to “call Micah’s agent” may end up costing them quite a bit of money in the end. The Cowboys have struggled to get ahead of deals with their star players in the past, and it sure sounds like waiting on the Parsons’ deal will only hurt the Cowboys in the end.

Jeff Hanisch-Imagn Images What do you think it will be like when the Cowboys play the Packers this season? In our last installment of the opponent X-Factor series, we covered the Chicago Bears and briefly mentioned how tough the NFC North has become. The Green Bay Packers are one of those tough teams in the division, and the Cowboys have seen that firsthand including the devastating postseason loss a couple years ago. The rivalry of two of the most historic franchises in NFL history will have yet another chapter when Dallas squares off against the Packers in Week 4. After going 11-6 in 2024, Green Bay is coming off their second consecutive playoff appearance. Yet, somehow Green Bay has a lot of players that are flying under the radar. Here are a few of the underrated players that could decide the matchup between the Packers and the Cowboys. Jayden Reed During the draft that was held in Green Bay, the hometown Packers selected Matthew Golden with their first-round pick. While Matthew Golden possesses plenty of speed and is one of the more high-profile rookies of the draft, Green Bay has another playmaking speedster receiver. Jayden Reed is a small receiver at just under 5’11” and 187 lbs., but he can fly. Over the last two seasons, he has been one of Green Bay’s most consistent threats in the passing game or running the football. Head coach Matt LaFleur likes to get creative and find unique ways to get the ball in Reed’s hands whether it be on wide receiver screens, sweeps, or end-arounds. Last season, Reed had over 1,000 yards on 95 touches from scrimmage. Reed offers some potential as a punt returner but isn’t a consistent threat to score on special teams. Per Player Profiler, Reed is number two in the NFL in separation per target, meaning he’s creating a lot of space between himself and the defender when passes are thrown his way. He led the Packers with 15 receiving plays of 20 yards or more. Reed does have issues with ball security and has fumbled five times over his first two years in the NFL. Yet, whoever mans the slot for the Cowboys this year needs to be ready to cover every blade of grass if assigned to Reed whether it be vertically or laterally. Tucker Kraft During the 2023 draft, the Packers selected two tight ends. Luke Musgrave in the second round and Tucker Kraft a round later in the third. Because Musgrave boasted such an impressive athletic profile, many assumed that Musgrave would be the lead tight end and Kraft would see the field to spell Musgrave. Over their last two seasons, it’s been the opposite. While Musgrave has battled injuries, Kraft has emerged as a reliable underneath target for quarterback Jordan Love, and in 2024, Kraft had a breakout season. He recorded 50 receptions for 707 yards and seven touchdowns. Kraft has a stocky build and is deceptively fast for somebody almost 260 lbs. He’s strong enough to break tackles and will make something happen after the catch. 64% (456 yards) of his receiving yards came after the catch. Look for Kraft to try to take advantage of the space between the linebackers and safeties on seams and intermediate crossing routes. Carrington Valentine Similar to the Cowboys, following the departure of a longtime veteran cornerback, the Packers are forced to promote from within. Earlier this offseason, the Packers parted ways with Jaire Alexander, who has since signed with the Baltimore Ravens. The Packers are now tasked with finding a way to replace an All-Pro cornerback. It remains to be seen if they can get that type of production right away but Carrington Valentine is a pretty good start. Don’t let Valentine’s status as a seventh-round draft pick fool you. He’s got a nice set of tools to work with. First, he’s very fast. He ran a 4.4 forty-yard dash at the scouting combine and has 32-inch arms. He’s got fantastic instincts for the football and has totaled 14 passes defended over his first two NFL seasons. Carrington Valentine vs CeeDee Lamb.#Packers pic.twitter.com/uLxz1l7Dqo — Nile (@nileriverx2) April 26, 2024 As you can see for yourself, he was not intimidated by playing against CeeDee Lamb and fared pretty well during their meeting in the playoffs in 2023. Now, because of his inexperience, the Cowboys should be able to get the better of him on double moves and set him up for big plays downfield.

Photo by Focus on Sport/Getty Images We’re counting down to the season opener (Day 63) with some Cowboys history We’re counting down the days until the Dallas Cowboys battle the Philadelphia Eagles in the season opener of the 2025 NFL season. To pass the time and mark the days, we running through 100 Days of Cowboys. So sit back and enjoy some Cowboys history while we countdown to football. Today – number 63. Jethro Pugh Born: July 3, 1944. Windsor, North CarolinaPosition: Defensive tackleDallas Cowboys: 1965-1978Awards: Super Bowl champion- VI, XIIAll-Pro- 1968, 1973 Malcolm Emmons-Imagn Images Jethro Pugh played defensive tackle for the Dallas Cowboys from 1965 to 1978, spending his entire 14-year NFL career with the team. A key member of the legendary “Doomsday Defense,” Pugh was known for his quickness off the line and ability to pressure the quarterback from the interior. Though often overshadowed by bigger-name teammates like Bob Lilly and Randy White, Pugh was remarkably consistent, recording 96.5 career sacks, and he started in two Super Bowl victories (VI and XII). He was a quiet anchor on one of the most dominant defenses of his era. BOTD Jethro Pugh#DallasCowboys pic.twitter.com/GMo0F9C1Gv — Old Time Football (@Ol_TimeFootball) July 3, 2023 Best known for:Pugh was best known for being a reliable and productive force on the Cowboys’ defensive line, helping them reach five Super Bowls and contributing to two championship teams. Longtime Staple of Doomsday Defense Jethro Pugh Passes Away At Age 70 http://t.co/tn5JXgauYH pic.twitter.com/e8pzGCGZUd — Dallas Cowboys (@dallascowboys) January 7, 2015 Lesser known fact:Pugh’s 96.5 career sacks still ranks sixth-most in Cowboys history, more than Bob Lilly, Greg Ellis and DeMarcus Lawrence. ✭ COUNTDOWN TO KICKOFF ✭ With 100 days to go until the #Cowboys kickoff the season against the #Eagles, we are counting down with a @BloggingTheBoys Top-100 consensus ranking. We asked staffers to give in their top-100, here is: DAY 63Jethro Pugh#DallasCowboys… pic.twitter.com/3mnj3Yk9Kn — Mike Poland (@kenfigkowboy) July 3, 2025

Tim Heitman-Imagn Images What is the weirdest Dallas Cowboys tradition that you have? When it comes to watching the Dallas Cowboys different people like to do different things. Some fans prefer to be left alone in solitude to observe what is happening. They need a safe space to vent or are bothered by other people intruding. Others prefer raucous environments and maybe even go to watch parties or host one themselves. The overall point is that there are a number of ways this all happens. Whether it is by way of how you watch, something you do as you watch or maybe something you wear, odds are you have a unique thing that you do while you watch the Dallas Cowboys play football. For today’s discussion we are interested in hearing what that is. Speaking personally, when I was a kid I had a set of mini helmets for every team in the NFL. I enjoyed taking the Cowboys helmet out and whoever they were playing that day and setting them up in front of the television to signify the matchup. What is your obscure Dallas Cowboys tradition? What is the story behind it? Let us know in the comments below!

Chris Jones-Imagn Images The latest news surrounding the Dallas Cowboys. Mailbag: Late-round rookies you want to see? – Tommy Yarrish & Mickey Spagnola, DallasCowboys.com A speedy running may be just what the Cowboys ordered with Jaydon Blue. Besides the top three draft picks, are there one or two other specific rookies you can’t wait to see in camp? Why? – Bryan Scott/Glen Rock, PA Mickey: Definitely running back Jaydon Blue, selected with the first of two fifth round draft picks. At the Texas Pro Day workout I attended, watched him go 4.28 in the 40. This guy has elite speed. Can’t wait to see him in training camp with the ball in his hands. Can you just imagine Blue at running back with the likes of CeeDee Lamb, George Pickens and KaVontae Turpin going three wide, with maybe Jake Ferguson running one of those seam routes up the guy. Hewy, if this was track, this would be some kind of 4x100m relay team right. Now at 5-9, 196, not sure Blue would be a 20-carry guy each game, but man spotting that kind of speed, and with the way he catches the ball out of the backfield, this rookie should be a huge bonus to this offense. Can’t wait to see him in pads. Tommy: I’m excited to see how Brian Schottenheimer and his staff want to use fifth round pick Jaydon Blue. I’ve covered Blue since his junior season at Klein Cain high school in the Houston area, and he’s always been incredibly explosive. At Texas, it was increasingly apparent that he could be a real mismatch and weapon out of the backfield in the receiving game, so I’m interested to see if the Cowboys look to do the same with him and if they can work on fixing his ball security issues from the past. Cowboys will be flirting with disaster if they start offseason trade addition – Matthew Schmidt, Sports Illustrated The jury is out on Kenneth Murray. The Dallas Cowboys made a veteran addition to their linebacking corps earlier this offseason, swinging a trade with the Tennessee Titans to acquire Kenneth Murray. Murray is expected to start for the Cowboys in Week 1, which could cause all sorts of problems for a Dallas defense that is aiming to bounce back from a miserable 2024 showing. A former first-round pick, Murray has definitely not lived up to expectations, which is why he is already on his third team since entering the NFL in 2020. On paper, his numbers look alright. He registered 95 tackles and 3.5 sacks with the Titans last season, and two years ago, he rattled off 107 tackles and three sacks with the Los Angeles Chargers. However, a deeper look into Murray’s production reveals that he is not exactly a positive contributor, especially in a major role. He logged a 45.9 overall grade at Pro Football Focus last season, coming in with a paltry 35.0 grade against the run. That ranked 185th out of 189 qualifying linebackers. It’s not like that was just a one-year thing for Murray, either. In 2023, he posted a 52.1 overall grade and a 48.2 mark against the run. Considering that the Cowboys were gashed for 137.1 rushing yards per game in 2024, which ranked 29th in the league, Murray’s history isn’t exactly comforting. The problem for Dallas, though, is that it may not have anywhere else to turn. The Cowboys don’t have any other proven option to man Murray’s spot, with 2024 third-round pick Marist Liufau probably representing the best alternative. Perhaps Dallas can attempt to swing another trade before the start of the regular season, but realistically speaking, it appears that the Cowboys are prepared to go all in with Murray, which could spell disaster for Dallas’ already shaky run defense. Rashod Bateman: Trade to Cowboys was a possibility, thankful it worked out with Ravens – Josh Alper, NBC Sports Turns out Dallas was looking to trade for another AFC North wide receiver. Wide receiver Rashod Bateman signed a three-year contract extension with the Ravens last month, but his return to the team for the 2025 season wasn’t a sure thing earlier in the offseason. A report in May said the Cowboys looked into trading for Bateman and Bateman confirmed that he was apprised of that interest. That report said the talks didn’t go far, but Bateman said “it was a possibility” that he would be on the move to Dallas before he and the Ravens pivoted to hammering out a new deal. Bateman said he’s “thankful” that General Manager Eric DeCosta was able to work things out. “That’s the first thing I told him: I don’t want to go anywhere else. ‘I know you’ve got a lot of stuff to work through and we’ll figure it out when we figure it out,’” Bateman said, via Jeff Zrebiec of TheAthletic.com. “It took time, but it takes time with a lot of people’s contracts. He had a lot of contracts to get done, and maybe more to get done in the future. To be a priority for him in that way is important. He shows he values me.” The Cowboys eventually looked elsewhere in the AFC North for receiver help and traded for George Pickens, so the Ravens won’t have to deal with him as they try for another division title later this year. Ranking offseason traded players in terms of situation: Can George Pickens succeed with Cowboys? – Jeff Kerr, CBS Sports How is Dallas’ trade for Pickens being viewed? With all the notable trades that occurred this offseason involving veteran players, which players will have the best fit with their new team? Basically, which player and team will get the most out of their acquisition. 6. George Pickens to Cowboys Pickens is a tremendous talent, yet it remains to be seen if he’ll be any more than that. He’ll be the No. 2 wide receiver in Dallas, a deep-ball wideout as CeeDee Lamb carves up

SetNumber: X23042 TK1 R12 F23 We’re counting down to the season opener (Day 64) with some Cowboys history We’re counting down the days until the Dallas Cowboys battle the Philadelphia Eagles in the season opener of the 2025 NFL season. To pass the time and mark the days, we running through 100 Days of Cowboys. So sit back and enjoy some Cowboys history while we countdown to football. Today – number 64 Pat Donovan Born: July 1, 1953. Helena, MontanaPosition: Offensive tackleDallas Cowboys: 1975-1983Awards: Super Bowl champion- XIIAll-Pro- 1981Pro Bowl– 1978, 1979, 1980, 1981 Photo by Focus on Sport via Getty Images Pat Donovan played offensive tackle for the Dallas Cowboys from 1975 to 1983 after being drafted in the fourth round out of Stanford. Initially starting as a defensive lineman, Donovan transitioned to offense after the team needed help to fill positions on the line. Thanks to the coaches past experience transitioning defensive linemen to the offensive line, Donovan quickly became a fixture at both right and left tackle and held the starting position for six seasons. Known for his athleticism and intelligence, he starred in four Pro Bowls and helped anchor the offensive line during an era when Dallas was a perennial Super Bowl contender. Donovan was a key protector for quarterbacks like Roger Staubach and Danny White, and he helped lead the Cowboys to a victory in Super Bowl XII. Manny Rubio-USA TODAY Sports Best known for:Donovan was best known for his durability and elite pass protection, starting 129 consecutive games and serving as a cornerstone of the Cowboys’ offensive line during their late ’70s and early ’80s success. Lesser known fact:Before his NFL career, Donovan was a state champion shot put and discus thrower in high school and once held the Oregon state record, showcasing the raw strength and athletic ability that would later define his trench play in Dallas.