Kevin Jairaj-Imagn Images Notable headlines surrounding America’s team. Cowboys now have guaranteed $125 million target for negotiations with 4x Pro Bowler – K.D. Drummond, Cowboys Wire The floor has been set. Executive VP and money man Stephen Jones mentioned, while in negotiations with Agent OO97 Odighizuwa, that the team’s agenda was to complete that so they could move on to extension talks with celestial luminary Micah Parsons. Parsons is entering the fifth-year option of his deal and is expected to command the most money ever given to a non quarterback. A week ago that ceiling sat at $34 million a year, $170 million in total compensation and $122.5 million in total guarantees. But on Sunday, the Cleveland Browns reached an agreement with another edge rusher on a Hall of Fame trajectory, inking Myles Garrett to a four-year extension averaging $40 million a season and totalling $123.5 million in guarantees. Garrett’s extension zooms past the average salary earned by Las Vegas Raiders edge Maxx Crosby, who earlier in the week signed a new extension that averages $35.5 million a season. surpassing the 49ers Nick Bosa’s deal by $1.5 million a year. Garrett now leaves that total in the dust, taking advantage of the $23.8 million of additional space on the 2025 NFL cap. AFC team cleaning house may screw Cowboys out of dream draft scenario – Jerry Trotta, The Landry Hat Dallas has to hope for some bad decisions come draft day. “Outside of CeeDee Lamb, where is the juice coming from in the Cowboys’ offense?” Brugler writes. “McMillan could provide some. With his rangy catch radius and ball skills, he is a quarterback-friendly target who is open even when covered.” McMillan would be a fantastic pick for Dallas, but the Jaguars feel like an obvious landing spot for the former Wildcat after they traded Christian Kirk to the Texans. They also released wide receivers Josh Reynolds, Devin Duvernay and top tight end Evan Engram, who was limited to nine games last season but caught 114passes for 963 yards in 2023. Engram in Dallas would be fun, but let’s save that for another day. 2024 first-round pick Brian Thomas had a fantastic rookie season, catching 87 passes for 1,282 yards and 10 touchdowns to pace all rookies. The Jaguars would probably like to get ride of Gabe Davis, too, but he’s guaranteed $11.5 million next season. They might end up parting ways with him regardless. Long story short they need another receiver to pair with Thomas. Should Dallas Cowboys pursue recently released future Hall of Famer? – Matt Galatzan, Sports Illustrated The Cowboys will be looking at some aged vets in free agency, but will they sign them? According to reports from NFL insider Ian Rapoport, the Buffalo Bills are set to release eight-time Pro Bowler, seven-time All-Pro and future Hall of Fame edge rusher Von Miller after three seasons with the team. Meanwhile the Dallas Cowboys are in major need of help in the pass rushing department, and have recently become the benefactors of an influx of freed of cap space. All of which begs the question – should the Cowboys pursue Miller in free agency? Well, at least on the surface one could make the argument that they absolutely should at least attempt to make a phone call. In his 13 seasons in the NFL, Miller has amassed 129.5 sacks, averaging 11.8 sacks per season, and has racked up 171 tackles for loss, 256 QB Hits and 581 tackles. Of course, in his three years with Buffalo, those numbers have dropped significantly, with Miller making just 14 sacks, 17 tackles for loss and 23 QB hits in 36 games. 3 of “our guys” the Cowboys should re-sign if the price is right – Mario Herrera Jr, Inside The Star It would be nice to see these names wearing the star again. CB Jourdan Lewis Projected Market Value: $2yr, $4.5M ($2.25M AAV) Jourdan Lewis has been a key contributor in the Cowboys’ secondary for several reasons. Known for his quickness and savvy play in the slot, Lewis has proven to be a dependable cornerback in one of the league’s most challenging positions. As the Cowboys defense enters a new defensive scheme yet again under DC Matt Eberflus, retaining a player like Lewis, who brings both experience and reliability to the field, should be a priority. Spotrac’s market value projections place Lewis’ contract at around $2.25M per season. I don’t think Lewis will be that cheap to retain, but he might agree to a team-friendly deal. Projected market values provided for Cowboys upcoming free agents- Connor Livesay, Blogging The Boys To set the stage. A few of the key names include Jourdan Lewis, DeMarcus Lawrence, Erik Kendricks, and Carl Lawson. According to Spotrac, Lewis’ value is around $2.25-million per year which seems very low given the level he has contributed to the Cowboys defense over the course of his career. If the Cowboys are able to retain Lewis in the $2-to-$5-million per year range that would be a fantastic value for one of their best defenders over the last few years. Lawson is another name to highlight in this free agency period. Lawson was a key contributor to the Cowboys pass rush in 2024, finishing with six sacks and 27 pressures in limited snaps. DeMarcus Lawrence, the longest tenured Cowboy remaining with Zack Martin recently retiring, is a name to watch over the opening days of NFL free agency. Lawrence played in just four games in 2024, but has been a leader and excellent player for the Cowboys over the course of his career. Lawrence’s agent, David Canter, spoke at the NFL scouting combine and his comments did not reflect a ton of confidence in Lawrence returning to the Cowboys, but that may change if his market is not as heavy as many have predicted.

Photo by Cooper Neill/Getty Images Markquese Bell is returning to the Dallas Cowboys The Dallas Cowboys have locked up their third defensive player of the week. After signing defensive tackle Osa Odighizuwa to a four-year extension, and picking up the contract option on safety Juanyeh Thomas, the Cowboys have agreed to a three-year deal worth up to $12 million with safety Markquese Bell, who was an undrafted free agent in 2022. The #Cowboys and safety Markquese Bell have agreed to terms on a three-year deal with a max value of $12M, per sources. pic.twitter.com/kLfSoDEuvY — Jeremy Fowler (@JFowlerESPN) March 9, 2025 Bell logged just 22 defensive snaps as a rookie. It would be the 2023 season where he would make his mark, but not at safety. Despite being very undersized, Bell played linebacker under former defensive coordinator Dan Quinn that season and finished second on the team with 94 tackles. However, once the Cowboys got deep into the regular season, and eventually the playoffs, Bell’s lack of size hurt the Cowboys defense as teams were able to run the ball and control the clock. The 2024 campaign saw Bell go back to his natural position of safety. He would only play 34 defensive plays as Donovan Wilson and Malik Hooker handled safety duties. Dallas now has Wilson, Hooker, Thomas and Bell locked in. Wilson will be a free agent in 2026, so this move covers them if he isn’t retained. Nonetheless, the Cowboys have solid safety depth going into 2025.

Photo by Kevin Sabitus/Getty Images We are tracking all news and rumors surrounding Dallas Cowboys free agency. NFL free agency is here and the Dallas Cowboys would be wise to make the most of it. The Cowboys are a team known for not exactly partaking in free agency, but the last few weeks have suggested that some things are starting to change which could mean that they maybe decide to finally get involved. You never know with these types of things. As always we will be tracking all rumors and official pieces of news relative to the Cowboys and what happens around them in free agency. This post will serve as that tracker so make sure to bookmark it and check for constant updates in the coming weeks. Keep in mind that the NFL’s legal tampering window opens on Monday, March 10th at 12pm ET and closes one minute before the new league year officially begins which is at 4pm ET on Wednesday, March 12th. Many deals will be accomplished in the legal tampering window and will not officially be able to happen until the new league year begins. CURRENT DALLAS COWBOYS CAP SPACE, PER OVERTHECAP: $54M Last Updated: Sunday, March 9th at 7:35pm ET Dallas Cowboys Free Agent Signings or Re-Signings The Cowboys re-signed DT Osa Odighizuwa The Cowboys re-signed special teams player C.J. Goodwin The Cowboys picked up the option on ERFA Juanyeh Thomas The Cowboys picked up the option on ERFA Brock Hoffman The Cowboys picked up the option on ERFA Tyrus Wheat The Cowboys re-signed safety Markquese Bell Dallas Cowboys Free Agent Rumors TBD Former Cowboys Who are Officially Headed Elsewhere TBD

Photo by Sam Hodde/Getty Images Which players do you think the Cowboys will retain this week? It has been a busy week of NFL news with a ton of big names being released, some being re-signed, and some being traded. So far for the Cowboys, they have re-signed Osa Odighizuwa to a 4-year $80-million dollar deal on March 4th, and took care of guys like Juanyeh Thomas, Brock Hoffman and C.J. Goodwin. With the legal tampering period starting on Monday, the first-wave of free agency will be just about over by the end of the day, with most of the tier one free agents agreeing to terms on Monday. The Cowboys currently have 17 unrestricted free agents and a few of the big names have had their market values recently updated by Spotrac.com. Projected market values for notable Cowboys unrestricted free agents sorted by AAV, according to @spotrac: DE DeMarcus Lawrence – 2 years/$24MDE Chauncey Golston – 3 years/$22MLB Eric Kendricks – 1 year/$6.8MRB Rico Dowdle – 1 year/$6.2MWR Brandin Cooks – 1 year/$5.2MQB… https://t.co/NpiJRruSTf — Nick Harris (@NickHarrisFWST) March 8, 2025 A few of the key names include Jourdan Lewis, DeMarcus Lawrence, Erik Kendricks, and Carl Lawson. According to Spotrac, Lewis’ value is around $2.25-million per year which seems very low given the level he has contributed to the Cowboys defense over the course of his career. If the Cowboys are able to retain Lewis in the $2-to-$5-million per year range that would be a fantastic value for one of their best defenders over the last few years. Lawson is another name to highlight in this free agency period. Lawson was a key contributor to the Cowboys pass rush in 2024, finishing with six sacks and 27 pressures in limited snaps. DeMarcus Lawrence, the longest tenured Cowboy remaining with Zack Martin recently retiring, is a name to watch over the opening days of NFL free agency. Lawrence played in just four games in 2024, but has been a leader and excellent player for the Cowboys over the course of his career. Lawrence’s agent, David Canter, spoke at the NFL scouting combine and his comments did not reflect a ton of confidence in Lawrence returning to the Cowboys, but that may change if his market is not as heavy as many have predicted. Erik Kendricks is the last name to mention with the rough shape the Cowboys linebacker room is currently in with DeMarvion Overshown likely to miss most of the 2025 season. Kendricks played the third most snaps on the Cowboys defense in 2024, behind Malik Hooker and Donovan Wilson and played pretty well for most of the season. The Cowboys have plenty of money to spend, with the 10th most cap space in the NFL after restructuring Dak Prescott and CeeDee Lamb deals earlier in the week. We will see how aggressive they are in retaining their own free agents over the next few days and how that impacts how aggressive they will be on outside free agents when free agency kicks off next week.

Scott Galvin-Imagn Images The Myles Garrett contract will clearly have an impact on the Dallas Cowboys and Micah Parsons. The leaves are officially falling. On Sunday morning we got news that the Cleveland Browns agreed to a contract extension with star pass rusher Myles Garrett. There is over $123M guaranteed on the deal and it averages $40M per season. He is the highest-paid non-quarterback in the league now. From trade to truce and beyond: the Browns and Myles Garrett reached agreement today on a record contract extension that averages $40 million per year and includes $123.5 million in guaranteed money and now makes him the highest-paid non-QB in NFL history, sources tell ESPN.… pic.twitter.com/scNWJH2vFX — Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) March 9, 2025 The verbiage about being the “highest-paid non-quarterback in the league” might sound familiar to you. This is the case because it was thrown out about the deal that the Las Vegas Raiders gave to Maxx Crosby… four days ago. Put simply, this is the way the game is played. If you have demonstrated that you are one of the elite players at a certain position, a high-paying one like pass rusher, then when it is your turn to get paid you get the moniker assigned to you. That feels important for the Dallas Cowboys right now. Here is how the Myles Garrett deal impacts the Dallas Cowboys The Cowboys were first able to negotiate an extension with Micah Parsons last offseason. That would have been the ideal time to get it done. At that moment in time, the pass rusher market was much more calm than it has gotten this past week. San Francisco’s Nick Bosa led the group with an AAV of $34M. That has now been outdone twice in the span of a few days as noted. Highest paid pass-rushers in the NFL on a per-year basis: Myles Garrett: $40M Maxx Crosby: $35.5M Nick Bosa: $34M Josh Hines-Allen: $28.25M Brian Burns: $28.2M — Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) March 9, 2025 Obviously the Cowboys were preoccupied with tending to deals for CeeDee Lamb and Dak Prescott that came in late last offseason. They could have made an effort to get all three done, maybe they did, but waiting on those cost them, and waiting here has done so as well. Parsons has been on record several times lately in saying that he would take less from the Cowboys in the name of another potential goal. He recently said he would if Dallas were able to acquire Myles Garrett (this was when Garrett made a trade request, the one that obviously led to this deal) but that is now impossible. Back in December, Parsons said specifically that he did not need $40M per year. These are all interesting comments and may have been genuine from him, but Parsons has representation who may push for the maximum. $40M per year from a pass rusher or non-quarterback standpoint was merely a hypothetical when Parsons offered it. Now it is literally the market price. The best assumption in our new world is that Parsons is going to clear the deal that Garrett just got and probably by a comfortable margin. Given that he is at the moment set to enter the final year of his rookie contract, obviously a franchise tag in 2026 and even beyond is possible, it also stands to reason that it will happen before the season begins. Will that be soon? Will it come during the summer? Are we looking at another situation akin to Lamb and/or Prescott? Time will tell. The Cowboys did clear about $55M in salary cap space this past week. Maybe it was for this. Maybe it is for something else.

Tim Heitman-USA TODAY Sports The Cowboys have to find a way to bring in some talent. It’s free agency week! Yay for fans whose teams participate in free agency. For many, this is a time to get excited as fans get some new toys to root for. For the Dallas Cowboys, it’s a bit of a different story. As we know, our beloved Cowboys are not big players in free agency. Because of that, we have conditioned ourselves to lower our expectations. This is our reality. But… the Cowboys have recently completed some restructures and moved some money around creating a heap of resources available to spend however they want. Does that mean they would dare splash around in free agency? Not necessarily, but anything is possible, amiright? With free agency kicking off, let’s run through each position group and figure out how they might address certain areas of their roster. QUARTERBACK The Cowboys are set with Dak Prescott as their starting quarterback. Prescott is locked in with the team as he is under contract for the next four seasons, but they could still use a backup. Both Cooper Rush and Trey Lance are unrestricted free agents. Rush seems like a candidate to retain as he’s been their “steady Eddie” backup over the last few years. The team could also look to select a development QB late in the draft since the Trey Lance experiment appears to be over. Solution: Re-sign Rush and add a late-round rookie RUNNING BACK Deuce Vaughn and Malik Davis are the only running backs under contract this upcoming season, so it’s no secret this position group is a big concern heading into the new season. The Cowboys need serious help in this area so expect multiple pieces to be added. It may or may not include Rico Dowdle depending on his price, but the team could package a low-cost free agent with a new rookie. They absolutely must draft a running back next month as their lack of attention in prior drafts has boxed them into a corner. It can still be fixed without anything major, but they must take action over the next couple of months. Solution: Re-sign Dowdle and select a running back within the first two days of the draft WIDE RECEIVER This is another area where help is needed as the team has CeeDee Lamb and nobody else. The Jalen Tolbert experiment hasn’t gone well and he only has one year left on his rookie deal. The Cowboys traded for Jonathan Mingo last year, but few are holding their breath with that one. They need to add a bona fide WR2 somewhere, whether it’s one of the enticing available veteran free agents or in the draft. Which way will they go? Solution: Select a wide receiver within the first two days of the draft TIGHT END The Cowboys have some bodies at tight end with the trio of Jake Ferguson, Luke Schoonmaker, and Brevyn Spann-Ford under contract. Ferguson is entering the last year of his rookie deal, so the team should start looking ahead, but don’t expect anything ground-shaking here. New offensive coordinator and former offensive lines coach Klayton Adams loves to use his tight ends, so expect the team to bring on a quality in-line blocker to help Fergy and Schoony hold things down. That could come in the form of a low-cost free agent or reaching deep in the draft pool. Solution: Late-round draft pick or priority free agent OFFENSIVE LINE Oddly enough, the team is in relatively good shape along the offensive line. Yes, in less than a year, they’ve lost Tyron Smith and Zack Martin, but they seem unfazed by it. The interior line is set with All-Pro Tyler Smith, rising star Cooper Beebe, and the surprisingly reliable Brock Hoffman. The real questions belong out on the edge. Despite his inconsistent play, Terence Steele isn’t going anywhere and could shock some people this season in the Cowboys revamped rushing attack. The biggest enigma is second-year tackle Tyler Guyton. Can he take a step forward? If that works out, the line may be better than some expect as they still have solid young depth with T.J. Bass and Asim Richards waiting their turn. Solution: Low-cost free agent of no consequence who has position flexibility DEFENSIVE END Micah Parsons and Marshawn Kneeland will be fixtures along the edge for at least the next three years. Sam Williams returns from injury, but he only has one year left on his rookie deal. The DeMarcus Lawrence situation is interesting as it would be wonderful if they could sneak him back on the team for a short-term, team-friendly deal. Whether it’s Tank or someone else, the Cowboys are crafty in finding these short-term veteran solutions to rush the quarterback. Players like Aldon Smith, Robert Quinn, Dante Fowler, and most recently, Carl Lawson have all been nice adds in recent years. While those are short-term answers, we can’t rule out using another premium draft resource if the right guy falls to them. Solution: Re-sign Carl Lawson DEFENSIVE TACKLE The team already made a big splash by giving Osa Odighizuwa a four-year extension. They also have Mazi Smith who is only halfway through his rookie deal. While the starters may be intact, they don’t have much for depth. In the past, they loved to find low-cost veteran nose tackles like Carlos Watkins, Johnathan Hankins, or Linval Joseph, so why should we expect anything to change? Similar to edge, DT could be a position where they make a surprise draft pick if the right player is there. Solution: Low-cost veteran free agent for depth LINEBACKER This is another area where the Cowboys need some bodies. With DeMarvion Overshown’s health in question, the only trusted linebacker they have is second-year player Marist Liufau. Like running back, we should expect the team to double-dip with a low-cost free agent and a rookie draft pick. Linebackers have thrived under new defensive coordinator Matt Eberflus, so it’s hard

Photo by Cooper Neill/Getty Images Your Sunday morning Cowboys news. 2025 NFL free agency: Ranking top 100 players, QBs available – Matt Bowen, ESPN Where the Cowboys top free agents rank. 54. DeMarcus Lawrence, Edge 2024 team: Dallas Cowboys | Age entering 2025 season: 33 Lawrence played in just four games last season due to a Lisfranc injury. If healthy and cleared to go, expect him to have a market this offseason. With his blend of power and speed, Lawrence has 61.5 sacks and 21 forced fumbles during his career. He could boost the pass rush for a contender. 56. Rico Dowdle, RB 2024 team: Dallas Cowboys | Age entering 2025 season: 27 Dowdle has the lateral speed to get through tight quarters as a runner, and I see the short-area acceleration to hit daylight on tape. Last season, he rushed for 1,079 yards while adding 249 yards receiving on 39 receptions. He fits as a rotational player for a club looking to add a veteran back. 65. Jourdan Lewis, CB 2024 team: Dallas Cowboys | Age entering 2025 season: 30 Lewis can add to a secondary in need of a veteran slot corner because of his man- and zone-coverage skills. He can patrol the edges as an overhang defender with his short-area burst to cut off the ball. In eight seasons with the Cowboys, he has 10 interceptions and 27 pass breakups. 74. Chauncey Golston, Edge 2024 team: Dallas Cowboys | Age entering 2025 season: 27 Golston played a career-high 747 snaps last season, posting 56 tackles and 5.5 sacks. He fits best as an edge setter in a 4-3 front, with the ability to create pass-rush matchups from interior alignments in sub packages. He played mostly in a part-time role from 2021 to 2023. Will McClay’s track record in the 1st round puts him a cut above the rest-Mario Herrera Jr., Inside the Star How Will McClay’s first-round success sets him apart. Will McClay, the Vice President of Player Personnel for the Dallas Cowboys, has proven time and again that his eye for talent is second to none. Over the past decade, McClay has been the architect behind the franchise’s most impactful draft selections, particularly in the first round. Since taking on a prominent role in Dallas’ front office, McClay has consistently made savvy picks that have not only bolstered the Cowboys’ roster, but also resulted in several future All-Pro players. His track record of success can be traced directly to a string of exceptional first round picks, beginning with recently retired RG Zack Martin in 2014. Out of the first eight players McClay selected in the opening round, seven would go on to become Pro Bowl or All-Pro caliber players; an unprecedented level of success that speaks to McClay’s remarkable scouting ability and strategic foresight. The 1st Hat Trick McClay’s very first draft in 2014 would start a streak of three seasons where his 1st round picks all became All-Pros or Pro Bowlers. Taking a Leap The Dallas Cowboys selected CB Byron Jones in the 1st round of the 2015 NFL Draft at 27th overall. Jones was known for his impressive athleticism, highlighted by a world record setting broad jump at the NFL Combine. He started as a safety but transitioned to cornerback, where he had a strong impact on the Cowboys’ defense in 2018. He earned the only Pro Bowl honors of his career that year despite not recording an interception. Jones didn’t develop into the player the Cowboys hoped he would be when they drafted him, but he was a solid player who went on to play for the Miami Dolphins for two more seasons after leaving Dallas. Starting On the Right Foot The Dallas Cowboys’ drafting of RG Zack Martin at 16th overall in the 2014 NFL Draft set the tone for what would become one of the most impressive runs of draft success in the league. A standout tackle from Notre Dame, Martin was considered one of the safest picks in the draft, but what set McClay apart was his ability to recognize Martin’s immediate impact on the Cowboys’ offensive line at guard. Martin immediately stepped in as the starter at right guard and not only started all 16 games, but quickly showed how dominant he would be as a member of The Great Wall of Dallas II. He helped pave the way for RB DeMarco Murray’s record-setting 2014 season, and has since accrued nine All-Pro selections, eight of them 1st team. His reliability and dominance in the trenches helped elevate the Cowboys’ running game and protect QB Dak Prescott until the last snap. Cowboys Predicted To Make 8 Bold Free Agency Moves Despite Jerry Jones’ ‘Void’ Warning – Nathan Karseno, Athlon Sports Eight hot takes for what what the Cowboys could do in free agency despite Jerry Jones’ cool demeanor. 1. Re-Sign Micah Parsons The first step is one we at CowboysCountry.com have been analyzing for weeks. Not only does re-signing a defensive superstar sure-up the edge for the long term, is also helps future free agency efforts. If Parsons is extended, the Cowboys will generate more cap space by the time March 12 rolls around and the NFL’s cap ceiling is raised. Dallas has already made the effort to grow their offseason spending budget, and signing Micah soon will be the latest move in that “Blow It Up” plan. Let’s do this now, Jerry, shall we? 2. Sign Tyler Lockett The veteran receiver was just let go by the Seattle Seahawks in their efforts to unload their assets this week. Given Lockett’s age (32) and dip in production, you can hope Dallas can sign him at a relatively cheap price. Coach Brian Schottenheimer also has familiarity with Lockett as he was the receiver’s offensive coordinator in Seattle from 2018-20. Lockett would provide leadership, durability, and veteran experience to a Cowboys receiver room in need of help alongside CeeDee Lamb. 3. Sign Nick Bolton There are multiple question marks surrounding the

Photo by Emilee Chinn/Getty Images Brandin Cooks believes the Cowboys did not utilize him to his full strengths. There are a number of former Dallas Cowboys wide receivers who will be looking for new contracts when free agency begins next week. Amari Cooper is set to hit the open market. On Friday afternoon it was reported that Michael Gallup is going to join him in an attempted return to the NFL. Brandin Cooks is the only one of the group coming off just playing for the Cowboys, but he too will also be seeking a new opportunity for work. For all we know any one of them could return to the Cowboys. As noted, Cooks returning would be the least dramatic as he has played for the team for the last two seasons and while there were some solid moments in that time it was also a little disappointing. Consider that before joining the Cowboys that Brandin Cooks had at least one season where he recorded 1,000 receiving yards for every team he played for: New Orleans Saints, New England Patriots, Los Angeles Rams and Houston Texans. That streak died with the Cowboys, at least for now. According to Cooks, by way of Josina Anderson, it appears that he believes the Cowboys did not utilize him to his full strengths. “I’m expecting a good free agency since this is the first time that I would be a free agent in my career, but I’m also open to returning to Dallas. At the end of the day I’m just trying to win. I am fully healthy and have nothing to hide (Cooks missed seven games midseason last year with a knee injury before returning).” On the probability of returning to Dallas: “I have a good relationship with Dak (Prescott) the Jones family and Cee Dee (Lamb), it’s just one of those things where they have to focus on what they have to get done first too. I would love to play with the Cowboys, at the same time they would have to use me right. I don’t think they fully used me to my strengths.” Between his two seasons with the Cowboys the better one for Cooks was obviously in 2023. He “only” had 81 targets across that season which at the time was the third-fewest in his career (only his rookie season with the Saints and his final season with the Rams saw less). Last season was tough for Cooks and established a new career low. Can it be argued that Cooks was not utilized to his full strengths? These things are subjective so you could make the case. But it is worth mentioning that the first season in which he arrived, CeeDee Lamb basically set every receiving record in franchise history. The second season was full of toxicity before it ever began, and the franchise quarterback was lost for the season before the halfway point. Context matters. For what it’s worth, Cooks’ line does not read like someone taking a shot at the team that just employed him, but rather someone looking to say he still has something to offer another NFL team who may be thinking about bringing him in shortly. Do you agree with his estimation that he was not utilized properly?

Photo by David Rosenblum/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images Predicting all 32 NFL teams first-round draft picks. With the 2025 NFL Scouting Combine wrapped up, mock drafts cannot be predicted with little bit more accuracy knowing which prospects teams could be targeting. Between now and the draft in April player rankings may fluctuate a little, but overall teams big board’s are pretty close to being set. With that information and the current roster “needs” for all 32 NFL teams, we decided we would try to attempt to predict how each pick plays out in the first-round of the 2025 NFL Draft. Since trades are unpredictable, we excluded them from this mock draft. 1. Tennessee Titans – EDGE Abdul Carter, Penn State Tennessee is rumored to be willing to trade away the first overall pick likely to a QB “needy” team. If they make a selection here Abdul Carter makes sense. He has the talent to become one of the best pass rusher’s in the league. 2. Cleveland Browns – QB Cam Ward, Miami Cam Ward fills a glaring hole at QB in Cleveland after the whole Deshaun Watson trade failure, which continues to negatively impact the organization. 3. New York Giants – CB/WR Travis Hunter, Colorado The Giants are a candidate to trade up for the first overall pick to select their QB of the future, but if they stay put Travis Hunter could be the pick. He immediately upgrades both offense and defense as a rookie. 4. New England Patriots – OT/G Armand Membou, Missouri New England decides to bypass adding another weapon for their second-year QB in favor of protecting him by selecting Armand Membou. The 20-year-old is a plug-and-play starter with Pro Bowl potential as a rookie. 5. Jacksonville Jaguars – OT/G Will Campbell, LSU Although Will Campbell has proven he can remain at tackle in the NFL, his best fit may be inside at guard. He could step in and replace Brandon Scherff in Jacksonville, who is currently pending free agent. 6. Las Vegas Raiders – WR Tetairoa McMillan, Arizona The Raiders give their newly acquired QB Geno Smith another receiving weapon and a player with WR1 potential as a rookie in Tetairoa McMillan to pair with Jakobi Meyers and Brock Bowers. 7. New York Jets – DT Mason Graham, Michigan Mason Graham’s play style and attitude fit what Aaron Glenn looks for in his defensive players and can be the building block in which this defense is built around for years to come. 8. Carolina Panthers – EDGE Shemar Stewart, Texas A&M After blowing up the combine, the Panthers decide to gamble a bit by betting on Shemar Stewart’s elite athleticism by making him a Top 10 selection, despite his 1.5 sacks in each of his last three seasons. 9. New Orleans Saints – TE Tyler Warren, Penn State Regardless of who ends up playing quarterback in New Orleans, the Saints need to add more firepower to their offense under first-year head coach Kellen Moore. Tyler Warren is a do-it-all weapon that does just that. 10. Chicago Bears – RB Ashton Jeanty, Boise State After making recent trades to upgrade their offensive line, the Bears have set themselves up to further help their second-year QB by adding some serious juice to the backfield in the Aston Jeanty. 11. San Francisco 49ers – OT/G Kelvin Banks Jr., Texas Trent Williams isn’t getting any younger and Aaron Banks is a pending free agent, making Kelvin Banks’ OT/G versatility an intriguing option to replace either depending where the 49ers like him best. 12. Dallas Cowboys – EDGE Mykel Williams, Georgia Photo by David Rosenblum/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images The Cowboys stick to their big board here and choose EDGE Mykel Williams instead of reaching for WR Matthew Golden to upgrade and add depth at defensive end. Adding Williams with Micah Parsons, Marshawn Kneeland, and Sam Williams would give the Cowboys really good depth at DE, creating the potential to have one of the better pass rushing units in league. With QB Sheduer Sanders still on the board trading down with QB needy teams like the Seahawks or Steelers could be in play here as well. Staying pat here with Mykel Williams though the Cowboys get a player who can challenge Marshawn Kneeland and Sam Williams from Day 1 to start opposite Micah Parsons as DeMarcus Lawrence’s replacement. He could be a plug-and-play starter with Pro Bowl potential down the road. 13. Miami Dolphins – S Nick Emmanwori, South Carolina With both Javon Holland and Jordan Poyer as pending free agents, the Dolphins are in need of more safety help and decide to draft Nick Emmanwori to upgrade the back end of their secondary. 14. Indianapolis Colts – G Tyler Booker, Alabama Tyler Booker would be a plug-and-play replacement for RG Will Fries, a pending free agent, and give Indianapolis a nasty guard duo (Quenton Nelson) for RB Jonathan Taylor to run behind. 15. Atlanta Falcons – EDGE Mike Green, Marshall The Falcons need pass rush help and while Mike Green raised some concerns after not participating at the combine, he is still worthy of the Top 15 pick after dominating the Senior Bowl. 16. Arizona Cardinals – CB Will Johnson, Michigan The Cardinals have a lot of roster needs and could go several different directions here, but being able to snag the top-ranked CB this year to upgrade their secondary would be too good to pass up. 17. Cincinnati Bengals – EDGE Donovan Ezeiruaku, Boston College After Sam Hubbard decided to retire and with Trey Hendrickson requesting a trade, the Bengals find themselves in need of more pass rushing help. Donovan Ezeiruaku helps fill the void immediately. 18. Seattle Seahawks – QB Sheduer Sanders, Colorado Although they still need to upgrade their OL and receiving core, Seattle finds a replacement for Geno Smith here in Sheduer Sanders. The rest of the draft should be devoted to building around him. 19. Tampa Bay Buccaneers – LB Jihaad Campbell, Alabama

Photo by Jack Gorman/Getty Images Here is our scouting report on Alfred Collins from Texas We continue our 2025 NFL Draft preview of draft prospects that could interest the Dallas Cowboys. Today we are looking at defensive tackle Alfred Collins from Texas. Alfred Collins DTTexas Longhorns Senior5-star recruit 6’5”322 lbs Photo by Michael Wade/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images History Alfred Collins was born on October 8, 2001, in Bastrop, Texas, and grew up in the nearby town of Cedar Creek, where he attended Cedar Creek High School. He comes from an athletic family—his mother, Benita Pollard, was a standout basketball player at the University of Texas from 1990 to 1994, which likely influenced his decision to follow in her footsteps and attend the same university. During his high school career, Collins excelled as a three-sport athlete, participating in football, basketball, and track and field (shot put and discus). On the football field, he was a dominant force, amassing 253 total tackles (180 solo and 73 assisted), 74 tackles for loss, and 18 sacks over his career. His senior year alone saw him record 86 tackles, 35 tackles for loss, and eight sacks, earning him District Defensive Lineman of the Year honors and a spot in the 2020 All-American Bowl. Rated as a five-star recruit, Collins was highly sought after, ultimately choosing the University of Texas over offers from powerhouse programs like Alabama, Baylor, Oklahoma, and Texas A&M. At Texas, Collins joined the Longhorns in 2020 as a true freshman during the COVID-19-shortened season, playing in all 10 games and starting one. He recorded 22 tackles and showed early promise as a rotational player on a veteran-laden defensive line, contributing to a 7-3 Longhorns team that finished with an Alamo Bowl win. In his second season, Collins appeared in all 12 games, starting three, as he began carving out a bigger role. He tallied 25 tackles (15 solo), five tackles for loss, and two sacks. The Longhorns struggled to a 5-7 record, but Collins emerged as a reliable depth piece. Collins played in all games in 2022, starting one, and continued to develop his physical presence. He posted 17 tackles, three tackles for loss, and one sack, contributing to an 8-5 season. In his senior year, Collins appeared in all 14 games with seven starts. He recorded 22 tackles (14 solo), two tackles for loss, two sacks and two pass breakups, refining his skills as a run-stopper. The Longhorns went 12-2, winning the Big 12 title and reaching the CFP quarterfinals, with Collins playing a steady supporting role alongside stars like T’Vondre Sweat and Byron Murphy II. Granted an extra year of eligibility due to COVID, Collins seized a starring role, starting 16 games. He notched 55 tackles (27 solo), six tackles for loss, one sack, seven pass breakups, and a forced fumble, earning First-Team All-SEC and Second-Team All-American honors. His efforts helped Texas go 11-2, and reach the CFP again. 2024 Statistics 593 Defensive Snaps55 Total Tackles6 Tackles For Loss18 Total Pressures 1 Sack7 Pass Breakups1 Forced Fumble1 Penalty NFL Combine/Pro Day Vert- 26” (14%)Broad- 96” (6%) Awards All-America (2024)First-team All-SEC (2024) Scorecard Overall- 80.0Speed- 78Acceleration- 88Agility- 79Strength- 93Tackling- 89Pass Rush- 80Run Defense- 86Discipline- 98 THE GOOD Collins is one of the premier run-stoppers in the 2025 draft class. He anchors with a wide base and powerful lower half, rarely getting displaced by single blockers. His ability to stack, shed, and control gaps makes him a two-gap terror, often resetting the line of scrimmage with violent hand strikes. Displays elite grip strength and upper-body power to dissect blocks. His lock-peek-shed technique stands out, he reads blocking schemes quickly, engages with a two-hand strike, and discards linemen. Patient and disciplined, rarely caught out of position. Excels at absorbing double teams and maintaining gap integrity, freeing up teammates. Played multiple alignments (0-tech, 1-tech, 3-tech, 4i, 5-tech) in Texas’ hybrid fronts, showing adaptability for both 3-4 and 4-3 schemes. Appeared in 64 games over five years, with no major injury history beyond a few minor injuries. TAPE TIME DT Alfred CollinsTexas ✅ THE GOOD✅#scouting #NFLDraft #Longhorns pic.twitter.com/gRP5I0SWrF — Mike Poland (@kenfigkowboy) March 5, 2025 THE BAD Lacks dynamic burst or twitch to consistently threaten as a pass rusher. Relies heavily on a bull rush or long-arm move, but lacks a refined plan or counter moves when stalled. While agile for his size, Collins doesn’t have the horizontal explosiveness to chase plays outside his frame or recover if his initial move fails. His top-end speed is average, limiting his range. Occasionally plays too high, allowing technically sound linemen to get into his chest and neutralize his power. Needs to refine leverage to maximize his length. As a fifth-year senior he’ll be 23 entering the NFL, older than some peers in the class. TAPE TIME DT Alfred CollinsTexas ❌THE BAD❌#scouting #NFLDraft #Longhorns pic.twitter.com/khYhynLj3A — Mike Poland (@kenfigkowboy) March 5, 2025 THE FIT Alfred Collins is a throwback defensive tackle—big, physical, and nasty at the point of attack. His 2024 season showcased his ability to dominate the run game and disrupt plays with length and power, making him an immediate early-down contributor in the NFL. His pass-rush skills need development, but his frame, football IQ, and versatility offer a foundation for growth. For a team seeking a trench warrior to clog lanes and set the tone, Collins is a Day 2 steal with starter potential in the right system. He’s best utilized as a 3-4 nose tackle or 4-3 1-technique in a gap-control defense that prioritizes stopping the run. His elite run-stopping ability and physical tools make him a safe, high-floor pick, but his limited pass-rush ceiling caps him outside Day 1 and more likely a late Day 2 option. The Dallas Cowboys would look to tap into Collins’ strengths as a run-stuffing defensive tackle with his size and power. He would look to play as a 1-technique nose tackle where his ability to anchor against double teams and disrupt blocking schemes would shine for