Photo by Megan Briggs/Getty Images Cowboys should leave no stone unturned searching for WR help. NFL teams are always trying to upgrade their roster one way or another. They are continuously on the lookout for players they can acquire to do just that. It’s a never-ending process and one that is continuously monitored 24/7, 365 days a year. Even now, after the 2025 NFL Draft and free agency, teams are considering trade/cut candidates around the league. The Dallas Cowboys are no doubt still putting in the work for talent acquisitions to upgrade their roster and are more than likely monitoring the roster status of several potential trade/cut candidates from other teams. That could be the way they find wide receiver help after they decided to bypass it in the draft. In fact, there are a few second-year receivers they could possibly be keeping an eye on. Ja’Lynn Polk, New England Patriots Photo by David Rosenblum/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images Despite just entering his second-year in the league, Ja’Lynn Polk could potentially find himself as a trade/cut candidate if he can’t prove to the new coaching staff in New England he’s worth keeping around. The former 2024 second-round pick had a disastrous rookie season and now has no one in his corner under the new coaching regime. On top of that, the Patriots currently have somewhat of a logjam at WR after drafting Kyle Williams in the third-round this year and also signing Stefon Diggs and Mack Hollins in free agency. All three of them are likely ahead of Polk on the depth chart right now, making him potentially expendable. If true, a Day 3 pick could possibly secure his services. Per Dane Brugler’s 2024 draft guide: Polk must continue developing as a route runner, but he is natural athlete addressing the football, with three-level instincts and Pro-level toughness. A potential NFL starter, his game is reminiscent of Josh Palmer’s when he was coming out of Tennessee. Javon Baker, New England Patriots Photo by Fred Kfoury III/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images Just like the previously mentioned Polk, Javon Baker is another second-year receiver who may be one and done with the New England Patriots. Everything we said about Polk applies to Baker as well and probably much more so considering he was a 2024 fourth-round pick by the Patriots. Considering the differences draft status between the two, he’s much more likely to be a trade/cut candidate the Cowboys should continue to monitor. Per Dane Brugler’s 2024 draft guide: Baker is a loose-striding athlete with ball-tracking skills, although his tape is full of inconsistencies and question marks that didn’t allow him to consistently showcase his talent. He projects as a developmental Z receiver with starting upside. Jalen McMillan, Tampa Bay Buccaneers Photo by Julio Aguilar/Getty Images Jalen McMillan’s roster status with Tampa Bay Buccaneers seems to be somewhat in question after they drafted Emeka Egbuka and Tez Johnson this year. Egbuka’s addition is especially concerning for McMillan as they are both considered at their best playing from the slot, thus making the former 2024 third-round pick potential trade candidate. Due to injuries at WR for the Buccaneers last year, McMillan is the most proven WR on this list, catching 37 passes for 461 yards and eight touchdowns as a rookie. His fit with the Cowboys is somewhat questionable though considering he’s predominantly a slot WR, but he could still upgrade Dallas’ receiving corps if he ends up being a trade/cut candidate. Per Dane Brugler’s 2024 draft guide: McMillan will need to prove he can handle the physicality of playing inside at the next level, but he has three-level potential as a pass catcher and be an intriguing option for a team that prioritizes length and speed from the slot. Stylistically, his game reminds me of a juiced-up Jakobi Meyers.

Brett Davis-Imagn Images Miles Sanders remains a name to keep an eye on at running back. It has been an interesting offseason for the Dallas Cowboys at the running back position. For a while it was thought that Rico Dowdle would return after impressing at the end of the 2024 season. It was a bit surprising that the Cowboys first splash in free agency was signing JaVonte Williams. Later in free agency, the Cowboys also added Miles Sanders to the running back room. After those moves, it felt like Dallas would be adding a running back in the top 100 to carry the workload with Williams injury history and production decline, as well as Sanders inability to hold onto the starting role in Carolina behind Chuba Hubbard. The Cowboys did not press the issue in the 2025 NFL draft and waited until the fifth round to add a running back. While Texas’ Jaydon Blue adds an element to the game the Cowboys running back room currently lacks (speed), it is a stretch to assume Blue will be able to handle a heavy workload in the NFL given his size and inexperience doing so at the college level. When projecting out the Cowboys running back depth chart, Sanders has seemingly fell under the radar. Sanders is just a few years off of a 1,200 yard rushing season averaging 4.9 yards per carry in Philadelphia, something Williams has yet to do in his short four-year career. This isn’t making the case that Miles Sanders is some dynamic back, but he should be getting a little more respect than he is currently getting in the thin, inexperienced running back room in Dallas. Sanders is not far away from putting up impressive numbers, and his time in Carolina should not totally discredit his ability due to the many struggles the Panthers offense has had over the last few years. Sanders may not be the answer in Dallas. As of now, he may even be a long shot to make the final roster, but he is the only running back currently on the roster who has carried and shown success as an every down back in the NFL. For what the Cowboys currently have and need at the position, that should carry some weight when it comes to final roster cutdowns.

Photo by The University of Texas Athletics/University Images via Getty Images Are you drafting Jaydon Blue in any of your dynasty leagues? It has been a week and change since the NFL Draft wrapped up which means that if you are in a dynasty fantasy football league you may have been drafting recently yourself. For those unaware, a dynasty league is similar to your traditional fantasy football league, but you hold the players for all of time (which is why it is called a dynasty) unless you cut or trade them. Like with the real NFL, dynasty leagues require a draft every spring but with the players who NFL teams just drafted as the ones being selected. Las Vegas Raiders running back Ashton Jeanty is going early and often. Travis Hunter of the Jacksonville Jaguars is clearly a name people are circling. As far as the Dallas Cowboys are concerned there were not a ton of skill positions that were addressed, but if there is a name that is going it is running back Jaydon Blue. When it comes to the division as a whole the NFC East has New York Giants rookies Cam Skattebo and Jaxson Dart as the headliners in this regard. Personally speaking I wound up with Skattebo on my dynasty team. Are you taking any of these three or anyone else in the division? Heck, who are you taking overall in your dynasty leagues? Let us know in the comments down below!

Photo by Brooke Sutton/Getty Images All the Dallas Cowboys news that’s fit to print. NFL draft: Sixteen Day 3 picks who could compete for starter snaps as rookies – Chad Reuter, NFL.com The Cowboys have a lot of room to get creative in how they utilize fifth-round pick Jaydon Blue, a running back from Texas. Most players selected on the third day of the NFL draft (when Rounds 4 through 7 are held) are typically expected to contribute as reserves and/or special teamers in Year 1. Last season, 11 of 157 Day 3 selections started eight or more contests, up one from the 2023 draft class but down from 16 in 2022. Linebacker Tyrice Knight (Round 4, Seahawks), guard Mason McCormick (Round 4, Steelers), cornerback Tarheeb Still (Round 5, Chargers) and tight end Ja’Tavion Sanders (Round 4, Panthers) were among those 11 after being listed here last May. Tanor Bortolini (Round 4, Colts), receiver Troy Franklin (Round 4, Broncos), corner Decamerion Richardson (Round 4, Raiders), Chau Smith-Wade (Round 5, Panthers) were other players I included in this article last year who contributed significantly during their first year. A rookie’s talent is certainly a factor in how often he sees the field at the next level, but injuries to veterans and positional-group depth often determine draftees’ playing time. Here are 16 Day 3 picks from the 2025 NFL Draft who could get regular starts during their first season, ranked in order of the likelihood they will get the opportunity: Rank 1 Jaydon Blue Texas · RB Drafted: Round 5, No. 149 overall The Cowboys might begin the year with starting reps going to veteran backs Javonte Williams and Miles Sanders, but Blue should have a chance to be the guy for the Blue-and-Silver by midseason. The Texas product’s home run-hitting ability as a runner and receiver makes it imperative that he’s on the field. Jaydon Blue could be a missing piece to help the Cowboys’ receiving woes – Connor Livesay, Blogging The Boys The Dallas passing offense needs to find more easy completions, yet another area Blue can help right away out of the backfield. Blue, a running back out of Texas, could push for starting time at running back for the Cowboys, but his impact as a receiver is currently flying under the radar. In his final season at Texas, Blue impacted the game as a runner, but also as a threat in the passing game. In 2024, Blue hauled in 42 receptions for 368 yards and six touchdowns. Blue was one of the best route runners in this class at the receiver position showing a consistent ability to beat man coverage and find soft spots in zones to pickup chunk yardage in the Longhorns passing game. The Cowboys struggled to get running backs involved in the passing game under Mike McCarthy, but Brian Schottenheimer has talked a lot this offseason about how he wants the Cowboys running backs to impact the passing game. Even with a quality receiving back in Blue on the roster, the Cowboys need more out of the receivers behind CeeDee Lamb in order to make a push at the playoffs in 2025. The WR2 position is still one of the biggest holes on the Cowboys roster, but Jaydon Blue can, and should, ease some of the concern with the impact he can bring as a receiver out of the backfield. Depth Chart: How the RB room looks following the draft – Nick Eatman, DallasCowboys.com The Cowboys have added some much needed speed and experience to their backfield as well this offseason, with Blue, Miles Sanders, and Javonte Williams. Trait-Mark: At running back, there are a lot of traits that make up a great runner, but one the Cowboys were obviously looking for this offseason was speed. And when it came to the NFL Draft, Jaydon Blue had more speed than just about anyone. His 4.38 time was the second-fastest 40-time of any running back in the draft. He gives the Cowboys a speed-element at running back they haven’t had since Tony Pollard, and even he didn’t possess the track-speed quality they have now with Blue. Don’t Forget About … While the Cowboys are looking to re-establish the running game, they probably will ask these guys to catch the ball as well. Both Sanders and Williams have caught 50 passes in a season with other teams, and Blue was electric out of the backfield for Texas, catching two touchdown passes in the College Football Playoff semifinals. The Cowboys are looking for more than just “runners” in the running back room. ‘I feel disrespected’ – Dallas Cowboys undrafted rookie is on a mission to prove the NFL messed up by not drafting him – Maurcio Rodriguez, A to Z Sports The depth chart at WR is wide open for the Cowboys, and UDFA Traeshon Holden is ready to take advantage. Undrafted free agent wide receiver Traeshon Holden knew he wanted to sign with the Dallas Cowboys for two reasons. Firstly, it was an opportunity to reunite with his Oregon position coach, Junior Adams, who joined Brian Schottenheimer’s coaching staff earlier in the offseason. Secondly, even Holden knows about the Cowboys’ wide receiver needs. “That was another reason why I decided to come, too,” Holden told reporters at rookie minicamp. “They didn’t draft a guy. I feel like I was one of the best receivers, and now I get to show everybody that I am.” Holden, a 6-foot-2 target with physicality, says he carries a chip on his shoulder after seeing 257 players be drafted and not him. He feels it “everyday.” Though he considers himself a hard-worker already, he told the media he’s ramping it up as a result of going undrafted as he tries to make NFL teams regret not picking him. “I’ve always been the type to just work hard, but I feel disrespected,” Holden said. “So now it’s time to make it happen.” This offseason and preseason, Holden will be looking to earn

Brian Fluharty-Imagn Images Donovan Ezeiruaku has a chance to make an immediate impact as a rookie. Many wanted the Dallas Cowboys to focus on getting weapons on the offensive side of the ball early in the NFL Draft. However, the team stuck to their draft board looking for the best players, and in doing so drafted defensive end Donovan Ezeiruaku in the second round. When DeMarcus Lawrence headed out the door, the Cowboys had an opening for another player who can consistently pressure the quarterback. Ezeiruaku is the second consecutive edge rusher that Dallas has taken in the second round after taking Marshawn Kneeland in 2024. Despite being a rookie, Ezeiruaku is expected to have a significant role coming out the gate for the Cowboys, and he’s willing to do anything to get their defense back to the level needed to contend. I’m coming here to work and do whatever the coaches ask me to do. If they ask me to stand up or play over the top of the guard on some type of passing situation, or stand up and be on the edge, I’ll do that to the best of my ability. Ezeiruaku can do quite a bit on the football field. Per Pro Football Focus, Ezeiruaku logged 1,969 snaps on the defensive line in college. What makes Ezeiruaku unique is that he can rush the passer from either side and do so effectively. Plus, as he mentioned, he’ll rush the passer in the middle as well, which, when successful, is a quarterback’s worst nightmare. The skill set of Ezeiruaku works perfectly with a guy like All-Pro Micah Parsons. He’s a Swiss army knife that can be moved around, much like Parsons. On key passing downs, defensive coordinator Matt Eberflus has many ways to attack. Dallas could even kick a guy like Kneeland inside like they used to do with Lawrence occasionally and let Parsons and Ezeiruaku come off the edges. Ezeiruaku is more of a stand-up type of edge. In certain passing situations, the Cowboys could even let Parsons put his hand in the dirt and let Ezeiruaku stand up and rush off the same side while guys like Dante Fowler Jr. or Sam Williams come off the other edge. This is what a player with such versatility like Ezeiruaku allows a defensive coordinator to do. For an edge, Ezeiruaku is undersized at 6’2 and 245 pounds. He’ll need to pack on some pounds and get stronger to improve his ability to stop the run, although he’s not necessarily bad at it. Once he does that and mirrors it with his pass rush skills, Ezeiruaku is going to be a special player.

Bob Donnan-Imagn Images Who do you think will be the Cowboys’ nickel corner this season? The Cowboys have done a decent job of throwing bodies at the cornerback position after Jourdan Lewis’ departure. After losing Lewis to the Jacksonville Jaguars in free agency, the Cowboys answered by trading for Bills cornerback Kaiir Elam, re-signing Israel Mukuamu, and drafting Shavon Revel in the third round of the 2025 NFL draft. The issue? None of those players are primary slot cornerbacks. Elam and Revel played primarily on the outside in Buffalo and at East Carolina. Both guys are taller, longer, and fit the boundary cornerback profile more. Mukuamu has seen some time in the slot for the Cowboys over the course of his four-year career in Dallas, but his lack of experience (three starts) and ideal fit to be a full-time nickel cornerback leaves the Cowboys with an interesting hole to fill. Over the last five years, the slot corner position has gone from being just another corner to one of the most valuable positions in the National Football League. With so many of the best wide receivers in football spending a lot of time in the slot, having a quality slot defender or outside cornerback that can comfortably follow wideouts into the slot has become extremely valuable. With Trevon Diggs unlikely to be ready for the start of the season, and Shavon Revel still rehabbing from a torn ACL suffered at the beginning of the 2024 season, the Cowboys will need to figure some things out in their secondary during training camp. There are still a few quality slot cornerbacks on the free agent market like Mike Hilton and Asante Samuel Jr. that the Cowboys could look to sign to fill their slot need, or hold them over until Diggs and Revel get back up to full strength. For now, it looks like the Cowboys will give many of their corners a shot in training camp to win the starting nickel role. Or they could move DaRon Bland back inside if they think they have a pair to play on the outside. But do not be surprised if the Cowboys look to bring in a veteran to solidly the position before training camp with the current injuries and holes the Cowboys are currently dealing with at the cornerback position.

Jerome Miron-Imagn Images Jaydon Blue is going to be so much fun to watch. The Cowboys currently have a lot of questions behind CeeDee Lamb at wide receiver. After failing to address the wide receiver position this offseason via free agency except for Parris Campbell, or in the 2025 NFL draft, the Cowboys are left looking into trades or a thin free agency class left to upgrade their WR2 spot. With names like Amari Cooper, Keenan Allen, and George Pickens being thrown around, what if the Cowboys’ fifth-round pick Jaydon Blue could ease some of the wide receiver concerns? Blue, a running back out of Texas, could push for starting time at running back for the Cowboys, but his impact as a receiver is currently flying under the radar. In his final season at Texas, Blue impacted the game as a runner, but also as a threat in the passing game. In 2024, Blue hauled in 42 receptions for 368 yards and six touchdowns. Blue was one of the best route runners in this class at the receiver position showing a consistent ability to beat man coverage and find soft spots in zones to pickup chunk yardage in the Longhorns passing game. The Cowboys struggled to get running backs involved in the passing game under Mike McCarthy, but Brian Schottenheimer has talked a lot this offseason about how he wants the Cowboys running backs to impact the passing game. Even with a quality receiving back in Blue on the roster, the Cowboys need more out of the receivers behind CeeDee Lamb in order to make a push at the playoffs in 2025. The WR2 position is still one of the biggest holes on the Cowboys roster, but Jaydon Blue can, and should, ease some of the concern with the impact he can bring as a receiver out of the backfield.

Photo by Robin Alam/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images Which Cowboys game from this season are you most looking forward to? We have a week and change separating us from the 2025 Dallas Cowboys schedule being revealed, and while this is not a big deal to some people, it is a lot of fun for others. Beyond knowing when the games are for knowledge’s sake, sometimes people like finding out this information so that they can plan things. Perhaps you are someone who likes to go to a game every year. Maybe you have a specific road contest in mind and the time of year it happens will impact whether or not you can go. Whatever the case we are a stone’s throw away from having the answer to these questions. For our discussion prompt on the site on this fantastic Monday we are curious which game or games you are looking forward to the most. Personally speaking I am interested to see what the December slate looks like overall. If I have to get really specific then I am interested in when the Cowboys are going to visit the Las Vegas Raiders as this is the first ever trip in the regular season that the Cowboys are making to Vegas. What about you? Let us know in the comments below!

Photo by Ron Jenkins/Getty Images Notable headlines surrounding America’s team. Brian Schottenheimer defines Cowboys’ culture with consistency, connections: ‘I won’t change’ – Patrik Walker, Dallas Cowboys.com Brian Schottenheimer is changing the culture. As the NFL offseason calendar speeds along, Brian Schottenheimer digs his heels in more and more as both a first-time head coach and the latest leader of the Dallas Cowboys. The latest tasks involved conquering his first NFL Draft and then welcoming a class of 18 rookies to minicamp, with OTAs next up on the agenda. And, thus far, by all accounts, Schottenheimer is the same as he was when he was an analyst for the Cowboys in 2022, and the team’s offensive coordinator in the two seasons that followed — not changing his approach whatsoever to his players or coaches. After all, building a culture starts at the top. “I think I’ve always been someone that believes in connections, getting to know these guys,” Schottenheimer said. “I’ve always been someone who’s been able to be demanding and I’m pretty good at disciplining guys. I promised myself, when I got this opportunity, that I wouldn’t change, because I think I’ve seen too many people change.” He went on to elaborate on the outcome for those who have, for one reason or another, opted to morph into a different version of themselves simply because they earned the power to do so. “The guys I’ve seen change — I’m not going to name them — they weren’t very successful, and I plan on being really successful,” he said, firmly. “The reason I think I’ll do that is because of my values and my beliefs and how hard I work, but also because I’m going to be me and I’m not going to change that for anything.” The Cowboys’ LB Room: A sudden position of strength – Mario Herrera Jr, Inside The Star Oh, how the tables have turned. Marist Liufau One of the biggest reasons for optimism is the emergence of LB Marist Liufau. After joining the Cowboys following a standout final season at Notre Dame, Liufau turned heads with his physicality, football IQ, and sideline-to-sideline range. He got starter’s reps in 2024, even wearing the coveted “green dot” on his helmet as the defense’s signal-caller, and looks like a natural fit in the heart of DC Matt Eberflus’ scheme. His ability to diagnose plays quickly and finish in space gives Dallas a new level of confidence in the middle of the field. Kenneth Murray Joining Liufau is Kenneth Murray, a former first-round pick who is hoping to find new life in Dallas. Murray brings a rare mix of size, speed, and NFL experience, and after an up-and-down stint with the Chargers, he’s shown signs of becoming the consistent playmaker many projected him to be out of Oklahoma. Cowboys send brutal message to UDFA signing in most backhanded way possible- Jason Reed, The Landry Hat Not a good sign for Holden. However, it doesn’t look like the Cowboys are preparing to give Holden a roster spot. In perhaps the most backhanded way possible, Dallas showed Holden exactly where he stands by giving him the same number as one of the most beloved players on the roster: Trevon Diggs. Cowboys show Traeshon Holden he has a slim chance of making the roster Shared numbers are common during training camp and the preseason so there is no need to worry about Diggs’ future with the Cowboys. Dallas giving his No. 7 to a UDFA to share means nothing about Diggs’ future. However, it is worth noting that players who typically get shared numbers don’t make the roster most times. Of course, Holden would change his number if he actually made the roster, but it’s pretty telling how the Cowboys feel about him if they are giving him the same number as a fan favorite. There is always room for Holden to put together an excellent camp and preseason to earn a backend roster spot. By giving him Diggs’ number, though, Dallas is saying the quiet part out loud that the team doesn’t believe he will actually do so. It’s worth noting that not every Cowboys UDFA is sharing a number with an established player on the roster. Cornerback Bruce Harmon is wearing No. 36, safety Mike Smith is wearing No. 39, tight end Rivaldo Fairweather is wearing No. 45, tight end Tyler Neville is wearing No. 46, cornerback Zion Childress is wearing No. 48 and linebacker Justin Barron is wearing No. 55. Cowboys systematically rebuilt this position group around 2 star players who needed help – Mike Crum, Cowboys Wire Eberflus has talent to work with. Three of the unit’s four starters remain the same, as does the edict Eberflus has with their direction. He needs to continue to improve the game of Mazi Smith, continue Micah Parsons’ evolution into a team leader, and help Osa Odighizuwa further ascend into a difference-making, game-changer of a pass-rushing defensive tackle. The loss of Demarcus Lawrence is significant in theory. For many seasons, he was the Cowboys’ best run defender and pressured the opposing quarterback at an impactful level. He was also the most clutch defender on the team, often making big fourth-down run stops. Comparatively to 2024 though, losing Lawrence isn’t a big hit as he only played four games last season; less than a quarter of the season. Marshawn Kneeland, a second-round pick from 2024, was selected with Lawrence leaving a clear possibility. He is the edge-setting replacement now with a year of seasoning, while veteran Dante Fowler Jr. was brought back via free agency to further the pass rush to see if he can continue his late-career resurgence. The team also brought in another former first-round pick in Payton Turner, who dealt with injuries through his first three seasons in New Orleans to finally play 16 games in 2024. Number one goal for Brian Schottenheimer is clear as team passes on WR in draft – Sean Martin, Blogging The Boys It’s

Photo by Harry How/Getty Images The Dallas Cowboys response to dropping out of the playoffs at 7-10 and third in the NFC East a year ago, after making the postseason as a 12-game winner the previous three seasons, has been a lot of getting back to basics. For a team that was so fundamentally broken in the final year for head coach Mike McCarthy, one that left the team so unrecognizable from his past successes that many fans have a hard time remembering all McCarthy actually did accomplish on the football side of things over his tenure, this renewed focus on fundamentals has been praised at some turns, but criticized feverishly at others – mainly the hiring of offensive coordinator Brian Schottenheimer to replace McCarthy as head coach. Schottenheimer’s first draft has cooled those waters considerably, for now. The Cowboys front office has never wavered in wanting to use the draft as their main source of talent acquisition. Although this wasn’t expected to change under Schottenheimer at all, the team had to do more than sit on their hands and let players get away in free agency without signing new players themselves, and did so while also being active on the trade market. In their estimation, this was enough to go into the draft with a clearer focus on targeting the best players available, regardless of positional need, through all seven rounds. The Cowboys still showed preferences for the things their new head coach is seeking, like improved line of scrimmage play by spending the 12th overall pick on guard Tyler Booker and 44rd pick in the second round on defensive end Donovan Ezeiruaku. They continued to target high character prospects from blue chip programs like Texas, Florida, and Oregon on day three with running back Jaydon Blue, linebacker Shemar James, and offensive lineman Ajani Cornelius. This full commitment from picks 12 through 247 to create a deeper roster and strengthen positions with existing star power is what’s earned the Cowboys strong grades for their draft as of now, but the obvious position of need this strategy left unaddressed is guaranteed to remain a talking point from now all the way to Schottenheimer’s regular season debut in September, and likely beyond. If you haven’t figured it out by now, here we are again, talking about the Cowboys not being good enough at the wide receiver position. The more things change, the more they really do stay the same, because a lack of dynamic skill at WR has been an off-and-on problem for the Cowboys through multiple head coaches, offensive coordinators, and even quarterbacks now. Even with it being a position they’ve shown a willingness to step outside their perceived comfort zone and address with in-season trades, like for Amari Cooper in 2018 and Jonathan Mingo last year, the Cowboys are regularly behind the best of the best in the NFL when it comes to making enough big plays on the outside to truly contend in the postseason. The WR room has had some peaks, like the unfortunately brief period where CeeDee Lamb, Cooper, and Michael Gallup were all healthy and on the field together, but also some incredibly low valleys like Noah Brown, Cedrick Wilson, or more recently KaVontae Turpin being asked to play well beyond what their roles should be on offense. There are an endless number of reasons why one of the most common critiques of the Cowboys, specifically from inside the realm of opposing coaches and players they line up against, is that they are too easy to scout, prepare for, and play against in high leverage situations. A lack of firepower at wide receiver belongs near the top of this list though. Bob Donnan-Imagn Images However, adjacent to it is one thing the Cowboys are not only hoping to fix early on at the start of the Schottenheimer era, but perhaps the only thing that will sell the majority of the fanbase on Schottenheimer being a legitimate HC in the first place. Through all of the changes mentioned above in personnel and coaches, the Cowboys have had a major lack of creativity in their offensive play-calling and ability to scheme receivers open. They do not help quarterback Dak Prescott in the ways that other passers around the league, all of which currently make less than the Cowboys leader who became the highest paid at the position prior to week one a year ago, are lifted by play-calling that always seems to allow for easy completions and yards after the catch. The Cowboys making a basic 10 to 15 yard gain in the passing game last season, admittedly without Prescott on the field, felt so incredibly laborious if not borderline miraculous. Meanwhile, the bread and butter for other teams that reached the postseason was to rattle off these types of plays with ease by creating space for their skill players to run. For Cowboys fans still questioning what exactly Schottenheimer brings to the table, or comparing him to Jason Garrett who was often asked the same over his tenure, the best way for the new HC in Dallas to answer it is now staring America’s Team in the face. Coming out of the draft without a single pick spent on a new receiver was a major surprise, and tolerance for the predictable Jerry and Stephen Jones sell jobs that Mingo, Ryan Flournoy or Jalen Brooks can be a consistent WR2 to Lamb is understandably low. The time is unequivocally now for Dallas to uplift the talent they do have at receiver with schemes that bring them up to the more modern approaches to offense in today’s NFL. Any realistic discussion about how the Cowboys can actually get the most out of young players with untapped potential like Jalen Tolbert, Brooks, Mingo, Flournoy, or even their full-time punt/kick returner Turpin has to start with how the brain trust of Schottenheimer as play-caller and Klayton Adams as OC will help these players create separation and access to routes