Cowboys new catchphrase has work to do to convince fanbase the Joneses aren’t blowing smoke Ben Grimaldi The Dallas Cowboys have a new offseason catchphrase and it’s brought to you by the same guy who couldn’t stop using ‘air quotes’ at Brian Schottenheimer’s opening press conference. Speaking at the NFL’s annual combine, Stephen Jones described the team’s free agent philosophy as being “selectively aggressive” this year. This moniker replaces last offseason’s “all-in” declaration from Jerry Jones, which felt like it was misconstrued throughout the football world. The Cowboys were never “all-in”, and Stephen Jones’ comments are leading to speculation about the organization being more proactive in finding outside free agents. After last offseason, Cowboys fans are meeting the declaration with skepticism, but they’ll have to wait and see if the younger Jones is all talk. Much like his dad’s proclamation last year, “selectively aggressive” is up for interpretation. If it means the Cowboys will be more involved in the open market after sitting out last season’s free agency period, it would be a start in the right direction. It would be better if being aggressive actually meant trying to sign some of the better players in free agency, but that’s something Dallas hasn’t done in the last 13 years. If Jones means the Cowboys will be only re-signing their own players and adding bargain basement options after the first and second wave of free agency like they’ve become accustomed to, then his phrase means nothing. Jones said the right things, but savvy Cowboys fans are taking a wait and see approach. The hope is the Cowboys will be more aggressive in finding quality players to improve the team. Jones spoke about looking at what went wrong last year and finding ways to learn from it, but that doesn’t mean the team will go back to their spending ways in the early days on free agency. And the truth is they don’t need to; all the Cowboys need to do is not sit out the entirety of the open market where the best players are scooped up while they do nothing. The front office doesn’t need to sign the best, most expensive free agents, but the Cowboys do need to be proactive in finding good players instead of the cheapest options. If that’s what Jones means by “selectively aggressive,” they’ll have an opportunity to win back some of the fans they lost. The Executive Vice President mentioned how apathy isn’t what the Cowboys’ front office wants from their fans, but it’s exactly what last year’s philosophy brought. Being any type of aggressive this offseason would be a step in the right direction in getting them back. Jones also said the right things about bringing back some of their core free agents. Talks have already opened with defensive tackle Osa Odighizuwa, as well as defensive end DeMarcus Lawrence, which is much further ahead than the team was last year with impending free agents. It’s early in the offseason, but Jones is setting things up to go in one of two directions. Right now, he’s providing some hope that this offseason will be different than last year’s disaster. Or, he’s setting himself up to be the bad guy once again if nothing changes. If that happens, expect the masses to make fun of the Cowboys and those in charge of the circus. The Joneses love to talk a good game, but when it comes to doing what they say, they usually fall short. All there is to go on right now is Stephen Jones’ initial comments, which paint a more positive picture for the offseason. However, “selectively aggressive” could quickly turn into “all-in,” becoming another joke for the storied franchise.
The Cowboys should target these 3 RBs in the draft for their youth
Photo by Butch Dill/Getty Images There are a handful of running back options for the Cowboys to consider exploring in the NFL Draft. It’s no secret that the Cowboys need a running back. Their leading rusher from 2024, Rico Dowdle, is a pending free agent and there just three running backs under contract for this new season: Deuce Vaughn, Malik Davis, and fullback Hunter Luepke. It’s also no secret that the running back position has been devalued over the last decade or so. Part of that is due to players exactly like Dowdle, who have proven that teams are correct in the belief that they can find high-end rushing production without investing premium capital – whether in the draft or free agency – into the position. Another reason for the decline in value at running back is the extremely short shelf life of top running backs. There is a very short list of running backs who remain elite once they turn 30 years old, and many running backs start to see a decline in on-field performance even before that age. With that in mind, it makes sense to target talented running backs with cost-controlled contracts (AKA drafting them outside of the first round) who are younger than the average NFL rookie. And, coincidentally, Dane Brugler of The Athletic has given us a list of targets for such a player: Nine prospects will be just 20-years-old on draft night: 20.61 RB Dylan Sampson20.66 Edge Nic Scourton20.72 RB LeQuint Allen20.76 TE Harold Fannin Jr.20.79 RB Trevor Etienne20.80 CB Azareye’h Thomas20.82 DL Mykel Williams20.82 DT Jordan Phillips20.96 TE Mason Taylor — Dane Brugler (@dpbrugler) February 24, 2025 There are multiple prospects in this draft class who will be just 20 years old on draft night, and shortly beyond that, and three of them are running backs: Georgia’s Trevor Etienne, Syracuse’s LeQuint Allen, and Tennessee’s Dylan Sampson. Etienne is the younger brother of current Jaguars running back Travis Etienne. While most scouts agree he isn’t as polished as his brother, a first-round pick back in 2021, the younger Etienne is still an exciting athlete who put up big numbers in college, first at Florida and then at Georgia. Injuries kept him from playing a full year in 2024, but Etienne topped 700 rushing yards in each of his two seasons with the Gators. Allen, on the other hand, is a multifaceted back who starred for the Orange each of the last two years. He broke 1,000 rushing yards last year and finished 24th in the nation is broken tackles. This year, he fell just short of the 1,000 yard mark but also unlocked his receiving skills, finishing fourth among all running backs in receiving yards. Allen also scored 20 total touchdowns between the ground and the passing attack. Then there’s Sampson, who gained notoriety for his elite open-field speed. Playing in the Volunteers’ unique offense marked by its extremely wide formations, Sampson finished eighth in both rushing yards and yards per carry this year. He also scored 22 rushing touchdowns, third-most in college football, and broke the school’s record for single season rushing scores, shattering a record that had stood for 96 years. All three of these running backs possess tantalizing traits and project to be really productive runners at the next level. However, the devaluing of the position and the loaded nature of this year’s draft class means the Cowboys can likely land any of these guys in the third round, if not later. The Cowboys would be wise to go after any of these three, in addition to signing a low-cost free agent option with some NFL experience. That way they could get the rookie acclimated to the league in their first year before promoting them to a primary role, knowing that they’ve got youth on their side from a developmental and longevity perspective.
What “selectively aggressive” could look like for the Cowboys and their offseason plans
Photo by Christian Petersen/Getty Images There is a lot to wonder about what “selectively aggressive” means for the Dallas Cowboys. It’s NFL combine week and that means we’ll get to see this year’s college prospects participate in drills as teams prepare for the 2025 NFL Draft. But this week is also a time for communication. Coaches, GM’s, and agents will all be gathered together for one event and it provides a great time to have discussions about certain players. It’s also a great time for people in power to meet with the media and provide people with some insight about their offseason plans. Dallas Cowboys Executive Vice President Stephen Jones made himself available to talk with the press and had some choice words. Particularly, two words – selectively aggressive. Cowboys EVP Stephen Jones says Dallas’ offseason plan is to be “selectively aggressive.” pic.twitter.com/CE1dNHUNFQ — Jon Machota (@jonmachota) February 24, 2025 Could the Cowboys take a different approach to their typically unexciting offseason roster-building repertoire? Selective sounds like the principle Stephen Jones lives by, but aggressive is a different animal. We should preface this by stating that every year at this time the Cowboys are preaching a similar message. They will try to get better and do things they believe are needed to achieve that. Never once have they said, “We’re totally content with how good this football team is, so don’t expect much to change.” Regardless of the promises, the Cowboys typically stick to the script, which consists of limited free agent spending and all attention towards the draft. That’s their approach and it’s far from aggressive. So what does Stephen mean when he’s talking about being selectively aggressive? Should we dare venture a guess? SIGNING THEIR OWN The front office is deliberate about who they choose to keep and who they are willing to let walk away in free agency. Many of their decisions come down to how difficult it is to replace their players. Tyler Biadasz isn’t a priority if they have a Brock Hoffman already on the roster. Dalton Schultz is free to go when Jake Ferguson is waiting in the wings. Even if a player has provided solid performance in Dallas, the front office will still let them go if they feel it wouldn’t be too hard to replace them. Expect more of the same with the Cowboys this season. Players like Jourdan Lewis or Rico Dowdle may return, but only if their price is reasonable. The front office may make a little more concerted effort to keep certain players if it would otherwise leave a hole on the roster. Where things could be different is Osa Odighizuwa. He’s not one of their Pro Bowlers. And he doesn’t play a premium position. However, he’s a good player who’s a valuable piece to the Cowboys defensive line. Last week, we mentioned that he was a little different than other free agents they have allowed to leave. The front office may work a little harder to secure a key asset, even if it costs them a little more than they originally budgeted for. Prediction: Yes, that’s a very good possibility. GETTING DEALS DONE EARLY The front office is widely known for taking their own sweet time before ultimately signing their players. Last year, the extensions for CeeDee Lamb and especially Dak Prescott went down to the wire. Not much changed in the grand scheme of things as they still got the deals we expected them to get, but going down to the wire has just been the way the front office has operated lately. Micah Parsons is the star player next in line for a big payday. The team doesn’t necessarily need to get a new deal done to free up money for free agency because they can simply just restructure some deals to accomplish the same thing. So, why should we expect things to be different this time around? If there is any truth to the notion that Parsons (and his agent) could be a little flexible with their negotiations, a deal the Joneses like could present itself much earlier. We shouldn’t hold our breath for this, but it’s certainly possible. Prediction: Maybe. 50/50. SIGNING OUTSIDE FREE AGENTS Retaining their own players is great, and getting deals done earlier is nice for various reasons, but what fans really want is for them to be active spenders in free agency. When good players are out there who could fill some big holes on the roster, it’s hard not to be intrigued about a possible new acquisition. This is where we might want to slow our roll because the Cowboys aren’t likely to be aggressive here. They know it’s a risky way to do business when it comes to building a roster, and the chances of them being swayed to change their stripes doesn’t seem realistic. That doesn’t mean they don’t open up the wallet a little bit more than usual to secure a player or two who helps strengthen the roster. Don’t expect a big name, but it might not be as cheap as it’s been in the past. Prediction: Nah, who are they kidding? It’s just not the Cowboys’ way.
Cowboys QB is a position of need as Dak Prescott needs a friend
Cowboys QB is a position of need as Dak Prescott needs a friend Ben Grimaldi The Dallas Cowboys have a lot of holes to fill this offseason, and even though they don’t need a quarterback, they’ll need someone to backup starter Dak Prescott. There’s no Cooper Rush, no Trey Lance, and Will Grier isn’t much to write home about. It’s basically just Prescott, looking around like the Will Smith gif from the Fresh Prince of Bel Air. While this isn’t a pressing need, ideally the Cowboys would only want the No. 2 QB holding a clipboard and taking a handful of meaningless snaps throughout the 17-game schedule, the team does need to take the backup QB gig seriously. Prescott has played just one full season since 2019 and is coming off an injury that cost him the last nine games of his 2024 campaign. In the last five seasons, Prescott’s been derailed for the year twice, once with a horrific compound fracture to his ankle in 2020, and last year with a hamstring injury that was torn from the bone. In 2022, a fractured thumb cost the veteran signal caller five games, but it was the only season in which the team weathered his absence to make the postseason. Prescott is also getting older; he’ll be 32-years old in July and his body isn’t taking the hits as well as he did in his younger years. The Cowboys need to have a backup plan because believing Prescott can play a full slate in 2025 would be shortsighted. The last thing the organization would want is to have a season derailed by an injury to Prescott with no adequate backup option. Last year, and for the past four seasons, Dallas has turned to Rush to fill the void when Prescott’s been out of the lineup. He isn’t a flashy name and doesn’t have a sexy game, but Rush has done well when called upon. Rush’s record of 9-5 as the backup is evidence that he can keep the team in contention when he’s on the field. Four of those losses came last year when the Cowboys were decimated by injury and weren’t much better when Prescott was in the lineup. Rush is also a free agent, able to sign with any team. Although he might be back, Rush was once picked up by another team when the Cowboys released him, the New York Giants in 2020. The expectation has always been that Rush will be back, because he always seems to find his way back, being re-signed by the Cowboys five times since 2020. As a team that loves keeping players they know, Rush is as comfortable as it gets. However, Rush’s return isn’t a guarantee, and in Stephen Jones’ interview at the NFL combine, he mentioned how Rush might command more than the Cowboys can afford. If Rush doesn’t return, the Cowboys also aren’t likely to turn to their former No. 3 signal caller in Lance. Despite investing a fourth-round pick on him in 2023, the team is expected to move on from Lance after two unimpressive seasons. Dallas liked Lance enough to trade a pick for him, but they didn’t seem eager to let him play until the final game of the 2024 season. Lance had an admirable showing in the loss to the Washington Commanders, but the Cowboys not wanting to play him in meaningful games despite giving up a mid-round pick for him was telling. Beyond Rush and Lance, though, the Cowboys have little connection to any of the free agent QBs on the market. Grier is much more of practice squad option than primary backup, so a true No. 2 signal caller is needed. The free agent list of QBs is a solid group, but if Rush will cost too much, then this list is made up of options that will mostly be too expensive for the Joneses to consider, and none are likely to welcome a definite backup spot. Veterans Aaron Rodgers and Sam Darnold will command a heavy price to sign, and neither is coming to Dallas as a No. 2 QB. Former Pittsburgh Steelers QBs Russell Wilson and Justin Fields might be good fits, especially with Wilson having familiarity with Schottenheimer, but they could both be looking for more opportunities to play. Jameis Winston might be an option, maybe Joe Flacco too, if they were willing to sign for cheaper than they might get elsewhere. Young QBs who could interest the Cowboys include Zach Wilson and Mac Jones, two signal callers trying to find the right fit to revitalize their careers. Other options include Taylor Heinicke, Marcus Mariota, Drew Lock or Jimmy Garoppolo. It’s not a bad group of QBs looking for a home this offseason, but will the Cowboys seriously entertain signing any of them? The potential is there to add a younger QB with more upside, it’s just a matter of what the Cowboys want to do behind Prescott. In the past Dallas has added veteran quarterbacks with some success, Andy Dalton and Kyle Orton come to mind, but that strategy has changed to re-signing a cheaper option like Rush. The Cowboys could also add a QB in the draft, which seems like they’re preferred option. Jones mentioned they’ll be looking to draft a QB which could mean Prescott’s main backup might be a rookie. This isn’t a great class to find help in the draft and it feels like there are too many other holes on the roster to use a pick on a QB, but the Cowboys will be taking a long look at the upcoming group in April. No matter what the Cowboys decide, they must ensure they have a quality backup QB in case Prescott can’t make it through the 2025 season. History tells us betting on 17 games from Prescott isn’t a smart bet. Even if they forgo adding a good veteran backup option, the Cowboys need to add at least one QB because right
Stephen Jones discusses the plans to replace Zack Martin, and the future of Terence Steele
Photo by Sam Hodde/Getty Images The Cowboys seem to be confident in Terence Steele these days. The Dallas Cowboys have a huge task ahead of them this offseason in replacing future Hall of Fame right guard Zack Martin. The seven-time First-Team All-Pro retired last week, leaving questions about the best options for his replacement. Stephen Jones has been answering questions at the NFL combine and spoke about the plans for the offensive line’s future heading into 2025. Jones feels confident in their in-house options between Brock Hoffman and/or Cooper Beebe, following in Martin’s footsteps. “Between Hoffman and Beebe, can they get the job done at center and guard?” Jones asked rhetorically. “Yeah. I think they’re great answers. “How they [the coaching staff] will play them remains to be seen.” Jones didn’t expound. But his answer suggests that head coach Brian Schottenheimer and his staff would consider shifting Beebe back to guard, where he played in college under new offensive line coach Conor Riley, and use Hoffman at center. Jones also mentioned that the team might consider adding a veteran player to free agency, similar to their recent moves with Chuma Edoga, but this time, it could be at the guard position. Moving Beebe back to guard could be an intriguing decision, especially since he spent his entire rookie season developing as a center. However, if the team trusts the coaching staff as evaluators, returning him to right guard—his natural position from college under new offensive line coach Conor Riley—might be a better fit for him. Figuring out the best starting five should be the endgame, regardless of whether it involves musical chairs. Jones also didn’t shy away from their confidence in drafting offensive linemen at the top of the draft and the success that has come from it. “But at the same time, offensive line is just always a place where we like to draft, usually pretty high too, just because you can’t have enough of them with the injuries.….“I see us looking for the right veteran like we did with Chuma [Edoga] at tackle,” Jones said. “Looking at the right veteran at guard or drafting a guy fairly high. “We always like to do that. That’s where we got Connor McGovern (third round) and Connor Williams (second round) and Cooper Beebe (third round). We’ve had success drafting guys in the second, third and fourth round.” The new coaching staff is tasked with solving the puzzle and configuring the best five offensive linemen, with the spotlight centered on both tackle positions. 2024 first-round pick Tyler Guyton had an up-and-down year. One idea floated around social media was to potentially move Guyton to right tackle, where he played at Oklahoma, and would give Terence Steele some competition. It sounds like Jones and the coaching staff have zero interest in that option. “Obviously, we got [Terence] Steele signed. I think he’s going to play much better in this system with Klayton [Adams].” Jones was asked why he believes Steele will excel with the new coaching staff. “Klayton has watched all of the tape on him and just really loves him,” Jones said, referring to the Cowboys’ new offensive coordinator. “Terence’s strong point is his run blocking. “If we do what I think Schotty and Klayton are going to do offensively, which is an even bigger focus on the run, that’s going to help Steele. Klayton is very fired up and so is Conor about what Terence can do.” At right tackle or could Steele find himself inside? “At right tackle,” Jones said. The last statement by Jones speaks volumes. There will be no moving Steele inside or anywhere else given they still believe in him as a starter at right tackle. Steele had an up and down season much like Guyton, but finished the year strong and could become even better under the tutelage of offensive coordinator Klayton Adams and Riley, who are savants at coaching offensive linemen. If what Jones says is true and that Adams is in love with what he’s seen from Steele’s film at right tackle, then fans should be positive about his growth under the new staff.
Cowboys news: Plan for offseason roster churn begins with focus on free agents
Eric Hartline-Imagn Images The latest Dallas Cowboys news from the start of NFL Combine week. Cowboys prioritize this free agent negotiation ahead of Micah Parsons extension – KD Drummond, The Cowboys Wire It would be a great boost for new DC Matt Eberflus’ defense if the Cowboys could bring back DT Osa Odighizuwa long term. On Sunday, Stephen Jones shared with The Dallas Morning News that Odighizuwa is up first when it comes to offseason negotiation priorities for the club. Whereas last offseason focused on whether or not key members of the club would see extensions, as Dak Prescott and CeeDee Lamb approached the final year of their deals, this year is about guys who can sign anywhere. Except for one big name. Micah Parsons finds himself in the same boat Prescott and Lamb did, staring at the final year of his current deal. The record-breaking edge rusher will play under the fifth-year option if no extension can be reached. But with that in their back pocket, the Cowboys are choosing to priortize someone they don’t have the luxury of waiting with. DT Osa Odighizuwa is going to be well sought after if he hits the open market when the legal tampering period starts on March 10. Although he doesn’t have sacks in abundance, he creates QB pressures like few others from the defensive interior, and appears ready to blossom to greater heights. Cowboys are on track to lose veteran in free agency after the best year of his career and it’s no fault of their own – Evan Winter, A to Z Sports With the contract Osa Odighizuwa is expected to command, the Cowboys are likely going to have to lose a player or two elsewhere on a still-thin defensive line to keep him. It’s just one of the many reasons why Dallas Cowboys defensive end Chauncey Golston is free agency’s best value at defensive end. The soon-to-be fifth-year player is coming off the best year of his career that showed that he can make plays from multiple positions up in front. He finished 2024 with career-best numbers across the board that included 5.5 sacks and an interception off Jayden Daniels, the Offensive Rookie of the Year. Golston won’t anchor anyone’s pass rush and he shouldn’t be expected to. He is, however, a chess piece that can be an effective rotational guy in the right spots. He can play outside and then kick inside on obvious passing downs. Injuries mostly forced him into playing a career-high 72% of defensive snaps after averaging about 30% through his first three years and he took full advantage of it, especially toward the end of the year where he recorded 3.5 of the aforementioned 5.5 sacks on the year. He’s also an OK run defender, which nearly completes his resume. He can certainly stand to improve in that area by working on his overall awareness and the stack-and-shed aspect of his game. Golston’s projected market value in free agency will make him a popular target NFL cap analysts Josh Queipo and Kyle DeDiminicantanio currently have Golston’s projection at $6 million per year. Pro Football Focus has him at $6.25 million per year and Spotrac has his AAV at $7.3 million. Cowboys not ruling out using the franchise tag on defensive player – Shane Taylor, Inside The Star With so many roster holes, the Cowboys need to get a little creative with how they retain and add new talent this offseason. As of Sunday, the Cowboys have started negotiations with free agent defensive tackle Osa Odighizuwa. Odighizuwa is scheduled to become a free agent next month. He had a career-high 4.5 sacks and 23 quarterback hits and will have a lot of teams call his agent! “We have had negotiations with Osa,‘’ Jones told the Dallas Morning News. “I just think Osa is a really good football player. He’s an important piece.‘’ Now although he did not rule out using the tag on him, it seems very unlikely! It would cost them $23.4 million for 2025, but the transition tag is a more palatable $18.9 million. “It’s a tool,‘’ Jones said. “It’s something we haven’t ruled out using. We’ll just see how this week goes and how our visits [with his agent] go.‘’ Stephen Jones says Cowboys will take a ‘selectively aggressive’ approach to free agency in 2025 – Staff, DallasCowboys.com Will “selectively aggressive” be this offseason’s version of “all in” for the Cowboys? “We’re going to look at everything we can, we’re going to be selectively aggressive, Jones said. “There’s things in this league, you have certain amount of resources they allow you to have and we will look at that, but we’re going to try to improve our football team, not try, we’re going to improve our football team and we expect to have success next year.” When it came to reflecting on the team’s approach last season, Jones didn’t want to make any excuses but pointed to injuries as a driving factor of Dallas’ struggles throughout the year and how they can grow from it and improve the 2025 roster to get back to their winning ways. “At the end of the day, no excuses, but when you have the injuries we had, it’s difficult,” Jones said. “That makes it hard. We’re going to obviously look at everything we do in terms of how we go about making this team better, how we improve the roster, and you always look for ways to improve and that’s what we’re going to do.” A large part of the Cowboys’ free agency approach historically is keeping their guys in house, and they’ve got several due for contract extensions this offseason and the next. One of if not the biggest proponent in that equation is Micah Parsons, who has said that he’d like to get a deal done sooner rather than later. With deals like that of CeeDee Lamb in the past, other factors like contracts for other players have affected the timing of
Cowboys Headlines: Stephen Jones on Micah, Lawrence, Odighizuwa, and being ‘selectively aggressive’
Stephen Jones says Cowboys will take a ‘selectively aggressive’ approach to free agency in 2025 :: The Mothership Link “All in” was the phrase that Cowboys fans debated and dissected to death last year. In 2025, it could well be this one. “We’re going to look at everything we can, we’re going to be selectively aggressive,” Jones said Monday from he combine. He chalked up last year’s struggles largely to injuries, but he says he expects “to have success next year.” Jones was quick to point out, though, the limitations of working with a salary cap when it comes to acquiring players. Cowboys prioritize this free agent negotiation ahead of Micah Parsons extension :: Cowboys Wire Link The Cowboys appear to be giving Osa Odighizuwa the first seat at the negotiating table this offseason, according to Stephen Jones. Parsons is staring down the barrel at his final year and a possible fifth-year extension, but the front office is apparently more immediately concerned with Odighizuwa, who can jump ship as early as two weeks from now. He’s currently on the books for $24 million in base salary and is expected to approach that number in average annual salary, too. Stephen Jones offers update on possible extension For Micah Parsons :: NFL Trade Rumors Link Nothing has apparently happened yet between Parsons and the Cowboys, but Jones didn’t seem overly worried about getting a deal done with the game-wrecking edge rusher. “We’ll see how Micah’s deal goes,” Jones said. “I don’t necessarily know that there’s a lot of extenuating situations out there that would precede us from being able to get our hands around something with Micah, but we’ll see.” Previous reports have suggested that the club has had internal discussions about possibly trading Parsons. Replacing Agent OO97: Cowboys could ink these two DTs for the price of one free agent :: Cowboys Wire Link If talks fall apart with Odighizuwa over what he’s expected to make, the Cowboys could conceivably take that money and add both Detroit’s Levi Onwuzurike and Cincinnati’s B.J. Hill along the interior D-line for slightly less. That doesn’t mean they would, only that they could. It would actually go a long way- when a rookie or two is also added via the draft- in revamping the team’s biggest position weakness. Cowboys to meet with DeMarcus Lawrence, Osa Odighizuwa this week ahead of free agency :: Fort Worth Star-Telegram Link The team is expected to have an important conversation with Lawrence about what he wants for his 12th NFL season. Set to become a free agent, Lawrence is coming off another injury to his already-surgically repaired foot. The fact that his name was mentioned in the same breath as the recently-retired Zack Martin may be a big clue, though. “I don’t want to get out in front or assume one thing or the other. I assume he can speak to that, that’s where we like to leave it,” Jones told reporters. What’s the plan to replace Zack Martin? Stephen Jones reveals Cowboys’ initial road map :: Dallas Morning News Link Dallas has used a first-round pick on an offensive lineman in two of the last three seasons and a fourth-round pick or higher on the position in six of the last seven drafts. Jones says drafting a lineman “fairly high” is once again a possibility this year, but he’s also confident that some tandem of Brock Hoffman and Cooper Beebe can hold things down in the area where No. 70 used to be. Could the Cowboys be active traders this offseason? :: Nick Harris Stephen Jones: Cowboys look to draft QB, ready to let Trey Lance walk :: Cowboys Wire Link Saying the club “took a shot at Trey,” Jones explained that the former first-round pick is “probably going to be looking for something different” for 2025. Jones also said one of the Cowboys’ goals is to get “a young quarterback in the draft” this year. He referenced Dak Prescott’s megacontract multiple times as a driving factor in both Lance being allowed to leave in free agency and having to “go cheap” when it comes to any QB acquisitions this offseason. 2025 NFL free-agency rankings top 150: Where do Aaron Rodgers, Tee Higgins, Sam Darnold fall? :: The Athletic Link Eight of this year’s top 150 free agents were wearing the star last season. Odighizuwa is ranked the 15th-best in the league, with Lawrence, Eric Kendricks, Rico Dowdle, and Jourdan Lewis all in the top 100. One free agent each NFL team should want to sign in 2025 :: Touchdown Wire Link The Dallas defense also needs reinforcements at linebacker. The idea of having Dre Greenlaw and DeMarvion Overshown paired up in Matt Eberflus’ defense is tantalizing. If Greenlaw’s injury (just 34 snaps played in 2024) history puts him in the prove-it category, that would be right up the Cowboys’ alley as they wait to see whether or not Overshown is capable of staying away from the injury bug. Report: Top draft prospect linked to Cowboys will not do on-field drills at combine :: Cowboys Wire Link Ashton Jeanty will be the latest in a growing number of college prospects in recent years who are electing not to perform for teams at the combine’s neutral site. Instead, he’ll save his workouts for Boise State’s pro day. Jeanty will, however, do team interviews and medical evaluations in Indianapolis. 5-Round Mock Draft: Cowboys grab next Lynch, next Deebo back-to-back :: Cowboys Wire Link The Marshawn Lynch vibes are too much for the Cowboys to pass up in the first round of this mock exercise; they take Jeanty at No. 12 and then add another offensive playmaker in the second round with TCU WR Savion Williams, who has been likened to Deebo Samuel. Offense dominates this draft haul and includes the next great tight end out of Iowa and a shifty running back out of Virginia Tech. The defense adds a linebacker and a D-tackle, both from blue-blood programs. 8x
Cowboys roundtable: Discussions on the combine and favorite draft prospects
Photo by Ric Tapia/Getty Images Our writers provide their opinions on the latest Dallas Cowboys news during our weekly review on the Roundtable Every week, we gather the latest news about the Dallas Cowboys and seek our writer’s perspective on each headline. Welcome back to the roundtable. This week we have David Howman and Brian Martin. Who is your “pet cat” in this year’s draft that you look forward to watching at this year’s scouting combine? This year’s NFL scouting combine is only a few days away. Held in Indianapolis annually, this combine will host a total of 329 prospects, which will take place from February 24 through March 3. Keep an eye on regular updates on BTB for Cowboys interest in prospects and interviews, as well as any rumors we pick along the way. Here’s the timetable for this year’s combine: Brian: TCU WR Savion Williams is who I’m looking forward to watching. He’s expected to run in the 4.4 range in the 40 at 6’3”, 225-pounds and should also test extremely well in all of the other events. I like the RB/WR Deebo Samuel-like skill set he could bring to the Cowboys offense. He has some focus drop issues and needs to become a better route runner, but his athleticism/versatility make him one of the most unique weapons in the 2025 draft class. Howman: Darius Alexander, the defensive tackle from Toledo. I’ve been on him for several months now, but Alexander’s strong showing at the Senior Bowl boosted his stock in a big way. I think he can fit at either defensive tackle spot in Matt Eberflus’ defense, making him a very valuable prospect. A bonus honorable mention: Arizona State slot defender Shamari Simmons. Keep an eye on him. What prospect are you high on that everyone else seems to be overlooking, and why? There are a number of under the radar players in this year’s draft class. Keep an eye on players like cornerback Azareye’h Thomas from Florida State, defensive tackle David Walker from Central Arkansas and wide receiver Ja’Corey Brooks from Louisville, they are hugely overlooked and fit the Cowboys. Let us know in the comments if there any prospects you feel is getting overlooked and we will highlight them in our scouting series here on BTB. Brian: Kansas State CB Jacob Parrish is someone I’m probably higher on anyone else. He has all the intangibles you look for in both coverage and run support, but at 5’10”, 196-pounds he doesn’t have the ideal size a lot of teams prefer playing on the outside. Fortunately that’s not a problem in Matt Eberflus’ scheme. And, with the Kansas State connection with Cowboys new OL coach Conor Riley, he could be someone on Dallas’ radar to add more depth at CB. Howman: Oklahoma State running back Ollie Gordon, for sure. Gordon entered this past year as a Heisman contender, but a miserable season for the Cowboys that ended with both coordinators getting fired has sunk his stock. That’s hardly Gordon’s fault, though, as he has the same talent and ability in my opinion as Ashton Jeanty. Yet Gordon isn’t even a top 10 back in this class according to Mel Kiper, while Pro Football Focus ranks him as the 193rd best player and 22nd best running back. Which draft option do you prefer- 1st Round: WR Tetairoa McMillan (Arizona)2nd Round: OT Cameron Williams (Texas)3rd Round: RB Cameron Skattebo (ASU) OR 1st Round: CB Will Johnson (Michigan)2nd Round: DE J.T. Tuimoloau (Ohio State)3rd Round: Omarr Norman-Lott (Tennessee) Brian: Give me the second option of CB Will Johnson, EDGE JT Tuimoloau, and DT Omarr Norman-Lott and it’s not even close. These three players would be significant upgrades from Day 1 as rookies if added to the Cowboys roster and they all play the “high money” positions that would cost an arm to fill via free agency. This group would immediately transform Dallas’ defense back into a Top 5 unit in the league in my opinion. Howman: This Arizona State alum is admittedly biased but give me the first one. Cam Skattebo is a stud and a perfect fit for what Brian Schottenheimer and Klayton Adams want in this offense. Tetairoa McMillan is also a really fun prospect who would give the passing game a whole new dimension alongside CeeDee Lamb. And Cameron Williams would be an upgrade over Terence Steele or, possibly, a successor to Zack Martin inside. I’ll take three impact starters on offense any day of the week.
New Coach, New Life: Cowboys $3 million fifth-round pick could be reinvented, or cut
New Coach, New Life: Cowboys $3 million fifth-round pick could be reinvented, or cut reidhanson NFL careers don’t always progress in straight lines. For many prospects making the jump from college to the pros, development can be an up and down affair throughout the first few years. This roller-coaster can obviously be frustrating for the player and team, but it’s also tough on a fanbase eager to find answers. Damone Clark, a fourth-year linebacker out of LSU, is such player for the Dallas Cowboys. Winning First-Team All-SEC honors, Clark was regarded by many as one of the top college linebackers in the country. Wearing the celebrated No. 18 jersey for the Tigers, Clark was a respected presence on the LSU defense, earning high marks both on and off the field. Clark was expected to come off the board early in the 2022 NFL draft, that is until Cowboys team doctors discovered a herniated disk at the NFL combine. Clark’s medical condition required spinal fusion surgery just prior to the draft. The procedure put his rookie season and career in doubt, causing him to fall into Day 3 of the draft. Eventually the team that first discovered the spinal injury was the one who drafted him, with Dallas selecting Clark No. 176 overall in 2022. The long-term prognosis soon began to look good for Clark, and the Cowboys appeared optimistic they’d even be able to get him onto the field at some point in his rookie season. Low and behold, Clark contributed in 10 games that first year, surprisingly starting in five. The future was bright, and it seemed Dallas had another late round steal on their hands heading into 2023. But Clark struggled in his second season, missing assignments, failing in his run fits and struggling in coverage. He started all 17 games, but he was unreliable and inconsistent on Dan Quinn’s explosive defense. 2024 was supposed to be a bounce-back year for Clark, but again the young ‘backer struggled. Clark participated in 14 games under the Mike Zimmer-led Cowboys, but he only started two of them. Playing primarily special teams, Clark contributed fewer defensive snaps in 2024 than he did as a recovering rookie two years prior. The rollercoaster had taken a downturn and now Clark stands on the brink of not even making the roster in 2025. The Cowboys could save more than $3 million by cutting this once-promising prospect over the offseason. With a couple notable outside veterans set to hit free agency, it’s possible the Cowboys could decide the safety of signing a declining veteran is more attractive than the unknown someone like Clark provides. The Cowboys LB ranks are thin so the Cowboys can’t afford to take any unnecessary gambles at the position. Banking on Clark is certainly a gamble. But new defensive Matt Eberflus could change things for Clark in Dallas. Eberflus is a LB guru and while demanding, he’s been known to turn water into wine from time to time. If he can tap into Clark’s potential and develop the aspiring star into the player the Cowboys thought he would be, it could be a win-win for the Cowboys and Clark. Dallas is understandably bullish on young LBs DeMarvion Overshown and Marist Luifau. But Overshown is recovering from a significant knee injury and Liufau is still learning the ropes. The Cowboys need a couple complementary pieces to fill in the gaps and hold down the fort while those two work things out. At just 24-years-old, Clark still has time to develop. The question is will that be with the Cowboys? Eberflus’ presence gives Clark, 6-foot-3, 240-pounds, a bit of blank slate to work with. Talented young players with the size and length of Clark don’t come around all the time so if the new DC in Dallas thinks he can make Clark work, his $3,385,639 cap hit in 2025 may be a bargain. What’s clear is that figure is far too much to pay a glorified special teams player so it will be up to the Cowboys to determine whether this rollercoaster ride is on the way up in 2025 or stuck down on the ground. Related articles [affiliatewidget_smgtolocal]
Cowboys should kick the tires on LB Dre Greenlaw in free agency
Photo by Brooke Sutton/Getty Images The Cowboys need to consider looking at all sorts of options right now. The Dallas Cowboys have a lot of questions to answer in terms of their roster this offseason. One of them will be how to shore up the linebacker position. Second-year sensation DeMarvion Overshown took the league by storm in 2024 after missing his entire rookie campaign with a torn ACL. Unfortunately, he suffered another ACL tear, which puts his 2025 season up in the air as far as when he’ll be back. Veteran Eric Kendricks showed he still had plenty in the tank, but he’ll be a free agent next month. Marist Liufau had some rookie growing pains but eventually showed his potential as the season went along. However, he’s the only sure thing you can say when it comes to the Cowboys linebacker room next year, seeing as he’s taken a lot of time away from Damone Clark. It would behoove the Cowboys to look at a veteran option before taking one in the NFL draft. Dre Greenlaw of the San Francisco 49ers is a good target. Greenlaw started the 2024 season on the reserve/PUP list due to suffering a torn Achilles in Super Bowl LVIII against the Kansas City Chiefs. He was activated in December. However, he left early in his return against the Los Angeles Rams due to knee discomfort and also left after playing just four snaps versus the Miami Dolphins with a calf strain. So, there’s certainly cause to pause with his recent injury history. When it comes to the Cowboys and how they operate, though, it fits perfectly. Dallas is known for signing veterans to cheap, short-term deals in free agency, which is usually a one-year agreement in most cases. Being that Greenlaw has been hurt more often than not as of late, that drives his value down. This makes him a prime candidate for a one-year prove-it type of deal. Per Spotrac, Greenlaw has a market value of $6.7 million, which fits like a hand in a glove for the Cowboys. Now that we’ve got the injury history and money stuff out of the way, let’s talk about play on the field. When healthy, Greenlaw is a stud at the linebacker position. He plays downhill with speed and aggression. He shoots gaps very well against the run, is a sure tackler, and he can cover running backs out of the backfield as well as tight ends. Getting Greenlaw in the building to play with a promising young talent like Liufau as well as Overshown, who plans to play at some point in the 2025, would give the Cowboys something to be positive about at the linebacker spot, and if they could find a way to bring the aforementioned Kendricks back as well, they’d certainly be in good shape at linebacker.
