From Zero Star to Superstar: Cam Ward’s mindset, motivation, and faith prepare him for 2025 NFL draft Jazz Monet Cam Ward moves with a quiet confidence. Running into him at the Shrine Bowl in early February, brought about a double take. Was this really the same quarterback lighting up YouTube with highlight reels? The one teammates called a vocal leader, pushing them to a higher standard? His calm, steady energy suggested a guy more likely to be found meditating than commanding a huddle. But once he started talking, it all became clear; the presence, the self-assurance that had won over so many. “I’m the best quarterback in this draft,” he stated matter-of-factly. No bravado. No theatrics. He delivered it with the same ease as the “Nice to meet you,” heard just a little while prior. He wasn’t trying to convince anyone; outside opinions were irrelevant. In Ward’s world, that was just the truth. If one followed his journey, they wouldn’t bet against him. This season alone, he racked up five major awards, including the Davey O’Brien Award, ACC Player of the Year, and Consensus All-American honors—proof his talent speaks for itself. Back in 2021, a YouTube video prophetically called him “The Superstar You’ve Never Heard Of.” At the time, he was fresh off leading the University of Incarnate Word—a program that was his only scholarship offer—to a 10-3 season with 4,648 passing yards and 47 touchdowns. His impressive stats at UIW could be considered making up for a lack of experience in high school. Columbia High ran a Wing-T offense, limiting Ward to a laughable 12 passing attempts per game. No stars, no scouting reports, no major offers. But instead of sulking, Ward locked in. “At the end of the day,” he said, “It’s not about whether you can go to [a notable] school. It’s about playing football and making plays. That’s the only thing that’s gonna get you to the next level – making plays on the field. So if you got a good mindset and [you’re] coachable, you can do a lot of good things.” That mindset turned the unheard-of kid into a quarterback who can’t go unnoticed. At the Shrine Bowl, a small frenzy broke out among an otherwise sparse crowd when fans spotted him on the patio of the Miller Lite Club. Security had to intervene as excited kids swarmed the railing, desperate for a photo, an autograph, or even just a glimpse. Ward took it all in stride. “I wanted to put myself in this position since I was in high school,” he said, “I’m just glad God gave me a way, gave me the work ethic to go do it.” That journey is now the focus of Zero Star, a docuseries currently in production from Firebrand Media, with Ward slated to star in its premiere episode. As a zero-star recruit with no ranking or scouting buzz, even his ironclad confidence felt the pressure. “What I feel separated me from [more popular players] is that I was willing to do anything,” he explained, “I still will to do anything to get what I want out of football, whether I’m taken [at] the first pick or I’m taken the last pick of the draft. At the end of the day, everything is a mindset. If you don’t have the mindset, you’re not [gonna] be successful on the field or off the field. Then, one last nod to what he considers his true power source. “Keep God first and He’ll do a lot for you,” he said. “Sometimes, I would just pray and work out.” That unwavering faith? It’s gotten him this far. And he’s still making plays. So what’s next for Cam Ward? He’s heading to the NFL scouting combine on February 27, where he’ll have the chance to prove his case. Fans will see if NFL teams agree he’s the best quarterback when the 2025 NFL draft kicks off on April 25.
2025 Cowboys draft scouting report: Missouri WR Luther Burden III
Photo by Sam Hodde/Getty Images The Cowboys really need to focus on improving their wide receiver room. One of the most hyped receiver prospects in the nation, Luther Burden was a 5-star recruit out of East Saint Louis, Illinois. He picked the Mizzou Tigers over offers from Alabama, Georgia, Ohio State, and other blue bloods. Ranked as the second best high school receiver in the country and the 14th overall prospect, Burden arrived in Columbia with sky high expectations. Name: Luther Burden IIIPosition: WRHeight: 5’11”Weight: 205 pounds Luther Burden College Stats, courtesy of Sports Reference For the most part, Burden lived up to them too. Playing as a true freshman, he led the team in touchdown receptions and finished second in catches, immediately cementing himself as a reliable option in the passing game. Burden exploded in 2023, racking up 1,200+ yards through the air and finishing seventh in the nation in yards per route run. Burden’s numbers regressed in 2024, but that coincided with a decidedly more run-heavy offense for the Tigers. Still, Burden continued to show off his impressive ability after the catch and now enters the draft as one of the top receivers in his class. Burden could very well be a top target for the Cowboys as they look to upgrade Dak Prescott’s weapons. Route Running: Burden’s route tree was limited this past season, but the 2023 season shows he can run any route in the route tree. He could maybe be a bit more fluid in his movements, but Burden consistently managed to create separation at all three levels every year as a Tiger. Hands Burden’s hands improved greatly over his three-year career. He went from having seven drops as a true freshman to four as a sophomore and just three in 2024. His tape this past year shows great technical ability in being quick with his hands, allowing him to adjust faster to balls and not give anything away to his defender when playing in phase. Playmaking Ability Burden didn’t see much work as a deep threat receiver this past year, but his 2023 season was incredible. Burden generated 415 yards and four scores off passes more than 20 yards downfield and posted a 119.1 passer rating. He demonstrated an exceptional ability at tracking the deep ball and timing his jump right to sky to the catch point. Release Burden primarily played in the slot the last two years, which allowed him plenty of clean releases, but he’s demonstrated an ability to work off of press coverages as well. He does a good job to continue moving forward while working to get free, ensuring no wasted movement on his part. Run After Catch Burden’s best trait is the work he does after the catch. In 2024, Missouri clearly tried to get the most out of him in this facet, as Burden saw 63.8% of his targets travel fewer than 10 yards past the line of scrimmage. Still, Burden’s 6.1 yards after the catch per reception is tied for fifth among receivers in this draft. His 30 broken tackles also led the entire nation, a solid indicator of the damage Burden does after the catch. Blocking No one is going to confuse Burden for the next Hines Ward, but he’s competent enough to succeed as a blocker. He isn’t someone who shows a desire to block, and his frame doesn’t do him many favors, but Burden isn’t a liability in this area by any stretch. Versatility Burden played almost exclusively on the perimeter as a true freshman before moving into the slot the last two years. While some analysts have pointed to Burden’s pedestrian numbers against man coverage this year as a reason to project Burden as a slot-only option at the next level, he only saw 19 targets against man this year. Burden saw double that in 2023 and was extremely productive. He can hold his own as a perimeter receiver in the NFL. Size Burden doesn’t have the largest frame but he’s not lacking for size either. His frame is fully filled out, and he has a low center of gravity that has aided his after-catch ability. He’s not the most ideal jump ball target, but Burden’s size makes him a viable target on any kind of route. Intangibles Some have suggested that Burden took plays off in 2024, with others pointing to his limited role as being something that mentally took Burden out of the game at times. He has natural instincts with the ball in his hand and is the definition of a gamer.
Ken Dorsey’s role with Cowboys may be more important than meets the eye
Photo by Nick Cammett/Getty Images How do you feel about the staff Brian Schottenheimer has put together for the Dallas Cowboys? The Dallas Cowboys will have a new coaching staff in 2025, led by first-year head coach Brian Schottenheimer. The former offensive coordinator’s staff is now complete, giving Dallas a clear direction heading into key player acquisition phases like the NFL draft and free agency. These coaching changes have been the response to Dallas dropping from a consistent 12-win team to 7-10 and out of the playoffs in 2024. As optimistic as some Cowboys fans have been about different hires like Klayton Adams as OC, Matt Eberflus as DC, or even Conor Riley and Aaron Whitecotton as OL and DL coaches respectively, this is a fanbase that should understand that players and on-field talent win games more than anything. Two former Cowboys coaches squared off in the NFC Championship Game in Dan Quinn and Kellen Moore, doing so with divisional teams that greatly surpassed the Cowboys in talent this year. The Eagles won and went on to win the Super Bowl in dominant fashion before Moore accepted his own first head coaching gig with the New Orleans Saints. Players matter. Without any indication yet that the Cowboys plan on backing up their willingness to shake up the coaching staff with the same intensity towards the roster, these coaching moves will still serve as the catalyst for discussing how this team may look different under Schottenheimer. One coach to strongly keep in mind here, although he won’t serve as a coordinator or play-caller, is pass game specialist Ken Dorsey. Dorsey’s 12 years of NFL experience is the second most of any of the new offensive hires, only behind tight ends coach Lunda Wells who was retained from Mike McCarthy’s staff and has been coaching in Dallas since 2020. At the time of his hire, the Cowboys had a vacancy at quarterback coach, which seemed like a natural fit for Dorsey. The former 49ers and Browns quarterback got his start in NFL coaching as the Carolina Panthers QB coach from 2013-17, and then held the same role for the Buffalo Bills from 2019-21 before being promoted to offensive coordinator. Most recently, Dorsey served as offensive coordinator for the Browns in 2024. Shortly after hiring Dorsey, the Cowboys decided to keep their QB coach hire closer to the vest and promoted in-house assistant Steve Shimko. Dallas favors familiarity and a tight circle around Dak Prescott in the QB room, but Dorsey has been a very well known name in the coaching circle for a while now and figures to play into the coaching of the Cowboys quarterbacks in Schottenheimer’s scheme as well as the offense as a whole. Ken Blaze-Imagn Images Let’s just get this out of the way. There is nothing anyone can do about the fact a large percentage of Cowboys fans will not give this team any chance on Sundays going forward because of the Schottenheimer hire alone. No matter what they do underneath the first-time head coach but lifelong assistant, this hire is understandably still a strange one and didn’t exactly rally the fanbase that things are going to get much better anytime soon. Putting that aside to take a closer look at who Schottenheimer will actually be working with on a staff he quickly and impressively pulled together, the Ken Dorsey hire should be near the top of the list of ones Schotty needs to get right. Without a ton of relevant experience when it comes to what qualified Schottenheimer to be the next head coach of the Cowboys, the three years he was on staff previously can be looked at even closer under the microscope. Schottenheimer was a non-play calling offensive coordinator the past two seasons under Mike McCarthy. This is a unique role in today’s game, and Schottenheimer had to hire for the same role right away as he will now serve as play-caller moving forward. The early reviews on Klayton Adams as OC point to Schottenheimer hitting a home run here, particularly when it comes to Dallas backing their talk of wanting to be strong and athletic in the trenches with an efficient run game. In his one year prior to being the Cowboys OC though, Schottenheimer was merely an assistant coach like Dorsey is now. If there is a spot on Schottenheimer’s coaching staff that most closely resembles the position he started in to eventually rise to head coach, it may be pass game specialist with Dorsey. Dorsey also served as a non-play calling OC in Cleveland last season, as HC Kevin Stefanski called the offense. Tim Heitman-Imagn Images The Cowboys have a young staff in place around Schottenheimer, which should help create a culture of competitiveness in replacement of some of the complacency that’s plagued this team for too long. The proof will be right in front of these coaches daily that good work even behind the scenes at The Star can be rewarding, with Schottenheimer now in the big chair for the first time after starting as a NFL coach in 1997. There’s an argument to be made that no coach will chase this worm on the end of the line more than Dorsey, who interviewed last offseason for the Panthers head coach opening. Dorsey is a well-respected coach that’s worked with the likes of Sean McDermott and Kevin Stefanski, as well as Joe Brady who was the Bills QB coach after Dorsey became OC. This is a coach Schottenheimer could lean on more than his title alone would suggest, and his track record of getting consistently good quarterback play in schemes similar to what Schottenheimer is desiring also suggest that could be a good thing. So much of the Cowboys plans towards turning their fortunes around and contending within their own division again hinge on the health and play of Dak Prescott. He will be the straw that stirs this drink more than any coach possibly can, but surrounding him
‘Create violence’: New Cowboys coach vows ‘controlled energy’ to boost struggling unit
‘Create violence’: New Cowboys coach vows ‘controlled energy’ to boost struggling unit Todd Brock For Klayton Adams, it all starts, by his own admission, on the offensive line. The newly-named offensive coordinator of the Cowboys, Adams was himself a walk-on O-lineman at Boise State in the early 2000s. Early in his coaching career, he was the run game coordinator and offensive line coach at D-II’s Western Washington. He’s since worked with the front five at Sacramento State and Colorado, and then at the pro level in both Indianapolis and Arizona. But just because Adams is now an OC for the first time- and for one of the most stored franchises in the sport, no less, with all-world talents like Dak Prescott and CeeDee Lamb now under his jurisdiction- don’t expect him to stray too far from the big boys up front. “I definitely won’t stay away from that,” Adams laughed Tuesday, when he spoke with the Dallas media for the first time since his Jan. 31 hire. “I want to have a great relationship with all these guys, and I really want to build genuine relationships so that they know that I’m here to help them play the best football of their careers and they know that we’re going to have a very clear and communicated standard for what we expect from them. “For me, that’s going to start in the offensive line room, and I’m very excited about developing a relationship with those guys. But I need to have that same relationship with Dak. I need to have that same relationship with CeeDee, so my time’s going to be spread a little bit more in that way, but it’s going to start on the offensive line.” And Cowboys fans who may have felt like something has been missing in recent years will absolutely love what Adams says he’s looking for from his linemen… and the rest of the unit at large. “The same thing that I want from every player on offense,” he says, “and that is to create violence in the game. Be aggressive. Run. Hit. I think that every decision that we make schematically needs to lean that direction. So if there’s gray area, what is going to allow these guys to play more free and run and hit and be violent?” Adams will be creating the plays that hopefully check those boxes for the offense, but it will be first-time head coach Brian Schotteneheimer actually calling the shots on Sundays. So for now, the Sacramento-born Adams will be the intermediary: ascertaining what his offensive players are best at and cooking up plays to fit… but also putting them together on a menu that works for Schottenheimer on gameday. “Just trying to mesh what the vision of what he wants,” Adams explained. “I think it would be dumb on my part to try to force a lot of things on that call sheet that he doesn’t want to call or he doesn’t feel comfortable calling. “I’m going to see some things differently, he’s going to see some things differently. It’s going to be a growing process.” But much of the job will also come down to the same basic principle that has been at the heart of football since the game’s very beginning: lining up in such a way that the other side can’t tell what’s coming. “Our job,” according to Adams, “when we’re putting things on the call sheet, is to be problem solvers. So we’re trying to figure out: what do we do good? And how do we make that look multiple? How do we make that look different? That’s the part that I’m really looking forward to focusing on.” [affiliatewidget_smgtolocal] The Dallas offense struggled mightily last year. But the fact that Adams takes over an offense whose core contributors have finished in the NFL’s top three in points and the top five in yards in three of the past five years means it won’t have to be a total rebuild from scratch. And having five offensive players with a combined 19 Pro Bowl nods (Zack Martin included, for now) has to be considered a massive bonus for Adams as he gets to work. “I’m really excited about the opportunity to let it unfold and look at it and say, ‘How do we put these guys in an advantageous position as many times as we can within a game?’” he told reporters. “That’s the challenge to me, and when you have good players, that’s a little bit easier.” But don’t mistake Adams’s easygoing nature in front of the media for a passive approach on the sideline. The just-turned-41-year-old still has some of that hard-nosed, no-nonsense, O-lineman mentality deep in his DNA. He’s the first to admit it’s ready to come out when it needs to. “How I communicate with the players- on the field, in the meeting room- [it’s] controlled energy,” Adams said. “So I’m not going to have a lot of blowups, but it’s going to be very focused beams of ‘Here’s the problem; here’s the solution, here’s where we’re going to try to get that done.’ I’m not really a big blowup scream guy. But, you know, they’ve got to feel the intensity.” And hopefully under Adams, the Cowboys offense will be showing plenty of intensity, too.
The “how-to” offseason guide to fix the 2025 Dallas Cowboys
Photo by Ron Jenkins/Getty Images Here is one way to go about fixing the Cowboys. With Brian Schottenheimer now taking over as the new head coach, and his coaching staff now filled, we are entering a new era for the Dallas Cowboys. The amount of unknown surrounding this organization is at an all-time high right now, not really knowing what to expect from the coaching staff or their plans for the offseason, but the one thing we do know is they have a lot of work to do and little time to do it. Due to the all of the unknown, all we can do right now is speculate what the Cowboys may do in both free agency and the upcoming 2025 NFL Draft. By now we all have a pretty good idea of their most pressing roster “needs” and the fact that they could have upwards of $100 million in salary-cap space at their disposal, despite Stephen Jones insistence money will be tight. Today, we go step-by-step through the offseason and share the moves we’d like to see the Cowboys make to put themselves back into contention once again. We start with the players they should re-sign and the ones they should let go, then move on to free agency and the NFL draft. 3 contracts to renew, 2 to let go Photo by Kevin Sabitus/Getty Images Players to Re-sign DT Osa Odighizuwa Other than locking up Micah Parsons long-term, re-signing Odighizuwa should be a top priority for the Cowboys. The 3-technique is one of the most important positions in Matt Eberflus’ defense, making No. 97’s return all the more important. PFF contract projection: 4-years, $21.25m ($42.5m guaranteed, $85m total) DE DeMarcus Lawrence D-Law was off to a really good start in 2024 before a foot injury ended his season prematurely. Although he’s on the wrong side of 30, he’s still an ideal fit in Matt Eberflus’ defense and would provide some much-needed depth/experience to the position. PFF contract projection: 2-years, $7.5m avg/yr ($8m guaranteed, $15m total) CB Jourdan Lewis DaRon Bland is the only CB the Cowboys can count right now. Re-signing Jourdan Lewis would add much-needed depth and experience to the position as well as lesson the need to use a premium pick in the 2025 NFL Draft. Spotrac contract projection: 2-years, $4.5m ($2.25m avg/yr) Players to let go S Donovan Wilson Wilson was a liability in coverage last season and could be a salary-cap casualty because of it. Dallas can save $5.35 million releasing him out right or $7 million by designating him a post June 1 cut. LB Damone Clark Clark continues to slide further down on the Cowboys LB depth chart and played just 14.76% of the defensive snaps in 2024. Unless Matt Eberflus believes he still brings value, Dallas can save a little over $3 million by releasing him. Free agent moves to make Photo by Ezra Shaw/Getty Images LB Dre Greenlaw Greenlaw missed the majority of the 2024 season, but is still considered one of the top LBs available on the open market. He’s one of the best coverage LBs in the entire league and fits what Matt Eberflus likes at the position at either MIKE or WILL. PFF contract projection: 1-year, $6m avg/yr ($5m guaranteed, $6 total) DT Poona Ford The Cowboys are extremely thin at DT and Ford would provide some much-needed depth and a potential starter. He was one of the top graded DTs last year according to PFF and is a disruptive player who would fit in nicely in Matt Eberflus’ defense. PFF contract projection: 1-year, $3.5m avg/yr ($1.5m guaranteed, $3.5m total) RB J.K. Dobbins Dobbins has a well documented injury history, but when healthy is capable of producing like one of the top RBs in the league. He is a Texas native and at the very least would provide some much-needed depth in Dallas at an affordable price. PFF contract projection: 2-years, $3.5m avg/yr ($4m guaranteed, $7m total) 2025 mock draft after offseason moves (Mock draft database simulator) Photo by Rich von Biberstein/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images 1.12 – *TRADE* Buccaneers trade up for EDGE Mykel Williams, Cowboys receive 1.18, 2.53 1.18 – WR Emeka Egbuka, Ohio State Egbuka could be the ideal Robin to CeeDee Lamb’s Batman. He is a savvy route runner and at 6’1″, 205-pounds, he can play inside or out. He is extremely QB-friendly and has a blue-collar mentality doing the dirty work as a blocker. 2.44 – RB Omarion Hampton, North Carolina Hampton is considered by some to be the best RB after Aston Jeanty in the 2025 draft class. He’s been one of the more productive backs in the NCAA the last few years and at 6’1″, 220-pounds he has the size and skill set to be a significant upgrade as the starter in Dallas. 2.53 – OL Jonah Savaiinaea, Arizona Savaiinaea (6’4″, 339) played both right and left OT at Arizona and has the length (34″ arms) to remain there in the NFL, but kicking inside to OG may be best for his long-term future. His OT/G versatility could give Dallas another Tyler Smith on the right side of their OL. 3.76 – S Kevin Winston Jr., Penn State If not for a season-ending ACL injury Winston likely would’ve been a top 50 pick. At 6’2″, 208-pounds, he is one of the top safety prospects this year and could be an immediate upgrade over Donovan Wilson on the back end of Dallas’ secondary. *TRADE* Cowboys send 5.170, 5.172, 5.174 to Falcons for 4.117 4.117 – CB Nohl Williams, Cal Even after re-signing Jourdan Lewis, CB is a concern with Trevon Diggs working back from a season-ending knee injury and with DaRon Bland in the final year of his rookie contract. Williams (6’1″, 200) is a playmaker with 7 INTs and 16 passes defensed just last season. 5.150 – EDGE Oluwafemi Oladejo, UCLA Landing Oladejo here in the fifth-round would be an absolute steal. He spent his first three seasons
Cowboys news: Matt Eberflus wants to continue Dallas’ trend of takeaways on defense
Photo by Amy Lemus/NurPhoto via Getty Images All the up to date news around the Dallas Cowboys. Matt Eberflus on focus of 2025 Cowboys defense: ‘We will take the ball away’ – Grant Gordon, NFL.com The Dallas Cowboys new defensive coordinator looks to continue what Dan Quinn emphasized in 2021—taking the ball away. “Pretty simple: we will take the ball away,” Eberflus said, via the Cowboys’ website. “That’s what we will do. We will stop the run, and we want to make exciting plays for our football team.” It’s an unsurprising answer from Eberflus, who was Dallas’ linebackers coach from 2011-2017 prior to a four-year stay as the Indianapolis Colts’ defensive coordinator and the Bears’ head coach for two-plus seasons. Trademarks of Eberflus’ defenses have been stopping the run, causing turnovers and bending, but not breaking. Generating turnovers has been his most consistent calling card. From 2018 through last season, Eberflus’ Colts and Bears squads ranked in the top 10 in takeaways in all but one season – 2022 with Chicago when it was 14th. Last season, the Bears, who finished the campaign sans Eberflus after his firing, were 10th in takeaways (24 total). They weren’t too far ahead of the Cowboys (12th with 22). After what amounted to a disastrous 4-8 start rife with agonizing losses, chaotic finishes and unfulfilled potential, Eberflus was let go by the Bears. Landing on his feet with the Cowboys wasn’t a major shock considering his past experience with the club. Thus, he returns to a familiar spot in Dallas and a familiar role in being a DC. “I was here seven years before, so I know the [Jones] family well,” Eberflus said. “I know the community, I know the fanbase, and it’s exciting to be back. That’s what excites me the most: the fan base, the players that we get to work with and in working with the Jones family and Brian Schottenheimer.” Klayton Adams opens up on working with Schottenheimer, offensive identity, more – Tommy Yarrish, DallasCowboys.com Klayton Adams wants his players to play with violence. “For myself being a background of an offensive line coach, the opportunity to be a coordinator, to sit in that chair was important to me and had been a goal, something that I wanted to do at some point,” Adams said. “Being able to do it with the Dallas Cowboys is a huge, even bigger opportunity.” Adams’ role on staff is not to handle play calling duties, and instead assist Schottenheimer in constructing his gameplan each week. They haven’t worked together before in the past, so the time they spent together now is all about figuring each other out and getting on the same page. “Trying to mesh what the vision of what he wants is because he’s going to call the plays, and so I think it would be dumb on my part to try to force a lot of things on that call sheet that he doesn’t want to call or he doesn’t feel comfortable calling.” Adams said. “We’re really excited. I’m very excited to work with him and just to continue to learn each other a little bit… we’re going to get out into some practices and talk through some things and I’m going to see some things differently, he’s going to see some things differently, and it’s going to be a growing process.” A large part of that process comes down to the players. With Rico Dowdle becoming a free agent this offseason and uncertainty about what the offensive line looks like next year, there’s still a lot of work to be done when it comes to figuring out the pieces Adams and Schottenheimer will have to work with. That said, there are already some quality pieces in place in the Cowboys’ offense. “I don’t know that we’ve completely gotten that far yet,” Adams said. “We’re working hard to evaluate what we have here, I think that there’s a lot of nice pieces to work with and we’ll continue to go down that road as we work through player acquisition.” Jeffrey Lurie sets the example that Jerry Jones should be following – RJ Ochoa, Blogging the Boys If Jerry Jones follows the blueprint of the Philadelphia Eagles, it could lead to immediate success. That’s gross but a valid point. Consider that Lurie bought the Eagles just five years after Jerry Jones bought the Dallas Cowboys. Comparing which owner is more successful seems like a waste of time, but consider that the latter now only has one more title than the former. Albert Breer had a great piece about Lurie and his ownership of the Eagles relative to the success that they have had over the last decade. One part stood out where Lurie discussed finding financial liberty to keep the team competitive on an annual basis. “My philosophy is …” Lurie said, pausing for a second to consider the question. “You’re obviously trying to run a sound business, but I think success is determined by your success on the field and your success in the community. And so anything you can do to maximize those two, the value of the team is going to be appreciated more by your performance and your reputation in the community than anything else. It’s not going to be the EBITDA in a certain year, or two or three or four. “There’s a reason we just sold limited partnerships for the highest price in sports history. It wasn’t based on being the most profitable team at all. It’s based on the performance over time and the reputation in the community and the forecasting of where we hope to be able to sustain over the next multiple years. It’s much more than the financial bottom line. Now I guess you could get criticized by some Wall Street analysts, but we don’t operate that way. We just don’t operate that way.” Indeed, Lurie sold 8% of the Eagles in December to two family investment groups, with the valuation
Cowboys Headlines: Eberflus on plan for Micah, Overstreet putting big chip on DBs’ shoulders
Matt Eberflus on decision to return to Cowboys, plan for Micah Parsons and more :: The Mothership Link In his first chat with the Dallas media, the Cowboys’ new defensive coordinator stressed the emphasis he’ll put on taking the ball away from opposing offenses and stopping the run. Eberflus hinted at the need for some upgrades in key defensive spots, and he made it clear he plans to get the most out of the unit’s best player. “Micah is a premier pass rusher. We’re going to use him that way, certainly,” he said of Parsons. “He knows that we’ll just make him in the best light that he can be in terms of position, in terms of pass rush, and really utilizing what he does best, and that’s rushing the passer.” NFL contract extension candidates :: Spotrac Link Parsons enters 2025 with a fully guaranteed $24 million fifth-year option on the books. Spotrac lists him as a $33.7 million/year player, so him winding up with more than Nick Bosa’s $34 million per year is highly probable. But the real question is, how close could he come to $40 million? New Dallas Cowboys assistant coach has epic quote inspiring secondary of ballhawks :: SI.com Link David Overstreet II could become as much a fan favorite as Al Harris, the assistant he’s replacing. Especially after he explained the philosophy he’ll teach to the Dallas DBs: “When the ball is in the air, that’s our ball. That means he doesn’t want it anymore. If he threw it at you, that means he thinks his guy is better than you are.” Trevon Diggs and DaRon Bland will likely respond to that mentality with a big fat chip on their shoulder. Cowboys shouldn’t place franchise tag on this highly-sought after free agent :: Cowboys Wire Link Osa Odighizuwa turned in his best season yet in 2024, but a one-year tag commitment of almost $24 million may be too rich for the Joneses’ blood. If they want to keep him in the silver and blue, a long-term deal may be the only way. Cowboys have used franchise tag 11 times, with mixed results :: Cowboys Wire Link From Flozell Adams in 2002 to Tony Pollard in 2023, the Cowboys have used the franchise tag tool in multiple ways. Sometimes the tactic has bought enough time for player and organization to come to a long-range deal that serves everybody (see the second tag stints for both DeMarcus Lawrence and Dak Prescott), but other times it just makes for a very expensive one-year rental that simply postpones the inevitable parting of ways. Potential NFL salary-cap cuts for all 32 teams: From Cooper Kupp to Davante Adams and more :: The Athletic Link Odds are that both veteran safeties will remain with the team, but Donovan Wilson and Malik Hooker would both be salary-cap cut candidates if the axe had to fall on someone. Wilson’s 2025 base salary is $6.5 million; Hooker’s is $5.5 million. Cutting both would leave the Cowboys over $7 million in dead money, but both players are still starting and performing well enough to retain without much debate. Daniel Jeremiah’s latest mock draft has 3 RBs in Rd 1, none to Cowboys :: Cowboys Wire Link NFL Network’s draft guru has Boise State’s Ashton Jeanty, North Carolina’s Omarion Hampton, and Ohio State’s TreVeyon Henderson all going between the 21st and 24th pick in his 2.0 mock. But at 12th overall, he likes Dallas to fortify their D-line by selecting Mississippi defensive tackle Walter Nolen. Mock draft projects Cowboys to trade 1st-round picks for 6x All-Pro, pair Garrett with Parsons :: Cowboys Wire Link This NFL.com mock has the Cowboys sending two first-rounders (this year’s and next year’s) to Cleveland for Myles Garrett, who has said he’d like to be traded. Yes, it’s giving up a lot. But the thought of pairing Garrett- an Arlington native- on the Dallas D-line as a bookend to Micah Parsons is too good to not at least daydream about for a bit. Lunda Wells cites ‘profound love’ for Cowboys as key reason behind Dallas return :: Dallas Morning News Link The tight ends coach had interest from other teams, but Wells chose to return to Dallas for a seventh season. “I think this is one of the few organizations that does it the right way,” Wells said. “A lot of people give this organization a lot of flak for not playing in that last game, but man, they do it the right way, inside and out. The Jones family did a phenomenal job of hiring Schotty, we got a familiar face and all that takes in consideration outside of my family life.” Cowboys pass catcher went from Pro Bowl to worst season in history of his position :: Cowboys Wire Link Jake Ferguson looked like he might be the answer at tight end in Dallas in 2023. But in 2024, he played like he didn’t even know what the question was. Football Outsiders measured Ferguson’s Defense-adjusted Yards Above Replacement at the lowest number ever recorded. But with no serious competition (currently) for the team’s TE1 job, there’s nowhere for Ferguson to go but back up. He’ll be an important piece of Schottenheimer’s offense. Cowboys 9x All-Pro seen as ‘match that makes too much sense’ for Ravens in free agency :: Cowboys Wire Link If Zack Martin wants to play in 2025 but the Cowboys prefer to move on, Baltimore may be a destination to watch. His veteran savvy would be a boon to their young O-line, and blocking for Derrick Henry could be a bright spot in Martin’s twilight years (even though it would be extra-painful for Cowboys fans, after the team failed to go after Henry last offseason). Plus, it would give Martin a legitimate shot with a real Super Bowl contender. Cowboys projected as perfect fit for 4x Pro Bowl, All-Pro wide receiver in free agency :: Cowboys Wire Link The Stefon Diggs hype train is leaving
Mock draft projects Cowboys to trade 1st-round picks for 6x All-Pro, pair Garrett with Parsons
Mock draft projects Cowboys to trade 1st-round picks for 6x All-Pro, pair Garrett with Parsons K.D. Drummond The Dallas Cowboys haven’t made a splash in the draft in some time. This prediction would certainly qualify. NFL.com allows all of their draft analysts to turn in mock drafts throughout the offseason and Dan Parr has certainly shaken up the first round with this doozy. After selecting Penn State edge rusher Abdul Carter with the No. 2 overall selection (Tennessee selected QB Cam Ward at No. 1), the Cleveland Browns went about honoring the request of their disgruntled all-world defender Myles Garrett. Their trading partner was the Cowboys, who ponied up two first-round picks to acquire him and pair him with Micah Parsons. PROJECTED TRADE WITH DALLAS COWBOYS The Cowboys’ all-in mantra is back, baby. Jerry Jones isn’t going to sit on his hands and watch the NFC East run away from him, so he trades two first-rounders (this year’s and next year’s) for Myles Garrett, while the Browns get a new centerpiece for their offense. It would take some creative salary cap maneuvering for Dallas to make it happen, but Micah Parsons has already said he’d take less if it meant he would get to play opposite Garrett. Along with TJ Watt of the Pittsburgh Steelers, the last four years of the NFL’s Defensive Player of the Year voting have been dominated by these edge rushers. Parsons finished second, second and third from 2021 through 2023, with Garrett winning in 2023 and finishing fifth the prior year. He ranked third this most recent season and has been named to the All-Pro team six different times in his career. Five of those have been on the first team. Pairing the two together on a defense would be an insane combination. Garrett has had 14 or more sacks in four straight seasons and led the NFL in tackles-for-loss (TFLs) with 22 in 2024. Despite missing a chunk of games, Parsons has started his career with at least 12 sacks in each of his first four seasons. Garrett, a native of Arlington, TX, is still just 29 years old through the entire 2025 season, and has three years remaining on his contract. Acquiring Garrett would add $14.8 million to the 2025 cap per Over The Cap, and $25 million to the 2026 cap, but in all likelihood would require an extension that averages current market value upwards of $35 million in average salary.
Cowboys 2025 offseason roster preview: Tight ends
Photo by Cooper Neill/Getty Images What changes do you think the Cowboys should make to their tight end room? The Cowboys have a lot of work to do this offseason, but one position that might cut them some slack is at tight end. They already have five young prospects signed up for 2025, including a former Pro Bowler and a second-round pick entering his third season. Of all the roster spots on offense and defense, TE may be the only one where Dallas can afford to do nothing and rely on existing assets. Under Contract Jake Ferguson, Luke Schoonmaker, John StephensBrevyn Spann-Ford, Princeton Fant This time last year, Ferguson was coming off being a Pro Bowl alternate and generally considered one of the rising stars among NFL tight ends. But with a knee injury in the 2024 season opener, a concussion in Week 11, and the loss of his starting quarterback, Ferguson’s third season never really got going. Despite only missing three full games, he often looked a step slower physically and never found the same chemistry with Cooper Rush that he’d enjoyed with Dak Prescott. With one year left on his rookie deal, Ferguson is going to be hungry to get back to 2023 form and clearly establish his worth before free agency. Arguably the most talented TE that the Cowboys have had since Jason Witten, he’s earned the chance to put last season behind him and return as the undisputed starter. And with Dallas needing to do some work at upgrading the WR room, trusting Ferguson to bounce back may be a necessity. If there was a benefit to Ferguson’s absences and issues last year, it was more opportunities for Luke Schoonmaker to show what he’s got. A 2023 second-round pick, Schoonmaker was almost invisible as a rookie but finally got enough work to show that he’s a capable NFL player with the potential to at least be a solid number two. Like trusting in Ferguson to bounce back, this is another test of faith as you’re counting on Schoonmaker’s third-year development to yield a strong player in a key supporting role. John Stephens Jr. has become the new Rico Dowdle in Dallas. A former wide receiver who’d bring position flex in the NFL, Stephens has been tracking toward a roster spot the last two years but suffered major injuries that have kept him out of real games. If healthy, he could be a valuable player providing depth at two positions and a helpful redzone target. But like we used to say with Dowdle, Stephens’ ability to actually stay healthy is the thing holding him back now. Brevyn Spann-Ford and Princeton Fant are other undrafted prospects from the last two years that the Cowboys have some hopes for. Spann-Ford was TE2 during Ferguson’s absences and otherwise appeared in every game. They haven’t done enough that the team wouldn’t consider some other options in free agency or the draft, but they wouldn’t be the worst options for the bottom of your TE depth chart. Free Agency Given what’s already in place, this doesn’t seem like a year that the Cowboys will worry about free-agent tight ends. Leaning on Ferguson and Schoonmaker will allow Dallas to have a total cap hit of about $6-$7 million at the position. Considering the likes of Travis Kelce and George Kittle make $15-$17 million per year just on their own, that’s a huge boon for the team’s overall cap management which they need to take advantage of while they can. Even if Dallas was interested in an upgrade through free agency, this is a bad year to need one. The best potential options are far from the elite; Mike Gesicki, Juwan Johnson, and Tyler Conklin being some of the top names. Even in a down year, Ferguson was still about as productive as those guys. And you’d like to think that Schoonmaker would be at least their equal with continued development. At most, maybe the Cowboys consider veteran depth as competition for Schoonmaker and to provide insurance against Stephens’ health or the development of Spann-Ford and Fant. But that signing would likely come later in the offseason, perhaps even after the draft, as Dallas rounds out its training camp roster. 2025 NFL Draft Unless the Cowboys have already decided against re-signing Ferguson in 2026, which seems unlikely, don’t expect them to spend an early pick at tight end. You’d only do that if you don’t see either Ferguson or Schoonmaker as TE1 beyond this year and want someone else in the pipeline. While some have mocked Penn State’s Tyler Warren to Dallas at the 12th pick, that feels like the wrong move given other roster needs. Unless there’s tremendous value presented on Day 2, look for Dallas to wait until at least the fifth round before adding any additional tight ends. Like the potential veteran addition discussed in free agency, this rookie would be here to fill out the depth chart, potentially upgrade your developmental pool, and perhaps push Schoonmaker for playing time early. Blocking ability and special teams work become critical for those down-roster prospects. Final Thoughts Faith is the keyword in this TE discussion. Do you still believe in Jake Ferguson as an offensive weapon? Do you trust Luke Schoonmaker to prove himself worthy of being a second-round pick? Are you confident in the other prospects to grow into reliable depth options? If so, you may not touch this position at all until after the draft. Between undrafted free agents and veterans still looking for work, you can grab a few more guys for Oxnard and see what shakes out. That strategy depends on Ferguson to get back to what he’s already shown before and for Schoonmaker to make that ever-assumed, but never guaranteed, third-year leap.
Daniel Jeremiah’s latest mock draft has 3 RBs in Rd 1, none to Cowboys
Daniel Jeremiah’s latest mock draft has 3 RBs in Rd 1, none to Cowboys K.D. Drummond The NFL scouting combine is now less than 10 days away, with the first group of participants scheduled to take the field for testing and drills between February 27 and March 2. That window will finalize the on-field portion of draft board building, with teams still maneuvering prospects up and down based on scheme fit and personalities. For now though, mock drafts are still relying on game film and evaluations, and it’s always fun to see where various draftniks see certain prospects as fitting best with team needs. NFL Network’s Daniel Jeremiah recently checked in with his 2.0 mock of the first round with an interesting twist. For those who believe that running backs shouldn’t go in the first round, they should be prepared to be disappointed. Jeremiah has three backs all having their names called on Day 1 of the draft, but none of them are shipped to the Dallas Cowboys. Boise State’s Ashton Jeanty, North Carolina’s Omarion Hampton and Ohio State’s TreVeyon Henderson were all picked in the 20s, long after Dallas selected Mississippi State DT Walter Nolen. Nolen is a very twitchy disrupter and could replace Osa Odighizuwa if he departs in free agency. Nolen was the apple of the eye of Cowboys Wire’s most recent seven-round mock draft, so the sentiment is strong that he’d be a great fit for Dallas. Jeremiah shipped Jeanty to the Steelers at No. 21, Hampton to the Chargers at No. 22 and Henderson to the Vikings at No. 24. Each of those teams are likely to see their current top backs depart in free agency. Najee Harris, JK Dobbins and Aaron Jones are among the biggest names at the position in free agency, along with the Cowboys’ Rico Dowdle. Dowdle checked in with a 1,000-yard season in his first year getting extended snaps. If he departs, perhaps the Cowboys fill his void with one of those other names in free agency.
