PFF grades, snap counts and more for every player waived on NFL roster cut-down day. • Bills let Frank Gore Jr. walk after solid preseason showing: The Southern Miss product produced an 84.3 PFF overall grade across 65 snaps. • Chiefs release former first-round pick Kadarius Toney: Toney never quite caught in Kansas City after being acquired from the Giants. • Dominate your fantasy draft: Subscribe to PFF+ to get full access to PFF’s suite of fantasy football tools, including the fantasy mock draft simulator, live draft assistant, fantasy draft rankings, cheat sheets and more! Click here to subscribe! For some, the NFL roster cuts deadline is a time to celebrate. For others, it’s a time to, hopefully, land with a new team in the aftermath. We’ve compiled each NFL team’s cuts after the 2024 preseason, accompanied by grades and snap counts. Snap counts include only offensive or defensive snaps. For special teams snaps, check out the special teams report in PFF Premium Stats 2.0. JUMP TO A TEAM: ARZ | ATL | BLT | BUF | CAR | CIN | CHI | CLE | DEN | DAL | DET | GB | HOU | IND | JAX | KC | LVR | LAC | LAR | MIA | MIN | NE | NO | NYG | NYJ | PHI | PIT | SF | SEA | TB | TEN | WSH Arizona Cardinals Player Pos. Preseason snaps Preseason overall grade 2023 snaps 2023 overall grade Andre Baccellia WR 96 64.0 49 55.2 Austen Pleasants T 70 60.5 10 34.6 Dan Chisena WR 22 90.0 1 (-) Michael Ojemudia CB 83 57.2 0 (-) Krys Barnes LB 32 67.1 1 60 Desmond Ridder QB 79 51.5 848 52.8 Bobby Price CB 66 66.6 0 (-) Jaden Davis CB 70 49.5 649* 76.4* Myles Murphy DI 84 63.4 482* 68.9* Keith Ismael C 89 72.4 0 (-) Jackson Barton T 113 76.4 0 (-) Michael Carter HB 29 54.4 224 61.9 Bernhard Seikovits TE 59 60.7 0 (-) Cameron Thomas ED 90 77.7 1 60 Elijah Wilkinson T 75 47.9 501 52.4 Andre Chachere S 101 57.9 1 (-) Tejhaun Palmer WR 110 54.4 687* 71.7* Markus Bailey LB 100 41.5 29 60.8 Tyreek Maddox-Williams LB 106 61.1 5 22.8 Naquan Jones DI 80 70.9 171 42.8 Blake Whiteheart TE 111 50.0 2 58.6 Divaad Wilson CB 82 64.3 96 45.6 Ben Stille DI 99 66.4 134 45.4 Marquis Hayes G 123 71.1 0 (-) Phil Hoskins DI 85 40.1 124 45.9 Delonte Hood CB 17 50.5 0 (-) Hassan Hall HB 51 66.7 0 (-) Daylen Baldwin WR 46 58.5 0 (-) Sage Surratt TE 4 58.3 0 (-) T.J. Carter DI 37 35.3 0 (-) Chris Garrett ED 15 77.4 0 (-) Verone McKinley III S 107 60.1 0 (-) Trevor Nowaske LB 76 65.5 0 (-) Tyreke Smith ED 97 59.0 19 28.0 Atlanta Falcons Unlimited Fantasy League Sync Fantasy Start/Sit Line-Up Optimizer & Waiver Wire WR-CB & OL-DL Matchups, PFF Player Grades, & Premium Stats 2.0 Tools Nathan Jahnkes Rankings – #1 Most Accurate Last 70 Weeks PFF Best Bets, Player Props, & Power Ranking Tools NFL Mock Draft Sim with Trades & Draft Grades Subscribe now Already have a subscription? Log In
Dalvin Cook believes he can still produce at a high level for the Cowboys
Photo by Michael Owens/Getty Images Dalvin Cook doesn’t feel he’s lost a step at all. It’s no secret that the Dallas Cowboys are going to a running-back-by-committee scenario in 2024 after failing to address the position in the NFL draft. When the dust settled from picking the 53-man roster, the Cowboys went with Ezekiel Elliott, Rico Dowdle, Deuce Vaughn, and Hunter Luepke (fullback) at the running back position. However, Dallas still felt they needed more and had veteran Dalvin Cook come in for a visit. Cook started last season with the New York Jets. Needless to say, the experiment was a disaster. Cook would only log 67 carries for 214 yards as Breece Hall would get the bulk of the work in the running game. When he did get his opportunities, the burst from years past looked to have been a memory, and Cook and the Jets decided to mutually part ways. When Cook signed with the Baltimore Ravens for the playoffs, it was the same thing. There was nothing to be excited about when it came to Cook’s performance. In Dallas, Cook will be on the practice squad. So, he’ll be used as insurance in case one of the guys above him gets an injury or is inactive which is the perfect scenario for him because being tasked with a big load isn’t something he needs to be doing at this stage in his career. Despite what was seen a year ago, Cook still believes that when his number is called, he can find that other gear and make plays. I got it. It’s right here. Cook had his best years in the league with the Minnesota Vikings, where he had four consecutive 1,000-yard seasons (2019-2022) and racked up four Pro Bowl nods in the process. Three of those years, Cook did so playing under Mike Zimmer, the Cowboys new defensive coordinator. Although they haven’t been in the same building in a few years, the relationship between Cook and Zimmer hasn’t wavered and it was a big factor in getting him to sign with the Cowboys, much like it did with linebacker Eric Kendricks and defensive tackle Linval Joseph who also had their best seasons under Zimmer with the Vikings. As mentioned earlier, Cook is long past being the lead horse in a running back room. Years and years of getting beat up have caused a change of course in his career. With that has come an adjustment for Cook not just on the field but off of it. What I can tell you, man: in this league, running backs, we take our bodies through so much. But it’s a point where you’ve got to know, alright, I’m getting up to a certain age, I’ve got to start upping the stuff off the field. As for me, I just picked up a certain routine and I just ran with it. I just feel like it’s got me to this point where I’m healthy and ready to go. So just stick to a routine. No matter the age, man. If you’ve got it, go get it. That’s my mindset. It’s a rough reality for some running backs once they get to a point where their best years may be in the rear view. Cook doesn’t lack confidence, but there’s another factor that keeps him going, being a father. My résumé speaks for itself to be honest. But I just had a son [Dalvin Jr.]. He turned 1 a week ago. I have everything to prove to him, to be honest. I owe the world to him. Every day I put on my pads, every day I wake up, that’s my why. Cook can be elevated three times to the Cowboys roster on game day. After that, they would need to add him to the active roster.
Cowboys offseason countdown: 99 facts until the regular season (Day 7)
Photo by Stephen Dunn/Getty Images We countdown the days to kickoff giving you an interesting fact about each number. Today is number 7 We are at day 7 of our 99 day countdown and just a week away until the regular season. Here is your daily fact associated with number 7. In 2007, Tony Romo made one of most incredible running plays of his career, and he didn’t even get that far upfield. Photo by Stephen Dunn/Getty Images The Cowboys were on the verge of achieving a 4-0 record for the first time since 1995, the year they last claimed the Super Bowl title. They were set to compete against the St. Louis Rams, who were struggling with an 0-3 record and would ultimately fall to 0-8 before securing their first victory of the season. During the third quarter of the game, Romo successfully completed three touchdown passes, including a 59-yard and a 37-yard touchdown to Patrick Crayton, followed by a 17-yard touchdown pass to Jason Witten. But the highlight of the day was undoubtedly Romo’s impressive scramble just before halftime. The sequence began with an errant shotgun snap from Andre Gurode, which sailed over Romo’s head. In pursuit of the loose ball, Romo found himself deep in the backfield, struggling to secure the bobbling ball, inadvertently pushing it further toward his own end zone. After a moment of panic, he managed to recover the ball, positioned a full 33 yards behind the line of scrimmage. Rather than opting to fall on the ball or throw it away, Romo made the bold decision to run with it, initiating his advance upfield while deftly evading two would-be tacklers. As he approached another defender poised for a significant tackle, Romo executed a remarkable juke, sidestepping the opponent. He then accelerated toward the first-down marker with determination. September 30, 2007: @tonyromo runs for a first down after the ball is snapped 25 yards over his head. pic.twitter.com/SbDxphdkY5 — This Day In Sports Clips (@TDISportsClips) September 30, 2023 Despite his considerable efforts, Romo officially recorded a four-yard gain on the play, but the play did result in a first down. Five plays later, during another third-down situation, Romo advanced up the middle for a 15-yard run, securing the go-ahead touchdown with just 11 seconds remaining in the first half. The Cowboys ultimately triumphed in the game with a score of 35-7. Photo by Wesley Hitt/Getty Images
Full 2024 roster breakdown: the areas where the Cowboys have gotten better and worse
Tim Heitman-USA TODAY Sports This year’s Dallas Cowboys roster is interesting to say the least. The Dallas Cowboys have completed their final roster cuts and we now have an idea of what this new group of players will look like heading into the 2024 season. Some improvements have been made to certain position groups, while others leave something to be desired. Here is a breakdown of each position group as we evaluate where the team is better and where they are worse entering the new season. QUARTERBACK It’s the same trio as before with Dak Prescott as the starter, Cooper Rush as the backup, and Trey Lance as the developmental emergency QB. The only difference this time around is Lance has a little more experience and we know what to expect should his number be called. Change: A smidge better. RUNNING BACK Tony Pollard is gone and Ezekiel Elliott has returned. The team also added veteran Dalvin Cook to the mix. Rico Dowdle is expected to have a larger role this year if the veteran backs don’t snake his playing time, and second-year Deuce Vaughn is supposedly better. Overall, this group is TBD with very little to make us excited. Change: Worse. It may not be as bad as we think, but it also could be a trainwreck. TIGHT END Their young guys, Jake Ferguson and Luke Schoonmaker, are only getting better and Ferguson is already pretty darn good now. The cats behind him aren’t much, but they weren’t much last year as they’ve swapped out one undrafted free agent, Peyton Hendershot for a couple of others, John Stephens Jr. and Brevyn Spann-Ford. Change: Mostly the same, with possibly a slight improvement. WIDE RECEIVER It looked pretty good last year when the Cowboys rolled out CeeDee Lamb, Brandin Cooks, and Michael Gallup as their receiving trio. Little did we know that Gallup was broken. So much in fact that he put in for early retirement. It shouldn’t take much to replicate his contributions. The two Jalens, Tolbert and Brooks, are hoping to take strides and with what we’ve seen so far from rookie Ryan Flournoy, there are reasons to be hopeful. Add that to a better rapport between Prescott and Cooks and this group should be an upgrade over last year’s cast. Change: TBD, but shouldn’t be any worse. OFFENSIVE LINE It looked as if this group was headed to a dark place after the team lost Tyron Smith and Tyler Biadasz in free agency, but how the tables have turned. Rookie Tyler Guyton graded out as the best rookie tackle in the preseason. How crazy is that? Fellow rookie Cooper Beebe has taken huge strides at center and even got veteran treatment and didn’t play in the final preseason game. Not only does the starting five look good, but the progress of second-year player Asim Richards looks great. T.J. Bass continues to improve and Brock Hoffman might be the best backup center in the league. It’s early, but this group looks even better than last year. Change: A little better now, and the potential to be a lot better later. DEFENSIVE END The losses of Dorance Armstrong and Dante Fowler in free agency were always going to sting a little, but when they lost Sam Williams for the year, suddenly, the depth was in bad shape. Second-round rookie Marshawn Kneeland has looked good, but there is little beyond that who brings out much excitement. The team has thrown some darts with veteran signings Carl Lawson and Al-Quadin Muhammad, but we have yet to see anything stick. The good news is they still have one of the best starting duos in the game in Micah Parsons and DeMarcus Lawrence, but the depth behind them is lacking. Change: A strength of this team has become shaky. DEFENSIVE TACKLE After years of waiting and waiting, the team has finally taken the nose tackle position seriously. Not only has second-year player Mazi Smith improved, but the team added a couple of veterans in Linval Joseph and Jordan Phillips. Beef in the middle is a staple of a Mike Zimmer defense, and now they have some. 3-tech Osa Odighizuwa is in a contract year and while the future is murky, the “right now” looks much better. Change: We’ll keep our excitement under control, but they should be much improved this season. LINEBACKER This group offers a little bit of everything. They have more size now, the speed is still there, and they have a slew of young guys waiting to take off. It’s not hard to eclipse the group from a year ago which was mostly manned by one true linebacker and a converted safety, but the additions of Eric Kendricks, rookie Marist Liufau, and DeMarvion Overshown returning from injury should provide an instant upgrade. Damone Clark and newcomer Buddy Johnson will provide the muscle. Change: Improved. There are things to work out but overall this group is bigger, smarter, and faster. CORNERBACK No Stephon Gilmore, no problem. The Cowboys will have their All-Pro outside corner duo of Trevon Diggs and DaRon Bland, although we’ll have to wait until midseason to get Bland back. In the meantime, they have a promising rookie in Caelen Carson and the ever-vibrant Jourdan Lewis in the slot. When healthy they have a fearsome foursome, and Israel Mukuamu and Andrew Booth provide some added depth. They even have Josh Butler, Kemon Hall, and recently added Amani Oruwariye to their practice squad. That’s a pretty deep bunch. Change: Similar to last year, but with much better depth. SAFETY This was already a strong group last year led by Malik Hooker and Jayron Kearse. The team still has Donovan Wilson and last year’s surprise depth guy Juanyeh Thomas. Kearse is out, but Markquese Bell returns to his old position. The details of what roles each of them will have in Zimmer’s system remains to be seen, but the Cowboys have a lot to work with here. Change: Very similar to
Did the Cowboys find their next All-Pro in Tyler Guyton?
The offseason departure of franchise legend, Tyron Smith, opened up a massive need at left tackle in Dallas. Once the draft rolled around, the front office’s top priority was filling that need, and they tapped former Oklahoma Sooner, Tyler Guyton to do it. This move was met with some fan criticism, and admittedly, some of my own. Concerns about how NFL-ready Guyton was spread like wildfire. Once we got to see him in action, however, those fears were eased pretty quickly. Guyton has had a fantastic training camp and preseason, and his work ethic has been evident from the moment he became a Cowboy. You can’t teach this level of effort to finish a defender. You either have it or you don’t. Tyler Guyton has it. Love to see it pic.twitter.com/2HDaMQt38w — Geoff Schwartz (@geoffschwartz) August 18, 2024 It all smells a little bit like the Tyler Smith situation. Fan outrage over a pick, “he is too raw,” and then a stellar rookie season that elevated his name to the top ranks in the NFL. Can Guyton achieve similar success in his rookie year, or has the hype over his preseason performance gotten out of hand? Let’s talk about the highs, lows, and bottom line of this Texas natives’ upcoming season. Tyler Guyton: The Rookie Season Ceiling Like I said, the hype around Guyton has been swelling for weeks now, and when you turned on a Cowboys‘ preseason game, it was easy to see why. The guy was an absolute force on the offensive line, and that got fans fired up. Based on preseason performance, Guyton was one of the best offensive lineman in the entire league. #Cowboys LT Tyler Guyton finished the preseason as the highest-graded rookie offensive tackle by @PFF:https://t.co/2w0QApOCcy pic.twitter.com/oOhV0KWFbo — Marcus Mosher (@Marcus_Mosher) August 28, 2024 All the traits from the Oklahoma days popped up, like athleticism, strength, and freak size, but man did we see a turnaround in what were the college negatives for him. He was much more polished and made fewer mistakes across the board. It was an impressive showing, and it wasn’t too surprising given just how hard Tyler Guyton has been grinding since being drafted. His work ethic is unmatched, and when we project that and his preseason performance to this rookie season, it is hard not to dream of a rookie-season Pro Bowl ceiling. After all, there is no staff in the league that develops young, raw offensive linemen better than Dallas, and it seems their magic has already started working on Guyton. If things continue this way, there is no telling how strong his 2024 campaign might be. Tyler Guyton: Risk Of College Performance Now, for all the excitement, it is still important to maintain some realistic expectations of Guyton. As somebody that watched a hefty amount of his college tape, there were and still are some real concerns about his current preparedness at the NFL level. He exhibited some major technical flaws, running game problems, and had very little on-field experience. The reason Guyton was drafted where he was is because of the flashes on tape and projection, not the overall picture of his ability during college, that was not there yet. What concerns me about him is the jump from an inexperienced, raw college tackle, to a starting left tackle in the NFL that is protecting the blindside of Dak Prescott against elite pass rushers. That is a mountain-sized leap from where he was a year ago. Micah Parsons welcomes rookie Tyler Guyton to his starting LT role. pic.twitter.com/Itunl7x899 — David Moore (@DavidMooreDMN) August 15, 2024 Is he ready for that jump? Nobody can be 100% ready for it, but how close he gets to being fully prepared will determine the outcome of his season. Things could still be hard on Tyler Guyton in his rookie year, and fans should not panic about that. Tyler Guyton’s Bottom Line Here is the bottom line for Guyton: He looks fantastic, he has all the tools to be fantastic, and he will probably get there even if he faces some rough moments in 2024. It is fair to say that the Cowboys have a reactionary fanbase, and a “wait and see” front office and coaching staff. This could make for a bad concoction this year if Guyton has some struggles. Fans outraged over a multiple-penalty game or two in a row, and the organization shouting back that everything is fine. The reality there, is that the organization will be right. He will have ups and downs. Tyler Guyton’s (#60) hand placement is still inconsistent, but you can see some real pop when he does connect. pic.twitter.com/kKVheFeGNn — Nate Tice (@Nate_Tice) August 18, 2024 Guyton is a special project that some of the best offensive line developers in the league have in the palm of their hands. They are not going to let his talents go to waste, and it seems that they have already made massive strides in his game. This season likely won’t see him reach his rookie-year ceiling or floor. Rather, we’ll see some fantastic moments, and some rookie ones, and that is okay. Tyler Guyton is going to be the Cowboys left tackle for quite some time. This is just the beginning, so let’s not get too crazy one way or the other at this point.
Former Cowboys’ star bans ‘negative’ reporter
Last year, former Dallas Cowboys’ cornerback Deion Sanders was the media darling. “Coach Prime” had risen up to head coach of the Colorado Buffaloes in the Pac-12 Conference of Division I college football. Just when you weren’t seeing enough of him on the sidelines of a game, he was the subject of discussion on all the shows filled with talking heads. Even the commercial breaks offered no relief. Because there he was with Coach Nick Saban hawking supplemental insurance. One wonders, given last week’s news, if AFLAC covers butthurt claims or not? Hit Right In The Feelz Last season started out with a bang for Sanders in Boulder. The Buffaloes started 3-0 and cracked the Top 20. Then they started Pac-10 play and won just one game over their last eight – including their last six – to finish 4-8. Suddenly it wasn’t all sunshine and rainbows in Boulder. Colorado recently announced that Denver Post columnist Sean Keeler is hereby – and forever, at least for now – banned from asking his Royal HighnessCoach Prime any questions. The ban also excludes Keeler from asking questions of anyone connected to the program. The ban does not apply to any other Post writer, however, so there’s that. Here is the full statement given to ESPN by the athletic department at Colorado: “After a series of sustained, personal attacks on the football program and specifically Coach Prime, the CU Athletic Department in conjunction with the football program, have decided not to take questions from Denver Post columnist Sean Keeler at football-related events. Keeler is still permitted to attend football-related activities as a credentialed member of the media and other reporters from the Denver Post are welcome to ask questions of football program personnel made available to the media, including coaches, players and staff.” Basically, Keeler can still do his job. He figuratively has to go to work with tape over his mouth whenever he’s at a game. The reason for the ban? Apparently, Keeler in his job as a columnist has referred to Sanders’ time in Colorado as: “Deposition Deion,” the “Bruce Lee of B.S.,” a “false prophet,” “Planet Prime,” “the Deion Kool-Aid” and “circus.” I mean, let’s just roll out the guillotine here, right? Side note: That was sarcasm folks, not an actual call for someone’s head, okay? It Comes With The Territory Keeler is just doing his job. If Sanders doesn’t like what’s being said, he needs to not finish 4-8 after being hyped up as “Colorado Jesus.” That one’s all mine, Prime. Don’t at Keeler over that one. Sanders has a history of doing this kind of thing dating back to his Jackson State days. He comes off as a nice guy. But he has mighty thin skin, it would seem. Does AFLAC cover that too? Someone get Saban on the line. I have a feeling I’ll be joining Keeler on the “Deion No Like You” list at this rate. Seriously though, if Sanders wants to remain in Division I – or even eventually get into the NFL as a head coach – he needs to toughen up that skin a little. His ban of Keeler isn’t going to hamper Keeler’s ability to do his job. I know because I’ve got one on me too. Not from Colorado, but there is a professional sports team who all but told me that any request with my name on it will be DOA. They didn’t go to the extreme of broadcasting it for all the world to see. But it’s still there. Nor am I going to name names either. It was handled quietly. I see no need to make a spectacle of it. Especially since it didn’t impact my ability to do my job. It also failed to stop me from dropping the hammer on the team when said hammer needed to be dropped. I suspect Colorado is about to discover the same thing with Keeler this season. Hopefully, cooler heads will prevail. Especially if Sanders’ fails to turn the Buffaloes around and he gets fired. It would behoove the school to immediately revoke the ban on Keeler within the first five minutes after Sanders’ eventual departure. This Was The Way It would have been better though if Colorado had handled the issue like an Arizona official handled a high school athletic director’s attempt to ban me from covering high school sports in Arizona about 30 years ago. The official told the AD that if he didn’t want me to write “negative things” about his program then maybe he should “stop doing stupid s***.” That was a direct quote as relayed to me by said official when he told me the story a few days later. Sadly, they don’t make people that run sports the way they used to. They definitely don’t make college football coaches the same either, it would seem – at least in Colorado. So, Coach Sanders, if you’re reading this: #FreeSeanKeeler and lighten up, Francis. It’s just a game.
3 reasons why Prescott signing before Week 1 make sense for Cowboys QB
3 reasons why Prescott signing before Week 1 make sense for Cowboys QB K.D. Drummond Seven days and counting. The Dallas Cowboys will hit the field to begin their 2024 campaign in just a week’s time, and time is running out on their window to extend quarterback Dak Prescott. The MVP runner up from 2023 has imposed a soft deadline for the organization to put their money where their mouth is and make him the highest-paid player in the league. If the two sides can’t agree, Prescott has said that he isn’t interested in negotiating when actual games are happening, so he will end up hitting free agency. We covered three reasons why Prescott may not want to re-up just yet. The Cowboys’ drought, anticipation of a bidding war and uncertainty with the coaching staff are all great reasons for Prescott to wait until next offseason to want to sign. But there are certainly reasons why he’d want to get the deal done now before they take on the Cleveland Browns. Prescott is immensely integrated with the city of Dallas. His foundation, Faith, Fight, Finish, as well as other philanthropic efforts are based in the area. Prescott has recently expanded his family unit and while families relocate across the country all of the time, most prefer to stay where they set their roots. Also, the perks if he can win in Dallas are unfathomable. He’d be a king in the state for ending the drought of 30 years and there simply isn’t a better way to forge lifelong opportunities than being an NFL champion from Dallas. Also on the table, he’s the big dog at said table. The Cowboys have been approaching Prescott with unacceptable contract offers for half a decade now, and he’s never caved. In fact, most would say that after being franchise tagged when they didn’t give him an acceptable offer through three and four career seasons, he’s owned owner Jerry Jones in negotiations. A no-trade clause is one thing, but forcing the second tag before signing (meaning any future tag would be the third at 140% prior salary) AND getting a no-tag clause for this negotiation was a masterpiece. He’s given no quarter to the man who believes he’s the best in the business at GMing. Finally, Prescott’s rapport with teammates is certainly a thought to consider. Prescott is the true leader of the team and when a player is beloved in the locker room (not always synonymous with leadership) like he is, there’s an emotional tie. The quest to finish what was started in 2016, to complete the mission, is something that is certainly weighing into Prescott’s thought process as he surveys the landscape across the league. It’s not just Prescott who is going to be asked questions in every city they travel to for 2024; his teammates are going to grow tired of it as well. Also, he’s no dummy. He’s rather wise, and the grass is not always greener on the other side. And while it’s unlikely he could price himself out of Dallas, getting things done now to remove any distractions throughout the season seems a smart move.
Cowboys fortunate how their WR situation fell into place
Cowboys fortunate how their WR situation fell into place reidhanson The Cowboys entered training camp with a clear and present need at the receiver position. Yes, they had one of the best WRs on the planet in CeeDee Lamb, but behind him was a grab bag of unknowns and mysteries. The veteran of the bunch, Brandin Cooks, turns 31 in September and is coming off his worst season in five years. Was he still the guy or was he on decline? The developmental players, Jalen Tolbert and Jalen Brooks, have just 30 career NFL receptions between them and had given little indication last year they were ready to be relied on for a top-three role in 2024. And the rookie draft pick, Ryan Flournoy, was a project player from a small school who was in many ways a longshot to ever play in the NFL, let alone earn a roster spot as a rookie right out of camp. The Cowboys weren’t just hoping their WR room would step up and play better than they did last season, they were banking on it. The issue at WR became even more apparent after CeeDee Lamb sat out camp amidst a contract dispute. But it seems to have all worked out. Not only did Lamb just sign an extension and make his way back into the fold, but the players the Cowboys were banking on to improve successfully paid out as well. Cooks looks like his down season last year was more about his usage than slippage. Tolbert looks like he has a firm grasp of the WR3 position and may even be the heir apparent for Cooks as Dallas’ No. 2. Brooks looks like he can step in and play a variety of roles, namely filling the hole left by Michael Gallup at the X. Even the rookie Flournoy showed he’s more than just a project player; he’s someone who could be special. Training camp has to be seen as widely successful for the Cowboys WR position. Hitting on one projection is impressive enough but the Cowboys appeared to hit on multiple projections. This feat can’t be understated. No one disputes the offense runs through Lamb. It’s probably why the Cowboys gambled at all the other WR positions. Seeing these young prospects improve is important for 2024 and also in seasons beyond. With Lamb as the second highest paid WR in the NFL, it’s important for the Cowboys to keep costs low around him. Populating the WR depth chart with players on rookie deals is a must going forward. Exceptions can be made for modestly priced veterans, but generally speaking, the strategy is leaning on rookie contracts to keep positional spending affordable. The entire WR depth chart has explicably fallen into place perfectly for the Cowboys, positioning the team for success in 2024 and beyond. Related articles Read all the best Cowboys coverage at the Austin American-Statesman and Cowboys Wire.
With bar lowered, a new deal for Dak would feel like Cowboys win
With bar lowered, a new deal for Dak would feel like Cowboys win reidhanson Think back to the start of the 2024 offseason. The Cowboys were fresh off their humiliating playoff loss to Green Bay and Jerry Jones was elbow deep in “all-in” declarations in a calculated attempt to quell the uprising within the fanbase. Draft season was in full effect and free agency was fast approaching. Top 10 free agent lists populated the landscape and Cowboys fans were busy debating which internal free agents Dallas will retain and which external free agents Dallas will target. The window was open for another year the only question was how wide the front office was willing to pry it. As everyone would soon come to realize, Jones’ “all-in” statements weren’t remotely true under even the loosest of definitions. To make matters worse, not only did the Cowboys have little intention to sign outside talent to their roster, but they also didn’t even plan to retain their own top free agents. The “we like our guys” statements made every year were now suddenly starting to lose traction since they hadn’t even done a good job of retaining their own. When the Cowboys opened training camp with CeeDee Lamb, Dak Prescott and Micah Parsons’ contract situations still unresolved, expectations seemingly fell to an all-time low. In just a matter of months sentiments went from “who are they going to bring in to put them over the top,” to “who can they afford to lose this year and still be competitive,” to “are they even going to keep their own super stars?” The bar has been dropped so low, even the most obvious re-signing, Lamb, was rejoiced as a wonderful accomplishment. It almost didn’t matter the negotiations dragged on through the entire preseason. Suddenly just retaining their own obvious players for market values felt like wins. Just days before the start of the regular season, Prescott’s contract situation remains unresolved. There’s hope the Cowboys can retain their franchise signal caller beyond this year but there are certainly no assurances of it. Prescott holds all the leverage, and the Cowboys let the issue drag on dangerously long. In what feels like a 50-50 situation with Prescott, the Cowboys are a flip of the coin away from a multiyear rebuild. Disaster is at the door and the bar has been lowered so much, just re-signing Prescott would now feel like franchise-saving win. If the fanbase was told in February their team would re-sign Lamb and Prescott this year, the news would likely be met with some form of “well, duh.” Today it would be cause for champaign. That’s how far expectations have dropped for this front office. This may go down as one of the most emotionally wild offseasons in years for Dallas. Related articles [affiliatewidget_smgtolocal] Read all the best Cowboys coverage at the Austin American-Statesman and Cowboys Wire.
Cowboys News: Prescott does have his reasons, so may Jerry Jones
3 reasons Dak Prescott would be crazy to re-sign with Cowboys now :: Cowboys Wire Link: Cowboys quarterback Dak Prescott has maximized his leverage and the team has very few options remaining. Prescott on the other hand has multiple pathways to chose but these three reasons would make crazy for him to re-sign with the Cowboys. Why Jerry Jones’ waiting game with Dak Prescott’s contract isn‘t such a bad idea :: Dallas Morning News Link: Cowboys owner Jerry Jones sometimes need additional interpretation for what he tells the media. His latest comments about the ongoing contract negotiations with signal-caller Dak Prescott could be deciphered as the 81-year-old owner wanting more from the quarterback position. How many players on the Dallas Cowboys earn more than $10 million a year? :: Fort Worth Star Telegram Link: Headlined by the usual suspects like quarterback Dak Prescott and future Hall of Fame guard Zack Martin, six Cowboys players earn more than $10 million per season. Those numbers rank Americas Team at the bottom compared to the Dallas Mavericks and the Texas Rangers. DeMarvion Overshown full go for Cowboys opener vs. Browns: ‘I’m ready to strap ’em up’ :: The Mothership Link: Dallas lost linebacker Demarvion Overshown last year due to a torn ACL. This year, Overshown was hobbled by a hip-pointed which limited him towards the end of training camp. With Week One now the focus, Overshown is ready to “Strap ’em up.” Free agent scouting report: A closer look at new Dallas Cowboys RB Dalvin Cook :: Blogging the Boys Link: The Cowboys signing running back Dalvin Cook to the practice squad comes with plenty of questions. The answers will only come as the games begin, but looking at what he’s done in the past gives hope that he can turn the clock back and provide Dallas with much-needed production. Why each of the Top 10 Super Bowl contenders will (or won’t) hoist the Lombardi in February :: The Athletic Link: The Athletic gives Dallas the sixth-best percentage (5.7%) of winning Super Bowl LXIII behind NFC teams such as the 49ers and Lions. Philadelphia is also ahead of Dallas despite the rift between their quarterback and head coach while also replacing both coordinators. Dak’s in full control :: ESPN Aging stars won’t solve Cowboys running back problem in 2024 :: Inside the Star Link: If accolades were a contest, the Cowboys have the most decorated running back room in the NFL. Dallas is banking on a revival while skeptics believe the Cowboys should have already made a move for a young runner sometime this offseason. Cowboys tie reduced training-camp interest to lack of postseason success :: Pro Football Talk Link: If one were to have glanced at the stands during Cowboys training camp, there was a noticeable difference compared to years past. A usually overflowing crowd making all kinds of ruckus sounded more like a light roar and that was because fewer fans were in attendance this season. Dallas ties the drop in attendance to the lack of team success in the playoffs. Ryan Flournoy number change :: R.J. Ochoa The NFL’s Most Valuable Teams 2024 :: Forbes Link: In an announcement that shocked very few people, the Cowboys are once again the most valuable franchise in all the NFL according to Forbes. Listed slightly over $10 billion, Dallas leads from the front when it comes to off-field ventures and branding. The inagural list ranked the Cowboys first in 1998 at an estimated $413 million; an increase of 2,346% since.
