Scott Galvin-Imagn Images The latest buzz around the Dallas Cowboys all in one place. Cowboys All-Pro Micah Parsons claims he would take less money on new deal to play with Myles Garrett – Garrett Podell, CBS Sports Myles Garrett recently requested a trade from the Browns and Micah Parsons would be ecstatic to play along side him in Dallas. Parsons, 25, would “100%” take less money on his new contract in order for Dallas to trade and extend Garrett, who is 29. That would give the Cowboys the NFL’s sacks leader (Garrett with 60.0 sacks) and the league’s fifth-ranked player in sacks (Parsons with 52.5) since Parsons entered the NFL as the 12th overall pick in the 2021 NFL Draft. Dallas owner and general manager Jerry Jones would need to promptly extend Garrett shortly after acquiring him via trade because the four-time First Team All-Pro doesn’t have any guaranteed salary remaining on the final two seasons, 2025 and 2026, of his current five-year, $125 million contract. Parsons is willing to take a smaller amount of money on his first non-rookie deal contract in the NFL to play alongside Garrett along the Dallas defensive line with one catch: he needs to be making slightly more than Garrett. “Oh, 100%. Yeah, 100%” Parsons said when asked if he would take pay cut for the Cowboys to acquire Garrett. “Will he take less too?… We would definitely have to make that happen. … As long as he [Jerry Jones] let me be a little higher [paid] than him [Garrett]. … I’m younger. … He [Garrett] want to be with us too. … I do alright [off the field as a Cowboy]. I do [want to win].” Ashton Jeanty: ‘It would be special’ to play for Cowboys – Tommy Yarrish, DallasCowboys.com Boise State RB Ashton Jeanty talked to the media about the possibility of being drafted by the Dallas Cowboys. “I think it would be dope, a lot of great people there, a lot of talented players,” Jeanty said about what it would mean to be a Cowboy. “Potentially to be a part of that, I think that would be a great opportunity.” Jeanty’s football journey has taken him all over the world, from learning the game at a field on a military base in Italy to finishing as the runner up for the Heisman Trophy after an electric season in Boise, Idaho after running for 2,601 yards and 29 touchdowns in 2024. In between that time, Jeanty was a standout player at Frisco Lone Star high school, a 15-minute drive from the Cowboys’ headquarters. Simply put, having a chance to return home and play for the Cowboys would be an opportunity that Jeanty would relish the entire time. “It would be special, growing up in Frisco, spending a lot of time out there, I think it would be cool to have the star on my helmet again,” Jeanty said. “Playing for Lone Star, I had a star on my helmet as well, so it would be a dope moment if that were to happen.” If that dream does in fact become reality in April, Jeanty will be tasked with helping elevate a Cowboys run game that struggled at various times last season. The good news is that when new head coach Brian Schottenheimer’s offensive scheme is working it’s best, it’s because of a strong run game. Kellen Moore has high praise for new Cowboys HC Brian Schotteheimer – Josh Sanchez, Sports Illustrated During Super Bowl interviews, former Cowboys OC Kellen Moore shared his opinion on the new head coach in Dallas. When asked about Dallas’ new head coach, Brian Schottenheimer, Moore had nothing but praise for his former colleague. The two worked together for one season in 2022 when Schottenheimer was a coaching analyst. “Schotty’s a great person, loved my year working with him, obviously we connected a lot just as far as the game plans…” Moore said, via DallasCowboys.com. “Schotty was phenomenal for me, and he’ll be great for Dak [Prescott] and all those guys.” Everyone who has spoken about Schotteheimer has had high praise. There was even a report that Mike McCarthy helped Schotteheimer prepare for his interview with Jerry Jones. That says a lot about the respect McCarthy has for the man who would eventually replace him. Cowboys add two assistants to Brian Schottenheimer coaching staff – Patrik Walker, DallasCowboys.com The 2025 Cowboys’ coaching staff continues to take shape as they add Bryan Bing as the new assistant defensive line coach and Tiquan Underwood as the new assistant wide receivers coach. Bing joins a growing list of assistant coaches who spent time in Chicago with former Bears’ head coach Matt Eberflus, the latter returning to the Cowboys as defensive coordinator in 2025, and though they didn’t cross paths in Indianapolis, Bing did have a stint with the Colts recently as well. He’ll report directly to Aaron Whitecotton, hired away only days ago from the New York Jets as defensive line coach. Underwood, a former NFL receiver who found his way to the league as a draft pick of the Jacksonville Jaguars in 2009, spent several seasons as a player for multiple clubs, including a stretch in the CFL, before beginning his coaching career in 2018 — one that would eventually lead him to being named assistant wide receivers coach of the New England Patriots in 2024. His expertise as a former player should go a long way in aiding in the development of young talent like Jalen Tolbert, Jalen Brooks, Ryan Flournoy, Jonathan Mingo and the like — the title of wide receivers coach, determining who Underwood will be assisting, to be awarded to a candidate soon. Jimmy Johnson on a missed three-peat, Schotty hire, Cowboys’ roster needs, and more – Tommy Yarrish, DallasCowboys.com Jimmy Johnson recently chimed in to share his two cents on the new head coach for the Cowboys. “I wish Brian all the luck in the world,” Johnson said. “I texted him the other day
Cowboys Headlines: Woodson’s wait goes on, Jerry claims win-now focus, Micah eager to get new deal done
Cowboys legend Darren Woodson comes up short of Hall of Fame status once again: ‘I feel like it’s failure’ :: Fort Worth Star-Telegram Link After 17 years of waiting to hear his name called as a member of the Pro Football Hall of Fame, the Ring of Honor member was denied once again. “I got to deal with it. It is what it is. It sucks. I wish I could walk in and grab that gold jacket. It’s painful, it really is.” Woodson has three more years to get in as a modern-era player; if induction doesn’t come by then, he’ll move to the more difficult seniors category. “At my core, I’m more competitive than anyone else. It’s being patient, understanding that there are other people that are on that list who have had to be patient as well.” Cowboys’ Darren Woodson waits for Canton call; ‘probably deserves to be in’ :: Cowboys Wire Link Earlier in the day, Woodson was trying to be optimistic about his chances of getting the call to Canton. “I just feel like my body of work probably deserves to be in,” Woodson said. “It’s not up to me. It’s up to the writers if I should be in or if I shouldn’t be in.” Voters could have selected five players for the Class of 2025; they chose just four. Several notable Cowboys eligible for Hall of Fame in 2026 :: Calvin Watkins Ashton Jeanty: ‘It would be special’ to play for Cowboys :: The Mothership Link Jeanty says he would love to come home to Frisco, where he was a high school star. “I think it would be cool to have the star on my helmet again,” the running back said. “Playing for Lone Star, I had a star on my helmet as well, so it would be a dope moment if that were to happen.” He says he’d be excited to help build a new, stronger culture in Dallas under first-year head coach Brian Schottenheimer. “The culture, the history, the city, everything that comes with playing for the Dallas Cowboys, I think would be special.” Emmitt Smith: Cowboys shouldn’t draft RB Ashton Jeanty for one key reason :: Cowboys Wire Link The all-time rushing king doesn’t believe his former team has a plan when it comes to the offensive stars they already have, so it makes no sense to draft the electrifying Boise State running back with their first-round pick, as most mock drafts are calling for. Explaining that Cowboys ownership has not committed to the kind of balanced attack Smith himself was part of with the Triplets, he thinks there’s too much focus on building the brand of the Cowboys but not enough devoted to actually winning games. Dallas Cowboys owner Jerry Jones says new coach, other moves made to ‘compete right now’ :: Newsday Link Jones says hiring Brian Schottenheimer as head coach was not a conservative move at all. And he maintains that the team is in “win-now” mode, not a rebuilding mindset. “The decisions I made last year were based on competing now. Now, they didn’t exactly work out. But I think I paid Dak [Prescott] more than anybody’s ever been paid in the NFL. That’s now. That’s not the future,” Jones said on the red carpet at NFL Honors. “We’re excited about our team’s ability to compete right now.” Cowboys Super Bowl drought roasted with Bill Belichick girlfriend joke :: SI.com Link During his opening monologue, Snoop Dogg remembered back to “when the Cowboys was good.” To put the distant memory in perspective for the audience, he helpfully pointed out that “Bill Belichick’s girlfriend wasn’t even born yet.” Cameras cut to 24-year-old Jordon Hudson, who looked shocked that she had suddenly ended up the punch line of a joke while on the arm of the 72-year-old coach. Micah Parsons on Cowboys extension: ‘I don’t think we can afford to keep having things wait out’ :: Fort Worth Star-Telegram Link Parsons has said he’d prefer to get a new deal done sooner rather than later this offseason. It would be better for the team, too. “We have a lot of guys to sign,” he said. “I don’t think we can afford to keep having things wait out.” He also had an interesting take on missing games due to injury for the first time ever, calling it “the best thing that could have ever happened to me,” since it forced him to change his perspective on being a leader when things are going poorly. Mike McCarthy helped Brian Schottenheimer prepare for his interview :: Blogging the Boys Link Fox NFL insider Jay Glazer reports that McCarthy helped his former offensive coordinator prepare for the interview to take the job he himself had just lost in Dallas. Glazer said McCarthy’s parting was “really amicable,” but despite the coach’s longstanding loyalty to the Schottenheimer family, giving him pointers on meeting with Jerry and Stephen Jones was “selfless” on McCarthy’s part. 2 free agent successes provide affordable blueprint for Cowboys in 2025 :: Cowboys Wire Link Despite a reputation for free agency failure, things worked out quite well with both Dante Fowler in 2022 and Carl Lawson in 2024. In both instances, the Cowboys received quality snaps from a player who cost them relatively very little. Fowler is gone now, but if the team can bring back Lawson, Matt Eberflus could get some of that veteran production in his first year running the defense. If not, Dallas may look at someone like Matthew Judon, Dennis Gardeck, Poona Ford, or Teair Tart. NFLPA boss Lloyd Howell: ‘No one wants to play an 18th game’ in regular season :: Dallas Morning News Link NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell has openly talked about it like it’s inevitable, but the players aren’t nearly excited about adding a game to the regular season. The league and the players union have not had formal talks about it, but the NFL would no doubt be expected to make some concessions
Dallas Cowboys legend Darren Woodson denied from Pro Football Hall of Fame again
Photo by Bob Leverone/Sporting News via Getty Images via Getty Images Darren Woodson was left out of the Pro Football Hall of Fame for another year. Another year has come and gone and the disappointment remains the same. Darren Woodson was once again left out of a Pro Football Hall of Fame class. Pro Football Hall of Fame Class of 2025: Jared Allen Sterling Sharpe Eric Allen Antonio Gates — Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) February 7, 2025 Overall a four-man class is an interesting move for the HOF. Jared Allen and Antonio Gates have always felt like locks, but it is a bit surprising that Sterling Sharpe made his way in. It should be clear to all that Woodson was an integral part of how the Cowboys played defense throughout their 1990s dynasty. His positional versatility and talent to play everywhere in the secondary was a key reason why the Cowboys were able to have the success that he did. It has never made sense as to why Woodson has been excluded from Canton. Perhaps the voters still hold back his lack of specific numbers or statistics at one position or the other. This is holding an immense talent that Woodson had against him which is illogical. Unfortunately Darren Woodson’s wait continues.
Emmitt Smith: Cowboys shouldn’t draft RB Ashton Jeanty for one key reason
Emmitt Smith: Cowboys shouldn’t draft RB Ashton Jeanty for one key reason Todd Brock The NFL’s all-time rushing king has seen some impressive ballcarriers come and go since he last wore the star in 2002. And while the Hall of Famer has never been shy about calling for his former team to get back to establishing a smashmouth run game like the one that got him over 17,000 yards in Dallas, Smith doesn’t believe the Cowboys should be too quick to select Boise State phenom Ashton Jeanty with their first-round pick in the upcoming draft. It’s a surprising stance from one of the greatest running backs the sport has ever seen. But his reason for saying so is even more of an eye-opener. In New Orleans ahead of Super Bowl LIX, Smith sat down with the crew from All DLLS. Talk naturally turned to the Cowboys’ current need to find a rushing attack after a season in which they placed at or near the bottom of the league in total rushing yardage, yards per carry, and rushing touchdowns. The most popular fix in the mock draft world is Jeanty, who logged an incredible 2,601 yards in 2024 (just 27 yards shy of the collegiate single-season record) and scored 29 touchdowns on the ground (almost five times what the entire Cowboys ground attack tallied in three more games). But when asked if the Cowboys should select Jeanty with the 12th overall pick, Smith was blunt. “I don’t think so.” It’s not, Smith went on to explain, because he doesn’t think the Frisco native is a talented young star in the making. In fact, that’s exactly why Smith says he hopes this current iteration of the Dallas organization steers clear. “I don’t think the Cowboys clearly understand what they really want,” the three-time Super Bowl winner said. “They’re after excitement and thrills and stuff, and they don’t have a plan. First of all, they don’t even have a plan, truly, for Dak Prescott, let alone CeeDee Lamb. Where’s the plan? The plan they have right now has not made sense over the last couple years, so all of a sudden you’re going to wake up and come up with a plan for a new kid?” Smith- and other former Cowboys players- have been increasingly vocal about the Cowboys’ apparent lack of direction in recent years: playing games with superstars’ contracts, refusing to spend on high-quality free agents, and paying nothing more than lip service to the idea of assembling a roster designed to contend for championships on a regular basis. Adding another playmaker to an offense that is already fumbling about with Prescott and Lamb in the huddle is not the answer, according to Smith. “Plan for what you already have and allow things to fit that plan and be committed to that plan,” Smith said, “and I think that’s been the problem.” He pointed to the Cowboys team that drafted him 17th overall in 1990. With head coach Jimmy Johnson firmly in control of all football operations, the team improved from 1-15 the year before Smith’s arrival to 7-9 in his rookie season to a playoff berth the following year and a Super Bowl win the next. (And then two more over the next three years.) [affiliatewidget_smgtolocal] Cowboys fans can guess what “problem” Smith is really alluding to: the team’s ownership. For too many years, owner Jerry Jones has treated the football team as just one product line offered by the larger $10 billion brand of the Dallas Cowboys. Victories on the field are great, and titles would boost the bottom line. But win or lose, there are headlines to make and jerseys to sell and season tickets to hawk and corporate sponsorships to negotiate and a stadium to fill with high-priced events the other 355 days a year. The Cowboys brand can succeed- and is clearly doing so- even if the team is losing. Smith clearly believes too much effort is being placed on the former… and not nearly enough is being done to address the latter. And not even the addition of Jeanty would be enough. At least not all by itself. “There’s been a commitment to excellence on the brand side, but on the operations, when it comes down to the football side, there’s no commitment to who we are and the brand that was built,” Smith offered. “And the brand that was built was balance: Troy, Michael, myself. That’s why you call us the Triplets. You cannot have one without the other; you’ve got to have it all. You’ve got to have a ground attack as well as an air attack. “Now, Ashton Jeanty could be good for us under the right plan and under the right commitment and under the right vision. Right now, I think these things are bifurcated, and that’s why you’re getting all this disjointedness throughout the last 25, 30 years.”
Cowboys’ 2025 free agent profile: QB Cooper Rush
Eric Hartline-Imagn Images Do you think the Cowboys will bring Cooper Rush back? The Dallas Cowboys have a long list of unrestricted free agents who will officially hit the open market in a little over a month. Of those, six or seven were significant contributors in 2024, meaning the Cowboys have some difficult decisions ahead of them in the coming weeks. We continue our free agent profile series, taking a look at Dallas’ impending free agents. Today, we examine a player who unexpectedly played significant snaps last season, quarterback Cooper Rush. Photo by Ron Jenkins/Getty Images 2024 Regular Season Stats: 8 GS, 4-4 QBRec, 60.7% Completion Percentage, 1,844 Passing Yards, 12 Passing Touchdowns, 5 Interceptions, 6.0 Y/A, 83.8 Passer Rating Year Review: For the second time in the past three seasons, veteran quarterback Cooper Rush saw some extended playing time when Dak Prescott went out with an injury. Prescott suffered a season-ending hamstring tear in Week 9, inserting Rush as Dallas’ starter for the rest of the regular season. Things didn’t start well for the 31-year-old veteran as Dallas got outscored 68-16 in his first two starts, with Rush completing just 57% of his passes and recording a Passer Rating of 68.8. During that two-game span, Rush’s -0.371 EPA/Play was the worst among qualified starting quarterbacks, and it looked like the Cowboys would need to make a change if they wanted any shot of staying competitive for the rest of the season. After two awful performances, Dallas’ Week 12 matchup against the Washington Commanders ended up being a turning point for Rush’s 2024 season. The veteran had arguably his most productive day of the season in Dallas’ 34-26 upset win, completing 24 of 32 passes for 247 yards and two touchdowns, recording a season-high Passer Rating of 117.6. In the five-game stretch from Week 12 through Week 16, Rush completed 64% of his throws to go with nine touchdown passes to just one interception. His Passer Rating during this five-game span was an impressive 100.5, and the Cowboys as a team posted a 4-1 record. While the Cowboys weren’t playing many quality opponents during this stretch, Rush did perform as well as we’ve seen him throughout the course of his seven-year NFL career. The 31-year-old’s season ended with a rough outing against the Eagles in Philadelphia as the Cowboys opted to sit Rush for their season finale, giving young quarterback Trey Lance a chance to start. Free Agency Outlook: Although Rush did play some decent football at times this year, it’s hard to see any team in the league giving him a chance to start next season. The veteran’s potential free-agent market will likely be filled with teams looking to acquire an experienced, reliable veteran to fill in if their starter were to go down for a short period of time. While he certainly hasn’t lit the world on fire when he’s been forced to start, Rush is 9-5 as a starter in the NFL, something few backup quarterbacks in the league have accomplished. Last offseason, quarterbacks Carson Wentz and Jimmy Garoppolo signed one-year deals worth a little over $3M each. At this point in their respective careers, Rush is likely a more reliable and more productive backup than the two, so he’ll likely try to earn a deal worth at least $3M AAV on the open market. Spotrac projects Rush to earn a one-year, $5M deal this spring. That number seems fair, given what Rush has accomplished as a starter and the lack of quality backup quarterback currently in the league. It will be interesting to see if any team values what Rush has done over the past three seasons enough to give him a multi-year deal to be their backup. Outside of Sam Darnold, this is one of the weakest quarterback free-agent classes in years, which may drive up Rush’s demand and land him a more significant contract than expected. Cowboys Verdict: Back in 2023, the Cowboys signed Rush to a two-year, $5M deal. If the Cowboys want him back as their backup next season, they may need to commit to another multi-year deal to retain the veteran’s services. From the Cowboys’ perspective, even if you bring Rush back, the hope would be he does not have to play a single significant snap in the 2025 season. But with Dak Prescott’s injuries over the past three seasons, it would make sense for the Cowboys to want to retain a veteran backup like Rush, who is familiar with the offense and has played at least league-average when he’s been forced to start. Overall, there likely won’t be any team that blows Rush away with an offer on the open market, making a return to Dallas very likely. The Cowboys will likely be able to work out a two-year deal that is beneficial for both sides, bringing the veteran quarterback back for another season or more. Prediction: Cooper Rush signs with the Dallas Cowboys for two years, $7.5M.
2 free agent successes provide affordable blueprint for Cowboys in 2025
2 free agent successes provide affordable blueprint for Cowboys in 2025 reidhanson The Dallas Cowboys have many questionable processes when team building. They shy away from top commodities in free agency. They draft high-risk players who bring an abnormal degree of projection. They push veterans out the door without clear replacements in place and they drag their feet with their own fairly obvious contract extensions. As one might imagine, those don’t always turn out so well for the Cowboys franchise. But one of Dallas’ oft-critiqued processes has been working out for them as of late. Waiting for the market to cool and targeting veteran defensive linemen to team-friendly deals has been a trademark move the Cowboys. They did it with Dante Fowler in 2022 and they did it again with Carl Lawson in 2024. In both instances they received quality snaps from a player who cost them relatively very little. Going this route in roster building doesn’t typically provide elite results but it does offer tremendous bang for the buck. It’s allowed the Cowboys to maintain a healthy rotation on their defensive line and use the money saved at defensive end on other areas of the team where veteran bargains aren’t so easily found. In 2025 the Cowboys will likely try to get Lawson to come back for a second season. He’s coming off a five-sack year while contributing 401 snaps on defense. A similar role can be expected under Matt Eberflus if Lawson is willing to accept similar short-term deal with a modest bump from his $1,125,000 rate (per OTC). If Lawson doesn’t come back to Dallas, the Cowboys have options to look at in free agency again this season. Matthew Judon, 32, is coming off a tumultuous season. Pro Football Focus estimates his value to be a one year, $4,500,000 deal this offseason. If the Cowboys play it patiently, he may come cheaper. Arizona’s underrated DE, Dennis Gardeck, is coming off an early 2024 ACL injury. At 30-years-old he may not strike up very much interest around the league and could possibly be had for half the cost of Judon. Even interior defensive linemen like Teair Tart and Poona Ford could be had for a song this offseason. Tart comes with baggage, but he finished last season as the 12th-highest graded DT and is predicted to cost just $2,500,000 in free agency. Ford is predicted to demand just $3,500,000 and he’s coming off a season where he graded as the fifth best DT. It’s important the Cowboys invest properly in their frontline starters but rotations at key positions can be built with low-demand veterans who slip through the cracks. Dallas has a track record of success in this area and while the wait may be painful, patience has repeatedly paid off for the Cowboys. Related articles [affiliatewidget_smgtolocal]
Dallas Cowboys legend Emmitt Smith argued against the idea of the team drafting Ashton Jeanty
Photo by Ron Jenkins/Getty Images Emmitt Smith does not want to see the Cowboys draft Ashton Jeanty. Super Bowl LIX will warp up on Sunday, and when it does all eyes will officially turn to the upcoming NFL Draft in Green Bay. With the Dallas Cowboys holding the 12th overall pick we are all excited to see what direction they go in. It feels fair to say that a large contingency of the fanbase wants to see Dallas draft Boise State running back Ashton Jeanty in the first round. You may be for or against that personally, but again it feels safe to assume that you know a lot of people are in favor of the idea. One person who is not in favor of that idea, ironically, is Cowboys legendary running back Emmitt Smith. The NFL’s all-time leading rusher sat down with Maggie Gray and Andrew Perloff while on Radio Row in New Orleans and made an argument against Jeanty, although it really didn’t have anything to do with the Boise State product specifically. “If he comes to the Cowboys… he’s going to get beat up” Pro Football Hall of Famer Emmitt Smith says the Cowboys SHOULD NOT draft Boise State RB Asthon Jeanty pic.twitter.com/KFu9dZAOnC — Maggie and Perloff (@MaggieandPerl) February 6, 2025 “If he comes to the Cowboys right now… he’s going to get beat up. I don’t think we’re ready. We don’t have the right mindset. We don’t have the right commitments.” “I think we’re drafting… we’re drafting exciting pieces… exciting pieces that get fans all… oh we got Ashton Jeanty… oh we are going to be able to run the ball.” “You trying to tell me Ezekiel Elliott and Rico Dowdle could not carry the team? No. There was no commitment to run the football. And when there was a commitment, when Dak Prescott went down, Rico ran the ball well.” “So don’t tell me we can’t run the football. Dak went down. They shifted from Cooper Rush… they brought his passes down… and created more runs for the running game.” “And then you start having this level of balance. And start to show some kind of consistency. Need to do that the whole entire year. That’s the formula that I’m talking about.” “And so quit trying to do what everyone else is doing in the National Football League. Your quarterback is not Patrick Mahomes, he’s not Josh Allen, he’s not Joe Burrow. He’s Dak Prescott.” If you watch the clip you can see that Smith is a bit fired up while going on this rant of sorts. Again, his issue does not seem to be with the idea of Jeanty in and of itself, but rather with the overall offensive disposition that the Cowboys have held in recent seasons. One of the most interesting parts of Smith’s comments is how he said the team is focused on drafting exciting pieces. There is no question that Jeanty would be exciting, but to his point, if the team is not going to fully and totally commit to running the ball then what is the point of it all? Head coach Brian Schottenheimer and offensive coordinator Klayton Adams are moves that suggest the Cowboys will lean into that identity, the one created during Smith’s days, a bit more. That is conventional logic at least. Who would have thought Emmitt Smith would be the one arguing against Jeanty?!
Dallas Cowboys 2025 free agent wishlist: Defensive edition
Photo by Mitchell Leff/Getty Images Here are some notable defensive free agents the Cowboys could consider this offseason. Whether it’s out of envy watching the Philadelphia Eagles play in the Super Bowl or out of need, there is reason to believe the Dallas Cowboys could be much more active in free agency than they have in years past. Maybe this is the year they go “all-in”, unlike last year. Considering all of the current “needs” they have, the Cowboys can’t simply rely on building their roster through the 2025 NFL Draft. They will have to address a few of those “needs” via free agency, but who those players may be is the ultimate unknown right now. Today, we thought we’d have a little fun and remove all restraints by putting together our wish list of free agents who the Cowboys could target in order to upgrade the defensive side of the ball. As unlikely as it is to sign anyone from this list, we still have our fingers crossed. DT – Milton Williams Photo by Mitchell Leff/Getty Images Osa Odighizuwa is probably the preferred free agent DT the Cowboys will target via free agency, but we are going to exclude him for no other reason than to look at a different option. Milton Williams is someone Dallas should be familiar with considering they were not only rumored to like him coming out of the Louisiana Tech, but have played him twice a year for the past several years as a division rival with the Eagles. He, like Odighizuwa, is one of the better 3-techniques on the open market and would be a perfect fit in Matt Eberflus’ defense. Projected contract via PFF: 3 yrs, $21m avg/yr. ($37.5m guaranteed, $63m total) DE – Josh Sweat Photo by Mitchell Leff/Getty Images Other than Micah Parsons, who is expected to receive a big time extension this offseason, the Dallas Cowboys depth at DE leaves much to be desired. This could be the position they target with the 12th overall pick in the first-round of the 2025 NFL Draft, but free agency would be a good option as well. Josh Sweat is someone who fits what Matt Eberflus likes at the position, and signing him away from a division rival would be an added bonus. Sweat, Parsons, Marshawn Kneeland, and Sam Williams would be a formidable pass rush in Dallas. Projected contracted via PFF: 3 yrs, $18m avg/yrs. ($32.5m guaranteed, $54m total) LB – Nick Bolton Photo by Cooper Neill/Getty Images With Eric Kendricks possibly leaving via free agency and DeMarvion Overshown’s availability up in the air to play at all in 2025, linebacker is one of the bigger “needs” for the Dallas Cowboys this offseason. The MLB position is one of the more important ones in Matt Eberflus’ defensive scheme. The free agent LB that fits Eberflus’ scheme best is probably Nick Bolton. He is a heatseeking missile in the run game and is pretty solid in other areas. His Super Bowl-winning mentality is something that would hopefully be contagious. Projected contract via PFF: 4 yrs, $15m avg/yrs. ($40m guaranteed, $60m total) CB – Paulson Adebo Photo by Ryan Kang/Getty Images With Trevon Diggs rehabbing from yet another season-ending knee injury, DaRon Bland is the only starting-caliber cornerback the Cowboys can depend on right now. This is a position they could target early in the 2025 NFL Draft as well as signing a starting-caliber CB via free agency. Paulson Adebo, whose 2024 season ended early with a broken femur, is someone they could target. He is still just 25 years old, a Texas native, and has a potential to be a No. 1 outside CB. He, Diggs, and Bland would be an impressive CB trio. Projected contract via PFF: 3 yrs, $13.33 avg/yrs. ($25m guaranteed, $40m total) S – Tre’von Moehrig Photo by Ethan Miller/Getty Images Neither Malik Hooker or Donovan Wilson stood out in 2024 and either could possibly be a salary-cap casualty. That would further deplete Dallas’ depth at the safety position, creating another “need” to fill the offseason. Even if neither is a salary-cap casualty, upgrading and solidifying the position via free agency for years to come isn’t out of the question. Trevon Moehrig, who they liked coming out of TCU, would be a perfect fit in Matt Eberflus’ defense. He’s had five interceptions and 18 passes defensed in the last two years alone. Projected contract via PFF: 4 yrs, $15m avg/yrs. ($35m guaranteed, $60m total)
Cowboys Headlines: Bears pipeline grows, OC endorsement, Aubrey extension?
Cowboys add 4th former Bears assistant to defensive coaching staff under Eberflus :: Cowboys Wire Link: New Cowboys defensive coordinator Matt Eberflus appears to have full control over the assistants he wants on his side of the ball as a fourth member has now followed him from Chicago to Dallas as the assistant defensive line coach. New Cowboys offensive coordinator Klayton Adams gets ringing endorsement from former player :: Blogging the Boys Link: Cardinals soon-to-be free agent guard Will Hernandez had nothing but glowing things to say about new Cowboys offensive coordinator Klyaton Adams leading to speculation that the former UTEP alum could be a possible replacement for guard Zack Martin. Cowboys Wire previously looked at the group of four Cardinals OL who are hitting free agency in March. Former Cowboy offers pinpoint, fair critique of org as he preps for Super Bowl :: Cowboys Wire Link: For the second time in recent years, a former Cowboys tight end, who will be playing for the Chiefs in Super Bowl LIX, takes a fair yet true critique of the circus surrounding the distractions in Dallas. Brandon Aubrey talks John Fassel departure, Nick Sorensen hire, potential contract extension :: The Mothership Link: Cowboys All-Pro kicker Brandon Aubrey spoke about various topics including the departure of John Fassell who is now in Tennessee, working with new special teams coach Nick Sorensen, and a potential contract extension with Dallas this offseason. Cowboys take two offensive weapons not named Ashton Jeanty in new ESPN mock draft :: Dallas Morning News Link: Texas wideout Matthew Golden and Miami tight end Elijah Arroyo have become the newest one-two punch in the upcoming draft for the Cowboys despite the overwhelming consensus that Boise State rusher Ashton Jeanty will be the pick. Kellen Moore reflects on interview with Dallas Cowboys, comments on Schottenheimer hire :: Fort Worth Star Telegram Link: Former Dallas quarterback and offensive coordinator Kellen Moore offered his thoughts on the Cowboys opting to go in a different direction and hiring Brian Schottenheimer as the team’s 10th head coach in franchise history. Cowboys unrestricted free-agent tiers: Who do they need to bring back most? :: The Athletic Link: Cowboys defensive tackle Osa Odighizuwa and slot cornerback Jourdan Lewis headline the list of the top-tier free agents Dallas should bring back while future Hall of Fame guard Zack Martin remains in limbo as to what Dallas should do about his situation. NFL Free Agents Who Could Become Superstars on New Teams in 2025 :: Bleacher Report Link: The Cowboys are not in the business of letting talent walk out the door yet defensive tackle Osa Odighizuwa and running back Rico Dowdle have been named as two free agents who could become superstars on new teams which could complicate offseason negotiations. Cowboys’ Cooper Kupp trade might not be possible thanks to recent Jerry Jones gaffe :: The Landry Hat Link: The price to trade for Rams wideout Cooper Kupp is reportedly hovering around the fourth-round pick neighborhood. Dallas would benefit from having the former Offensive Player of the Year but the team traded this year’s fourth rounder for reserve receiver Jonathan Mingo during the season. Cowboys predicted to sign irreplaceable star to record-breaking contract :: SI Link: Despite Cowboys superstar pass rusher Micah Parsons publicly stating that he doesn’t need $30 million per season on his contract extension, experts predict that he will eclipse the current record holder Nick Bosa and average over $40 million per season. Micah Parsons: We struggled so much, I don’t think Derrick Henry would have helped us :: Pro Football Talk Link: Cowboys defensive end Micah Parsons revealed the team was in such a bad spot in 2024 and despite their lack of interest, Ravens running back Derrick Henry wouldn’t have solved what plagued Dallas last season. Division rival lays into Cowboys amid beef with former All-Pro :: SI Despite having a career 0-6 record agaisnt the Cowboys, Giants defensive end Kayvon Thibodeaux had some not-safe-for-work remarks about Dallas and former All-Pro wideout Dez Bryant on radio row at the Super Bowl.
Micah Parsons says difference between old and new school way of thinking may have existed
Kevin Jairaj-Imagn Images Micah Parsons touched on a potential old school and new school way of thinking in terms of the Dallas Cowboys. There is a single game remaining on the 2024 NFL season in Super Bowl LIX and hopefully we do not have to live another entire offseason where the Philadelphia Eagles are world champions. Please, Kansas City Chiefs. We are asking for help. Again. Obviously the NFL world is fixated on Sunday’s big game but every team save Kansas City and Philadelphia is already working on 2025 and beyond. We are all fascinated as to what the Dallas Cowboys are going to look like under a new head coach in Brian Schottenheimer, and in the coming months we will get more and more clues that will help us be able to put together a general idea. It goes without saying that a big part of what will impact how the Cowboys look in 2025 is free agency and how active the team is throughout it. History suggests that Dallas will shop the bargain-bin, but there will be roster turnover that they will have to account for at some point so they need to have a plan. In terms of roster turnover, pass rusher Micah Parsons offered some interesting perspective on this idea during an appearance with ESPN Radio on Wednesday. Parsons touched on the idea of the team resetting (having a new head coach makes that statement fair, obviously) but also mentioned something interesting relative to an imbalance between two groups of players. “Honestly, I think it’s good that we’re kind of resetting.”@MicahhParsons11 on how the @dallascowboys can finally break their championship drought https://t.co/aSlRvIlPz5 pic.twitter.com/M6tpdvZzAl — ESPN Radio (@ESPNRadio) February 5, 2025 “Honestly I think it’s good that we’re kind of resetting. We’re resetting when it comes to certain players and things… so we can just focus on building the culture. I just think it was kind of an imbalance of players between the old school way and the youth way and I think it gives leeway for guys like me to step in and kind of take charge and lead.” When Parsons mentioned resetting my mind went to the subject of the head coach as indicated up above. But Parsons went on to mention “players and thing” and then noted the imbalance between the old school and youth ways within the team. Without trying to be dramatic here, what could Parsons be saying? The Cowboys are possibly on the verge of watching players like Zack Martin and DeMarcus Lawrence leave either in free agency or to outright retirement. They are the most “old school way” players that we could apply this line of thought to. It is fair to say that the reverence they commanded may have inhibited someone like Parsons from “leading” so to speak, but it is an interesting comment nonetheless. There is no question that the Cowboys need Parsons to be a leader as he is the best player on the team; however, if that is the case then they need to take care of the financial side of all of this and make sure that he doesn’t miss any part of the offseason due to any hypothetical holdout. Long story short, it’s time for the Cowboys front office to get to work.
