Eric Hartline-Imagn Images How much would a new contract for Parsons cost the Cowboys? Lately there has been some talk about movement on a deal with Micah Parsons. Recently there was a flurry of posts between Jane Slater of NFL Network and Terence Parsons. The latter is the brother of Micah Parsons, and without outright saying it, he alluded that the Cowboys and his brother have at least had talks regarding a new contract for the All-Pro defender. The national media has dispelled the notion that the negotiations that have been held are substantial. Let’s first examine why Parsons deserves a new contract. Parsons is the most impactful defender the Cowboys have had since DeMarcus Ware. Parsons has been named to four Pro Bowls and 2 First-Team All-Pro selections (2021& 2022). With 52.5 sacks to begin his career, Parsons is in elite company, sixth all-time in NFL history for the most sacks in a player’s first four year seasons in the league, trailing only Ware, J.J. Watt, Derrick Thomas, Mark Gastineau, and Reggie White. 3:24 of Micah Parsons pass rushing highlights pic.twitter.com/P84nDUspBr — James Foster (@NoFlagsFilm) May 31, 2024 As for how much Parsons should get, one must consider the current market for players at Parsons’ position. Recently, Cleveland Browns edge rusher Myles Garrett agreed to a new contract with the team on a deal worth $160M over four years. Other contracts neighboring Garrett are Las Vegas’ Maxx Crosby ($35M per year) and San Francisco’s Nick Bosa ($34M per year). You can expect Parsons’ beginning price to start somewhere between Garrett and Crosby. As for the guarantees, when you examine Garrett’s contract, $123.5M out of the $160M is guaranteed (77%). As for Crosby, $91.5M of his $106.5M (85%) is assured, albeit on a shorter three-year commitment. Suppose the “floor” of Parsons’ contract is between Crosby’s and Garrett’s salary; the ceiling of Parsons’ yearly value has to be higher than Garrett’s. Parsons is five years younger, and while Garrett and Bosa are athletic for edge rushers, Parsons is on another plane regarding versatility and athleticism. He can line up at any position in the front seven on a pass rush down and get to the quarterback. Let’s propose two contracts for two separate scenarios. The first scenario is Parsons accepting a contract very similar to Crosby’s, which is short-term with a vast majority of it guaranteed. Splitting Garrett’s salary down the middle with Crosby gives a baseline of $37.5M annually to Parsons, and we’ll give Parsons more of a guarantee than Crosby at 90% of the deal guaranteed. That would give Parsons a contract three years of $112.5M with $101.25 fully guaranteed. This purported contract gives the Cowboys a lesser annual salary to work around and gives Parsons the flexibility to renegotiate a new contract during his athletic prime. The other idea is for Dallas to reset the market with Parsons but on a longer-term contract. Pay Parsons a contract to keep him a Cowboy into the next decade. Give Parsons $45M annually on a five-year deal worth up to $225M. However, you guarantee the money Parsons for 3/4 of the total salary for a still lucrative $168.75M. A longer contract allows the Cowboys plenty of time to restructure the agreement and lowers the initial cap charge heading into the next few years. The salary cap is constantly increasing, and $45M won’t seem like much a few seasons into the contract.

Photo by Patrick Smith/Getty Images Adjusting won’t be a problem for Dante Fowler Jr. under Matt Eberflus. Veteran edge rusher Dante Fowler Jr. is going into his 11th season in the NFL. The former first-round pick has bounced around to several different teams and played for a number of different defensive coordinators. He played his first four years in Jacksonville under defensive coordinator Todd Wash. After missing his rookie year with a torn ACL, Fowler put up four sacks in 16 games in 2016, although he played barley over half of the team’s defensive snaps. He would play only 45% of the defensive snaps the next season, but he managed to get eight sacks. Fowler would be traded to the Los Angeles Rams in 2018, and he would play under defensive coordinator Wade Phillips for the next two seasons. In 2019, Fowler had his best season as a pro under Phillips with a career-high 11.5 sacks. In four of the last five seasons, Fowler had played under Dan Quinn. The first two were with the Atlanta Falcons, but a knee injury derailed his 2021 campaign. As a backup in Dallas for two seasons, Fowler produced 10 sacks. In his one season with the Washington Commanders in 2024, also under Quinn after he took the head coaching job, Fowler put up 10.5 sacks despite playing just 52% of the defensive snaps. Now, Fowler is back in Dallas on a one-year deal, and he’ll play under new defensive coordinator Matt Eberflus. Fowler spoke on what he expects under a defense led by him, and the veteran is confident he’ll fit in per Jon Machota. I know this is going to be a fast, physical defense. I’m looking forward to it. I’m a hybrid so I can adjust to anything. … Whatever the scheme is, I’m going to adapt to it, I’m going to adjust to it and I’ll be ready to go. Eberflus runs a 4-3 base scheme that is geared towards a lot of zone coverage, which makes getting after the quarterback a huge priority. Fowler fits that mold. Micah Parsons will be on one edge drawing all the attention. Osa Odighizuwa will be a presence at the 3-tech. If Mazi Smith can keep improving and give the Cowboys something at the 1-tech, having a player like Fowler come off the other edge can make things difficult for opposing offenses on critical passing downs. The Cowboys are hoping that Sam that Williams recovers from his torn ACL and that he finally starts to reach his ceiling in year four. Also, there’s Marshawn Kneeland, who is looking to have a better second season after dealing with a torn meniscus that slowed his progress. However, Fowler gives the Cowboys an instant veteran presence as an effective situational pass rusher. That’s what Fowler does. He gets after the quarterback, and he’s just the type of player you want coming off the edge opposite a guy like All-Pro Parsons when it’s third and long. Dallas still needs to add some more depth to their defensive end group, and they’ll undoubtedly look to add one in the NFL draft. Getting Fowler back in the mix was a smart move by the Cowboys, and likely the best one they’ve made in free agency thus far.

Photo by Cooper Neill/Getty Images The latest news surrounding the Dallas Cowboys is here. Micah Parsons feels good about deal getting done with Dallas Cowboys but no talks have been had – Clarence Hill, DLLS It would behoove the Cowboys to get this out of the way sooner than later. Defensive end Micah Parsons admittedly feels good about a deal getting down with the Dallas Cowboys, giving credence to the positive social media chatter over the last couple of days. But there are some caveats and details that make Parsons’ optimism seemingly ring hollow. According a source with direct knowledge of the negotiations, the Cowboys have not had any real talks, if any, with Parsons’ agent David Mulegheta. Owner Jerry Jones and vice president Stephen Jones have talked to Parsons in and around the facility, giving him hope. “It’s coming along well,” Parsons said with a smile at a fundraising dinner Thursday night at The Catch in Dallas, benefitting his Lion Heart Foundation. Parsons was joined by four Cowboys coaches, including head coach Brian Schottenheimer, defensive tackle Osa Odighizuwa, Miami Dolphins receiver Tyreek Hill and Los Angeles Chargers safety Derwin James at the event. Parsons said during the 2024 season said he didn’t need to make $40 million annually on his new contract extension. But he acknowledged that “$40” is real for him, given the recent jump in the market with deals for Cleveland Browns defensive end Myles Garrett and Cincinnati Bengals receiver Jamar Chase, who make $40 and $40.1 million, respectively, as the highest-paid non quarterback in the NFL. “I just played these last couple years on $2 and 3 million, I think if I had $40 million I’d be the happiest man alive,” Parsons said. “You go from playing for the league rookie minimum and get that big of a jump, I think anybody would be happy.” After strong 2024 receiver class, talent evaluators see ‘dropping point’ in 2025 pool – Jori Eppstein, Yahoosports The pickings at WR in the draft may be slimmer than you thought. Talent evaluators from four different teams agreed that this year’s receiver class is significantly weaker than last year’s and compares unfavorably across the past five years. An NFC and AFC evaluator each said they graded just two receivers in the top two rounds this year. Receivers could be drafted more favorably than their grades due to demand exceeding supply, but teams should beware. “It is just one of those years where there’s not a bunch of just scary dudes,” the NFC evaluator said. “[…] I think it’s going to be one of those positions where you’re going to see some wow in the second, third round [guys drafted because] someone sees something in a kid and we’re going to be two or three rounds low on the guy compared to that team. “Who cares? I mean, let’s get our guys, right? But it wouldn’t shock me if, hey, one of these guys that we have in the fifth round goes in the second.” Cowboys’ DC Matt Eberflus makes three stops at SEC Pro Day workouts; Dallas sends trio of coaches to Oregon – Nick Harris, Star-Telegram The Cowboys are putting in the miles. According to multiple sources, Eberflus has made stops at Tennessee, Georgia and South Carolina. In addition to Eberflus’ travels, a trio of Dallas assistants were in attendance at Oregon’s Pro Day earlier this week. Wide receivers coach and former Oregon assistant Junior Adams, offensive line coach Conor Riley and defensive line coach Aaron Whitecotton were all in Eugene to see the numerous draft prospects for the Ducks. The Cowboys also had a representative in attendance for the individual Pro Day workout by Arizona wide receiver Tetairoa McMillan. Widely considered the top receiver in the draft, many mock drafts have had the Cowboys selecting the Southern California native at No. 12. Miles Sanders reflects on time with Panthers, excited for fresh start with Cowboys – Tommy Yarrish, DallasCowboys.com The former second-round pick wants to add some juice to the running back room on Dallas. Sanders primarily split carries with Chuba Hubbard in Carolina, and the Panthers utilized Hubbard a lot more in 2024 which held Sanders to just 55 carries on the season in 11 games played. “Definitely a learning experience, you just have to control what you can control,” Sanders said of his last two seasons. “I think I’ve made the best of this situation with the cards I’ve been dealt with, there’s a lot of stuff out of my control, but I’m just blessed to still be in the situation I’m in and have another opportunity to ball out.” The opportunity will come in Dallas, which will take some time to adjust to for Sanders, who is a native of Pennsylvania and spent the first four seasons of his NFL career playing for the rival Eagles. “It is going to be a little strange…” Sanders said. “Dak [Prescott] hit me up, it was a funny little conversation, he congratulated me and welcomed me to the team… more excited though, it is going to be a little strange, but I’m excited for the opportunity, honestly.” Prescott wasn’t the only person to reach out to Sanders, as Schottenheimer was the first to make contact with Sanders. Similarly to how some of the other free agents the Cowboys have acquired, Sanders appreciated how personable Schottenheimer was during their initial conversation. “It just came off real genuine, we didn’t really talk about football, it was moreso relationships and stuff like that, what I can do, and just talk about the future and about the team,” Sanders said. “He’s excited for the opportunity too, I love his energy, he answered all the questions that I had.” From a schematic standpoint, Sanders hasn’t dived into the X’s and O’s with Schottenheimer and Adams just yet, but they’ve made it clear that the offense will feature it heavily, and Adams’ history with the offensive line presents a unique situation for Dallas’ offense. “The

Jerome Miron-Imagn Images The latest news surrounding the division. Why did new Commanders receiver retire and then decide to return? – Bryan Manning, USA Today Former Cowboys wide receiver returns to football for the rival Washington Commanders. Even after trading for Deebo Samuel and re-signing Noah Brown and K.J. Osborn, the Washington Commanders still needed more depth at wide receiver. When free agency opened, Terry McLaurin and Luke McCaffrey were the only receivers under contract for 2025. Washington lost two key depth pieces in free agency when Dyami Brown and Olamide Zaccheaus signed elsewhere. On Thursday, Washington introduced Samuel to the media while quietly signing a veteran wide receiver that fans should know: Michael Gallup. Gallup actually visited Washington during the first week of free agency but left without a contract. Just over one week later, the Commanders signed the former Dallas Cowboys third-round pick for a one-year deal worth the veteran minimum. When news of Gallup’s visit surfaced, fans groaned. Why? Gallup actually retired last summer, and before his retirement, he hadn’t caught more than 39 passes since 2020. Injuries played a role in Gallup’s struggles with Dallas at the end of his tenure. In six years with the Cowboys from 2018-23, Gallup appeared in 86 games with 67 starts and had 266 receptions, 3,744 receiving yards, and 21 touchdown receptions. So, while he may have never been a No. 1 receiver, Gallup has enjoyed NFL success and is still only 29. So, why did Gallup retire? After signing with the Las Vegas Raiders, Gallup said he wasn’t in the “right head space” and retired in July. Before signing with Las Vegas, all six of Gallup’s NFL seasons were in Dallas. “The way I was let go from being in some place for so long and then jumping right into a whole other team and not being able to process it,” he said. “I never went through that before. So, trying out how to process that and everything, I think it was just fast for me, and I wasn’t there yet.” Gallup doesn’t need to be Washington’s No. 1 or No. 2 receiver in 2025. If he makes the roster, the Commanders could use Gallup to fill Brown’s (30 receptions) or Zaccheaus’ (45 receptions) production. If he doesn’t, Washington loses nothing. [Dan] Quinn wanted to give Gallup another shot to make it, and the rest is up to the veteran wideout. Eagles believe expanded regular-season overtime will add 30 total plays per season – Mike Florio, NBC Sports Philadelphia hopes to align the regular and postseason overtime rules. When the Eagles last played an overtime game, against the Bills during the 2023 season, Philly benefited from the regular-season rule that guarantees a possession for the team that kick offs to start overtime — if the team that receives scores a field goal. The Eagles now want the guaranteed possession for the kicking team even if the first drive of overtime results in a touchdown. We addressed the issue earlier today, making the point that the potential expansion of regular-season overtime to up to 15 minutes shows that the concerns that fueled the 2017 shrinkage of regular-season overtime to 10 minutes (propping up and protecting Thursday Night Football) no longer apply. The proposal, which seemed last month to be destined to be made by the Competition Committee and not by any one team, isn’t expected to result in a significant uptick in snaps, if passes. Per a source with knowledge of the situation, the Eagles believe the adoption of the postseason two-guaranteed-possessions rule along with a 15-minute overtime will add only 30 plays per year. The extra plays will happen only if/when a game goes to overtime and the team that receives the opening kickoff scores a touchdown on the first drive. But what about the possibility of a pair of touchdowns and a third drive? It’s believed that the team that scores a touchdown on the second drive of overtime will go for two in lieu of giving the other team an opportunity to win the game with a field goal. So there typically won’t be a third drive, if the first two result in touchdowns. That’s the ultimate attraction of tweaking the rule for the regular season. Eventually, a game will come down to a two-point conversion that will determine the game. And the wind seems to currently be blowing in the direction of the proposal passing, with regular-season overtime matching postseason overtime, but for the fact that in the regular season there can indeed be a tie. Report: Russell Wilson Prefers Giants Over Steelers – Patricia Traina, Sports Illustrated Despite the mutual interest, money may be the biggest sticking point right now. The New York Giants continue to wait in their quest to sign a veteran quarterback. The Giants are thought to be waiting for Aaron Rodgers to make up his mind, but in the interim, they’ve met with Russell Wilson, who might be a better fit than Rodgers. During an appearance on SportsCenter, ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler reported that Wilson sees the Giants as “more of a viable option at this point” for him to continue his career [h/t Bleacher Report]. If Wilson wants the Giants, and the Giants thought enough of Wilson to have him in for a visit twice (including last year), then why hasn’t a deal been struck? The likely answer is money. The Giants were reportedly all set to meet Matthew Stafford’s desire to be paid like a top-10 quarterback had a trade been worked out. While it’s unknown what price point Wilson might be seeking, it’s not a stretch to conclude that the financial terms of a potential union still need to be ironed out before a deal can be struck. Like any other human seeking a paid position, Wilson probably thinks he’s worth just as much as his contemporaries. However, as is the case across multiple employment landscapes, there is typically a give-and-take in which two sides ultimately meet somewhere

Photo by Richard Rodriguez/Getty Images Losing Cooper Rush is a bigger deal than you think. After spending most of the last eight seasons with the Cowboys, quarterback Cooper Rush recently signed to back up Lamar Jackson in Baltimore. It’s a loss that Dallas shouldn’t take for granted given the significant role that Rush has played, and the likelihood that whoever takes over as QB2 will need to be ready to win some games. Many have declared indifference to Rush’s departure. It generally comes in two flavors; either you don’t think Rush was that good or you feel that the Cowboys’ season would be over regardless of who the backup QB is. The first line of reasoning is debatable, and the second is even easier to debunk. There are legitimate complaints about Rush’s overall skill set. He certainly wasn’t flashy in any one area, particularly his athleticism. He isn’t very mobile and his arm strength is average at best. But in terms of the core duties of a quarterback, Rush processed well, avoided turnovers, and delivered the ball with sufficient accuracy. You could keep running most of your offense with him in the game. His personality was also great for the role, able to step up and perform even in high-pressure situations. Rush went 9-5 as a starter in the last four seasons. While wins are a team stat, it demonstrates that Rush was capable of doing enough to help Dallas win 64% of those games. That’s 10-11 wins in a 17-game season, which some NFL franchises would love to see. Maybe he wasn’t going to beat top teams or give you much confidence in the playoffs, but how many backup QBs do? There’s a reason the 2017 Nick Foles story was considered worthy of a Disney movie; it was a fantasy come to life. But even though the legend of Foles is an extreme example, it does illustrate that seasons don’t end just because you lose your starting QB. Even more realistic is the fact that not all injuries are season-ending. Just look at 2022 when Prescott missed five games from Weeks 2-6. That was when Rush really put his name on the map for NFL backups, going 4-1 as the starter. It allowed Prescott to return to a 4-2 team, which led to another 12-5 season and playoff berth. That’s when you need a guy like Cooper Rush. No, he’s probably not going to win you a Super Bowl or even a second-round playoff game. But he proved that he could keep your season afloat. It says something that the Ravens, who project to remain a championship contender in 2025, would trust Rush with their backup job. The Cowboys can’t be any less serious about their own QB2. Prescott has missed 26 games over the last five years, 20 from season-ending injuries and six in temporary absences. He’s only getting older and you’re not exactly confident about your offensive line these days, particularly at offensive tackle. Dallas has to have someone they trust to keep the team competitive, at least in the regular season, when Prescott gets knocked out of action again. It’s hard to say Will Grier is that guy with any kind of boldness. The only other QB currently under contract, Grier hasn’t played in a regular-season game since 2019 with the Panthers. Maybe the former third-round pick is just waiting for another opportunity to show what he can do, like Rush for several years before 2021. But some things just can’t be proven on the practice field or even in preseason games, and then you’re putting the team’s W-L record on the line. There’s still plenty of time for the Cowboys to show how they really feel about losing Cooper Rush. Right now, Grier would be the next man up by circumstance over strategy. We still have a lot of offseason left to go and ample opportunities for Dallas to find Rush’s actual replacement via free agency or the draft. Maybe we’ll get to training camp and Grier will still seem like the front-runner, but it’d be nice to see another veteran or a mid-round draft pick here to compete. But if the Cowboys truly appreciate what they’ve had these last several years with Rush, they won’t be flippant about who fills his shoes.

Photo by Ric Tapia/Getty Images Linebacker depth has improved for the Cowboys this offseason. The Dallas Cowboys made it a mission filled holes defensively through the first wave of free agency. Specifically, they have upgraded the linebacker position due to DeMarvion Overshown recovering from a torn ACL, veteran Eric Kendricks being a free agent, and Damone Clark not taking the next step up until this point. Last week, Dallas signed Jack Sanborn to a one-year deal and traded for Kenneth Murray. Sprinkle in Marist Liufau, who showed great promise as a rookie in 2024, and the Cowboys linebacker room looks a lot better than it did a few weeks ago. However, Bill Barnwell of ESPN doesn’t think Dallas should stop there. He laid out ideal landing spots for some of the top remaining free agents on Wednesday. The Cowboys were mentioned when it came to White. Why he’s still a free agent: Once a safety, White can be a tweener in some NFL defenses, which might see him as more of a weakside linebacker than the middle linebacker role he played in Arizona over the past two seasons. Teams prioritized paying three-down linebackers Nick Bolton and Robert Spillane early in free agency, but even while White has been an every-down linebacker, he might not have a ton of teams seeing him as that sort of player in their own defenses. Why teams should be interested: He’s fun! White makes a ton of tackles; his 11.9% tackle share last season ranked 16th in the league, an impressive figure given that Budda Baker ranked third by the same metric. White’s missed tackle rate was reasonable (5.5%), and he had 2.5 sacks and eight knockdowns as a blitzer. White is certainly a tackling machine. He logged over 100 in three of the last four seasons and still had 90 in the one season he didn’t (2023). During his seven seasons in the NFL, White has played in 92 games with 73 starts, including 17 last season for the Arizona Cardinals. White hasn’t been hit too hard with injuries during his career as he was placed on injured reserve for the final two games at the end of the 2020 season with a hamstring issue and missed we the final six games in 2023 with a torn biceps. The 2024 campaign was arguably the best for White as a pro. His 137 tackles were his second most in any season. He also set career highs in sacks (2.5) and quarterback hits (8), and he also tied a career best with nine tackles for loss. So, White is still a very productive player. On top of that, he’s more than cost efficient with a market value of only $5.8 according to Spotrac. Dallas could be done adding linebacker help until the draft, and it would be understandable with the Sanborn and Murray additions. A guy like White is someone they Cowboys should consider, though, and he wouldn’t stop them from picking up another in the NFL draft next month.

Photo by Stacy Revere/Getty Images The latest buzz surrounding the Dallas Cowboys. Why this draft fits favorably with Cowboys’ remaining needs: One on one with Dane Brugler – Saad Yousuf and Dane Brugler, The Athletic The draft class includes many players who can help fill the Cowboys’ needs for 2025, including Ashton Jeanty. Brugler: If Dallas focuses on the prospect who will make the greatest impact at No. 12, then Jeanty should absolutely be on the very short list of potential Cowboys. His vision and contact balance make him a tough guy to get on the ground. What I love the most about his game is the reactionary reads — he won’t predetermine his path, he has the instincts to read, sort and cut. Want a big-play creator? Jeanty had 12 carries of 50-plus yards in 2024. No other FBS player had more than five. He is a true every-down back and does much of his best work on passing downs, catching the football or blocking in pass pro. For me, the No. 1 reason not to take Jeanty is the volume of backs available in the subsequent rounds. Tennessee’s Dylan Sampson on Day 2 would be a great fit in Dallas. Oregon’s Jordan James early on Day 3? Yes, please. The Cowboys could wait until the fifth round and still land a quality player like Texas Tech’s Tahj Brooks or Kansas State’s DJ Giddens. The options are plentiful and likely why I would look elsewhere than running back in the first round, even if Jeanty has special all over him. Yousuf: I’m fascinated to see how the Cowboys judge this running back draft class. They have a lot of needs they can address in the first three rounds but then don’t have a fourth-rounder because of the Jonathan Mingo trade. I wonder if they would package some of their Day 3 picks to move into the fourth round to get their guy. Even if they wait, a guy like Giddens is interesting, especially with Brian Schottenheimer adding former Kansas State assistant coach Conor Riley to his staff as offensive line coach. Possible Pick: Will Johnson is the prototype at cornerback in the NFL – Tommy Yarrish, DallasCowboys.com Will Johnson is a player to watch if the Cowboys are looking to add more talent in the secondary early on in the draft. Where He’s Projected: Although Johnson has suffered various injuries over the course of his three years at Michigan, he’s still being mocked in the mid-to-late first round of the NFL draft. How He Helps the Cowboys: The Cowboys are big fans of tall, long-armed cornerbacks and Johnson is the perfect prototype for what Dallas has liked at the position in the past. In addition to his 6’2 height, Johnson registered 30 1/8” arms at the NFL Combine, giving him a dream build for an NFL corner. Johnson was incredibly productive in his three seasons with the Wolverines, winning a national championship in 2023 as one of the cornerstones on the defensive side of the ball. He had nine career interceptions, returning three for touchdowns and did not allow a touchdown when in coverage in his final two seasons of college football. Johnson has dealt with a number of injuries as of late, including a turf toe injury that sidelined him for all but six games in the 2024 season and a hamstring injury preventing him from working out at his pro day. In a Matt Eberflus scheme that will likely incorporate a lot of zone coverage, Johnson is a player that excels in zone and has the build of a future star at cornerback. The Cowboys acquired Kaiir Elam via trade to help build depth at the cornerback position, and adding a player like Johnson wouldn’t hurt whatsoever. Cooper Rush has classy message for Cowboys fans after free agency exit – Josh Sanchez, Sports Illustrated Cooper Rush says his farewell to Dallas as he prepares to make his move to Baltimore. Rush will be missed, and on his way out, he let everyone know he would also be missing Dallas with a heartfelt message to the fans and a video package from his time in Dallas. “From an undrafted rookie wearing [No. 7] to an eight year veteran wearing [No. 10], I appreciated every moment in a Cowboys uniform,” Rush wrote on Instagram. View this post on Instagram A post shared by Cooper Rush (@_cooperrush) He continued, “Thank you Dallas for all of the love that you showed to me and my family. I’m excited for the next chapter but forever grateful for the first one.” Now that Rush has moved on from the team and Trey Lance is not expected to return, the Cowboys will be looking to add a younger option behind Dak Prescott. A mid-round pick in the NFL Draft to add a young signal-caller is the direction the Cowboys are expected to go. Ex-Cowboys WR Michael Gallup signs with Washington Commanders – SportsDay Staff, Dallas Morning News After taking a year off, Michael Gallup is returning to the NFL to play for a Cowboys’ rival. Former Dallas wide receiver Michael Gallup signed with Washington on Thursday, the team announced, becoming the latest player from the Cowboys’ roster during Quinn’s time on staff to head north. Terms of the agreement were not disclosed. Gallup is attempting a return to the NFL after retiring ahead of the 2024 season. He was released by the Cowboys last offseason and signed a one-year deal with the Las Vegas Raiders in April 2024. But Gallup had a change of heart in late July and instead chose to retire. Gallup, who just turned 29 years old, has 266 career catches for 3,744 yards and 21 touchdowns. He was Dallas’ third-round selection out of Colorado State in the 2018 draft and built a strong career with the Cowboys that he turned into a five-year, $62.5 million contract ahead of the 2022 season. Texas Tech RB Tahj Brooks: ‘It’d be a

Mark J. Rebilas-Imagn Images Things could be lining up nicely for the Cowboys to have another strong start to the draft. The year was 2020. The Dallas Cowboys had just signed Amari Cooper to a new contract extension after previously using a first-round draft pick to acquire him in a trade a couple of years prior. The Cowboys weren’t looking for a new wide receiver, but the draft gods delivered them a golden opportunity when CeeDee Lamb was passed over not once, but twice by two teams who opted to select a different wide receiver. Just like that, Lamb was a member of the Cowboys. Michael Irvin said CeeDee Lamb was the top WR on the Cowboys’ draft board. He now pairs with Amari Cooper and Michael Gallup. A lot of weapons on that Dallas offense pic.twitter.com/QOCgdxhwOf — Jon Machota (@jonmachota) April 24, 2020 But the fun didn’t stop there. The gifts kept coming. Despite seven cornerbacks being drafted in the top 50 picks, one of the Cowboys’ top guys, Trevon Diggs, was still there when pick 51 rolled around. You might remember that Diggs was believed to be a player the team was considering in the first round, so to land him in round two was super fantastic. If the first 16 picks played out a certain way, CB Trevon Diggs was a player the #Cowboys were STRONGLY considering in the 1st round at No. 17. And now they get him at No. 51. Ideal scenario for Dallas. — Dane Brugler (@dpbrugler) April 25, 2020 Two picks. Two eventual All-Pros. What a great way to start the draft. For their own reasons, the Las Vegas Raiders and Denver Broncos preferred the Alabama receivers Henry Ruggs III (pick 12) and Jerry Jeudy (pick 15). Lamb was viewed as the nation’s top collegiate wide receiver, but every team sees things differently. Five seasons in, Lamb has the most receptions of any receiver taken in the entire draft. Diggs had battled injuries, missing extended time in each of the last two seasons, but when he’s on the field, he’s been very good. Despite the games missed, Diggs still has more interceptions than all seven corners selected before him in the draft… combined! The interesting thing about the great start of the 2020 draft is that when you start looking ahead to the upcoming draft, the table is set for a similar occurrence. Even though the Cowboys already have their WR1, a wide receiver is totally in play in the first round after the team failed to lock up a WR2 option in free agency. Sitting with pick 12, they are in a great position to land one of this year’s best pass catchers. The only question is, who is it? Pro Football Network and Draftwire have mocked Arizona receiver Tetairoa McMillan to the Cowboys while NFL.com’s Daniel Jeremiah and CBS Sports have mocked Texas receiver Matthew Golden to Dallas. We don’t know if the front office’s top-graded player at 12 will be wide receiver, but if it is, it could provide them with a great one-two WR punch for years to come. The Cowboys have done a lot of work over the last week to fill holes along the defensive line and at linebacker, but there are still some question marks at cornerback. Diggs’ health and DaRon Bland’s future could mean they need to look at finding more talent sooner rather than later. And as luck would have it, a cluster of corners fall in the late-first/early-second range. Players like Kentucky’s Maxwell Hairston and Florida State’s Azareye’h Thomas are hit-the-ground-running corners who would immediately help the team and potentially shore up the position should Diggs or Bland not be around much longer. It’s not unreasonable that one of the team’s favorite corner prospects is there when the Cowboys are on the clock in round two. Two picks. Two premium positions. Two positions where they need help. It’s almost like the universe is lining up perfectly for the Cowboys to score two more great talents. How great would it be if they started things off like they did in 2020? And it would still leave room for them to find their answer at running back in round three. What would be your ideal Rd 1/Rd 2/Rd 3 scenario for the Cowboys? Mine would be…Round 1: WR Tetairoa McMillanRound 2: CB Azareye’h ThomasRound 3: RB RJ Harvey pic.twitter.com/8iVoN2dRVu — Dan Rogers (@DannyPhantom24) March 17, 2025

Photo by Scott Taetsch/Getty Images Who would surprise you to see the Cowboys take in the first round? It’s important to remember Jerry Jones and Company have a way of saying one thing and then doing the complete opposite. While it looks as if the Dallas Cowboys are zeroing in on running back, wide receiver, cornerback, and maybe even another pass rusher with the 12th overall pick in the first-round, they could very well do something completely unexpected as well. With that in mind, we tried to think a little outside of the box to try to figure out what positions, and more importantly what players, the Cowboys might draft in the first-round that could completely surprise us. While it seems unlikely such an occurrence should take place, it’s still realistic enough to examine further in all likelihood it actually does come to fruition. TE Tyler Warren, Penn State Photo by Robin Alam/ISI Photos/Getty Images It’s no secret the Dallas Cowboys have been zeroing in on potential wide receivers who could come in and help take pressure off of CeeDee Lamb. There’s a very real possibility they could have their pick of the best WRs in the 2025 draft class with the 12th overall pick in the first-round. But, what if they’re targeting a different kind of player who would also pair nicely with No. 88 as well as being an even more dynamic and versatile playmaker. Tyler Warren was a do-it-all offensive weapon during his time at Penn State and actually makes sense for the Cowboys in the first-round. Whether in-line, split out, or as a gadget player he can be utilized in a variety of ways to improve Dallas’ offense. And, with Jake Ferguson entering a contract year with no one behind him who’s shown starting potential, Warren could be an intriguing surprise selection with the 12th overall pick in the first-round. LT Josh Simmons, Ohio State No ma’am Photo by Ian Johnson/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images The most immediate concern for the Cowboys in regards to their offensive line is who is going to step in and replace Zack Martin at right guard. While they have several in-house options and also added free agent Robert Jones, there’s still a belief they could draft another guard to fill the void. But, after watching Tyler Guyton and Terence Steele struggle mightily in 2024 and with little to no depth behind them, tackle may be of higher priority. Josh Simmons is someone who could be a surprise first-round pick for Dallas. If not for his season-ending knee injury in his last season at Ohio State, there’s a very good chance he would’ve been the first offensive lineman off the board in April. After his medical checkups at the scouting combine, signs point to him being 100% ready for training camp. He could be a plug-and-play LT, allowing Guyton and Steele to battle it out for the starting RT job. DT Kenneth Grant, Michigan Photo by CFP/Getty Images After Taco Charlton and now possibly Mazi Smith, quite a few people around Cowboys Nation have soured on the Dallas Cowboys drafting any defensive lineman out of Michigan. However, they currently have a glaring hole at nose tackle unless Mazi suddenly starts living up to his potential as a former first-round pick. As unlikely as selecting another first-round DT is, drafting a dominant one-technique could help transform Dallas’ defense. At 6’3″ and over 330 pounds, Kenneth Grant is a massive defensive tackle who is surprisingly athletic for his size. His ability to anchor down against the run is arguably the best in the draft class and his strength, power, and agility helps him collapse the pocket as a pass rusher. Considering Dallas’ current dilemma with their last first-round DT selection and other roster “needs” elsewhere, taking Grant at No. 12 would be quite the shocker.

Photo by Kevin Sabitus/Getty Images We are tracking everything you need to know regarding Dallas Cowboys pre-draft visits. The Dallas Cowboys have a lot of work to do to their roster if they want to have a competitive football season and the NFL draft is a big opportunity to infuse themselves with talent. History has shown us that the Cowboys love to prioritize the draft and treat it as the most serious avenue of team-building across the offseason as a whole. One of the most fun parts about draft season is trying to piece together everything that is happening in real time thanks to the breadcrumbs that make their way out. An important part of that process is the 30 visits that the Cowboys host (formal meetings with draft prospects) at The Star in Frisco. These 30 visits are formal and occur at team headquarters. Nothing is ever fully predictable, but it stands to reason that at least one of (maybe even multiple) the players who Dallas brings in for a formal visit will be a team draft pick. Consider that last year the Cowboys hosted Marist Liufau and Nathan Thomas and wound up drafting them both. We will be tracking all reported 30 visits for the Cowboys as well as players who are set to attend their annual Dallas Day. The latter is local prospects, players who went to high school or college in the area, and are not official 30 visits. Keep in mind that the team uses this to their advantage so will not formally host someone who they can bring in as a Dallas-area visitor. Last Updated: Thursday, March 20th at 1:00pm ET Official Dallas Cowboys 30 Visits TBD Dallas Day Participants Boise State RB Ashton Jeanty (multiple reports) Miami RB Damien Martinez (via Nick Harris) TCU WR Savion Williams (via Nick Harris) Oklahoma State RB Ollie Gordon II (via Ryan Fowler)