Brian Fluharty-Imagn Images Donovan Ezeiruaku has a chance to make an immediate impact as a rookie. Many wanted the Dallas Cowboys to focus on getting weapons on the offensive side of the ball early in the NFL Draft. However, the team stuck to their draft board looking for the best players, and in doing so drafted defensive end Donovan Ezeiruaku in the second round. When DeMarcus Lawrence headed out the door, the Cowboys had an opening for another player who can consistently pressure the quarterback. Ezeiruaku is the second consecutive edge rusher that Dallas has taken in the second round after taking Marshawn Kneeland in 2024. Despite being a rookie, Ezeiruaku is expected to have a significant role coming out the gate for the Cowboys, and he’s willing to do anything to get their defense back to the level needed to contend. I’m coming here to work and do whatever the coaches ask me to do. If they ask me to stand up or play over the top of the guard on some type of passing situation, or stand up and be on the edge, I’ll do that to the best of my ability. Ezeiruaku can do quite a bit on the football field. Per Pro Football Focus, Ezeiruaku logged 1,969 snaps on the defensive line in college. What makes Ezeiruaku unique is that he can rush the passer from either side and do so effectively. Plus, as he mentioned, he’ll rush the passer in the middle as well, which, when successful, is a quarterback’s worst nightmare. The skill set of Ezeiruaku works perfectly with a guy like All-Pro Micah Parsons. He’s a Swiss army knife that can be moved around, much like Parsons. On key passing downs, defensive coordinator Matt Eberflus has many ways to attack. Dallas could even kick a guy like Kneeland inside like they used to do with Lawrence occasionally and let Parsons and Ezeiruaku come off the edges. Ezeiruaku is more of a stand-up type of edge. In certain passing situations, the Cowboys could even let Parsons put his hand in the dirt and let Ezeiruaku stand up and rush off the same side while guys like Dante Fowler Jr. or Sam Williams come off the other edge. This is what a player with such versatility like Ezeiruaku allows a defensive coordinator to do. For an edge, Ezeiruaku is undersized at 6’2 and 245 pounds. He’ll need to pack on some pounds and get stronger to improve his ability to stop the run, although he’s not necessarily bad at it. Once he does that and mirrors it with his pass rush skills, Ezeiruaku is going to be a special player.

Bob Donnan-Imagn Images Who do you think will be the Cowboys’ nickel corner this season? The Cowboys have done a decent job of throwing bodies at the cornerback position after Jourdan Lewis’ departure. After losing Lewis to the Jacksonville Jaguars in free agency, the Cowboys answered by trading for Bills cornerback Kaiir Elam, re-signing Israel Mukuamu, and drafting Shavon Revel in the third round of the 2025 NFL draft. The issue? None of those players are primary slot cornerbacks. Elam and Revel played primarily on the outside in Buffalo and at East Carolina. Both guys are taller, longer, and fit the boundary cornerback profile more. Mukuamu has seen some time in the slot for the Cowboys over the course of his four-year career in Dallas, but his lack of experience (three starts) and ideal fit to be a full-time nickel cornerback leaves the Cowboys with an interesting hole to fill. Over the last five years, the slot corner position has gone from being just another corner to one of the most valuable positions in the National Football League. With so many of the best wide receivers in football spending a lot of time in the slot, having a quality slot defender or outside cornerback that can comfortably follow wideouts into the slot has become extremely valuable. With Trevon Diggs unlikely to be ready for the start of the season, and Shavon Revel still rehabbing from a torn ACL suffered at the beginning of the 2024 season, the Cowboys will need to figure some things out in their secondary during training camp. There are still a few quality slot cornerbacks on the free agent market like Mike Hilton and Asante Samuel Jr. that the Cowboys could look to sign to fill their slot need, or hold them over until Diggs and Revel get back up to full strength. For now, it looks like the Cowboys will give many of their corners a shot in training camp to win the starting nickel role. Or they could move DaRon Bland back inside if they think they have a pair to play on the outside. But do not be surprised if the Cowboys look to bring in a veteran to solidly the position before training camp with the current injuries and holes the Cowboys are currently dealing with at the cornerback position.

Jerome Miron-Imagn Images Jaydon Blue is going to be so much fun to watch. The Cowboys currently have a lot of questions behind CeeDee Lamb at wide receiver. After failing to address the wide receiver position this offseason via free agency except for Parris Campbell, or in the 2025 NFL draft, the Cowboys are left looking into trades or a thin free agency class left to upgrade their WR2 spot. With names like Amari Cooper, Keenan Allen, and George Pickens being thrown around, what if the Cowboys’ fifth-round pick Jaydon Blue could ease some of the wide receiver concerns? Blue, a running back out of Texas, could push for starting time at running back for the Cowboys, but his impact as a receiver is currently flying under the radar. In his final season at Texas, Blue impacted the game as a runner, but also as a threat in the passing game. In 2024, Blue hauled in 42 receptions for 368 yards and six touchdowns. Blue was one of the best route runners in this class at the receiver position showing a consistent ability to beat man coverage and find soft spots in zones to pickup chunk yardage in the Longhorns passing game. The Cowboys struggled to get running backs involved in the passing game under Mike McCarthy, but Brian Schottenheimer has talked a lot this offseason about how he wants the Cowboys running backs to impact the passing game. Even with a quality receiving back in Blue on the roster, the Cowboys need more out of the receivers behind CeeDee Lamb in order to make a push at the playoffs in 2025. The WR2 position is still one of the biggest holes on the Cowboys roster, but Jaydon Blue can, and should, ease some of the concern with the impact he can bring as a receiver out of the backfield.

Photo by Robin Alam/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images Which Cowboys game from this season are you most looking forward to? We have a week and change separating us from the 2025 Dallas Cowboys schedule being revealed, and while this is not a big deal to some people, it is a lot of fun for others. Beyond knowing when the games are for knowledge’s sake, sometimes people like finding out this information so that they can plan things. Perhaps you are someone who likes to go to a game every year. Maybe you have a specific road contest in mind and the time of year it happens will impact whether or not you can go. Whatever the case we are a stone’s throw away from having the answer to these questions. For our discussion prompt on the site on this fantastic Monday we are curious which game or games you are looking forward to the most. Personally speaking I am interested to see what the December slate looks like overall. If I have to get really specific then I am interested in when the Cowboys are going to visit the Las Vegas Raiders as this is the first ever trip in the regular season that the Cowboys are making to Vegas. What about you? Let us know in the comments below!

Photo by Ron Jenkins/Getty Images Notable headlines surrounding America’s team. Brian Schottenheimer defines Cowboys’ culture with consistency, connections: ‘I won’t change’ – Patrik Walker, Dallas Cowboys.com Brian Schottenheimer is changing the culture. As the NFL offseason calendar speeds along, Brian Schottenheimer digs his heels in more and more as both a first-time head coach and the latest leader of the Dallas Cowboys. The latest tasks involved conquering his first NFL Draft and then welcoming a class of 18 rookies to minicamp, with OTAs next up on the agenda. And, thus far, by all accounts, Schottenheimer is the same as he was when he was an analyst for the Cowboys in 2022, and the team’s offensive coordinator in the two seasons that followed — not changing his approach whatsoever to his players or coaches. After all, building a culture starts at the top. “I think I’ve always been someone that believes in connections, getting to know these guys,” Schottenheimer said. “I’ve always been someone who’s been able to be demanding and I’m pretty good at disciplining guys. I promised myself, when I got this opportunity, that I wouldn’t change, because I think I’ve seen too many people change.” He went on to elaborate on the outcome for those who have, for one reason or another, opted to morph into a different version of themselves simply because they earned the power to do so. “The guys I’ve seen change — I’m not going to name them — they weren’t very successful, and I plan on being really successful,” he said, firmly. “The reason I think I’ll do that is because of my values and my beliefs and how hard I work, but also because I’m going to be me and I’m not going to change that for anything.” The Cowboys’ LB Room: A sudden position of strength – Mario Herrera Jr, Inside The Star Oh, how the tables have turned. Marist Liufau One of the biggest reasons for optimism is the emergence of LB Marist Liufau. After joining the Cowboys following a standout final season at Notre Dame, Liufau turned heads with his physicality, football IQ, and sideline-to-sideline range. He got starter’s reps in 2024, even wearing the coveted “green dot” on his helmet as the defense’s signal-caller, and looks like a natural fit in the heart of DC Matt Eberflus’ scheme. His ability to diagnose plays quickly and finish in space gives Dallas a new level of confidence in the middle of the field. Kenneth Murray Joining Liufau is Kenneth Murray, a former first-round pick who is hoping to find new life in Dallas. Murray brings a rare mix of size, speed, and NFL experience, and after an up-and-down stint with the Chargers, he’s shown signs of becoming the consistent playmaker many projected him to be out of Oklahoma. Cowboys send brutal message to UDFA signing in most backhanded way possible- Jason Reed, The Landry Hat Not a good sign for Holden. However, it doesn’t look like the Cowboys are preparing to give Holden a roster spot. In perhaps the most backhanded way possible, Dallas showed Holden exactly where he stands by giving him the same number as one of the most beloved players on the roster: Trevon Diggs. Cowboys show Traeshon Holden he has a slim chance of making the roster Shared numbers are common during training camp and the preseason so there is no need to worry about Diggs’ future with the Cowboys. Dallas giving his No. 7 to a UDFA to share means nothing about Diggs’ future. However, it is worth noting that players who typically get shared numbers don’t make the roster most times. Of course, Holden would change his number if he actually made the roster, but it’s pretty telling how the Cowboys feel about him if they are giving him the same number as a fan favorite. There is always room for Holden to put together an excellent camp and preseason to earn a backend roster spot. By giving him Diggs’ number, though, Dallas is saying the quiet part out loud that the team doesn’t believe he will actually do so. It’s worth noting that not every Cowboys UDFA is sharing a number with an established player on the roster. Cornerback Bruce Harmon is wearing No. 36, safety Mike Smith is wearing No. 39, tight end Rivaldo Fairweather is wearing No. 45, tight end Tyler Neville is wearing No. 46, cornerback Zion Childress is wearing No. 48 and linebacker Justin Barron is wearing No. 55. Cowboys systematically rebuilt this position group around 2 star players who needed help – Mike Crum, Cowboys Wire Eberflus has talent to work with. Three of the unit’s four starters remain the same, as does the edict Eberflus has with their direction. He needs to continue to improve the game of Mazi Smith, continue Micah Parsons’ evolution into a team leader, and help Osa Odighizuwa further ascend into a difference-making, game-changer of a pass-rushing defensive tackle. The loss of Demarcus Lawrence is significant in theory. For many seasons, he was the Cowboys’ best run defender and pressured the opposing quarterback at an impactful level. He was also the most clutch defender on the team, often making big fourth-down run stops. Comparatively to 2024 though, losing Lawrence isn’t a big hit as he only played four games last season; less than a quarter of the season. Marshawn Kneeland, a second-round pick from 2024, was selected with Lawrence leaving a clear possibility. He is the edge-setting replacement now with a year of seasoning, while veteran Dante Fowler Jr. was brought back via free agency to further the pass rush to see if he can continue his late-career resurgence. The team also brought in another former first-round pick in Payton Turner, who dealt with injuries through his first three seasons in New Orleans to finally play 16 games in 2024. Number one goal for Brian Schottenheimer is clear as team passes on WR in draft – Sean Martin, Blogging The Boys It’s

Photo by Harry How/Getty Images The Dallas Cowboys response to dropping out of the playoffs at 7-10 and third in the NFC East a year ago, after making the postseason as a 12-game winner the previous three seasons, has been a lot of getting back to basics. For a team that was so fundamentally broken in the final year for head coach Mike McCarthy, one that left the team so unrecognizable from his past successes that many fans have a hard time remembering all McCarthy actually did accomplish on the football side of things over his tenure, this renewed focus on fundamentals has been praised at some turns, but criticized feverishly at others – mainly the hiring of offensive coordinator Brian Schottenheimer to replace McCarthy as head coach. Schottenheimer’s first draft has cooled those waters considerably, for now. The Cowboys front office has never wavered in wanting to use the draft as their main source of talent acquisition. Although this wasn’t expected to change under Schottenheimer at all, the team had to do more than sit on their hands and let players get away in free agency without signing new players themselves, and did so while also being active on the trade market. In their estimation, this was enough to go into the draft with a clearer focus on targeting the best players available, regardless of positional need, through all seven rounds. The Cowboys still showed preferences for the things their new head coach is seeking, like improved line of scrimmage play by spending the 12th overall pick on guard Tyler Booker and 44rd pick in the second round on defensive end Donovan Ezeiruaku. They continued to target high character prospects from blue chip programs like Texas, Florida, and Oregon on day three with running back Jaydon Blue, linebacker Shemar James, and offensive lineman Ajani Cornelius. This full commitment from picks 12 through 247 to create a deeper roster and strengthen positions with existing star power is what’s earned the Cowboys strong grades for their draft as of now, but the obvious position of need this strategy left unaddressed is guaranteed to remain a talking point from now all the way to Schottenheimer’s regular season debut in September, and likely beyond. If you haven’t figured it out by now, here we are again, talking about the Cowboys not being good enough at the wide receiver position. The more things change, the more they really do stay the same, because a lack of dynamic skill at WR has been an off-and-on problem for the Cowboys through multiple head coaches, offensive coordinators, and even quarterbacks now. Even with it being a position they’ve shown a willingness to step outside their perceived comfort zone and address with in-season trades, like for Amari Cooper in 2018 and Jonathan Mingo last year, the Cowboys are regularly behind the best of the best in the NFL when it comes to making enough big plays on the outside to truly contend in the postseason. The WR room has had some peaks, like the unfortunately brief period where CeeDee Lamb, Cooper, and Michael Gallup were all healthy and on the field together, but also some incredibly low valleys like Noah Brown, Cedrick Wilson, or more recently KaVontae Turpin being asked to play well beyond what their roles should be on offense. There are an endless number of reasons why one of the most common critiques of the Cowboys, specifically from inside the realm of opposing coaches and players they line up against, is that they are too easy to scout, prepare for, and play against in high leverage situations. A lack of firepower at wide receiver belongs near the top of this list though. Bob Donnan-Imagn Images However, adjacent to it is one thing the Cowboys are not only hoping to fix early on at the start of the Schottenheimer era, but perhaps the only thing that will sell the majority of the fanbase on Schottenheimer being a legitimate HC in the first place. Through all of the changes mentioned above in personnel and coaches, the Cowboys have had a major lack of creativity in their offensive play-calling and ability to scheme receivers open. They do not help quarterback Dak Prescott in the ways that other passers around the league, all of which currently make less than the Cowboys leader who became the highest paid at the position prior to week one a year ago, are lifted by play-calling that always seems to allow for easy completions and yards after the catch. The Cowboys making a basic 10 to 15 yard gain in the passing game last season, admittedly without Prescott on the field, felt so incredibly laborious if not borderline miraculous. Meanwhile, the bread and butter for other teams that reached the postseason was to rattle off these types of plays with ease by creating space for their skill players to run. For Cowboys fans still questioning what exactly Schottenheimer brings to the table, or comparing him to Jason Garrett who was often asked the same over his tenure, the best way for the new HC in Dallas to answer it is now staring America’s Team in the face. Coming out of the draft without a single pick spent on a new receiver was a major surprise, and tolerance for the predictable Jerry and Stephen Jones sell jobs that Mingo, Ryan Flournoy or Jalen Brooks can be a consistent WR2 to Lamb is understandably low. The time is unequivocally now for Dallas to uplift the talent they do have at receiver with schemes that bring them up to the more modern approaches to offense in today’s NFL. Any realistic discussion about how the Cowboys can actually get the most out of young players with untapped potential like Jalen Tolbert, Brooks, Mingo, Flournoy, or even their full-time punt/kick returner Turpin has to start with how the brain trust of Schottenheimer as play-caller and Klayton Adams as OC will help these players create separation and access to routes

Photo by David Rosenblum/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images Shemar James is a very exciting name for the future of the Cowboys linebacker group. Day three of the NFL draft was a tough start for the Dallas Cowboys. One of their reported favorites at running back, Bhayshul Tuten, went off the board to the Jacksonville Jaguars with the second pick in the fourth round. From there on, it was a run at the running back position with six getting selected across 36 picks. Entering the fifth round, just one runner was drafted in front of Dallas before they were on the clock. If they wanted to get their guy, now was the time. The Cowboys were ecstatic to get “their boy blue,” Texas running back Jaydon Blue at pick 149. Then the Cowboys did something puzzling. They traded up from their second selection in the fifth round to pick three spots after drafting Blue. Would it finally be a wide receiver? Maybe a young safety to develop behind the current starters? No. Dallas traded up to pick Florida linebacker Shemar James. Dallas has Marist Liufau, and acquired Jack Sanborn and Kenneth Murray from free agency, but linebacker was still a need, but a trade-up need? The Cowboys could use the depth, but it felt like James was a name that came out of left field. Then you listen to the team’s secret audio, and it starts to make sense. Defensive coordinator Matt Eberflus seems to like James and what he can bring to that room. “I’m so excited to have you, man,” Eberflus said. “You got so much upside…just come in here and kick some ass I’m just telling you…I’ve enjoyed watching your tape, and you had a great Senior Bowl. I really liked that too. Man, just so excited to develop you and make you into a kick ass backer.” Eberflus has a history of developing late-round linebackers during his many years coaching with the Cowboys. Anthony Hitchens became a great player for Dallas, and while with the Indianapolis Colts, Eberflus transformed Darius Leonard (a third-round pick) into a Pro Bowl player. The love for James does not end with Eberflus and the Cowboys. Bob McGinn of the Go Long Substack did a profile series on every position before the draft, interviewing numerous scouts and getting their opinions on players. One scout gave James a rave review. Said one scout: “Captain America. Phenomenal human being. I can see him being a CEO of a company one day. Just a solid, consistent player. Not the best athlete in the world but good enough. He’ll be gone by the end of the third or the fourth. Someone’s going to fall in love with him based on the interview process.” James is still growing as a player on the field, so he was selected in the fifth round. However, with intangibles like these, there’s no reason to doubt that they played a factor in the Cowboys’ decision to trade up and select him, especially with head coach Brian Schottenheimer emphasizing culture and leadership with almost every draft pick. The rookies’ jersey numbers were released ahead of Cowboys rookie minicamp this weekend. James was given No. 50, made famous in Dallas by linebacker Sean Lee. Maybe it’s a coincidence, or perhaps the number was given to James on purpose. Either way, if there are even just a few “Captain America-like” qualities to the rookie linebacker that resemble Lee, then the mystery draft pick will turn into a home run in no time.

Photo by Ric Tapia/Getty Images Here’s our scouting report on wide receiver Traeshon Holden  We continue looking into this year’s undrafted free agent signings made by the Dallas Cowboys and give you our scouting report on each player. Today we are looking at wide receiver Traeshon Holden from Oregon. Traeshon Holden WROregon DucksSenior4-star recruit 6’2”205 lbs Photo by Ric Tapia/Getty Images History Traeshon Holden was born on August 12, 2001, in Kissimmee, Florida and he began his high school football career at St. Frances Academy in Baltimore, Maryland. He later transferred to Narbonne High School in Los Angeles, California, for his senior year. As a four-star recruit, Holden attracted offers from top programs, ultimately committing to the University of Alabama over schools like Clemson, Florida, Oregon, and USC. Holden arrived at Alabama in 2020 but saw limited action in his freshman year. He appeared in five games during the Crimson Tide’s national championship season but did not record any receptions. This year served mainly as a developmental period as he adjusted to the pace and expectations of college football at an elite program. In his second season, Holden earned more playing time and began contributing on the field. He played in all 15 games, catching 21 passes for 239 yards and one touchdown. His role was mostly as a rotational receiver, but he had notable moments, including a six-catch performance in the 2022 College Football Playoff National Championship against Georgia. Although Alabama lost that game, Holden’s presence showed he was ready to compete at a higher level. Holden stepped into a larger role in his junior season, starting five of the ten games he played. He posted 25 receptions for 331 yards and a career-high six touchdowns, showing improvement as a red zone threat and a more polished route runner. Despite his productive season, he opted to transfer following the year, seeking a fresh start and potentially more opportunities in a different offensive system and would move to Oregon. After transferring to Oregon, Holden faced early adversity. In February, he was briefly dismissed from the team following a felony arrest, but the charges were dropped and he was reinstated later that month. On the field, he had a strong season, playing in 14 games with two starts. He recorded 37 receptions for 452 yards and six touchdowns, plus two rushing attempts for 12 yards and a rushing score. His consistency and playmaking ability helped boost Oregon’s offensive depth. In his final collegiate season, Holden continued to develop as a reliable target. He played in eight games and started six, finishing with 45 receptions for 718 yards and five touchdowns. His 16.5 yards per catch marked a career high, highlighting his growth. He also had two rushing attempts for 22 yards. He shined in the CFP Quarterfinal at the Rose Bowl Game with a career-high seven receptions for 116 yards and two touchdowns. Despite missing some time due to injury and an ejection, he made the most of his opportunities and positioned himself for a shot at the NFL. 2024 Statistics678 Offensive Snaps54 Targets45 Receptions 718 Receiving Yards5 TDs279 YAC6 Missed Tackles Forced149.6 Passer RTG When Targeted3 Penalties NFL Combine/Pro Day 10-Yard Split- 1.54s (68%)40-Yard Dash- 4.57s (26%)Vert- 32” (13%) Broad- 123” (64%) Awards N/A ScorecardSpeed- 61Acceleration- 66Agility- 66Strength- 71Catching- 74Route Running- 66YAC- 67Blocking- 61Discipline- 90 THE GOOD Prototypical size for an NFL outside receiver. Reliable hands and effective at the catch point; shows ability to make contested catches. Good body control and tracking ability on deep and sideline throws. Red zone threat with strong frame and physical style of play. Flashes some route nuance on in-breaking routes and comebacks. Experience in two elite college systems shows a degree of good football IQ. THE BAD Not a true deep separator or burner, may struggle to create separation at the next level against faster corners. Speed is way below average. He isn’t particularly elusive in space and tends to get tackled quickly after the catch. Lacks suddenness in short-area quickness; his releases against press can be inconsistent. Needs to become a more aggressive run blocker to fully contribute as a rotational or depth piece in the NFL. Injury history and availability could be a concern, was also ejected and missed one game due to bad sportsmanship. UDFA HIGHLIGHTS Traeshon HoldenWROregon#DallasCowboys #Cowboys #NFLDraft2025 #GoDucks pic.twitter.com/PDQva6aXRt — Mike Poland (@kenfigkowboy) May 3, 2025 THE FIT Traeshon Holden displays natural hands and is comfortable catching away from his body, especially on back-shoulder throws and slants. His body control is one of his better traits, he can adjust to balls in the air and does well in contested catch situations. He plays with good physicality at the top of routes and has the toughness to take hits over the middle. His size gives him a reliable catch radius, making him a useful target on third down and in the red zone. Overall, Holden projects as a developmental possession receiver with upside. He’s an ideal candidate for a practice squad or back-end roster spot position who could grow into a rotational role with the right coaching. His size, hands, and experience give him a foundation to build upon, especially in red zone packages and sideline work. Holden fits a specific role for the Dallas Cowboys as a big-bodied possession receiver who has a chance to contribute for depth behind CeeDee Lamb. With Jalen Tolbert still developing and questions on Jonathan Mingo, Holden brings physicality and red zone potential that Dallas currently lacks in their receiver room. His size and catch radius offer a contrast to the smaller, speed-oriented targets on the roster, making him a situational asset in spread or bunch formations, especially on third downs or in the red zone. As an undrafted free agent, Holden will face an uphill battle to make the 53-man roster but is a strong candidate for the practice squad. If he impresses in camp, particularly with his ability to win contested catches and block on the perimeter, he could

Photo by Matthew Pearce/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images Projected win totals are a tough scene for the Cowboys. The Super Bowl was played 85 days ago and we still have 122 to go until the regular season kicks off, which means we haven’t even reached the halfway point of the offseason yet. But free agency came and went, the draft is in the books, and while a lot can happen between now and the start of the regular season, that didn’t stop a Vegas Sportsbook from releasing updated 2025 NFL regular season win totals this week, post draft. Bet MGM released their NFL Over/Under win totals for all 32 teams on Sunday and they have the Cowboys facing a tough season with just 7.5 wins. The top teams, with 11.5 projected wins each, are the Ravens, Bills, Chiefs, and Eagles. Here’s a summary of the win projections for all 32 NFL teams. AFC AFC East Proj. Wins Buffalo Bills 11.5 Miami Dolphins 8.5 New Engand Patriots 7.5 NY Jets 5.5 AFC North Proj. Wins Baltimore Ravens 11.5 Cincinnati Bengals 9.5 Pittsburgh Steelers 8.5 Cleveland Browns 4.5 AFC South Proj. Wins Houston Texans 9.5 Indianapolis Colts 7.5 Jacksonville Jaguars 7.5 Tennessee Titans 5.5 AFC West Proj. Wins Kansas City Chiefs 11.5 LA Chargers 9.5 Denver Broncos 9.5 Las Vegas Raiders 6.5 NFC NFC East Proj. Wins Philadelphia Eagles 11.5 Washington Commanders 9.5 Dallas Cowboys 7.5 NY Giants 5.5 NFC North Proj. Wins Detroit Lions 10.5 Green Bay Packers 9.5 Minnesota Vikings 8.5 Chicago Bears 8.5 NFC South Proj. Wins Tampa Bay Buccaneers 9.5 Atlanta Falcons 7.5 Carolina Panthers 6.5 New Orleans Saints 6.5 NFC West Proj. Wins San Francisco 49ers 10.5 LA Rams 9.5 Arizona Cardinals 8.5 Seattle Seahwaks 7.5 One really cool thing about this projection is that it has seven out of eight division winners from last year repeating as division winners this year (49ers take the NFC West from the Rams). Why would that be cool? Because it would be the first time this has ever happened in the NFL! In the 22 seasons since realignment in 2002, an average of only 3.5 teams per year repeated as division winners. Only three times, including last year, did six teams repeat. In 18 out 22 seasons (82%) four teams or less repeated at division winners. So why would a sportsbook put up such an unlikely scenario? Because the oddsmakers are simply trying to provide odds where the action from the betting public will remain even on both sides of the bet. And the betting public, by and large, believes that the most likely outcome in 2025 is going to be largely the same as the 2024 outcome. It’s called recency bias and is the tendency to think that trends and patterns we observe in the recent past will continue in the future. But predicting the long-term future based on what has happened in the past is often no more accurate than flipping a coin. We know that in the NFL, less than half of teams repeat as division winners from year to year, and that an average of about six to seven new teams make it to the playoffs every year. That means only half of each year’s NFL playoff participants make it back to the playoffs the following year. Yet every offseason or pre-season team ranking has last year’s top teams still sitting at the top. Why? Recency bias. There’s a chance, however remote you feel it is, the Cowboys could end up in the playoffs this year, just as there’s a chance that they could end up behind the Giants in the division. If they do, it has nothing to do with last year’s team, and everything to do with this year’s team. Can the Cowboys field enough healthy NFL-level cornerbacks at the start of the season, have they done enough to improve their pass rush, can they stop the run (like, at all), is there a WR2 hidden away somewhere on that roster, can somebody run the ball, and is the McCarthy complacency finally and irrevocably out of the building? These are some of the questions that will determine the course of the 2025 season, not where the team finished on the 2024 league tables. What happened in 2024 stays in 2024. It has no bearing on what has yet to happen in 2025. In the NFL, last year doesn’t matter. Anything can happen in the NFL. The NFL is intrinsically designed to be a parity-driven league; the draft, revenue sharing, the salary cap, compensatory draft picks, all the way through the schedule; everything about the NFL is designed so that every team from every market has a legit opportunity to compete year-in and year-out. Every year a team that nobody was thinking of as a contender suddenly strings together a couple of wins early in the year, starts playing like a good football team in the middle of the season and actually becomes a good football team as it clinches a playoff spot late in the season. Could the Cowboys be that team in 2025?

Sara Diggins / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images Your Sunday morning Cowboys news. Will this Cowboys rookie duo take over the offense? – Mark Heaney, Inside the Star The Cowboys have two rookies looking to take over the backfield. The Potential Duo: Jaydon Blue and Phil Mafah One week ago today, the Cowboys ran to the podium to secure an absolute firework in the fifth round. Two rounds later, they double-dipped at the position to bring in the exact opposite of that guy. Jaydon Blue, a speedster from Texas, was Dallas’ first choice at running back, and Phil Mafah, a big, strong runner from Clemson, became their second. The two could not be further apart in their skill sets, but that’s what could make them a special rookie duo. Blue, a 5’9, sub-200 lbs guy with legit 4.2 speed, can bring the boom with explosive runs or vertical receptions, while Mafah can flat out bulldoze you with his 235 lb frame. That kind of contrast in playing style is what this offense needs. Letting Blue and Mafah share the starting job would be looked at as a risk by some in the football world. They are both day-three draft picks after all. If we look at skill alone, however, they can both handle it, and Blue’s pass-catching ability stands out especially. He reeled in 56 passes over the last two seasons at Texas, which is a crazy number for a guy with the potential to be a dominant runner as well. Mafah has a similar trait when it comes to goal-line scoring. The Clemson product has rushed for 21 touchdowns over the last two seasons. In short, he can get you into the end zone. These two guys, if given the chance, have a lot of immediate impact skills to bring to the field, as well as sky-high potential. Cowboys giving 1st-round pick every chance to succeed after disappointing start – Reid D. Hanson, Cowboys Wire Cowboys are taking the slow and steady approach with last year’s first-round pick. Second chances aren’t guaranteed in life; not even for former first-round picks. When Tyler Guyton rolled snake eyes his rookie season, the Dallas Cowboys were under no obligation to wipe the slate clean and just hand him the job back. As their top pick in the 2024 NFL draft, Guyton wasn’t going to get cut from the roster or anything, but the Cowboys could have added competition to the mix and made things awfully uncomfortable for the second-year left tackle. Instead, they cleared the path for the young man to succeed. Not only did Dallas add offensive line guru Klayton Adams to lead the offense in 2025, but they allowed Guyton’s top competition from last season, Chuma Edoga, to leave in free agency. Edoga replaced and rotated with Guyton at LT in 2024 after the rookie’s maturity, focus and effort were called into question. Edoga himself wasn’t seen as much more than replacement level, but even still, his exodus over the offseason shows a certain degree of faith and commitment Dallas has in the former Sooner. Second chances aren’t guaranteed in life; not even for former first-round picks. When Tyler Guyton rolled snake eyes his rookie season, the Dallas Cowboys were under no obligation to wipe the slate clean and just hand him the job back. As their top pick in the 2024 NFL draft, Guyton wasn’t going to get cut from the roster or anything, but the Cowboys could have added competition to the mix and made things awfully uncomfortable for the second-year left tackle. Instead, they cleared the path for the young man to succeed. Not only did Dallas add offensive line guru Klayton Adams to lead the offense in 2025, but they allowed Guyton’s top competition from last season, Chuma Edoga, to leave in free agency. Edoga replaced and rotated with Guyton at LT in 2024 after the rookie’s maturity, focus and effort were called into question. Edoga himself wasn’t seen as much more than replacement level, but even still, his exodus over the offseason shows a certain degree of faith and commitment Dallas has in the former Sooner. From Amazon to the Cowboys: Shavon Revel Jr.’s story is just getting started – Tommy Yarish, Dallascowboys.com Third-round pick has had an amazing journey but its far from over. Shavon Revel Jr.’s road to the NFL has been the furthest thing from easy. From dealing with multiple devasting injuries dating back to high school to working long shifts at Amazon with his father, his journey to being selected in the third round of the NFL Draft by the Cowboys is an inspiring one. But it’s far from over. “Job ain’t finished,” Revel said. “I still have to go out there and prove myself to the coaches. I’ve got to go out there and show them what I have. You can always talk, at the end of the day, you’ve got to prove to the coaches what you can do.” The next chapter in Revel’s book will be overcoming the ACL tear he suffered three games into his final season at East Carolina. The surgery done to repair his knee was done by Cowboys team doctor Dan Cooper, who Revel gave high marks to. “He did an extraordinary job on my knee,” Revel said. “For me to be walking the week after my surgery should tell it all. All the connections that he had just helped me connect with other people and open up opportunities for me to help me know more about the facility and the Cowboys.” Now about seven months removed from his injury, slowly but surely Revel is getting closer to making his way back onto the field and reaching his goal of being ready to play by the time the Cowboys head to Oxnard for training camp. “Right now I can pretty much do everything,” Revel said. “Running straight line, cutting, haven’t gotten too much into that, just trying to take it day by