Photo by Joe Sargent/Getty Images It is going to be interesting to see how the Cowboys work Hunter Luepke into their plans. One young Cowboys player with a lot of fans is fullback Hunter Luepke. But after two years on the roster in Mike McCarthy’s offense, Luepke now has to reprove his worth to a renovated coaching staff. Based on history, particularly Brian Schottenheimer’s, Luepke’s versatility may not have the same value now as it has the last two seasons. Fullbacks probably get more attention in Dallas than most of the NFL because of our deep-rooted appreciation for Daryl “Moose” Johnston as a beloved figure from the 90s dynasty. Two strong years from Richie Anderson in the early 2000s helped to stoke the fire a bit, too. But even as the position teeters on extinction throughout most of the league, the Cowboys have generally kept one on the roster most seasons. Luepke is the latest to occupy the job and his abilities as a ball-carrier and receiver, mostly seen during preseason but flashed at times in real games, have led to inordinate hype. McCarthy’s history with renowned fullback John Kuhn in Green Bay, and even Aaron Ripkowski after him, prompted speculation that Luepke could become a prominent name. But thanks to Ezekiel Elliott’s return as the primary short-yardage option and third-down back last year, Luepke’s role was still fairly limited. Now with Schottenheimer taking full control of the Cowboys’ offense, Luepke’s value could take a hit. Fullbacks have never really seen the ball much in Schottenheimer’s offenses, going back through his past stops with the Seahawks, Rams, and Jets. They may see plenty of work as traditional run-blockers but either he hasn’t had any with much offensive skill or hasn’t chosen to feature it. In Seattle, converted linebacker Nick Bellore was the fullback and only touched the ball five times in two seasons under Schottenheimer. If this trend holds now that Schottenheimer’s calling plays in Dallas, that could be a real problem for Luepke. Run-blocking is not his strongest trait, which means Dallas might see less need for him to even make the roster. They may look to do more double TE sets to get both Jake Ferguson and Luke Schoonmaker on the field, putting whoever their running backs end up being in single-back formations. Luepke will likely have to either develop as a run blocker or show that he’s the team’s best power RB to improve his job security. While McCarthy and even Jason Garrett before him have given true fullbacks a place to work, Schottenheimer seems less inclined to do so based on history. He has preached being adaptable to his talent, though, so perhaps he’d find ways to take advantage of Luepke’s strengths. But his track record suggests otherwise, and Dallas has foregone even keeping a FB on the roster as recently as 2021-2022. Whether driven by nostalgia or an appreciation for unique players, Hunter Luepke has developed a following in his first two seasons with Dallas. But with Mike McCarthy gone, will he find the same support from his coaches and the front office? Roster spots are valuable, and being the only fullback is hardly a guarantee of one in the modern NFL. Luepke may have to fight harder than ever to remain with the Cowboys in 2025.

Tim Heitman-Imagn Images The latest news surrounding the Dallas Cowboys. Dallas Cowboys select fast-rising wide receiver in latest NFL mock draft – Koby Skillern, Sports Illustrated Providing Dak Prescott a solid WR2 seems to be where many people project Dallas to go in the draft. The Dallas Cowboys had a strong start to the offseason with a productive round of NFL free agency, signing players at key positions of need that should have a significant impact in the 2025 season. After their active moves in free agency and trades, there has been a growing debate about the team’s biggest remaining roster needs. With the likelihood that the Cowboys won’t be very active in free agency until after the NFL Draft, the focus will now shift to utilizing their draft picks to find impact players and further strengthen the roster. Fox Sports’ Rob Rang put together a mock draft and had the Cowboys solving their WR2 problem by selecting Texas Longhorns wide receiver Matthew Golden. “With all due respect to Jalen Tolbert and the rest of the Cowboys’ supporting cast at wide receiver, Dallas needs to give Dak Prescott and CeeDee Lamb a little help in the passing game. In just 4.29 seconds at the Combine, Golden cemented his first-round stock, boasting not only elite speed but the playmaking ability to project as a “star” in the NFL,” said Rang. Golden could be the perfect complement to Lamb. While Lamb excels in the slot, Golden thrives as a deep threat. There may be debates about the Cowboys’ biggest need—whether it’s cornerback, backup quarterback, wide receiver, or defensive lineman—but there is no doubt that if the Cowboys come away from the first round with a talent like Golden, it could immensely change the immediate future for Dallas. The offense lacks firepower, and Golden provides just that. He could instantly relieve the pressure on Prescott and Lamb, giving the team a wide receiver duo they haven’t had since trading away Amari Cooper three seasons ago. Mailbag: What’s the plan at backup QB now? – Mickey Spagnola & Tommy Yarrish, DallasCowboys.com Another offensive need is a solid QB2. Were you surprised that Dallas let Cooper Rush get out of the building? Could the Cowboys have afforded the two-year, $12 million contract that Baltimore gave him? That doesn’t sound like a whole lot of money for a proven and reliable QB2. With Cooper gone, what do you think the Cowboys will do about their backup quarterback position? Is it Will Grier’s to win or lose, or do they draft and develop a quarterback from the later rounds?– Mark Somma/ Winchester, VA** Mickey: ​Very good question, since in my mind, having a backup quarterback who can go .500 (4-4) like Coop did this past season under adverse injury situations is pretty strong. His deal with the Ravens by the way, is two years, “up to” $12 million. It’s really two years, $6.25 million, with $4.2 million guaranteed. Just remember, every million dollars counts against the salary cap. So, for now, today, Will Grier would be the backup and the Cowboys plan is to draft one at least around the fourth (if they can trade back into that round) or the fifth. But that guy would not be likely to be the immediate backup. Also, they need quarterbacks in here for the offseason workouts since can’t expect Dak to be ready for much. To me, interesting name out there now is Desmond Ridder, who started 13 of 15 games for Atlanta in 2023. Think we can label this as a “fluid” situation. Tommy: I strongly believe they’re going to draft a quarterback in the later rounds come April. Stephen Jones essentially told the media at the combine that having a younger quarterback on the roster was a preference, and with the way the Trey Lance experience went I think they’ll look to the draft this time around to find their guy. That said, I think it would also benefit them to add a free agent at the position too, just so you’ve got some experience there with more than likely a lower price tag than what Rush earned in Baltimore. Dak Prescott and CeeDee Lamb tried recruiting Cooper Kupp to Dallas – Brandon Loree, Blogging The Boys The Cowboys took a run at Cooper Kupp until the dollar amount got too high. Almost immediately after news broke last Friday morning about the Dallas Cowboys being a sleeper team for signing Cooper Kupp, conflicting reports surfaced even faster, dampening Dallas’ interest in the former All-Pro wide receiver. Kupp’s asking price for a new deal was around $15 million annually, which is exactly what the Seattle Seahawks gave the former Los Angeles Ram to join their team on a three-year contract. Despite the conflicting reports, Adam Schefter wanted to make it clear on The Adam Schefter Podcast that the Cowboys were initially interested in Kupp. So much so that Dak Prescott and CeeDee Lamb called the then-free agent wide out. Almost immediately after news broke last Friday morning about the Dallas Cowboys being a sleeper team for signing Cooper Kupp, conflicting reports surfaced even faster, dampening Dallas’ interest in the former All-Pro wide receiver. Kupp’s asking price for a new deal was around $15 million annually, which is exactly what the Seattle Seahawks gave the former Los Angeles Ram to join their team on a three-year contract. Despite the conflicting reports, Adam Schefter wanted to make it clear on The Adam Schefter Podcast that the Cowboys were initially interested in Kupp. So much so that Dak Prescott and CeeDee Lamb called the then-free agent wide out. Pivoting from a receiver like Cooks and Kupp could signal they want to get someone younger at the position. The NFL draft could be their opportunity to find not only a great No. 2 wide receiver but one who comes at a low price tag (a win-win for the front office). Tetairoa McMillan (Arizona), Emeka Egbuka (Ohio State), and Matthew Golden (Texas)

Photo by Brooke Sutton/Getty Images Solomon Thomas manifested playing for the Cowboys. The Dallas Cowboys went into a completely different era from a coaching staff standpoint after parting ways with Mike McCarthy. Defensively, they’ll be led by Matt Eberflus in 2025 and beyond, and he didn’t waste time filling out his staff in January. One of the key hires was defensive line coach Aaron Whitecotton, who spent time with the Jacksonville Jaguars, Buffalo Bills, and San Francisco 49ers before spending the last four years with the New York Jets. Dallas came into the offseason also needing more help on their defensive line. They haven’t made any big moves outside the building, but one that brings some intrigue is veteran defensive lineman Solomon Thomas. Unlike a lot of their signings in free agency, the Cowboys gave Thomas a two-year deal. Thomas graduated from Coppell High School in Coppell, Texas. He imagined himself playing for the Cowboys one day, and now, that’s a reality. The former first-round pick spent the last three years with the Jets, meaning he played under the aforementioned Whitecotton. So, he’s extremely familiar with what Whitecotton wants to accomplish and how he wants to attack. In fact, Thomas spoke on his desire to be in Dallas and how the hiring of Whitecotton made it even stronger, per Jon Machota. When I saw Coach Whitecotton signed with Dallas, I was super excited because I was like, ‘Dang, this may be a chance for me to play at home, to play under Whitecotton another year, and to make everything aligned.’ I was manifesting it right away when I saw that happen. I was like, ‘I want to be a Dallas Cowboy. I want to come home. I don’t want to have to move any more. This is where I want to play. This is where I want to win.’ Coach Whitecotton is a coach I want to play for. I’ve played my best football under him. He instills confidence in me. He brings the best out of me. He’s a guy who lets his players play the way they need to play to play their best football. It’s what I wanted. By the grace of God it worked out and I’m just super happy to be here. Thomas is living out a dream now that he’s in Dallas, and that certainly will be a motivating factor for him to produce on the field. Speaking of that, Thomas brings with him a diverse skill set. He’s very versatile, and he will provide help for the Cowboys on the edge as well as the interior. Thomas was a part of a Jets defense that over the last three seasons finished in the top 10 in both pressure rate and sacks. During his time with the Jets, Thomas racked up 50 pressures per Pro Football Focus. Also, he amassed nine sacks and 16 quarterback hits. Over his career, Thomas has accumulated 18.5 sacks. That means basically half have come while he’s been coached by Whitecotton, including a career-high five in 2023. Whitecotton was also a big reason guys like Quinnen Williams, Bryce Huff, John Franklin-Myers, and Jermaine Johnson developed. So, the hope is that Thomas can continue the type of success he’s had under Whitecotton and give key Cowboys defenders on both the interior and the edge get some breathers as a rotational piece. The scheme that will be run by Eberflus is very familiar to Whitecotton and how he was taught, which will be key in helping Thomas come right in and get adapted quickly. The expectation isn’t for Thomas to come in and set the world on fire. He just needs to be solid, and seeing as he’s played his best football under Whitecotton, there’s a good chance of that happening.

Photo by Richard Rodriguez/Getty Images Dak Prescott and CeeDee Lamb seem to have wanted Cooper Kupp to join the Cowboys. Almost immediately after news broke last Friday morning about the Dallas Cowboys being a sleeper team for signing Cooper Kupp, conflicting reports surfaced even faster, dampening Dallas’ interest in the former All-Pro wide receiver. Kupp’s asking price for a new deal was around $15 million annually, which is exactly what the Seattle Seahawks gave the former Los Angeles Ram to join their team on a three-year contract. Despite the conflicting reports, Adam Schefter wanted to make it clear on The Adam Schefter Podcast that the Cowboys were initially interested in Kupp. So much so that Dak Prescott and CeeDee Lamb called the then-free agent wide out. #Cowboys Dak Prescott and CeeDee Lamb tried recruiting Cooper Kupp to Dallas. When the price got too high, it was a no go. ( : @ AdamSchefter podcast) pic.twitter.com/Y7BpMhfoGt — Brandon Loree (@Brandoniswrite) March 18, 2025 It is refreshing to see that the Cowboys were in the mix for a top-tier free agent, but as Schefter mentions, when the price tag got past Dallas’ range, they were out of the sweepstakes. It’s something fans have become numb to hearing at this point. Paying $15 million a year to a wide receiver who has been unable to finish an entire season healthy for three straight seasons is a tough pill to swallow. The Cowboys would rather spend $15 million on three free agents instead of one. However, the team desperately needs a second wide receiver to complement Lamb and help Brian Schottenheimer’s first-year offense hit the ground running. Dallas could re-sign Brandin Cooks if they wanted to, but it seems unlikely, as his number was handed out to Dante Fowler a few days ago. Pivoting from a receiver like Cooks and Kupp could signal they want to get someone younger at the position. The NFL draft could be their opportunity to find not only a great No. 2 wide receiver but one who comes at a low price tag (a win-win for the front office). Tetairoa McMillan (Arizona), Emeka Egbuka (Ohio State), and Matthew Golden (Texas) could all be in play at 12th overall for Dallas in the first round. Any of the three would add immediate juice to the offense, with things looking a lot better on paper.

Photo by Ed Zurga/Getty Images Here are some names to keep in mind for the first round of the NFL Draft. The Dallas Cowboys “selectively aggressive” approach made them much more active this year in free agency than they were just a season ago. Despite all of their recent free agent additions and the two trades they made, there is still some glaring “needs” that need to be addressed via the 2025 NFL Draft. Today, we look a little deeper at Dallas’ current roster “needs” to examine what their options may be with the 12th overall pick in the first round. While it’s true they could also be looking to trade down in the first-round this year, finding a willing trade partner may or may not happen. Running back Ashton Jeanty, Omarion Hampton The Cowboys may have signed Javonte Williams and Miles Sanders to add some much-needed depth in their RB room, however, neither has shown they can be a dependable full-time starter in the league at this point in their careers. If Dallas is looking for a true RB1, they could use their first-round draft pick to acquire him either at No. 12 or in a trade down scenario. We’ll presume Jeanty is already gone when the Cowboys are on the clock in the first round. If not, his difference making ability would probably be too hard to pass up. If he’s gone though, Omarion Hampton is worthy as well. Some teams have him as the RB1 this year and Dallas could be one of them. Drafting him and 12 might be a reach, but only a slight one. Prediction: Omarion Hampton Wide receiver Tetairoa McMillan, Luther Burden, Emeka Egbuka, Matthew Golden Despite bringing in free agent WR Paris Campbell after seeing the price tag for Cooper Kupp was more than they were willing to spend on the 32-year-old, finding a wide receiver to pair with CeeDee Lamb is at the top of the priority list. In a somewhat weak WR draft class this year; there’s a strong possibility Dallas uses their first-round pick here. Although there’s a chance McMillan could slide to the Cowboys, it seems unlikely after running a 4.48 40-yard dash at his Pro Day. That leaves Burden, Egbuka, and Golden as the best options for them. There’s a concern Burden and Golden might be just flash players with one good season of production, but Egbuka is considered a pro-ready plug-and-play WR. Prediction: Luther Burden Cornerback Travis Hunter, Will Johnson, Jahdae Barron Trevon Diggs’ timetable to return from a season-ending knee injury, DaRon Bland entering a contract year, and Jourdan Lewis exiting via free agency puts cornerback as a top Cowboys roster “need” right now. They did trade for a former first-round pick, Kaiir Elam, however, he will need to have a career resurgence in order to be depended upon. It’s a safe bet Travis Hunter will be long gone by the time the Cowboys are on the clock, leaving Will Johnson or Jahdae Barron as the top CBs still on the board. Both fit what Matt Eberflus looks for at the position, however, Barron’s versatility to play any position in the secondary as well as his ability in run defense could make him the preferred choice. Prediction: Jahdae Barron Defensive end Abdul Carter, James Pearce, Mike Green, Donovan Ezeiruaku, Mykel Williams, Shemar Stewart You can never have too many pass rusher’s, but the Cowboys are actually pretty solid at DE right now. However, with just Micah Parsons and Marshawn Kneeland likely to be under contract beyond 2025, this position could definitely be in play. Because of that, this could be the way they go with their first-round pick. Other than Abdul Carter, they could have their pick of pass rusher’s at No. 12. Based on what Matt Eberflus has preferred in the past at the position, Mykel Williams and Shemar Stewart could be their top targets, but we can’t rule out the others either. The question is how much impact would they make as rookies due to the depth at the position right now? Prediction: Mykel Williams Defensive tackle Mason Graham, Kenneth Grant, Derrick Harmon, Darius Alexander, Walter Nolen Re-signing Osa Odighizuwa was a much needed move by the team, and bringing in free agent DT Solomon Thomas provide some solid depth at the 3-technique. Sadly, Mazi Smith and the 1-technique is where Dallas needs to upgrade the most, especially in regards to improving the run defense. It’s probably unlikely Dallas will use their first-round pick on another interior defensive lineman unless Mason Graham somehow slides into their lap at No. 12. Things could change though if they trade down and DT is the top-ranked player on their big board. Even then though, the likely wait until later to address the position. Prediction: Darius Alexander

Photo by Julio Aguilar/Getty Images At the end of January, we published our first mock draft database of the season. At the time, 22 of the 25 mocks (88%) we looked at were projecting the Cowboys to take either RB Ashton Jeanty (13 mocks) or WR Luther Burden (9). But a lot has happened since then: The combine came and went, this year’s salary cap was announced, the final comp picks were released, and the first week of free agency is behind us, so it’s time to turn our attention to the very serious business of mock drafting. On the hypothesis that the predictive value of multiple mock drafts is greater than that of a single mock, we are taking a survey of 40 different mock drafts today. Importantly, all 40 mocks were published on or after the 13th of March, three days after the opening of the NFL’s official free agency tampering period. And with most of the biggest trades and free agent signings done, it’s time for another mock draft rundown now that we should have a better understanding of team needs going into the draft. We’ll kick off this exercise with a look at all 40 mocks, and which players they have the Cowboys selecting. Mock Draft Player Position College Last Updated NFL (Jeremiah) Matthew Golden WR Texas 3.18 ESPN (Kiper) Omarion Hampton RB North Carolina 3.18 Nashville Tennesseean (Suss) Tetairoa McMillan WR Arizona 3.18 Walter Football (Campbell) Ashton Jeanty RB Boise State 3.17 CBS (Wilson) Armand Membou OT Missouri 3.17 Stadium Rant (Willey) Ashton Jeanty RB Boise State 3.17 Fantasy Pros (Blakeway) Mike Green Edge Marshall 3.17 CBS (Renner) Tyler Booker iOL Alabama 3.17 33rd Team (Crabbs) Will Campbell OT LSU 3.17 Sharp Football (McCrystal) Matthew Golden WR Texas 3.17 Huddle Report (Cook) Shemar Stewart Edge Texas A&M 3.17 CBS (Stackpole) Matthew Golden WR Texas 3.17 Wolf Sports (Chappine) Jahdae Barron CB Texas 3.17 Huddle Report (Niemi) Jahdae Barron CB Texas 3.17 Mock Draft Player Position College Last Updated CBS (Podell) Shemar Stewart Edge Texas A&M 3.17 Milwaukee Journal Sentinel (Ostly) Jalon Walker Edge Georgia 3.17 CBS (Edwards) Kelvin Banks OT Texas 3.17 NFL Trade Rumors (Woodle) Matthew Golden WR Texas 3.17 CBS (Trapasso) Jahdae Barron CB Texas 3.17 FoxSports (Klatt) Ashton Jeanty RB Boise State 3.17 Draftwire (Popejoy) Tetairoa McMillan WR Arizona 3.16 Detroit Free Press (Birkett) Josh Simmons OT Ohio State 3.16 Draft Network (Fowler) Omarion Hampton RB North Carolina 3.16 NFL Spin Zone (Bedinger) Shemar Stewart Edge Texas A&M 3.16 Draftblaster (Staff) Ashton Jeanty RB Boise State 3.15 PFN (Infante) Tetairoa McMillan WR Arizona 3.15 PFN (Enriquez) Ashton Jeanty RB Boise State 3.14 Mock Draft Player Position College Last Updated Palm Beach Post (Habib) Tetairoa McMillan WR Arizona 3.14 Star Telegram (Harris) Tetairoa McMillan WR Arizona 3.14 33rd Team (Foster) Jihaad Campbell LB Alabama 3.14 Uproxx (Kalland) Kelvin Banks OT Texas 3.14 Yahoo (Tice/McDonald) Derrick Harmon DL Oregon 3.13 Fox Sports (Helman) Will Johnson CB Wisconsin 3.13 Athlon Sports (Easterling) Tetairoa McMillan WR Arizona 3.13 SI (Landis) Matthew Golden WR Texas 3.13 Underdognetwork (Winks) Emeka Egbuka WR Ohio State 3.13 Fantasy Life (Freedman) Omarion Hampton RB North Carolina 3.13 Drafttek Will Johnson CB Wisconsin 3.13 Sportsnaut (Buller) Malaki Starks S Georgia 3.13 NFL Spin Zone (Scataglia) Will Johnson CB Wisconsin 3.13 That’s a ton of info to digest, so here’s a condensed version that’s also easier to read: 40 Mock Drafts – Summary Results By Position Mocks By Player POS Mocks WR 12 Tetairoa McMillan WR 6 RB 8 Ashton Jeanty RB 5 Secondary 7 Matthew Golden WR 5 OL 6 Jahdae Barron CB 3 DL 6 Omarion Hampton RB 3 LB 1 Shemar Stewart Edge 3 Will Johnson CB 3 Kelvin Banks OT 2 One vote each: Derrick Harmon, Emeka Egbuka, Jalon Walker, Jihaad Campbell, Josh Simmons, Malaki Starks, Mike Green, Tyler Booker, Will Campbell 9 The first thing to note is that WR (11 picks) and RB (8 picks) remain the most popular positions. But 19 out of 40 picks, or 48%, is a far cry from the 88% we saw in our January mock draft summary. Another thing to note is that WR Luther Burden was picked for the Cowboys in nine of the 25 January mocks. This time he’s not mocked to the Cowboys even once. In fact, he doesn’t even show up as a first-rounder in 23 of the mock drafts today. And finally, with 18 different players mocked to the Cowboys in the 40 mocks today, there is clearly no consensus on what the Cowboys will do in the draft. To get a little more clarity on which player could be available for the Cowboys, you can look up the player ranking on your favorite big board, you can make up your own ranking, and you could even use a consensus big board to figure out such a ranking. Or we could look at the average draft position for each player based on the 40 mocks above, which is exactly what you’ll see in the table below. For the data in the table, I excluded what look to be the consensus top four picks (Cameron Ward, Travis Hunter, Abdul Carter, Shedeur Sanders) and also excluded all QBs and TEs. I included all 18 players that were mocked to the Cowboys at least once, and added four more to round things out (DL Mason Graham, DE Mykal Williams, DE James Pearce, WR Luther Burden) To arrive at the average rank, I calculated the average across the 40 mocks, and where a player fell out of the Top 32, I used the 33th spot to calculate the average draft position. Avg. POS Player Pos Available at No. 12 5.6 Mason Graham iDL 5% 7.7 Will Campbell OT 13% 9.5 Ashton Jeanty RB 25% 10.5 Armand Membou OT 23% 10.6 Tetairoa McMillan WR 38% 13.6 Will Johnson CB 53% 14.3 Shemar Stewart Edge 63% 14.4 Jalon Walker Edge 43% 15.4 Kelvin Banks OT 65% 15.8 Mykel Williams Edge 65%

Photo by Ethan Miller/Getty Images The latest news around your Dallas Cowboys Dallas Cowboys, Micah Parsons talking long-term contract – Mike Leslie, WFAA There are rumblings that the Cowboys and Micah Parsons might get a deal done. The Dallas Cowboys and their All-Pro pass rusher Micah Parsons have held discussions about a long-term contract extension, according to a source with knowledge of the negotiations. According to that source, Cowboys owner and general manager Jerry Jones called Parsons to The Star on Tuesday to discuss a potential deal in further detail. Parsons is entering the final year of his rookie deal — a fifth-year option worth $24 million. A long-term deal for Parsons is widely expected to be in the $40 million range in terms of annual salary, based on contracts that have been signed by other high-end defensive talents around the league. The Cleveland Browns recently signed Myles Garrett to a four-year, $160 million deal, paying him right at that $40 million salary. Parsons is coming off one of the finest starts to an NFL career for an edge rusher in league history. He joined Reggie White as one of the only two players in NFL history to start a career with four seasons of 12 or more sacks, after posting a dozen in 2024. He has 52.5 sacks in his first four years in the league. The Cowboys freed up a mountain of cap space earlier this offseason, restructuring deals for Dak Prescott and CeeDee Lamb to free up more than $57 million to take on the 2025 offseason. Their signings thus far have not used up much of that cap space, signing and trading for a laundry list of players who can provide depth and fill some holes on the Cowboys’ depth chart. Conflicting reports emerge regarding whether Cowboys, Micah Parsons are talking – Mike Plorio, PFT They could be talking, but they could also not be talking. It all started, as best we can tell, when someone named Ernie The Cowboys Fan claimed that the Cowboys and Parsons are “closing in on a 5 year, $200M contract extension.” Later, Mike Leslie of WFAA reported that the Cowboys and Parsons have held discussions about a long-term extension. Leslie also reported that owner Jerry Jones “called Parsons to The Star on Tuesday” to discuss a possible deal. Jane Slater of NFL Network, the outlet owned and operated by the league and influenced significantly by the Cowboys, reported that nothing is close and that “meaningful talks haven’t even begun yet.” Clarence E. Hill, Jr. of All City DLLS got the same information from the team. It would not be difficult to do a deal for Parsons. A deal in principle could be done in an hour or less. Given that the Ja’Marr Chase contract set a new non-quarterback bar at $40.25 million per year ($250,000 per year higher than the Myles Garrett average of $40 million), the Cowboys and Parsons could do a four-year extension that pays $40.5 million per year in new money. That’s $162 million. Throw in the $24 million that Parsons is due to make this year, and it’s a five-year, $186 million deal. That’s it. There’s the outline. If the Cowboys actually want to do it, they should call Mulugheta right now, work out the cash flow and the guarantees, and get it done. The longer things linger without a deal for Parsons, the more obvious it is that Parsons and his agent aren’t the impediment. Dante Fowler Jr. feels he has something to prove in second stint with Cowboys – Tommy Yarish, DallasCowboys.com Hopefully, Dante Fowler will produce the same amount for the Cowboys as he did with Washington. After spending a season with the NFC East rival Washington Commanders, defensive end Dante Fowler Jr. made his way back to Dallas in free agency ahead of the 2025 season and is excited to be able to don a star on his helmet again. “It feels amazing to be back, I’m definitely happy to be here in Dallas,” Fowler said. “I’m ready to get going with the guys for sure.” In 2024, Fowler had his best season since 2019 with 10.5 sacks, 39 tackles, 14 tackles for loss and even recorded his first career interception and returned it for a touchdown in Week 7 against the Carolina Panthers. A large part of that explosion in production came from what he’d learned in the two years prior with the Cowboys. “It was pretty big, just to be able to go out there and show the people that I’m still here and be able to produce at a high level,” Fowler said. “I felt really confident going into this season especially with these past two years getting to work from coach [Aden Durde], Micah [Parsons] and [DeMarcus Lawrence] with the d-line group that we had.” “I definitely took a lot from that and learned a lot from these past couple of years and took that to Washington and just put it all out there and let my work show for itself.” As he prepares for his second stint with the Cowboys, Fowler is hoping to be a reliable veteran presence for some of the younger, up and coming defensive ends in the room like Sam Williams, Marshawn Kneeland and whoever else may follow. How Jack Sanborn and Matt Eberflus’ connection could help Cowboys defense in 2025 – Nick Harris, Fort Worth Star-Telegram Jack Sanborn could be a sneaky good signing given his experience with Matt Eberflus. When former Cowboys defensive coordinator Mike Zimmer arrived in the offseason of 2024, he quickly went after one of “his guys” to help the on-field communication of the new defensive system he would be bringing to the team. Despite being one of only two outside signings ahead of training camp, linebacker Eric Kendricks was brought in to lead the defense having played in Zimmer’s system for seven seasons. New defensive coordinator Matt Eberflus is takinga similar approach to 2025. Early on

Photo by Cooper Neill/Getty Images The latest news from around the division. Pass rusher Azeez Ojulari becomes latest Giants player to sign with Eagles – Nick Shook, NFL.com Another former Giant finds his way to Philadelphia in free agency. The New York-to-Philadelphia pipeline remains strong. The Eagles signed former Giants edge rusher Azeez Ojulari to a one-year deal, the team announced Monday. Ojulari is the latest Giants player to head to the Eagles, joining linebacker Patrick Johnson and cornerback Adoree’ Jackson this offseason and following last year’s mega signing of running back Saquon Barkley. Philadelphia is buying low on Ojulari, adding a player with experience to a defensive front that watched Josh Sweat and Milton Williams leave for Arizona and New England, respectively, in free agency. With little risk associated for Philly, Ojulari arrives to the Eagles with minimal pressure and a chance to contribute as a rotational edge rusher with relative upside. A 2021 second-round pick, Ojulari peaked as a rookie, recording eight sacks in his first season and a career-best 49 tackles. 2021 was his only double-digit season in starts, and two stints on injured reserve between 2022 and 2023 hampered his development. He played 58% of defensive snaps in 2024, but started just five games (11 total appearances) as his role diminished following the Giants’ trade for Brian Burns. When healthy and given a chance, Ojulari still shows flashes of being a potential difference-making rusher. He finished with six sacks last season, but didn’t see enough action to truly produce at a rate worth retaining for Big Blue. Paulson Adebo, Jevón Holland are ingredients in ‘recipe for excellence’ – Dan Salomone, Giants.com The defensive side of the ball seems to be improving for New York. It’s the question on everyone’s mind, but Jevón Holland didn’t ask it. “My job as a defender is to give the ball back to the quarterback,” the former Dolphins safety said in his first interview since signing with the Giants. Paulson Adebo, a cornerback who spent his first four seasons in New Orleans, didn’t make it a prerequisite either. He is more concerned with keeping his eyes on the opposing quarterback. “I just got here, figuring out how I can help the team,” he said. “And then I’ll let whoever has to make those decisions handle those. But I’m excited and confident that we’ll make a good decision.” In the meantime, the two defensive backs from the south came up north to join forces in a revamped secondary. While the Giants led the league in sacks for a good portion of last season, it went through an 11-game drought without an interception. The unit closed with three in the final three weeks, but their five total interceptions were 31st in the league. Their 60 passes defensed were tied for 25th. The team is looking to turn things around in 2025. Brian Daboll hired a new secondary coach/pass game coordinator (Marquand Manuel) and cornerbacks coach (Jeff Burris) to serve under coordinator Shane Bowen, who enters his second season with the Giants. Adebo and Holland are here to help. Adebo, a third-round pick out of Oregon, has started 51 of 52 games in four seasons. His career numbers include 251 total tackles, 43 passes defensed, 10 interceptions, seven tackles for loss, two forced fumbles, and two fumble recoveries. “I feel like I can play man or zone,” Adebo said. “In New Orleans we did play a lot of man, bump-and-run coverage. But I feel comfortable playing in a zone scheme. Did that in college a lot. I really feel good either way.” Laremy Tunsil Explains Why Texans Traded Him to Commanders – Liam McKeone, Sports Illustrated The Pro Bowl tackle knew the business side of the NFL was cause for his trade. The Houston Texans’ decision to trade veteran Pro Bowl left tackle Laremy Tunsil to the Washington Commanders constituted one of the most surprising moves of the 2025 NFL offseason. Tunsil had a difficult season in 2024 and was flagged for penalties 19 times, but Houston had a big problem protecting C.J. Stroud across the board. Still, it’s hard enough to find good offensive linemen in today’s NFL that it is rare to see a team trade a five-time Pro Bowler, especially one at left tackle, arguably the most important position on any offense other than quarterback. On Monday, Tunsil spoke to media as a member of the Commanders for the first time and explained the reasoning behind the trade, as told to him by the Texans. Per The Athletic’s Nicki Jhabvala, Tunsil said the Texans informed him they were trying to keep their young core of linemen together. “It’s a young man’s game, and I’ve seen it for myself,” Tunsil said. The implication there is that Tunsil’s contract would make it difficult to keep that young core together. The left tackle has two years remaining on his three-year, $75 million extension he signed in 2023. His cap hit for 2025 will be over $20 million. It’s a lot of money to allocate to one player and Houston seems to have decided the organization is better off using that money elsewhere.

Photo by Ryan Kang/Getty Images Our latest Cowboys roundtable hits on remaining free agent targets Every week, we gather the latest news about the Dallas Cowboys and seek our writer’s perspective on each headline. Welcome back to the roundtable. This week we have Jess Haynie, David Howman, Tom Ryle and Brian Martin. How would you describe this year’s free agency period from Dallas? Jerry Jones and the Dallas Cowboys have been very uncharacteristically busy during the first wave of free agency. They made additions that include running backs Javonte Williams and Miles Sanders, defensive linemen Solomon Thomas, Payton Turner and Dante Fowler, offensive guard Robert Jones, linebackers Jack Sanborn and Kenneth Murray Jr, and cornerback Kaiir Elam. What makes the Cowboys free agency period even more noteworthy is the fact it includes two trades, something Cowboys fans haven’t seen in quite some time. All this points to a front office that wants to prove they made a smart choice hiring Brian Schottenheimer. Brian: Surprisingly active, yet still disappointing. I’m not sure anyone the Cowboys signed or traded for upgraded the roster any. Their draft needs are still pretty much the same entering the 2025 NFL Draft, meaning they will be relying heavily on upgrading their roster with rookies once again. Tom: I thought Stephen Jones was uttering a non sequitur when he talked about being selectively aggressive, but it makes sense now. Unfortunately it turned out to mean going after the same third or marginal second-tier players to plug holes they always get, just not waiting to see what landed at the bottom of the barrel. It’s progress, I suppose, but not nearly enough. Jess: I think the term Stephen should’ve used was “actively passive.” Yes, the Cowboys have added 10 new players in a week and re-signed 11 others. That’s far more activity than we saw at this point last year. But as Brian and Tom already said, outside of Osa Odighizuwa’s new contract, the moves are all still steeped in financial conservatism and not making the team more competitive. Dallas is clearly still focused on the draft as the primary source of new talent. Howman: I would describe it as best case scenario. Anyone who legitimately thought the Cowboys were going to suddenly try and cosplay as Howie Roseman and spend a ton of money in the first wave of free agency was always dreaming. The Cowboys didn’t have a ton of holes on this roster, but they went to work in finding appropriately priced options to fill those holes. I think it’s been a good offseason so far, and can’t comprehend the continued dissatisfaction among others. Are we mad they didn’t give $45 million for a perpetually injured Cooper Kupp, or match the $42 million for a DeMarcus Lawrence who was chomping at the bit to trash the organization the moment he was no longer on the payroll? I like the moves and I think the front office deserves some appreciation for what they’ve done this offseason. What are the biggest needs on the roster after the free agent moves? There are still glaring holes on the roster and the free agent moves definitely help in terms of filling some of those holes in preparation for the draft. Offensive line is an obvious place that needs stocking up in the draft, as well as cornerback, wide receiver, and even running back despite the two new additions in free agency. A big run-stopping nose tackle is a need as well as safety. Brian: I’m going to go with CB closely followed by DT. The Cowboys not only need to replace Jourdan Lewis in the slot, but there is still a significant concern about Trevon Diggs’ timetable to return. I still think they need another CB or two either in free agency or the draft to help solidify the position, even after trading for Kaiir Elam. Tom: I think CB, WR, and EDGE. If they address those on days 1 and 2, I think they can improve the roster. Jess: After re-signing Odighizuwa and adding Thomas, Fowler, and Turner to the defensive line, receiver became the top need. Corner isn’t far behind, but at least there’s hope with young guys like Carson and Elam plus the chance of getting Diggs and Butler back during the season. But even if everyone’s healthy at WR, you’re still missing a true starter. Trusting Jalen Tolbert to step up is a risk that could kill the entire offense if he disappoints. Howman: I agree with Jess on it being receiver, but I held that opinion before free agency too. Parris Campbell and Jalen Tolbert can be productive guys in this league, but the Cowboys need a legitimate second option when CeeDee Lamb is getting doubled. There’s no such option in free agency (though I’d still happily welcome Tyler Lockett to Dallas) so that has to come via the draft, ideally with Tetairoa McMillan or Luther Burden. Cooper Rush signs with Baltimore and Trey Lance doesn’t look like he’s coming back to Dallas. Who on Day 3 in the draft do you think fits well as the new backup quarterback? With both Cooper Rush and Trey Lance on the move, Will Grier in as the backup quarterback for Dallas. This puts the position up for grabs in the draft and there are some interesting late-round prospects the Cowboys scouting department will now be digging deep on. How early in the draft they look to address the position will all depend how much value they see in this year’s class. Keep close watch on those 30-visits and who they watch on Dallas Day. Brian: I’m not a big fan of the 2025 QB draft class as a whole and definitely not a fan of wasting a draft pick on one, even a late-rounder. For the sake of argument though Quinn Ewers or Tyler Shough are two QBs I think the Cowboys would be interested in. Both have starting potential, but both also carry injury

Photo by Peter G. Aiken/Getty Images There’s a lot to like about Jacob Parrish and his potential fit with the Cowboys. Losing Jourdan Lewis to the Jacksonville Jaguars in free agency was a tough blow to the Dallas Cowboys. Add that to the unknown timetable of when Trevon Diggs can return from his season-ending injury last year, and there’s currently a lot of uncertainty at the cornerback position in Dallas. To keep from being absolutely desperate at CB heading into the 2025 NFL Draft, the Cowboys did re-sign versatile DB Israel Mukuamu and traded for former first-round pick Kaiir Elam. Unless either or both suddenly has a career resurgence, the need to still upgrade the position remains at a high level of urgency. Sadly, the only secure thing at CB for the Cowboys currently is DaRon Bland, who is entering the final year of his rookie contract. This could further complicate things at the position considering Derek Stingley just agreed to a three-year, $90 million deal with the Houston Texans. That could further complicate things at CB for the Cowboys for the future. Add all of this up and it’s pretty obvious the cornerback position still needs to be addressed, most likely with one of the Cowboys premium picks in the first three rounds. It wouldn’t at all be surprising if they use their first- or second-round pick on a CB, but if they wait until the third-round there is a player they could have their sights set on. Kansas State CB Jacob Parrish could be close to an ideal fit for what Matt Eberflus is looking for in his secondary. Parrish has inside/out versatility and is equally effective in press-man or zone coverage. At 5’10”, 191-pounds he’s a little undersized compared to what the Cowboys have preferred to the position recently, but fortunately not in Eberflus’ scheme. While it’s still unknown how his talent will translate at the next level in the NFL, comparing him to present and past cornerbacks who have had success in the league with similar size and athletic testing numbers should be encouraging. Jacob Parrish is a CB prospect in the 2025 draft class. He scored an unofficial 9.27 #RAS out of a possible 10.00. This ranked 182 out of 2480 CB from 1987 to 2025. Splits projected, times unofficial.https://t.co/tAtrKRDuj8 pic.twitter.com/icQxfDZoeV — Kent Lee Platte (@MathBomb) February 28, 2025 Terence Newman HT: 5’10” | WT: 189 | Arm: 31 3/8″ | 40: 4.37 | 10-yd split: 1.56 | Broad: 11’4″ | Vert: 41″ | Bench: 10 reps Like Jacob Parrish, Terence Newman is also a Kansas State alum and was drafted by the Cowboys fifth overall in the first round in the 2003 NFL Draft. The two-time Pro Bowler’s size and athletic testing numbers are nearly identical to Parrish’s, minus Newman besting him in the broad and vertical jump. Newman was a fan favorite during his time in Dallas and it wouldn’t be all that surprising if Parrish follows in his footsteps if drafted by the Cowboys. Jourdan Lewis HT: 5’10” | WT: 188 | Arm: 31 5/8″ | 40: 4.47 | 10-yd split: 1.59 | Broad: 10’1″ | Vert: 34.5″ | Bench: 15 reps Could Jacob Parrish be the next Jourdan Lewis for the Cowboys? It’s entirely possible if we were to solely base his fit comparing their size and athletic testing numbers. Lewis was a former third-round pick (92nd overall) in the 2017 NFL Draft and was a mainstay in Dallas’ secondary. Parrish is also projected to be a third-round selection and very well could step in as Lewis’ replacement in the slot as a rookie. Jaylon Johnson HT: 5’11” | WT: 193 | Arm: 31 3/8″ | 40: 4.50 | 10-yd split: 1.59 | Broad: 10’4″ | Vert: 36.5″ | Bench: 15 reps Jaylon Johnson was a was a second-round pick (50th overall) in the 2020 NFL Draft by the Chicago Bears. His comparison to Jacob Parrish may carry more weight considering he excelled in Matt Eberflus’ defense during their time together in Chicago. The two-time Pro Bowler and one-time Second-Team All-Pro CB provides some evidence Parrish’s lack of ideal size shouldn’t hinder his fit in Eberflus’ defense on the outside or even in the nickel. Jaire Alexander HT: 5’10” | WT: 196 | Arm: 31 1/8″ | 40:4.38 | 10-yd split: 1.52 | Broad: 10’7″ | Vert: 35″ | Bench: 14 reps Jaire Alexander was a first-round pick (18th overall) in the 2018 NFL Draft by the Green Bay Packers. Although injuries have been a problem for him lately, he’s been one of the better outside CBs when healthy since entering the league and has been named to the Pro Bowl twice as well as being a two-time Second-Team All-Pro., Maybe Jacob Parrish can follow suit, minus the injuries of course. Overall, while it’s true there’s no way of knowing how Jacob Parrish will do at the next level, these comparisons based on size and athletic testing numbers, at the very least, provide encouragement he can be successful. And considering he seems like a good fit in Matt Eberflus’ defense as well as being linked to former Kansas State and the new Cowboys OL coach Conor Riley, there is a good reason to believe he’s already on Dallas’ radar.