Photo by Chris Leduc/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images What is your favorite mock draft so far? Many of the top prospects for the upcoming draft met with potential suitors around the league, and competed in different drills, at the 2025 NFL Scouting Combine. The event is yet another tool to help with the evaluation process and gives us insight into potential prospects the Dallas Cowboys could be targeting. With a little bit of more information at our disposal, we thought it would be a good time to predict who the Cowboys could select in the 2025 NFL Draft with their premium picks. Today, with the help of the Pro Football Focus simulator, we predicted one way the draft could go for the Cowboys in the early rounds. *TRADE* Steelers receive 1.12, 6.190; Cowboys receive 1.21, 2.53, 4.122 1.21 – RB Omarion Hampton, North Carolina Omarion Hampton put on a show at the combine over the weekend and proved why he is one of the best, if not the best, running backs in the 2025 draft class. Drafting RBs in the first round is usually not the best strategy, but Hampton is an exception to the rule. Not only does he have the prototypical size to be a RB1 for the Cowboys, but he’s an elite athlete capable of carrying workload as a complete three-down back. He’d be a tremendous upgrade in Dallas. Omarion Hampton is a RB prospect in the 2025 draft class. He scored an unofficial 9.93 #RAS out of a possible 10.00. This ranked 14 out of 1909 RB from 1987 to 2025. Splits projected, times unofficial. https://t.co/BvtORFYopS pic.twitter.com/8Q7SRqnAgv — Kent Lee Platte (@MathBomb) March 1, 2025 2.44 – WR Jayden Higgins, Iowa State Jayden Higgins was somewhat underrated heading into the combine this past weekend, but proved he’s one of the top wide receivers in the 2025 draft class. Due to his size/speed combination and his ability as a route runner, he compares favorably to Texans WR Nico Collins. He would be a perfect pairing playing on the outside as an “X” WR with CeeDee Lamb and give Dak Prescott another much-needed go-to receiving weapon. I made the comp of Jayden Higgins to Nico Collins and after his combine performance, everyone seems to be on board Higgins is my WR4 and may end up even higher than that. pic.twitter.com/wfBFJ8vemj — NFL Draft Files (@NFL_DF) March 1, 2025 2.53 – DT Alfred Collins, Texas Alfred Collins is one of the best run defenders in the entire 2025 draft class and has upside as a pass rusher as well. With his size and length, he easily anchors down against the run and sheds blocks as a nearly immovable force in the middle of defensive line. He could potentially challenge Mazi Smith from Day 1 as a rookie for the starting 1-tech job or at the very least provide some much-needed depth and mass on the interior of Dallas’ DL. Texas DL Alfred Collins played all over the Longhorn front but his future home lies at NT. His length (34.75-inch arms) allows him to establish first contact on blockers with the power to drive opponents backwards when his hands latch on inside. Day 1 impact run defender. pic.twitter.com/3GRDLEUB0V — Derrick (@Steelers_DB) February 14, 2025 3.76 – C Jared Wilson, Georgia Jared Wilson missed an opportunity to prove his worth at the Senior Bowl when he unfortunately had to withdraw from the event, but more than made up for it with his performance at the combine. He was just a one year starter at Georgia, but his talent/movement skills are as good as any iOL prospect in the 2025 draft class. He could challenge to start in Dallas, allowing Cooper Beebe to kick over and replace Zack Martin. Jared Wilson is a OC prospect in the 2025 draft class. He scored an unofficial 9.98 #RAS out of a possible 10.00. This ranked 2 out of 622 OC from 1987 to 2025. Splits projected, times unofficial.https://t.co/ZIdrLsm28H pic.twitter.com/51vQHCQo7M — Kent Lee Platte (@MathBomb) March 2, 2025 *TRADE* Cowboys received 4.108; Bills receive 4.122, 5.150 4.108 – CB Jacob Parrish, Kansas State Jacob Parrish will get knocked a little for his size, but he checks all of the other boxes teams look for in a cornerback prospect and more than proved his skill set/talent at the combine over the weekend. He’s tough in coverage and run support, is smooth with fast feet in his transition to click and close on the ball, and is one of the most athletic prospects at his position in the 2025 draft class. He could be a plug-and-play starter as a rookie in Dallas. 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

Kara Durrette/Getty Images The latest headlines surrounding the Dallas Cowboys all in one place. Cowboys’ offseason needs to be judged on actions, not slogans and catchphrases – Saad Yousuf, The Athletic After last season’s “all-in” comments and this season’s “selectively aggressive” comments, it’s time for the Cowboys’ front office to show it. Speaking last week at the NFL Scouting Combine in Indianapolis, executive vice president Stephen Jones described the 2025 offseason approach as “selectively aggressive.” Again, there was a strong reaction. Anger. Disappointment. Annoyance. Wednesday, after Zack Martin’s retirement news conference at The Star, the Dallas front office spoke more words into the ether, and that led to more reactions. Jones contradicted his son’s comments, saying “I don’t think aggressive is the right word.” The vibes during Cowboys offseasons too often have gone the way of the words. They need to be reserved for actions… …Words in the offseason, whether they come from Jerry, Stephen, Prescott or anybody else in the organization should be viewed in the same light as regular-season wins. It might sound good; it might not. The real barometer is: What are you doing in the playoffs? Actions are the offseason’s playoffs. Open Market: Eric Kendricks atop list of LB options for Cowboys in free agency – Patrik Walker, DallasCowboys.com What will the linebacker room look like for the Dallas Cowboys next season? What’s Here: Eric Kendricks: The former First-Team All-Pro linebacker was a stabilizing force for the Cowboys in 2024, and served as a sensational mentor to young talent like Marist Liufau and DeMarvion Overshown as well. Having poached him away from the 49ers in last year’s free agency, the headline outside signing for Dallas, Kendricks deserves a second round with the same ask: play at a high level and stabilize a unit that will be without Overshown for a while; and his potential asking price of $7 million (per Spotrac) isn’t entirely different from others I’ll mention in a moment. Darius Harris, Nick Vigil: Both were solid rotational pieces when called upon, though it was Vigil who left the biggest footprint on the 2024 season — especially as a special teamer (even if someone else forgot to not touch the ball after a blocked punt). Neither Harris nor Vigil would cost much, think veteran minimum, and let’s face it: the Cowboys need as much insurance at the linebacker position as they can possibly get. What’s Out There: Note: These players will be unrestricted on March 13, barring a newly-signed deal with their incumbent team prior to that date. Jamien Sherwood: The good news for the Cowboys is there isn’t much to figure out as far as pricing goes for most of the players I’m mentioning on this list. Kendricks, Wagner and Greenlaw (see below) are all being valued at around $7 million annually, per Spotrac, so losing out on one still gives Dallas an opportunity to pivot to another impact linebacker for the same cost. Sherwood is on the younger end of the spectrum though, a 25-year-old who went from being a fifth-round pick of the Jets in 2021 to being the league’s reigning tackles champion in 2024 and, wouldn’t you know it, he did it for/with Aaron Whitecotton, the newest Cowboys’ defensive line coach (hint, hint, wink, wink). Cowboys owner Jerry Jones ‘not looking at free agency as a place to fill voids’ on roster – Kevin Patra, NFL.com The Cowboys have freed up a big chunk of change for next season. How will they decide to spend it? “I’m not looking at free agency as a place to fill voids,” Jones said on Wednesday, via ESPN. The Cowboys created $56.6 million in salary cap space with the Prescott and Lamb restructures. The moves pushed cap dollars to future years, opening up space in the current market. Any cap space left by the end of the season can be rolled over into next year. Dallas could use some of the cap space to keep its own, as they did with the Osa Odighizuwa extension, and the Cowboys certainly have needs, including on the offensive line, at running back and throughout the defense. After last year’s “all-in” comment from Jones got skewered following another year of free agency inactivity, the owner is taking the opposite approach, downplaying Dallas’ plan when the market opens next week. A new contract for Parsons would open up additional cap space for the Cowboys to use — or not — in free agency. Jones dismissed the Cowboys’ penchant for waiting until much later in the process to get big deals done in recent seasons. Last year, Lamb signed at the end of training camp and Prescott hours before the season opened. “We get criticized because we wait until the end or what you would call the end, and that is lining up for the first game,” Jones said. “It just happens that way. I’ve been one of the earliest out there on several contracts in my 35 years.” 2025 NFL free agency: Underrated players who could be steals – Ben Solak, ESPN ESPN listed players who could be a great addition through free agency. Rico Dowdle made that list. RB Rico Dowdle 2024 team: Dallas Cowboys | Age entering 2025 season: 27 A lightbulb went on for Dowdle late last season. From Weeks 1 through 12, he had minus-24 rushing yards over expectation in what was largely a timeshare with Ezekiel Elliott. After that, Dowdle had plus-85 rushing yards over expectation, in a role in which he consistently had 15 or more carries. He isn’t the most explosive back and won’t break tackles the way elite runners do, but on the season, he ranked eighth among all running backs in success rate. He is a grinder who only got to become that grinder late, both in the 2024 season and in his contract with the Cowboys, as he spent much of his first few years on the bench behind Elliott and Tony Pollard. That developing role, along with only

Photo by Wesley Hitt/Getty Images Here is our scouting report on Jahdae Barron from Texas We continue our 2025 NFL Draft preview of draft prospects that could interest the Dallas Cowboys. Today we are looking at cornerback Jahdae Barron from Texas. Jahdae Barron CBTexas Longhorns Senior4-star recruit 5’11”194 lbs Photo by Michael Wade/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images History: Jahdae Barron was born and raised in Austin, Texas, making him a hometown talent for the Longhorns. He attended Pflugerville Connally High School in a suburb just north of Austin. During his high school career, Barron emerged as a versatile and highly-recruited athlete. He played multiple positions, including quarterback, wide receiver, and defensive back, showcasing his athleticism and football IQ. Despite being versatile and a two-way player, his future at the collegiate level was clearly on defense, where his skills as a cornerback stood out. He was rated as a four-star recruit and committed to the University of Texas over offers from other powerhouse programs like Baylor, LSU, and Oklahoma, choosing to stay close to home and play for the Longhorns. Barron enrolled at the University of Texas in 2020 and saw limited action as a true freshman, appearing in eight games primarily on special teams and as a reserve defensive back. He recorded six tackles, laying the groundwork for future opportunities. He began to carve out a bigger role in 2021, playing in nine games and starting two. Barron tallied 18 tackles, one tackle for loss, and three pass breakups, showing promise as a reliable depth piece in the secondary. 2022 saw a breakout for Barron. He played in all 13 games, starting nine, and recorded 78 tackles, two interceptions, three pass breakups, a fumble recovery for a touchdown, and a pick-six. His versatility allowed him to play both cornerback and the “star” position (a hybrid nickel role) in Texas’ defensive scheme. Barron solidified his status as a key starter in 2023, playing in all 14 games and earning All-Big 12 Second Team honors. He registered 60 tackles, one interception, two forced fumbles, and six pass breakups. His performance helped Texas win the Big 12 Championship and reach the College Football Playoff, though they lost to Washington in their first playoff game. Barron’s fifth and final season was his best. With Texas transitioning to the SEC, he elevated his game, starting 16 games played through the regular season and into the CFP. He recorded 67 tackles, five interceptions, 11 pass breakups, and a blocked punt. His stellar play earned him the Jim Thorpe Award as the nation’s top defensive back, First-Team All-SEC honors, and First-Team All-American, cementing his legacy as one of Texas’ all-time greats in the secondary. 2024 Statistics 971 Defensive Snaps941 Coverage Snaps5 Total Pressures1 Sack67 Total Tackles3 Tackle for Loss11 Pass Breakups 5 INT1 Fumble Recovery 0 TD Allowed34.2 Passer RTG Allowed2 Penalties NFL Combine/Pro Day 10-Yard Split- 1.50s (86%)40-Yard Dash- 4.39s (86%)Vert- 35” (36%)Broad- 123” (56%) Awards All-America (2024)Jim Thorpe Award (2024)First-Team All-SEC (2024)Second-Team All-Big 12 (2023) Scorecard Overall- 85.8Speed- 84Acceleration- 85Agility- 90Strength- 80Tackling- 90Zone Coverage- 92Man Coverage- 82Press- 77Discipline- 94 THE GOOD Barron’s ability to play multiple positions makes him a Swiss Army knife in the secondary. Very comfortable in man coverage, zone, and even as a blitzer off the edge. He has a knack for locating and attacking the ball. Has elite instincts and awareness. He reads quarterbacks well, anticipates routes, and positions himself to disrupt plays. He tackles well in open space and isn’t afraid to mix it up with bigger receivers or support in run defense. He faced some top-tier talent over the years and managed to keep pace. Has experience on special teams, adding to his roster appeal. TAPE TIME CB Jahdae BarronTexas ✅ THE GOOD✅#scouting #NFLDraft #Longhorns pic.twitter.com/n5n8y9eiD6 — Mike Poland (@kenfigkowboy) March 3, 2025 THE BAD He can get beat by pure speedsters and struggles to stay engaged if not on his A-game to cover deep threats. He’s slightly undersized for an outside corner and will struggle against more physical receivers in the NFL. This could push him inside to nickel in the pros, where his frame is better suited. Barron excels in zone and off-coverage but struggles with quick-twitch receivers in press-man situations. His technique can get grabby, risking penalties at the NFL level. Entering the NFL at 23, he’s older than some prospects due to his five-year college tenure, potentially limiting his developmental ceiling and coaching appeal. TAPE TIME CB Jahdae BarronTexas ❌THE BAD❌#scouting #NFLDraft #Longhorns pic.twitter.com/2aC1h5mgNM — Mike Poland (@kenfigkowboy) March 3, 2025 THE FIT Jahdae Barron is a polished, instinctive defensive back with a proven track record against top college competition. His versatility, ball production, and tackling make him a safe bet to contribute early in the NFL, likely as a starting nickelback with upside to develop into a full-time starter. While he won’t wow with some of his athletic measurables, his tape and intangibles suggest a long, productive career, think a reliable CB2 or elite slot defender rather than a lockdown No. 1 corner. He is limited due to his size and high-point ability, meaning in the NFL he will best serve as a nickleback defender in a zone-heavy scheme (Cover 3 or Tampa 2) where his instincts and tackling can shine. This means some teams will pass in the draft on Barron given how some scouts will value him. For a player with limited to slot only, is a Day 1 pick too rich? The Cowboys’ secondary is talented but could use depth and youth, especially at nickel, where Jourdan Lewis is set to become a free agent. Outside corner depth is also a concern if injuries strike again like last season when Trevor Diggs and DaRon Bland both missed time. Barron’s best fit with Dallas would be as a slot corner, replacing or complementing Jourdan Lewis. The team’s defense would love a cornerback who can tackle and play the ball, this aligns perfectly with Barron’s skill set. While Diggs and Bland are

Photo by Patrick Mulligan/Getty Images Tetairoa McMillan could be Dallas’ ideal target in the first-round. With the 2025 NFL Scouting Combine now in the books, more information is out there to help further evaluate top prospects available in this year’s draft. This event has also shaken up some of the draft rankings, which is why we will see more mock drafts start to pop up around the Internet. One that could be of particular interest to the Dallas Cowboys is from The Athletic’s Dane Brugler, who predicted them landing the top wide receiver in the 2025 draft class with their first-round pick (12th overall) in his post-combine mock draft. 12. Dallas Cowboys: Tetairoa McMillan, WR, Arizona Outside of CeeDee Lamb, where is the juice coming from in the Cowboys’ offense? McMillan could provide some. With his rangy catch radius and ball skills, he is a quarterback-friendly target who is open even when covered. Tetairoa McMillan sliding into the Dallas Cowboys lap at No. 12 could possibly be a dream come true. The 6’5″, 210-pound WR would be a perfect pairing for CeeDee Lamb and give Dak Prescott another go-to target in the passing game. But, this scenario also presents the perfect trade down opportunity if they want to acquire more draft capital. McMillan is probably one of the few players teams would be willing to trade up for this year. In a weak WR draft class, the former Arizona WR is still considered the top-ranked player at the position despite not competing at the combine. For teams looking for a new WR1, he’s one of the few players in this draft class who fits the bill. Depending on how for Dallas would be willing to trade down, they could acquire anything from a fourth-round to a second-round draft pick, or some combination in that pick range. This could create an interesting dilemma for the Cowboys. On one hand, McMillan would give the Cowboys another receiving weapon with a WR1 ceiling. On the other, Dallas could choose to trade down in order to acquire more draft capital to fill more of their roster needs. An argument could be made for either scenario.

Photo by Stacy Revere/Getty Images The NFL Combine adjusted how we view certain draft prospects. With this year’s NFL scouting combine signed, sealed and delivered, it’s time to look at how the prospects did. Plenty of risers have made themselves known, but also a handful of prospects seriously underwhelmed. Here are our top five risers and fallers from the combine that could have been prospects of interest for the Cowboys. Risers Shemar StewartDefensive LineTexas A&M Stewart came into the combine already carrying a moniker of being an athletic freak and has some serious talent as an edge defender. He completely dominated the testing phase and made the biggest impact during the week-long event, finishing with a perfect RAS Score of 10.00. At 265 pounds, Stewart pulled off an impressive 1.58s 10-yard split that was polished off with an even more impressive 40-yard dash time of 4.59s. On the jumps, Stewart was even more eye-popping and hopped a vert of 40”, then exploded a broad jump of 10’ 11” which is insane. Add his measurables and also some smooth drills, and Stewart fits a need at defensive line for Dallas and ticks a whole host of boxes to fit right in. Keep an eye on his name during the 30-visits and Dallas Day. Bhayshul TutenRunning BackVirginia Tech Tuten showcased exceptional speed at the combine, recording the fastest 40-yard dash among running backs at 4.32 seconds (98th percentile). His athleticism was on full display with a 1.49s 10-yard split and had vertical and broad jumps that were both in the 98th percentile. His skill set and speed has the potential to contribute immediately and should have caught the attention of the Cowboys’ scouting department. With running back a need and Tuten sitting currently with a fourth-round grade, selecting him early with a third-round pick would be a great selection for Dallas that has no pick in Day 3 until the fifth-round. Matthew GoldenWide ReceiverHouston Golden solidified his status as a first-round prospect by leading all wide receivers with a 4.29-second 40-yard dash. His speed and playmaking ability could provide the Cowboys with a deep-threat option, complementing their existing receiving corps and filling the loss of Brandin Cooks was brought in to be a downfield threat. Texas WR Matthew Golden was a ⭐️ at the NFL Combine. Could he be the No. 1 WR taken? pic.twitter.com/HQIrPvU8hX — DLLS Cowboys (@DLLS_Cowboys) March 3, 2025 Jahdae BarronCornerbackTexas Barron’s versatility in the defensive backfield was on display at the combine. Having played both cornerback and nickel positions at Texas (playing the “Star” role), he possesses adaptability that the Cowboys’ defense could really utilize this season. His ability to perform in multiple roles makes him a valuable asset for teams seeking depth and flexibility in their secondary. With questions on Trevor Diggs’ health and Jourdan Lewis’ free agency, taking a skilled and multifaceted defensive back like Barron would be a smart move. Likely best suited to the slot or nickelback position in the NFL, at worst Barron fits in nicely as Lewis’ replacement. Texas CB Jahdae Barron on his formal combine meeting with the Cowboys pic.twitter.com/tGPnBjgNlo — Tom Downey (@WhatGoingDowney) February 28, 2025 Jihaad CampbellLinebackerAlabama Campbell’s athleticism and performance at the combine have elevated his draft stock on a monumental scale. He clocked a 4.52-second 40-yard dash, ranking as the third-best time of the day. Interestingly, the two athletes who outpaced him both weighed more than 10 pounds less. Just as important for Campbell were the on-field drills where he moved very fluidly and proved he has some pass rush upside. His potential to enhance the Cowboys’ linebacker corps makes him a prospect worth considering, especially with the fact that DeMarvion Overshown will miss the majority of the season and Eric Kendricks is likely to move on with the departure of Mike Zimmer. That leaves Marist Liufau as the only linebacker on roster who took significant snaps last season. Alabama’s Jihaad Campbell showing he’s one to watch. 4.52u 40 : #NFLCombine on @NFLNetwork : Stream on @NFLPlus pic.twitter.com/0UILXnX7S1 — NFL (@NFL) February 28, 2025 Fallers Tyler BookerGuardAlabama Booker was considered as the top guard prospect in the draft before the combine, but his struggles were apparent all day and his athletic testing gave a dangerously low RAS Score of just 3.93. What was just as concerning was his issues during the various drills, showing balance and technique problems which will have led to a reevaluation of his draft value. His underwhelming performance has already resulted in a slide down draft boards for most teams, Dallas more than likely following that trend. The hope for some fans was Booker could be the future replacement for the recently retired Zack Martin. Now, Will McClay and company will need to reevaluate and find a suitable inside offensive lineman in later rounds. Will HowardQuarterbackOhio State The Cowboys are in the market for a backup quarterback in this year’s draft. Stephen Jones let the world know of this fact last week. One player of interest before the combine would have been Will Howard from Ohio State. Despite a stellar collegiate career, Howard struggled with accuracy during the combine, missing multiple passes, including deep throws. Take into account Howard was throwing to open receivers with no defense on the field or pressure in his face adds to this concerning revelation. This unexpected performance led to widespread criticism and could affect his draft position. For any Buckeye fans wanting to see their National Champion quarterback play in Dallas, be prepared to feel deflated. Yikes: Ohio State QB Will Howard has gone viral for what fans are saying is the worst combine performance of all time. Howard’s draft stock pic.twitter.com/98iG2bLLY7 — Dov Kleiman (@NFL_DovKleiman) March 2, 2025 Jamaree CaldwellDefensive LinemanOregon Caldwell’s lackluster testing and concerns about his physical attributes, such as limited length, have negatively impacted his draft outlook. His performance at the combine did little to alleviate these concerns and his stock will take a huge hit after watching what he put together.

Photo by Gregory Shamus/Getty Images Who wants to see the Dallas Cowboys trade down? The Dallas Cowboys have the 12th overall pick in the 2025 NFL Draft. It will be the first time in four years that they will pick inside the first 24 picks of the draft. Only once over the last nine drafts have they picked in the first half of the first round and that was in 2021 when they selected Micah Parsons 12th overall. Typically, the Cowboys are picking near the end of the round, but due to their losing season last year, they are moving on up. They rarely get this type of opportunity, so hopefully they can really make it count. What the Cowboys do at 12 is a big mystery. They are sitting in a position to possibly land one of this year’s blue chip players. And if they find themselves on the clock and their sixth or seventh ranked player is still there, bingo! A great Day 1 of the draft they will have. But what if that is not the case? What if they get to pick 12 and all the top guys are gone, and they have a cluster of players to choose from who are all graded out similarly. Then what? If that is the case, the Cowboys should give serious consideration in trading back in the first round. They should still be able to get a player they want and grab some extra draft capital in the process. That is exactly what they did last year when they moved back in the first round from 26 to 29 and scored an extra third-round pick that they used to select Cooper Beebe (73rd overall). They also did this in 2021 when they moved from 10 to 12 and again picked up an extra third-round pick used to select Chauncey Golston (84th overall). If the Cowboys decided to move back, here is an idea of what they could get in return according to the NFL Trade Value Chart created by Drafttek. The 14th overall pick + an early fourth-round pick The 16th overall pick + a mid third-round pick The 21st overall pick + a mid second-round pick Do any of these trade options interest you? The Cowboys are a team that has elite talent at the top of the roster who command high prices. Those costs will get even higher when Micah Parsons and Tyler Smith get their soon-to-be coming extensions. And with Osa Odighizuwa already retained, there’s a lot of pie already allocated. With all these added costs, the Cowboys must rely on many young guys playing on low-cost rookie deals. Acquiring extra draft capital will help them address more areas on their roster. The Cowboys don’t have a fourth-round pick this year, nor did they have one last year, but they have something even better. They have better draft capital. They can turn quality into quantity and turn things into better picks than they had a year ago, thanks to that very powerful 12th overall pick. Of course, all of this is predicated on the assumption that there isn’t a huge blinking light flashing for them when pick 12 rolls around, but if that light’s not there, they should be willingly working the phones on Day 1.

Andrew Dieb-Imagn Images The latest news surrounding the Dallas Cowboys. Zack Martin emotionally-charged Cowboys’ retirement speech: ‘I gave it everything I had’ – Patrik Walker, DallasCowboys.com The future Hall of Famer bid an emotional goodbye to football. Martin reflected on his time with the Cowboys as a player and his impact on the Dallas community. “What a privilege it is for the Dallas Cowboys to have you having been the player you’ve been, and the only team you’ve ever played for in professional sports,” said owner and general manager Jerry Jones before comparing him to the greatest offensive lineman in NFL history. “We’re honored … and we all know the great Larry Allen is someone we’re proud of. I wanna tell you right now, having known him personally and being involved in every kind of serious decision he was involved in, you guys are twins. “You’re twins. And you’ve had the same deep-seated respect for your fellow teammates and for what you were trying to contribute for the team to win. We all know everybody calls Larry the greatest, well, now we’ve got a debate coming on.” As a list of current and former teammates filed into The Star in Frisco to honor him — e.g., Dak Prescott, Tony Romo, Tyron Smith, Travis Frederick and many, many others who shared a field with The GOB — the solemn celebration featured everything from tears flowing to laughs ensuing as Martin and the Joneses remembered the drama of the 2014 draft that landed the former in Dallas at the expense of quarterback Johnny Manziel. “It was an absolute privilege to run out of the tunnel every Sunday and give this city everything I had,” he said, clearing his throat often out of emotion. “I know many of you may have seen this decision coming, but that doesn’t make it any easier. Football has been a huge part of my life. “It’s what I know. It’s what I love. It’s what has shaped me for as long as I can remember. I did not make this decision lightly. It comes after a long thought and prayer. But the time has come for my football journey to reach its end.” Jerry Jones brought to tears speaking on Dallas Cowboys legend – Ali Jawad, Sports Illustrated Zack Martin wasn’t the only emotional person on stage at his retirement press conference. It was 11 years ago that Dallas Cowboys owner Jerry Jones walked out of the war room at the Valley Ranch headquarters because he felt his team and son executive VP Stephen Jones made the wrong decision during the 2014 NFL Draft. Rather than selecting the exciting and crowd-drawing Johnny Manziel, the Cowboys selected a guard named Zack Martin with the 16th overall pick out of Notre Dame. “The reason you’re sitting in the middle, I think, is because they wanted to separate me and Stephen [Jones] because I still have knots on my chin from him kicking me under the table when we were sitting there discussing that draft day,” Jones said jokingly with Martin sitting between the two at his retirement presser. Now fast forward 11 years, nine All-Pros, and Pro Bowl selection’s later, an emotional Jones could only sit and listen as he enjoyed every bit of the moment of reflection while the future hall of fame Martin was delivering his retirement speech. “This room today, I think, is gathered for an appreciation of a person who has taken all the things this [organization] stands for, Jones said. “All that we’re interested in, why we get up, and why we spend our time focused the way we do. If you sum up all the things this room is interested in. Tony Romo, sitting over there, many of your former colleagues, former players who played with you, are here. But if you take the common interest that we have in this room, that’s why we are here to recognize you for a great career. Just as he [Zack Martin] was concise and efficient in his remarks that covered so many, many accomplishments.” “The player you are, the person you are, the leader you are, your unique inner play with the part of our time together has been exemplary, unsurpassed, yet very competitive and very strong,” Jones said. Cowboys Big-Name Cap Moves Clear Way To Sign Super Bowl Linebacker – Anthony Goss, AthlonSports.com Let’s just, for a brief moment, fantasize about Dallas making free agency moves. Dallas has gotten active in the days leading up to the start of free agency. They made the deal for Odighizuwa, but also brought back C.J. Godwin, Juanyeh Thomas and Brock Hoffman. These were all in response to the bigger moves made behind the scenes. The Cowboys have “flipped the switch” on Dak Prescott’s and CeeDee Lamb’s contracts, restructuring them in ways that now open up more cap space for the team to use potentially this offseason. Some of those resources will go into an expected contract extension for Micah Parsons, but also open up avenues for the team to build through free agency if they choose. As they explore the market, there are needs to be filled across the board, but could the Cowboys try to beef up their defense with another linebacker? Kansas City Chiefs linebacker Nick Bolton is set to hit free agency and could be an option for Dallas. Bolton turned in another solid season in 2024 with 106 total tackles and three sacks, also recovering two fumbles. He may not drive an extremely high price in free agency, so if he wants out of Kansas City, the Cowboys have good reason to show interest. Cowboys restructure Prescott and Lamb deals, but any impact on free agency is murky – Schuyler Dixon, Associated Press Jerry Jones tries to temper expectations for free agency. The Dallas Cowboys created nearly $57 million in salary cap space by restructuring the contracts of star quarterback Dak Prescott and his top receiver, CeeDee Lamb. It remains to be

Kevin Jairaj-Imagn Images The pass rusher market saw a big-time deal drop on Wednesday which will certainly be relevant in Micah Parsons conversations. The NFL pass rusher market saw a new name rise to the top on Wednesday, something that the Dallas Cowboys are going to have to pay serious attention relative to Micah Parsons. It was reported that the Las Vegas Raiders were taking care of Maxx Crosby with a three-year deal worth $106.5M. From an AAV standpoint this puts Crosby at $35.5M per year and north of Nick Bosa’s AAV of $34M. Crosby is now the NFL’s highest-paid non-quarterback. Las Vegas Raiders are signing Pro Bowl DE Maxx Crosby to a three-year, $106.5 million extension that includes $91.5 guaranteed, making him the highest paid non-quarterback in NFL history, per sources. For the third time in four years, the Raiders are addressing the contract of… pic.twitter.com/TKdIQdqqia — Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) March 5, 2025 As noted, the Cowboys are likely paying attention to this as they are going to have to get a deal done with Micah Parsons sooner or later. It would stand to reason that sooner would the choice here, but Jerry Jones went on record on Wednesday after Zack Martin’s retirement press conference to say that sooner doesn’t have to be the case as far as free agency is concerned. Still though, the Cowboys are acting a little bit differently in terms of action. Between Tuesday and Wednesday they cleared over $55M in salary cap space with restructures to the Dak Prescott and CeeDee Lamb deals, that has to theoretically be earmarked for something. With Parsons it is still all a negotiation, and he likely has things that he wants from an extension with the team. Jerry also touched on that on Wednesday. Jerry Jones speaking on what could prevent the Cowboys from getting a deal done with Micah Parsons ahead of free agency, as he’s pleaded for publicly in recent months: “Those are a part of his cards. To talk about time and to be available for time, those are part of the cards to… — Nick Harris (@NickHarrisFWST) March 5, 2025 It should be noted that a Parsons extension would also save the Cowboys salary cap space as they could convert his 2025 cap number to the league minimum and spread things out over the future. This is why we advocated for them to take care of Lamb and Prescott as soon as possible last year and even back in 2022. For what it’s worth, the Crosby deal does not seem to be something that is going to move the Cowboys to act faster than they feel comfortable. Can confirm the Cowboys have restructured Dak Prescott’s deal per team sources. As Micah Parsons told me this week, his agent is handling things with Cowboys but when I asked the team if there is a rush now to get a deal done in midst of Maxx Crosby contract I was told “not… — Jane Slater (@SlaterNFL) March 5, 2025 The pass rusher market could still see some bumps as Myles Garrett and Trey Hendrickson lurk as other names to watch for new deals. It always stood to reason that Parsons was going to come in north of Bosa and probably even north of what Crosby just got, even if he is on record in saying he will take less for the Cowboys (his agent likely disagrees with that). The obvious next step is to swallow the pill and get it done as soon as possible.

Mark J. Rebilas-Imagn Images The latest news from around the division. Darius Slay landing spots: Best fits for veteran CB with Eagles releasing him after Super Bowl win – Tyler Sullivan, CBS Sports Philadelphia has their first notable cap casualty of the offseason. The Philadelphia Eagles are releasing veteran cornerback Darius Slay, according to CBS Sports lead NFL Insider Jonathan Jones. This ends a decorated five-season stint with Philadelphia, which included three Pro Bowl nods and, most recently, a win in Super Bowl LIX. The writing was on the wall for Slay’s tenure to come to a close with the Eagles this offseason since the 34-year-old was entering the final year of his contract. On top of entering what would’ve been a lame-duck year, there was also no guaranteed money left on his contract, which further emphasized either his release or a restructuring of some sort. The club has since opted for the former, and Slay will now enter the open market. As ESPN reports, the Eagles will be releasing Slay with a post-June 1 designation, which means the organization will clear $4.3 million off its salary cap this offseason. Slay joined the Eagles in March of 2020 when the club executed a trade with the Detroit Lions, who drafted him in the second round of the 2013 NFL Draft out of Mississippi State. During his time in Detroit, Slay established himself as one of the league’s top corners, earning three Pro Bowl nods and a first-team All-Pro honor in 2017 after co-leading the league in interceptions. This past regular season, Slay started in all 14 of his games played, notching 49 tackles, 13 pass breakups, and one forced fumble. In coverage, he allowed an 81.9 passer rating and a 54.7 completion percentage when targeted. During Philadelphia’s playoff run to a Super Bowl LIX title, Slay started all four postseason games and totaled five pass breakups and an interception. Newest Washington Commanders’ star Deebo Samuel breaks silence on weight issues – Darius Hayes, SI.com The Deebo Samuel trade has brought up conditioning issues. Washington Commanders wide receiver Deebo Samuel has responded to concerns about his weight, which have followed him throughout his career. The Commanders’ newest offensive weapon faced speculation that he entered the 2024 season nearly 20 pounds overweight, an issue that had been on the 49ers’ radar since he arrived in the NFL. Matt Barrows of The Athletic noted that Washington had also been aware of the challenges tied to Samuel’s conditioning. “I’m not going to say the number, but I asked what was Deebo’s high point weight-wise last season, and it meshes with what you said a couple of weeks ago. It got really high, and there may have been reasons for that—not able to work out because of pneumonia, not able to work out because of injuries. But that’s a concern. I think the 49ers had that concern the minute he showed up in Santa Clara in 2019, and it never fully went away.” Samuel, never one to stay silent on criticism, took to social media to clarify the issue. He revealed his weight reached 225 pounds last season, attributing the increase to a battle with pneumonia and injuries that limited his ability to train. “225 to be exact… Can’t wait till this season start. Fresh start new Bo.” Matthew Stafford Rejected Lucrative Offer From Giants, NFL Host Says – Karl Rasmussen, Sports Illustrated It seems New York still made a valiant push to land Stafford, but lost the bidding war. The Matthew Stafford sweepstakes came to an end over the weekend when the veteran quarterback agreed to a new deal to remain with the Los Angeles Rams. Various teams had expressed interest in trading for Stafford and subsequently signing him to a new contract, but ultimately he opted to remain in L.A. Among the teams that were in pursuit of the 37-year-old were the New York Giants, who are in the market for a quarterback after parting ways with Daniel Jones last year. While they missed out on Stafford, it wasn’t for lack of trying. According to NFL Network host Rich Eisen, the Giants not only matched the Rams’ trade demands for Stafford, they also offered him a more lucrative contract than the deal he signed with Los Angeles. Despite that, Stafford chose to return to the Rams. “I heard the Giants and Raiders’ interest in Matthew Stafford was quite real, and it was hairy at certain junctures last week. And I heard the Giants hit the number… and they hit the trade comp, too. They were in,” said Eisen on The Rich Eisen Show. “The Giants even hired [Stafford’s] brother in law, Chad Hall, on the coaching staff. And so, they really made a run.” “I think at the end of the day, the Staffords like looking at the sun setting over the Pacific Ocean, and it’s, when it all comes down to it, it’s the best spot for him [to win],” said Eisen. Precisely what New York was willing to part with in order to land Stafford remains unclear, but Eisen indicates that they met the Rams’ asking price and also offered the veteran quarterback a hefty contract, though they still came up short.

Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports The Dallas Cowboys restructured Dak Prescott’s deal and created even more salary cap space. The Dallas Cowboys flicked their magic wand on Wednesday afternoon and created over $35M in salary cap space thanks to a restructure of Dak Prescott’s contract. Sometimes it really is that easy. The Cowboys have restructured Dak Prescott’s contract, opening up $36.6 million in cap space, per source. That’s $56.6 million created in the last two days with the CeeDee Lamb move, too. — Todd Archer (@toddarcher) March 5, 2025 This news comes just one day after the Cowboys flicked their wand over CeeDee Lamb’s deal and created $20M in salary cap space. As Todd Archer did the math on, that is $56.5M created in a 24 hour period (approximating here). Again, that easy. To be clear here, these are moves that were very predictable. They were not predictable as of late, they were predictable the moment that the deals were negotiated late last year. This is all by design and is a common occurrence in the NFL. Restructures are mechanisms that the team employ and have nothing to do with the players in terms of decisions. No money is lost from the players, this is all about the accounting of things relative to the salary cap as noted. OverTheCap now has the Cowboys with the eighth-most salary cap space (actual and effective) in the NFL. That is more than enough to be active next week. OverTheCap Time will tell whether or not the Cowboys are gearing up to do something specific or if they are clearing this for other purposes. Jerry Jones threw cold water on the idea of being active in free agency after Zack Martin’s retirement press conference, but it is possible that it was some sort of gamesmanship. Next week will be… something.