Photo by Ron Jenkins/Getty Images Brian Schottenheimer’s coaching staff is objectively impressive. The Dallas Cowboys have finalized their first coaching staff under Brian Schottenheimer, and it’s a group that’s received plenty of praise. Schottenheimer plans to call offensive plays, but he filled out his offensive staff with coaches that come with strong track records for player development and also bring unique schematic backgrounds to the table. Elsewhere, Schottenheimer went with experience. Matt Eberflus didn’t work out as a head coach, but his run as the Colts defensive coordinator was really strong, and his Bears defenses were always stout. At special teams, Nick Sorensen has experience in addition to having also been a defensive coordinator. Both coaches will allow Schottenheimer to focus more directly on coaching the offense, similar to the structure Mike McCarthy had with Dan Quinn (and later Mike Zimmer) and John Fassel. What’s lost in all of these staffing decisions, though, is one key factor, and it’s something that separates Schottenheimer’s staff from the rest of the crowd: he chose quality over connections. The NFL is known to be a good ol’ boys league, where coaches get jobs more so because of their connections than whether or not they’re actually good. We saw this most recently with the Sean McVay effect after the Rams saw success under McVay, and some could argue it’s why Schottenheimer has stuck around in the league as long as he has. Whether or not that’s true, Schottenheimer did not take that same approach to building his coaching staff. With his staff completed at 18 total coaches, there are just five coaches who have previously worked with Schottenheimer. Two of those coaches are holdovers from the McCarthy staff: Steve Shimko, who was promoted to quarterbacks coach and had worked with Schottenheimer at both Georgia and Seattle, and tight ends coach Lunda Wells. The other three coaches are Sorensen, his assistant Carlos Polk, and defensive pass game coordinator Andre Curtis. Polk only has one year of crossover with Schottenheimer – the 2021 season in Jacksonville – but that also saw him assisting Sorensen, making that more of a Sorensen hire than Schottenheimer simply bringing in someone he knows well. That’s similar to Curtis, who was there for all three years of Schottenheimer’s years with the Seahawks but also served on Eberflus’ Bears staff, making that more of a reunion with the new defensive coordinator. Speaking of Eberflus, the decision to bring him in as defensive coordinator felt obvious to some because of his ties to the organization. That said, Schottenheimer and Eberflus have never been part of the same staff and have no obvious connections. It would be naïve to suggest Jerry Jones didn’t play any part in bringing Eberflus back to Dallas, but Schottenheimer’s willingness to embrace it – despite knowing a ton of other coordinator candidates from his various experiences – speaks volumes about what he was looking for. This is even more apparent on the offensive side of the ball. Klayton Adams offers plenty of reasons to be excited, but he has zero ties to Schottenheimer. The additions of wide receivers coach Junior Adams and offensive line coach Conor Riley were also out of left field, having no real connection to Schottenheimer or anyone on staff, but rather just being good coaches getting hired because of their merits. The same can be said of pass game specialist Ken Dorsey, a former coordinator who brings plenty of valuable expertise and insight into the room. Dorsey has just over a decade of coaching experience but no ties to Schottenheimer or Adams. The closest you can get to a connection is that Dorsey was QB3 for the 49ers in 2005 under new offensive coordinator Mike McCarthy; that’s really it. Schottenheimer built his staff in much the same way Abraham Lincoln built his presidential cabinet: rather than filling it with party loyalists, as was the tradition, Lincoln sought a diverse group of differing philosophies that would later be coined the Team of Rivals. Schottenheimer doing the same thing in Dallas is significant in today’s NFL. Take a look at the other head coaching hires, for example. Both Lions coordinators – Ben Johnson and Aaron Glenn – left for head coaching jobs and filled their staffs with at least three coaches from Detroit. They also each added a couple coaches with ties to Lions head coach Dan Campbell. In Boston, Mike Vrabel reunited with longtime Patriots offensive coordinator Josh McDaniels and also hired nine different coaches that worked with him on the Titans prior to his firing. And while Kellen Moore has yet to make any official hires to his Saints staff, all reports indicate that he’ll bring Brandon Staley – his former head coach with the Chargers – in to run the defense. Additionally, two of his assistant coaches in Philadelphia have been touted as frontrunners to be Moore’s offensive coordinator. This is just the way things work in the NFL; it’s more about who you know and not about how good you are. That’s why Schottenheimer’s staff, and the process by which he built it, is deserving of such respect. There’s no guarantee that this staff will work out, but Schottenheimer has at least improved his odds by seeking outside voices and infusing his coaches rooms with creativity and new concepts.
Green with envy: Moves the Cowboys should consider making if they want to be more like the Eagles
Photo by Kevin Sabitus/Getty Images Moves the Cowboys can copy from the Eagles. When you look at organizations, the Dallas Cowboys are not the Philadelphia Eagles. They operate very differently, and with the success of the Eagles, it’s hard not to get caught up in wanting the Cowboys to be more like their divisional foe. Call it frustration or call it being green with envy. Whatever it is, fans want something different. So, let’s talk about that. Let’s imagine Jerry Jones is in a cold dark room somewhere steaming over not having what the Eagles have. Pretend he wants to win really bad and would consider changing his approach to give his team a real shot. Whether that’s a hypothetical you can wrap your mind around, that’s what we’re doing today. Without getting too crazy and creating scenarios beyond disbelief, what can the Cowboys do this offseason that would give them a better chance of reaching the Super Bowl? Be active in free agency Free agency is a fickle beast. It’s not the best way to spend cap resources because more times than not, what a team pays for is not what a team gets. If a player is worth their weight in gold, they usually are retained by their original team. If their team doesn’t see it that way, that player will hit the market and go to the highest bidder. In short, free agency is a losing endeavor. That said, it has its place. Some purchases prove valuable. The goal is to make the right purchases. Last offseason, the Eagles’ three most expensive free agent acquisitions were: Bryce Huff, EDGE – three years, $51 million Saquon Barkley, RB – three years, $38 million Chauncey Gardner-Johnson, S – three years, $27 million That’s $116 million for three years of service from those players. It would equate to roughly $39 million per season, but as we know the Eagles will put a lot of that cost on their tab. When you look at what they got compared to what they paid for, this again points to the wasteful investment of free agency, even with the home run signing of Barkley included. But that’s okay. In this hypothetical, we are accepting the losses. Remember, we just want the Cowboys to try harder. And it doesn’t have to be over $100 million thrown at free agency. What about half that? What about one or two semi-pricy outside free agents to add to the roster that would address areas of weakness? If you could cut a check for a couple of those players, who would you sign? Maybe you want to blow it all on one impact player like signing WR Chris Godwin for around $25 million a year and package him with CeeDee Lamb. Doesn’t that sound delightful? Or maybe you want to spread the money around and sign Eagles DT Milton Williams for $12 per year to strengthen the interior defensive line and sign Vikings RB Aaron Jones for $6 million per year to help bolster the running game. What the Cowboys do aren’t likely to be the moves we want them to make, and most free agents signed will come with depreciation, but again, that’s fine. We know that. Right or wrong, fans just want the Cowboys to do something. Retain their own This one is also a little tricky. Every year, the Cowboys watch a new crop of free agents leave Dallas for a bigger payday elsewhere. And in almost every instance, the Cowboys were wise to let that happen. That’s not to say that players like Dalton Schultz, Tony Pollard, Tyler Biadasz, or Dorance Armstrong are bad players. They’re not. They’re solid. But the Cowboys were smart to let them walk. When you look at their cost compared to their replacements, it’s a huge amount of savings compared to what they are getting from players like Jake Ferguson, Rico Dowdle, Cooper Beebe, and Carl Lawson. But instead of just letting a player leave for an overpriced contract, why not pay the overpriced contract themselves? A player like Osa Odighizuwa is a valuable asset. He will be harder to replace than the other guys mentioned above. He should command a hefty deal worth nearly $20 million per season, but so what? Just structure it to push the cap hit into future years so it’s tomorrow’s problem. There are a handful of players the Cowboys should consider hanging on to. Chauncey Golston came on strong last year, Jourdan Lewis is coming off his best season as a pro, and let’s not forget how big of a force DeMarcus Lawrence was when he was on the field. If the Cowboys want to avoid the pitfalls of free agency, then maybe the wise thing to do is to re-up on some of their own guys instead of watching them leave and scrambling to fill the gaps. Re-sign players early The Cowboys front office is heavily criticized for waiting too long to sign their own players. The narrative is that they procrastinate and don’t have a good sense of what players are worth, which ultimately ends up costing them more in the long run. That’s a damaging accusation towards a team that claims to be about saving as much as they can so they can have more pie for others. There is an alternate universe, however, where they actually do know what they’re doing and where agents won’t allow their clients to be undercut just because a team wants to move early. And while most moves happen when they’re supposed to happen, in this hypothetical we want the Cowboys to act with a greater sense of urgency. What this means is the Cowboys should play DaRon Bland’s asking price right now. Whatever it is, just do it. It will have the appearance of saving money because it’s early. If they want to keep Jake Ferguson, better do it now before he becomes an unrestricted free agent in 2026. And what about Brock
2025 NFL draft: 3 first-round prospects to help fix Cowboys offense
The Dallas Cowboys haven’t been their usual selves in recent drafts. It had become a tradition for the team to nail their first-round picks over the last 15 years, but the last two haven’t turned into immediate successes, stemming the flow. New head coach Brian Schottenheimer needs to hit a home run with his first-ever pick, just as the previous two hires did in their first drafts at the head of the table. Jason Garrett’s first draft fully in charge was in 2011, and the Cowboys drafted Tyron Smith, an All-Pro tackle who stayed with the team for a decade. In 2020, Mike McCarthy took over, and his first pick was WR CeeDee Lamb. Another All-Pro like Smith, Lamb just signed a second contract with the team before the season. That is two offensive-minded coaches and two excellent draft picks on offense. The Cowboys have plenty of holes in the roster, meaning they could go in several directions with their top pick in the 2025 NFL draft. Here are a few options on offense. Ashton Jeanty Dec 31, 2024; Glendale, AZ, USA; Boise State Broncos running back Ashton Jeanty (2) reacts after the game against the Penn State Nittany Lions in the Fiesta Bowl at State Farm Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-Imagn Images Ashton Jeanty, a running back from Boise State, is one of the true first-round grades in this draft. If he fell to Dallas at No. 12, they would have to consider him, even if the room was filled with people who believe running backs shouldn’t be drafted that high. Dec 6, 2024; Boise, ID, USA; Boise State Broncos running back Ashton Jeanty (2) during the first half against the UNLV Rebels at Albertsons Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Brian Losness-Imagn Images A playmaker with the capability of Jeanty raises the floor of everyone around him. His game in the CFB playoffs against Penn State is an example of what he can do when the competition is overwhelmingly better than his own team. Jeanty took 30 carries and got over 100 yards even though fellow-top 10 prospect Adul Carter and the Nittany Lions front seven overmatched the Boise State offensive line. He broke an incredible 22 tackles in that contest, nine of them behind the line of scrimmage. Jeanty will make the OL, receivers, tight end, quarterback, and play caller all better just by being a threat on the field. WR Emeka Egbuka Ohio State Buckeyes wide receiver Emeka Egbuka (2) makes a touchdown catch against Indiana Hoosiers during the second quarter of the football game in Columbus on Saturday, Nov. 23, 2024. Emeka Egbuka will be rich for some at No. 12 because his ceiling isn’t a top-of-the-league receiver, but what he does could be what the Dallas offense needs to level up. The team is building a coaching staff focused on improving the run game, and Egbuka walks in as a great blocker from Day 1. He is also this class’ best route runner from the slot, giving Dak Prescott a Randall Cobb-esque threat once again. Egbuka can create separation, move the chains on third down, be a red zone threat, and bring some yards after reception to the offense. He won’t take much developmental time as a senior with a great classroom work ethic. His ability to read zone defenses and running routes that beat man coverage will help raise the floor on the offense. OL Kelvin Banks, Jr. Dec 21, 2024; Austin, Texas, USA; Detailed view of the jersey of Texas Longhorns offensive lineman Kelvin Banks Jr. (78) against the Clemson Tigers during the CFP National playoff first round at Darrell K Royal-Texas Memorial Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-Imagn Images Kelvin Banks Jr. is a pick who could help the offensive line no matter where the holes in the line end up. He was a unanimous All-American, First-Team All-SEC lineman who walked away with the Jacobs, Lombardi and Outland trophies in 2024. Dec 21, 2024; Austin, Texas, USA; Texas Longhorns offensive lineman Kelvin Banks Jr. (78) against the Clemson Tigers during the CFP National playoff first round at Darrell K Royal-Texas Memorial Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-Imagn Images Tyler Guyton will get another season at left tackle because he was a developmental first-round pick the team knew needed experience and coaching, but RT Terence Steele could be a cut candidate. Banks Jr. played tackle for Texas University and could be the replacement for Steele. If the team likes their tackles, but Zack Martin doesn’t return, he could be the right guard of the future. Having Brock Hoffman as a backup at all three interior positions would provide excellent depth. That would give the team three first-round linemen for the new coaching staff to build around.
Micah Parsons is encouraging Cowboys front office to be aggressive in free agency
Eric Hartline-Imagn Images Micah Parsons wants to see the Cowboys be aggressive in free agency. Once upon a time the Dallas Cowboys were an aggressive team in free agency. That came to an end, though. Any idea that the Cowboys will pounce on this, that or the other player is generated only by national narratives and not by anyone who has been paying attention since Brand Carr’s deal back in 2012 spooked this front office. The Cowboys have been relatively silent in free agency for over a decade now and have chosen to focus on building primarily through the NFL draft. It goes without saying that this method can be effective in building a championship-winning team, but in looking across the NFL, and specifically at its new champions in the Philadelphia Eagles, you would have a difficult time arguing against the merits of free agency. This is how Cowboys fans feel for the most part, and that group also includes a member of the team, Micah Parsons. Parsons spoke on Thursday and noted that he wants to see the Cowboys be more aggressive in free agency and even used the phrase “call to action.” From the Fort Worth Star Telegram’s Nick Harris: Historically inactive with the big players in free agency, the Cowboys seem destined for a similar approach this offseason after Jerry Jones’ comments in New Orleans last week that he sees this offseason to be “in line” with others. However, Parsons is hoping that Jones and the front office finds some aggression in adding talent to the team around him. “The talent is there, we just got to be aggressive the same way [other teams] did,” Parsons said. “I don’t want to sit back and watch other [teams] build and build and us stay the same. Definitely some call to action. I want to see us become aggressive and get some players that will come in and make an impact. I want to see us bring back our own players, that’s just as important. Let’s see what we can do there.” Perhaps the most notable line of Parson’s entire thought is that he doesn’t want to sit back and watch other teams build and build while the Cowboys stay the same. Dallas has been the very last team to sign an external free agency multiple times in the last handful of years. Again, nobody is calling for the Cowboys to go for broke (“all in” if you will) and act irresponsibly. But the idea that they cannot afford to spend or cannot make moves to adjust things is falling on deaf ears these days. People are sick of it and watching the Eagles win another Super Bowl only adds to that frustration. Something that the Cowboys could potentially use as justification for not being active in free agency is the pending contract for Parsons. For what it’s worth, Parsons noted there is no real update there. “There’s been no progress,” Parsons said on an extension. “But I’m pretty confident something will happen. We’ll see.” The offseason kicked off with Parsons meeting with Jerry Jones at the Cotton Bowl to talk about a variety of topics. As the two grow closer professionally, Parsons is confident in what is ahead. “I really have a lot of respect for Jerry,” he said. “We have great conversations all the time. There’s definitely a plan in place to see how everything plays out.” Fans all around the world, along with the best player on the team, are calling for the Dallas Cowboys to wake up and get in on the same game that everyone else is playing. Will they listen?
Cowboys news: Dallas free agent predicted to get a huge contract which could see him leave
Photo by Cooper Neill/Getty Images The latest Dallas Cowboys buzz heading into the weekend. Projected price tag for Cowboys breakout free agent revealed – Koby Skillern, Sports Illustrated Jerry Jones and the Cowboys may have to write a pretty large check if they want to bring back Osa Odighizuwa for the 2025 season and beyond. Odighizuwa couldn’t have picked a better time to break out, doing so in his contract year. With a relatively weak defensive tackle class in free agency, teams are primed to open their checkbooks for one of the few standout stars available at the position. Marcus Mosher for the 33rd Team predicted “This Year’s Mega Contacts” and Osa Odighizuwa cracked the list Odighizuwa is projected to earn a whopping three-year, $63 million contract. “Look for Odighizuwa to earn a contract worth at least $20 million per season. Given the lack of depth at defensive tackle in free agency, it wouldn’t be a surprise if he earned significantly more,” Mosher wrote. “We saw Christian Wilkins sign a deal worth upwards of $27 million last year, and Odighizuwa is younger and far more durable.” Dak Prescott: ‘It’s our turn, it’s on us’ to win a Super Bowl – Tommy Yarrish, DallasCowboys.com Dak Prescott reflected on the Super Bowl-winning division rivals and believes that the Cowboys are within reach. While some would say there’s a gap between where the Eagles and Cowboys are at, Prescott thinks that Dallas is “very close” to winning a Super Bowl of their own. “I feel like we compete with the Eagles and beat them, for the most part, when we play them.” Prescott said at the reveal of models for the 2025 Children’s Cancer Fund gala on Tuesday. “I don’t want to say ‘check the record’ when they’re the guys holding the trophy right now, so credit to them. They earned it and they deserve it, by all means, but yea, very close.” In his nine year career, Prescott is 9-4 against the Eagles, but it’s an accomplishment that is hard to celebrate considering the Cowboys haven’t made an NFC championship game in 30 years, the longest drought in the NFL. In 2024, the Eagles beat the Cowboys by a combined 75-13 margin with Prescott nursing his hamstring injury. With all of that in mind, Prescott knows that if Dallas wants to end the drought and reign above the NFC again, the responsibility falls solely on them. “To see [the Eagles do it] in such a dominating fashion, credit to them,” Prescott said on Philadelphia’s Super Bowl win. “It’s our turn, and it’s on us.” 2025 NFL offseason: Free agency, draft questions for all 32 teams – NFL Nation reporters, ESPN Todd Archer of ESPN outlines what needs to happen for the Cowboys in order to be contenders in 2025. How do the Cowboys close the gap on the Eagles? Brian Schottenheimer will look to do what only Barry Switzer, Chan Gailey, Bill Parcells and Wade Phillips did in Cowboys history: get to the playoffs in his first season as head coach. The health of key players (quarterback Dak Prescott, wide receiver CeeDee Lamb, cornerback Trevon Diggs) is a must, but the Cowboys will have to do more than just hope for improvement from within and the draft. They will need a proven pass rusher opposite Micah Parsons, a No. 2 receiver opposite Lamb and help on the offensive line. They need to keep some of their own (Osa Odighizuwa, Jourdan Lewis) and be surgical in free agency. A quick reminder: The NFC East has not had a repeat champion since 2003-04. — Todd Archer Trevon Diggs injury update provided by fellow Cowboys defensive star – Josh Sanchez, SI.com Trevon Diggs update via Micah Parsons. There were reports that Diggs could miss all of the offseason workouts and potentially part of training camp, and now we have an injury update from fellow defensive star Micah Parsons. “He had a successful surgery. I talked to him, and he’s doing real well. He’s in Dallas and he’s doing exactly what he’s supposed to do,” Parsons said, via Patrik Walker of DallasCowboys.com. “He’s the ultimate competitor. He knows when he comes back, and he’ll be back real soon, he’ll be great. “It’s just all about regaining stability and resting.” Diggs, a key defensive player for the Cowboys, has been a cornerstone of the team’s secondary since his breakout season in 2021. Known for his ball-hawking skills, Diggs has earned two Pro Bowl selections and established himself as one of the top cornerbacks in the league. Having Diggs return to the field will be key for the Cowboys secondary for the 2025 season, and hopefully he can return to his top form and avoid another injury setback.
Cowboys Headlines: Micah’s plea to front office, update on Trevon Diggs, confidence on new deal
Ahead of free agency, Cowboys’ Micah Parsons sends ‘call to action’ to Dallas front office :: Fort Worth Star-Telegram Link Parsons has called his shot, publicly asking the Cowboys front office to be more aggressive in acquiring talent this offseason. “I don’t want to sit back and watch other [teams] build and build and us stay the same. Definitely some call to action,” he said. “I want to see us bring back our own players; that’s just as important. Let’s see what we can do there.” Micah Parsons on status of contract talks with Cowboys: ‘There is a plan in place’ :: The Mothership Link As for his own deal, Parsons and Jerry Jones apparently sat down recently to lay the groundwork for a new contract, but the edge rusher says there has been no progress yet to speak of. Parsons remains confident “that something will happen,” and he hopes it will happen sooner rather than later, even though he’s stated he has no plans to hold out of training camp over the issue. Trevon Diggs injury update provided by fellow Cowboys defensive star :: SI.com Link Despite reports that Diggs’s recovery from knee surgery could extend well into training camp, Parsons offered a more encouraging update. “He had a successful surgery. I talked to him, and he’s doing real well. He’s in Dallas and he’s doing exactly what he’s supposed to do,” Parsons explained. “He’s the ultimate competitor. He knows when he comes back, and he’ll be back real soon, he’ll be great… It’s just all about regaining stability and resting.” Jason Witten on Hall of Fame eligibility :: Todd Archer Running backs don’t matter? 2024 taught Cowboys lesson, but which one? :: Cowboys Wire Link Despite monster years from Saquon Barkley, Derrick Henry, and others, it’s still a passing league. Their ground success in 2024 came just as much from exceptional O-line play and specific team situations as from raw running talent, though. Either would have likely turned in better numbers than Rico Dowdle, but probably nowhere near what they did with their own teams. Dallas seems to be investing in the right places so far, with a coaching staff that leans toward the OL; now they need to choose the right young RB (Ashton Jeanty or otherwise) in the draft. 2025 NFL draft: 3 first-round prospects to help fix Cowboys offense :: Cowboys Wire Link After back-to-back years of the Cowboys making mediocre opening-round selections, Brian Schottenheimer sure could use a home run with his first-ever draft pick. Jeanty seems to be a special player, but there’s a lot of data to suggest that a ballcarrier should never be taken so high. Ohio State WR Emeka Egbuka would be an exciting WR2 to CeeDee Lamb, though there are doubts he could ever be a top-of-league pass-catcher. He may be a reach at No. 12 overall, but the Cowboys do love their O-linemen in Round 1. Look out for Kelvin Banks Jr. from Texas if he’s available. He could help shore up the right side of the line, depending on what happens with either Terence Steele or Zack Martin. Dan Parr 2025 NFL mock draft 1.0: Cowboys’ blockbuster deal among three first-round trades :: NFL.com Link This mock swings for the fences, having Dallas trade the 12th overall pick (and 2026’s first-round selection) to Cleveland for Myles Garrett. “It would take some creative salary cap maneuvering for Dallas to make it happen,” but Micah Parsons has already said he’d take less money to play opposite Garrett. The Browns, by the way, use the 12th pick to take Jeanty. Pro Football Focus grades Cowboys rookies among league’s worst in 2024 :: Cowboys Wire Link Yikes, this report card isn’t going up on the fridge. None of the Cowboys’ first-year players graded higher than the middle of their rookie class at their respective positions. Tyler Guyton, Marshawn Kneeland, and Marist Liufau finished toward the bottom; Caelen Carson’s 2024 performance was ranked the worst of the rookie corners leaguewide. 2025 NFL Free Agency: Predicting this year’s mega-contracts :: The 33rd Team Link Following a career year, defensive tackle Osa Odighizuwa could be looking at a new deal worth at least $20 million per season… and maybe quite a bit more. The Bengals, Commanders, and Giants are all predicted to be suitors for the four-year starter, who could benefit greatly from this year’s thin class of college prospects at the position and end up with a massive contract. Tackling grades for all 32 NFL teams: Broncos, Lions rank in top five for 2024 season :: NFL.com Link Mike Zimmer’s defense got a bad rap early in the year, but the unit actually showed sure tackling from Week 7 onward. A new AI model that measures “tackle probability” gives the Cowboys a B grade in tackling on the season. Parsons recorded the least-efficient tackling season of his career, but the defense tackled notably better with him on the field. Eric Kendricks and Odighizuwa were especially proficient. The team ranked 10th leaguewide in tackle probability. Report: Former Cowboys RB to take coaching job in Detroit, reunite with Jahmyr Gibbs :: Cowboys Wire Link At the college level, Tashard Choice helped turn Jahmyr Gibbs and Bijan Robinson into first-round talents, and both were among the league’s top five ballcarriers in 2024. Now the former Cowboys rusher will reunite with Gibbs in Detroit as the Lions’ RB coach. Choice had been a candidate for the same job in Dallas, but the Cowboys were said to be unwilling to pay him what he wanted to leave the Texas Longhorns. The Lions apparently had no such qualms. Former Cowboys assistant reunites with Kellen Moore in New Orleans :: Mike Garafolo
Running backs don’t matter? 2024 taught Cowboys lesson, but which one?
Passing is still king Mandatory Credit: Kevin Jairaj-Imagn Images The resurgence of the running game is undeniable but the NFL is still a passing league. Of the 32 offenses in the NFL, only three finished with a higher EPA/play running the ball than passing the ball (CAR, NO, CLE). EPA shows the expected points added from a play. If the expected points added is positive, the play is recorded as successful (illustrated in success rate). If the expected points added is negative, the play is deemed unsuccessful since the team was in better position before the play rather than after. Example: 1st-and-10 is almost always better than 2nd-and-7 because the scoring probability declines on a three-yard gain on first down. Passing also has a higher success rate in the NFL with just one team (NO) posting a higher success rate on the ground than through the air. RBs have clearly seen a resurgence against today’s defenses of choice but it’s not enough to remotely rival the passing game in regard to impact. Some RBs matter Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Kevin Jairaj-Imagn Images As with any rule, there are always exceptions to it and both Henry and Barkley are excellent examples of that. Barkley specifically has been getting high praise coming off the Super Bowl win. The 28-year-old out of Penn State has always been a special player. After going second overall in the 2018 NFL draft, Barkley has been considered one of the best in the game. Injuries, a poor offensive line and an absent passing game held Barkley back most of his time in New York, but it was always clear he was something special. Philadelphia certainly thought so, inking Barkley to a three-year, $37,500,000 deal over the 2024 offseason. Barkley went on to post 2,005 rushing yards on the season. It was one of the most successful rushing campaigns in NFL history and evidence Barkley is an all-time great. Barkley’s 2.78 yards after contact ranked 10th out 23 qualifying RBs who had 200 or more carries in 2024 (Sumer Sports). His explosive play percentage of 12.9 was second only to Jamar Gibbs in Detroit. He led the NFL in carries, weighted opportunities and red zone touches as well (Player Profiler). Looking at the 2025 NFL draft Ashton Jeanty is giving off the game generational vibes Barkley has been giving. Coming out of Boisie State Jeanty inexplicably thrived behind a one-dimensional offense, beating defenses who were singularly focused on stopping him. If exceptions to the rule are being made, Jeanty must be considered an exception. Should the Cowboys use the No. 12 overall pick on Jeanty if they also consider him an exception? That’s a topic for a different debate since positional value, depth of the draft, team priorities and surplus value must also be weighed in draft day decisions. What probably can’t be debated is how special Jeany is as a RB. [affiliatewidget_smgtolocal] Run blockers matter (Photo by Jason Miller/Getty Images) It’s no coincidence Barkley had his best season playing behind the No. 1 graded offensive line in football. After all, a major reason the “RBs don’t matter” mantra caught fire is because rushing success was closer correlated to offensive line play than individual ball carriers. Teams were seeing down-roster replacement RBs put up similar numbers to that of the high-priced starters. As long as the offensive line play was strong, the running game worked. The individual RB didn’t matter nearly as much. The proof is in the numbers. Runs with zero negatively graded runs have a success rate of 60.2 percent and an EPA of +0.27, compared to just 25.7 percent success rate and a -0.27 EPA for running plays with one or more negatively graded blocks. Sometimes a generational player can overcome that but most of the time it comes down to blocking. Team situations matter Mandatory Credit: Tim Heitman-Imagn Images In addition to their dominant offensive line, the Eagles have an elite defense that keeps the running game relevant, an elite receiving group that keeps defenses honest and dual-threat quarterback that keeps run stoppers in conflict. Barkley stepped into the perfect situation so it’s no mystery why the 2024 season was far and away his best. Barkley and Henry joined teams that were readymade and stacked across the board. They were a cherry on top. They were a delicious addition to the sundae, but hardly a building block. How much did a great RB improve the Eagles and Ravens? . Mandatory Credit: Bill Streicher-USA TODAY Sports The Ravens finished the 2024 season ranked No. 1 in overall EPA/play. Their ground game was specifically dominant, finishing second in success rate and EPA/ carry. The running tandem of Lamar Jackson and Henry truly was an elite one. Given Baltimore ranked sixth overall the season before they added Henry, the improvement is undeniable. It wasn’t a transformative bump, but it was a bump nonetheless. The Eagles saw gains as well, but to a much lesser extent. They finished the regular season ranked sixth in overall in EPA/play with their rushing EPA specifically ranked first and their success rate ranked ninth. Again, pairing an elite RB with a dual-threat QB worked out positively for them. Yet, the season before Barkley, Philadelphia ranked seventh overall, so the addition moved them up just one spot in the rankings. As the numbers show the Eagles’ gains were much more modest. Barkley provided a bump but he didn’t lift the offense to the heights like some make it out to be. In fact, the success rate on the ground dropped with the addition of Barkey. The Eagles posted more failed running plays in 2024 than they did the season before. The takeaway is this: generational RBs dropped into a perfect situation can enjoy wild success in the NFL. But because of the opportunity costs associated with stealing snaps from a more productive passing game to feed the less productive running game, this boost may not be as transformative as it may seem. Fans
Cowboys shockingly named as “worst fit” for Michigan CB Will Johnson
Photo by Michael Allio/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images Will Johnson is a name to keep an eye on. Just a little over two months stand between the Dallas Cowboys and the 2025 NFL Draft. Dallas has plenty of work to do in that time period as they’ll need to fill plenty of holes on their roster before the draft kicks off on April 24th. Draft talk is in full swing, and many predictions and projections are already being made about which players fit or don’t fit with different teams. With that theme in mind, earlier this week, Bleacher Report published a “Poor Landing Spots for Top 10 2025 NFL Draft Prospects.” The Cowboys were mentioned as the “worst fit” for one of the top 10 prospects. Shockingly, the player they were linked to was Michigan cornerback Will Johnson. Here’s what they had to say about the former Wolverine’s polarizing draft stock. Much like former Wolverines teammate Mason Graham, Will Johnson’s profile generally isn’t viewed as favorably as it was entering the season, even though little has changed in regard to his skill set and status. One big difference does exist between those two, though. Turf toe cost Johnson all but six games this season. Fortunately, turf toe isn’t a lingering concern and shouldn’t affect his status for the 2025 campaign. As such, a team searching for an excellent cover corner should look toward the 21-year-old. Because of the injury and the fact he hasn’t been on the field in over four months, he’s being slept on to a degree despite his previous draft standing. That being the case, Johnson may experience a draft-day slide, especially if he’s not able to put together a strong workout prior to the draft. The biggest concern for him at this juncture is that he’ll take a tumble, thus going lower than expected and signing a smaller rookie contract. Based on his play, Johnson is worthy of being a top-10 selection. Naming Dallas as the worst fit for the talented cornerback makes no sense for various reasons. One, the Cowboys cornerback room is very thin, including veteran Trevon Diggs, who could miss at least half the regular season with a knee injury. Two, you could make a solid argument that cornerback is one of the three most significant positions of need the Cowboys must address this offseason. Even if they do bring back veteran slot corner Jourdan Lewis, Dallas still needs another starting-caliber cornerback to play alongside DaRon Bland. Contrary to Bleacher Report’s belief, Johnson and the Cowboys are actually a great fit. The talented cornerback would give Dallas a reliable option to start in place of Diggs while he comes back from his injury and could prove to be extremely valuable if the veteran struggles or is injured again once he returns. If Will Johnson slips a bit and is on the board at pick 12, the Cowboys would be wise to seriously consider making him their selection.
Cowboys 2025 offseason roster preview: Quarterbacks
Tim Heitman-Imagn Images It will be interesting to see if the Cowboys bring Cooper Rush back in 2025. The 2025 offseason is well underway for the Dallas Cowboys, who’ve just gone through a sweeping change in their coaching staff. But the moves that really get us excited, in good and bad ways, come when they start dealing with the players. Over the next two weeks, we’ll get you ready for this year’s potential roster changes with our position preview series. Today, we start at the top with the quarterbacks. While movement may be relatively slow here compared to other positions, its importance and spotlight will still command attention. Given that Cooper Rush started 13 games in the last three years, and with Prescott turning 32 this spring, how Dallas handles its backup spots will be a significant talking point. Under Contract Dak Prescott, Will Grier Potential Departures Cooper Rush, Trey Lance As far as Cowboys’ offseason topics go, the quarterback position is an odd one. While there’s no question who the starter will be, Dak Prescott is coming off a down year and still has the biggest contract in NFL history. It keeps him in constant conversation, whether on how his play will affect the team on the field or how his money will affect other offseason business. For better or worse, the Cowboys are still married to Prescott for at least a couple more seasons. 2027 is the first year that offers significant salary cap relief if Prescott is released, and that’s only if they don’t do any restructuring to the deal between now and then. So for all the debates about Prescott’s ability to win or which tier of NFL passers he falls on, it doesn’t change that he’s QB1 in Dallas for now. The more tangible uncertainty comes further down the depth chart. Cooper Rush and Trey Lance are both approaching unrestricted free agency, leaving Will Grier as the only other passer currently signed for 2025. We know Dallas is fond of Grier, but enough to make him the next man up should Prescott suffer another injury? That would seem brazen given how often they’ve had to turn to Rush in recent years. There’s also the question of when the Cowboys start planning for life after Prescott. The Lance trade was the first forward-thinking move we’ve seen at quarterback during his tenure, albeit without the desired results. Now that the organization appears disinterested in Lance, do they look to add a new prospect from this year’s draft class, or some other source, to the QB pipeline? Free Agency Other than potentially re-signing one of their own in Rush or Lance, the Cowboys aren’t likely to do much here. Top names on the market like Sam Darnold and Justin Fields will be looking for starting opportunities or at least competitions. Maybe you consider guys like Jameis Winston or Marcus Mariota as upgrades for QB2, but will Dallas spend more for it? They both made nearly double what Rush did in 2024. Another thought; will Brian Schottenheimer, Klayton Adams, and Steve Shimko like a chance to work with Trey Lance for a year? Maybe Mike McCarthy was part of the problem as to why Lance didn’t find traction in Dallas. If the front office agrees, perhaps they give Lance a one-year deal to return and see what happens. You know they’d love to feel like they got more for that fourth-round pick, even if it was just a solid backup. 2025 NFL Draft Outside of trading for Lance two years ago, the only other investments Dallas had made at QB during Prescott’s run were drafting Mike White (fifth round) in 2018 and Ben DiNucci (seventh round) in 2020. These were at very different points in Prescott’s career with only the backup job in view. It would be perfectly reasonable for the Cowboys to take a different approach now. Prescott’s entering his 10th year and, more concerningly, has missed significant portions of three of the last five seasons. While it’s a little too early to compare him to Tony Romo in 2016, we’re far enough down that road that having a potential replacement in the wings is worth considering. This is a weak QB class overall in 2025, so maybe it’s not the year to strike. The Cowboys have so many other needs throughout the roster that they should probably focus on stronger position groups and save QB for a better class. But you never know how Will McClay’s crew might feel about a certain prospect, and if the value presents itself on Day 3 then it’s certainly possible that they’ll get them into the system. Final Thoughts As it should, your opinion of Dak Prescott drives most of your overall feelings regarding the QB position and even the team as a whole. For those who’ve given up on him, this isn’t going to be a fun offseason. And even if you still believe that he can be the starter for a contender, there’s no denying that the Cowboys will have to do some significant work to put sufficient talent around him. When it comes to those offseason tasks, figuring out QB2 is no small matter. Re-signing Rush seems the most likely move for both price and continuity, but he should have some suitors in free agency given his win-loss record. Whether Dallas looks to him or another seasoned veteran, or goes younger with Lance or a drafted rookie, may tell us something about their perceived shelf life for Prescott.
Report: Former Cowboys RB to take coaching job in Detroit, reunite with Jahmyr Gibbs
Report: Former Cowboys RB to take coaching job in Detroit, reunite with Jahmyr Gibbs Todd Brock A former Cowboys ballcarrier who was a candidate to become the running backs coach under the team’s new regime now appears primed to take over the same role for an NFC powerhouse instead. And he’ll reunite with one of the scariest runners in the game when he does. Tashard Choice is expected to be named the new running backs coach for the Detroit Lions, according to a Thursday report from ESPN’s Adam Rittenberg. Choice was a fourth-round draft pick by the Cowboys in 2008 and played in Dallas for three-plus seasons, compiling a fairly modest 1,139 rushing yards while averaging 4.6 yards per carry during his time. After stops in Washington, Buffalo, and Indianapolis, Choice wrapped up his playing career in 2013. But by 2016, he was back in Dallas to begin his coaching journey as an intern with the team. Coaching is where Choice has really blossomed. Following two years on staff at North Texas, the Georgia native found himself in Atlanta as the running backs coach for his alma mater of Georgia Tech. It was there, over the 2020 and 2021 seasons, that he helped turn Jahmyr Gibbs into one of the nation’s top rushing threats. Gibbs transferred to Alabama for his final year of college ball and was drafted 12th overall by the Lions in 2023. The almost-23-year-old already has two Pro Bowl nods under his belt and finished last season with 1,412 rushing yards and 16 touchdowns on the ground. Now he’ll be reunited in Detroit with the college position coach who kickstarted it all. But Choice is far from a one-hit wonder when it comes to developing backfield talent. The 2022 season took him to Austin, where he oversaw Bijan Robinson for his electrifying 1,580-yard, 18-touchdown campaign with Texas. Both Gibbs and Robinson landed in the top five in the NFL in both rushing yards and touchdown carries in 2024. Earlier this year, Choice was widely considered to be a primary candidate for the Cowboys running backs coach job after the contracts of Mike McCarthy and his staff expired. It has been rumored, though, that Choice wanted more money to leave Texas than the Cowboys were willing to pay him. Apparently the Lions had no such qualms about outbidding the Longhorns for Choice’s services. [affiliatewidget_smgtolocal] Dallas eventually hired Derrick Foster for the role under new head coach Brian Schottenheimer. Foster had previously been with the Saints and Chargers. Choice will serve under Lions head coach Dan Campbell, himself a former Cowboys player (though they missed each other in Dallas by a few seasons). So now, when the Cowboys face the Lions at Ford Field during the 2025 regular season, they’ll see yet another very familiar face on the opposite sideline, both looking to stick it to the team they both once suited up for.
