Photo by Sam Hodde/Getty Images Do you think Zack Martin will be back with the Cowboys in 2025? The Dallas Cowboys will have an interesting couple of months coming up with free agency and the NFL draft on deck. One of the biggest questions that will need to be answered is an in-house one, and that’s the future of All-Pro guard Zack Martin. It’s hard to believe, but Martin is going into his 12th season in the league, so he’s heading towards the end of his career. However, when will the end be for Martin? During his first six seasons in the league, Martin only missed two games, and both came in 2018. Over the last five years, Martin has played in just 10 games in a season twice, including this season due to back, shoulder, and ankle injuries. He was out for two games in 2023 as well and hinted last offseason that 2024 could be his swan song. The injuries are starting to pile up, and that doesn’t bode well for an older player, especially one with lower body ailments. Martin spoke earlier this week about where’s he’s at in terms of continuing his NFL career. First off, I want to try to get healthy. Here in the next month, six weeks, me and my wife have been talking about it. Right now, I’m focused on getting healthy and seeing how I feel with this ankle kind of repaired and whether or not I’m going to go out and try to go again. Martin has seen his play go down a tick over the last two seasons. As far as his entire résumé, though, he’s been a consistent player that has performed at the highest level. He has nine All-Pro selections in 11 seasons, with seven being on the first team. Also, Martin has been a model when it comes to playing the game the right way as he has only been hit with a flag for holding just seven times and only eight times for a false start. Yes, Martin has more All-Pro nods than holding and false start penalties, which is simply unreal. Unfortunately, the Cowboys haven’t always had great success on the field since Martin came on board. Although they have five NFC East titles and six playoff appearances since Martin was drafted, it’s only produced three wins in the postseason. Let’s face it, losing takes a toll on players, and it gets worse the longer they continue to play and come up short. That’s one of the things that Martin has to consider as well as his health going forward. I think I’ve done a nice job in my career to really focus on what I was doing at that time throughout my career, and that’s what I’m trying to do now. Still trying to figure out what the next chapter in my life looks like, whether that be playing football here in Dallas, playing football somewhere else, retiring, whatever that may be, that’s what I’m trying to figure out. If Martin does return in 2025, he’ll be playing for his third head coach, Brian Schottenheimer, who was hired a few weeks ago. Although next season will be his first as the head man, Schottenheimer will be in his fourth year with the organization. The first was spent as a coaching assistant, and the last two were as the offensive coordinator. During that time, he has built a strong relationship with quarterback Dak Prescott. With his mindset for wanting creativity, and with new offensive coordinator Klayton Adams sharing the same philosophy, the Cowboys offense should look a lot different in 2025. That has also allowed Martin to spend quite a bit of time around Schottenheimer. The former first-round pick gave his thoughts on the Cowboys’ new head coach and where he sees the Cowboys going under his leadership. I’m excited for him, man. He’s made an impression on that building the last couple of years, I think what he does really well is he does a great job of having relationships in the building with everyone, whether it be an offensive player or a defensive player. I know that’s kind of at the forefront of what he wants to bring to the organization is those relationships within the team and throughout the people who work there, and I think he’ll do a great job with that. Now, the waiting game continues for what Martin is going to do. The Cowboys would be smart to take a guard at some point in the draft regardless, but if Martin decides to hang up the cleats, that position will rise up the priority list. The next few weeks/months will be full of anxiety and anxiousness when it comes to Martin.
Update: Cowboys hiring Kansas State OC Conor Riley for offensive line coach
Photo by Jack Gorman/Getty Images Cowboys have a target for their new offensive line coach [UPDATE]: Shortly after this article was published, it has been confirmed that the Cowboys are hiring Conor Riley as their offensive line coach. Can confirm that the Dallas Cowboys are indeed hiring Kansas State OC/OL coach Conor Riley to coach the oline on Brian Schottenheimer’s staff.Another highly touted get for Schotty — Clarence Hill Jr (@clarencehilljr) February 7, 2025 The Dallas Cowboys still have holes to fill on Brian Schottenheimer’s coaching staff, and a big one is the offensive line coach. A report today has Dallas targeting Kansas State offensive coordinator Conor Riley, who was the Wildcats’ o-line coach from 2019-2023. One of his top players during that run was Cooper Beebe, the Cowboys’ second-year interior lineman. A Division II lineman himself for the University of Nebraska-Omaha, Riley immediately became an assistant coach there and eventually moved into Division I. He coached tight ends and fullbacks in 2013 at North Dakota State, then became their offensive line coach and run game coordinator through 2018. SOURCES: The Dallas Cowboys are targeting K-State OC/O-line coach Conor Riley to become their new offensive line coach. Riley is one of the most respected O-line coaches in college football amongst his peers. — Bruce Feldman (@BruceFeldmanCFB) February 7, 2025 Between all of Riley’s stops, Cooper Beebe would seem to be his best contribution to the pros. Taken in the third round of last year’s draft, Beebe was considered by many to be a steal when Dallas got him. The Cowboys used the 73rd overall pick, acquired in a first-round trade down with the Lions, to add Beebe to their rebuilding offensive line. Beebe started all but one game as Dallas’ new center in 2024, having to sit out in December after a concussion. Unlike first-round pick Tyler Guyton at left tackle, Beebe hit the ground running and improved as the season went along. While we’re not entirely sure if it will still be at center or moving to guard, Beebe is sure to continue as a starter this year. The Cowboys are looking to reemphasize the run in their 2025 offense, evidenced by the promotion of Brian Schottenheimer to head coach and hiring Cardinals o-line coach Klayton Adams as their new offensive coordinator. One of the only running backs they have under contract right now, Deuce Vaughn, is another K-State graduate who worked closely with Riley and had success. We’ll see if this reported interest leads to a hire, but it makes sense given Conor Riley’s connection to some current Cowboys players and his reputation. The business of roster changes is soon to come, so getting the coaching staff finalized is the current top priority in Dallas.
Jason Witten, 2 other Cowboys to be eligible for Hall of Fame in 2026
With the Pro Football Hall of Fame shutting out Cowboys legend Darren Woodson once again, it’s time to look ahead to the Class of 2026. And several Cowboys could well be in the mix for legitimate gold jacket talk next year. Players who played their last snap during the 2020 season will be eligible for nomination in 2026, and it’s a stacked class of superstars. Drew Brees, Larry Fitzgerald, Frank Gore, LeSean McCoy, Geno Atkins, Maurkice Pouncey, Stephen Gostkowski, Greg Olsen, Todd Gurley, Julian Edelman, and Philip Rivers are just some of the men who’ll be in their first year of eligibility. It will mean tough competition for the three Cowboys who can now make the ballot. (Actually, Dontari Poe and Alfred Morris are also included in the first-year-eligible group, but their short Dallas stints are not what they’ll be best remembered for.) They’ll all be up against Woodson and the other finalists who didn’t quite make the Canton cut in 2025. And don’t forget the larger field of nominees who will be hoping that the committee reviews their careers in a more flattering light next time around. Here’s a look at the Cowboys who could join the sport’s immortal heroes in 2026, starting with the three in their first year of eligibility and followed by those who were among the original 167 under Hall of Fame consideration this year. [affiliatewidget_smgtolocal] TE Jason Witten (first-year eligible) Nov 6, 2016; Cleveland, OH, USA; Dallas Cowboys tight end Jason Witten (82) runs the ball into the end zone for a touchdown against the Cleveland Browns during the first quarter at FirstEnergy Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Scott R. Galvin-USA TODAY Sports On the surface, the Cowboys’ all-time receptions and receiving yards leader would seem to be a lock for reaching Canton on the first ballot. The 11-time Pro Bowler missed exactly one game in his 17 seasons as a player and sits in 20th place all-time among the league’s pass-catchers (second among tight ends) in yards. To be fair, though, DeAndre Hopkins, Mike Evans, and maybe even Travis Kelce should all pass Witten by the time the 2026 Hall of Fame vote comes around. And with the committee permitted to name a maximum of just five modern-era players, it’s difficult to imagine them giving more than two of those spots to guys who are up for the very first time. LB Sean Lee (first-year eligible) PHILADELPHIA, PA – OCTOBER 30: Sean Lee #50 of the Dallas Cowboys tries to tackle Michael Vick #7 of the Philadelphia Eagles at Lincoln Financial Field on October 30, 2011 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Chris Trotman/Getty Images) The story of Lee’s career will, unfortunately, always contain a healthy does of “what if” conjecture. While he ended his incredible 11-year run in Dallas with 802 tackles (in the franchise’s all-time top 10) and two Pro Bowl nods, Lee missed a third of the games played during his tenure due to injury. The cerebral second-round draft pick often acted as an unofficial coach on the sidelines while nursing many of those injuries, and his name still pops up any time there’s an opening on the Cowboys defensive staff. His name will pop up for Hall of Fame consideration for the first time in 2026. WR Dez Bryant (first-year eligible) Nov 20, 2016; Arlington, TX, USA; Dallas Cowboys receiver Dez Bryant (88) dives for the goal line in the fourth quarter for a touchdown against Baltimore Ravens cornerback Tavon Young (36) at AT&T Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Matthew Emmons-USA TODAY Sports Bryant is the Cowboys’ all-time touchdown reception leader, top five in receiving yards, and top three in both catches and targets. And while the three-time Pro Bowler’s place among the franchise’s greats is secure, Bryant topped 1,000 yards in a season only three times in his career and currently ranks just 137th in career receiving yards leaguewide, down near Nat Moore, Michael Crabtree, and Ed McCaffrey. A serious look for a gold jacket may not happen for Bryant, and certainly not in his first year of eligibility. Safety Darren Woodson (Stephen Dunn /Allsport) At this point, there’s nothing else to say about Woodson’s Hall of Fame credentials, which should have gotten him in years ago. The franchise’s all-time leading tackler. Three-time Super Bowl champ. Five-time Pro Bowler. Three-time first-team All-Pro. Cowboys Ring of Honor member since 2015. Woodson has been a finalist for Canton the last three years, but he now has just three years of consideration remaining as a modern-era player. Past that, he’d move to the seniors category, which is statistically an even tougher path to enshrinement. OC Travis Frederick Aug 24, 2019; Arlington, TX, USA; Dallas Cowboys center Travis Frederick (72) signals prior to a snap in the first half against the Houston Texans at AT&T Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Matthew Emmons-USA TODAY Sports Frederick was first eligible for Hall discussion this past year. The first-round draft pick started every game over his first five seasons and earned a Pro Bowl nod in the last four of them. A diagnosis of Guillain-Barré Syndrome cost him the entire 2018 campaign, but he returned in 2019 to start every game and garner another Pro Bowl trip before announcing his retirement. OT Erik Williams Jan 30, 1994; Atlanta, GA, USA; FILE PHOTO; Dallas Cowboys offensive tackle Erik Williams (79) in action against the Buffalo Bills during Super Bowl XXVIII at the Georgia Dome. The Cowboys defeated the Bills 30-13. Mandatory Credit: James D. Smith-USA TODAY Sports “Big E” was on track to be perhaps one of the greatest offensive linemen in Cowboys history until a serious automobile accident sidelined him for the back half of his fourth NFL season. He returned to the field in 1995 and played another six seasons. Williams helped Dallas’s dynasty teams of the ’90s win three Super Bowls, personally earning four Pro Bowl nods and first-team All-Pro accolades three times. LB Ken Norton Jr. Dec 16, 1989; E. Rutherford, NJ, USA; FILE PHOTO; Dallas Cowboys linebacker
New offensive coordinator Klayton Adams is proof the Cowboys shouldn’t draft Ashton Jeanty
Photo by Brooke Sutton/Getty Images The Cowboys don’t need Jeanty to succeed on the ground The Dallas Cowboys are firmly committed to improving their run game in 2025. Brian Schottenheimer brought it up a few times in his introductory press conference, and the hiring of Cardinals offensive line coach Klayton Adams to be the offensive coordinator – a few days after Stephen Jones stressed the importance of run schemes – cements that focus. Of course, one takeaway from the Cowboys’ recent moves revolve around the running back position. Rico Dowdle broke 1,000 rushing yards on the season, but his contract is set to expire and the expectation is he’ll at least test the free agency market. That leaves a hole at running back, which many believe Schottenheimer and Adams will seek to fill by drafting Boise State star Ashton Jeanty with the 12th overall pick. On the contrary, though, the hiring of Adams suggests the exact opposite. The Cardinals enjoyed one of the league’s best run games the last two years, but much of it came down to the creativity of Adams and his offensive coordinator, Drew Petzing, in the way they designed their run game. The focus on pulling blockers freed up plenty of room to run, making it easier on running back James Conner. Conner, who served as a bellcow for the Cardinals, helped finish top 10 in rushing each of his two years with Adams coaching the offensive line. Conner himself was a third-round pick back in 2017, starting his career with the Steelers and primarily working as part of a rotation. While he had been productive, topping 700 rushing yards in four of his first six seasons, Conner didn’t cross the 1,000 yard mark until Petzing and Adams arrived. Conner initially came to the Cardinals (pre-dating the current coaching staff) on a cheap one-year deal. Arizona then re-signed him to a three-year extension that paid him an average of just $7 million, about the middle of the running back market at the time. He received another extension heading into the 2024 season, upping his annual average to $9.5 million. Even with that pay bump, Conner is outside of the top five at his position and his total contract value ranks 13th. Prior to Adams joining the Cardinals, he spent four seasons under Frank Reich with the Colts. There, he also was part of a run game that didn’t require heavy investments at the running back position. Indianapolis finished top 10 in rushing in three of those years, with one season featuring a trio of Marlon Mack, Jordan Wilkins, and Jonathan Williams (none of whom are still in the NFL) while they later found great success with second-round rookie Jonathan Taylor. Adams’ mentor in Arizona, Petzing, also has a track record of success without major investments in the position. Petzing is a long time disciple of Browns head coach Kevin Stefanski, whose offense has put up great rushing totals with the likes of Nick Chubb, Kareem Hunt, D’Ernest Johnson, Demetric Felton, Jerome Ford, and Pierre Strong Jr. None of those runners were first-round picks, and only Chubb has been paid significant money. Even so, Chubb has never been in the top five in annual average at his position. Of course, there’s also the fact that the last two players to rush for 1,000 yards in Dallas – Dowdle and Tony Pollard – were not high draft picks and also were not paid top-market money. In fact, the Cowboys have had six players top 1,000 yards in a season since the Emmitt Smith days, and the Cowboys used a first-round pick on exactly one of them: Ezekiel Elliott. The organization itself has proven exactly what Adams has witnessed firsthand: you don’t need to invest heavily into the running back position to have a great run game. Between Schottenheimer and Adams, the Cowboys can build a scheme that will make any running back look good. While that includes Jeanty, there is no reason to spend such premium draft capital on him when the Cowboys have other glaring needs that could be addressed in the first round.
Cowboys news: Micah Parsons would “100%” take less money on new deal to play with Myles Garrett
Scott Galvin-Imagn Images The latest buzz around the Dallas Cowboys all in one place. Cowboys All-Pro Micah Parsons claims he would take less money on new deal to play with Myles Garrett – Garrett Podell, CBS Sports Myles Garrett recently requested a trade from the Browns and Micah Parsons would be ecstatic to play along side him in Dallas. Parsons, 25, would “100%” take less money on his new contract in order for Dallas to trade and extend Garrett, who is 29. That would give the Cowboys the NFL’s sacks leader (Garrett with 60.0 sacks) and the league’s fifth-ranked player in sacks (Parsons with 52.5) since Parsons entered the NFL as the 12th overall pick in the 2021 NFL Draft. Dallas owner and general manager Jerry Jones would need to promptly extend Garrett shortly after acquiring him via trade because the four-time First Team All-Pro doesn’t have any guaranteed salary remaining on the final two seasons, 2025 and 2026, of his current five-year, $125 million contract. Parsons is willing to take a smaller amount of money on his first non-rookie deal contract in the NFL to play alongside Garrett along the Dallas defensive line with one catch: he needs to be making slightly more than Garrett. “Oh, 100%. Yeah, 100%” Parsons said when asked if he would take pay cut for the Cowboys to acquire Garrett. “Will he take less too?… We would definitely have to make that happen. … As long as he [Jerry Jones] let me be a little higher [paid] than him [Garrett]. … I’m younger. … He [Garrett] want to be with us too. … I do alright [off the field as a Cowboy]. I do [want to win].” Ashton Jeanty: ‘It would be special’ to play for Cowboys – Tommy Yarrish, DallasCowboys.com Boise State RB Ashton Jeanty talked to the media about the possibility of being drafted by the Dallas Cowboys. “I think it would be dope, a lot of great people there, a lot of talented players,” Jeanty said about what it would mean to be a Cowboy. “Potentially to be a part of that, I think that would be a great opportunity.” Jeanty’s football journey has taken him all over the world, from learning the game at a field on a military base in Italy to finishing as the runner up for the Heisman Trophy after an electric season in Boise, Idaho after running for 2,601 yards and 29 touchdowns in 2024. In between that time, Jeanty was a standout player at Frisco Lone Star high school, a 15-minute drive from the Cowboys’ headquarters. Simply put, having a chance to return home and play for the Cowboys would be an opportunity that Jeanty would relish the entire time. “It would be special, growing up in Frisco, spending a lot of time out there, I think it would be cool to have the star on my helmet again,” Jeanty said. “Playing for Lone Star, I had a star on my helmet as well, so it would be a dope moment if that were to happen.” If that dream does in fact become reality in April, Jeanty will be tasked with helping elevate a Cowboys run game that struggled at various times last season. The good news is that when new head coach Brian Schottenheimer’s offensive scheme is working it’s best, it’s because of a strong run game. Kellen Moore has high praise for new Cowboys HC Brian Schotteheimer – Josh Sanchez, Sports Illustrated During Super Bowl interviews, former Cowboys OC Kellen Moore shared his opinion on the new head coach in Dallas. When asked about Dallas’ new head coach, Brian Schottenheimer, Moore had nothing but praise for his former colleague. The two worked together for one season in 2022 when Schottenheimer was a coaching analyst. “Schotty’s a great person, loved my year working with him, obviously we connected a lot just as far as the game plans…” Moore said, via DallasCowboys.com. “Schotty was phenomenal for me, and he’ll be great for Dak [Prescott] and all those guys.” Everyone who has spoken about Schotteheimer has had high praise. There was even a report that Mike McCarthy helped Schotteheimer prepare for his interview with Jerry Jones. That says a lot about the respect McCarthy has for the man who would eventually replace him. Cowboys add two assistants to Brian Schottenheimer coaching staff – Patrik Walker, DallasCowboys.com The 2025 Cowboys’ coaching staff continues to take shape as they add Bryan Bing as the new assistant defensive line coach and Tiquan Underwood as the new assistant wide receivers coach. Bing joins a growing list of assistant coaches who spent time in Chicago with former Bears’ head coach Matt Eberflus, the latter returning to the Cowboys as defensive coordinator in 2025, and though they didn’t cross paths in Indianapolis, Bing did have a stint with the Colts recently as well. He’ll report directly to Aaron Whitecotton, hired away only days ago from the New York Jets as defensive line coach. Underwood, a former NFL receiver who found his way to the league as a draft pick of the Jacksonville Jaguars in 2009, spent several seasons as a player for multiple clubs, including a stretch in the CFL, before beginning his coaching career in 2018 — one that would eventually lead him to being named assistant wide receivers coach of the New England Patriots in 2024. His expertise as a former player should go a long way in aiding in the development of young talent like Jalen Tolbert, Jalen Brooks, Ryan Flournoy, Jonathan Mingo and the like — the title of wide receivers coach, determining who Underwood will be assisting, to be awarded to a candidate soon. Jimmy Johnson on a missed three-peat, Schotty hire, Cowboys’ roster needs, and more – Tommy Yarrish, DallasCowboys.com Jimmy Johnson recently chimed in to share his two cents on the new head coach for the Cowboys. “I wish Brian all the luck in the world,” Johnson said. “I texted him the other day
Cowboys Headlines: Woodson’s wait goes on, Jerry claims win-now focus, Micah eager to get new deal done
Cowboys legend Darren Woodson comes up short of Hall of Fame status once again: ‘I feel like it’s failure’ :: Fort Worth Star-Telegram Link After 17 years of waiting to hear his name called as a member of the Pro Football Hall of Fame, the Ring of Honor member was denied once again. “I got to deal with it. It is what it is. It sucks. I wish I could walk in and grab that gold jacket. It’s painful, it really is.” Woodson has three more years to get in as a modern-era player; if induction doesn’t come by then, he’ll move to the more difficult seniors category. “At my core, I’m more competitive than anyone else. It’s being patient, understanding that there are other people that are on that list who have had to be patient as well.” Cowboys’ Darren Woodson waits for Canton call; ‘probably deserves to be in’ :: Cowboys Wire Link Earlier in the day, Woodson was trying to be optimistic about his chances of getting the call to Canton. “I just feel like my body of work probably deserves to be in,” Woodson said. “It’s not up to me. It’s up to the writers if I should be in or if I shouldn’t be in.” Voters could have selected five players for the Class of 2025; they chose just four. Several notable Cowboys eligible for Hall of Fame in 2026 :: Calvin Watkins Ashton Jeanty: ‘It would be special’ to play for Cowboys :: The Mothership Link Jeanty says he would love to come home to Frisco, where he was a high school star. “I think it would be cool to have the star on my helmet again,” the running back said. “Playing for Lone Star, I had a star on my helmet as well, so it would be a dope moment if that were to happen.” He says he’d be excited to help build a new, stronger culture in Dallas under first-year head coach Brian Schottenheimer. “The culture, the history, the city, everything that comes with playing for the Dallas Cowboys, I think would be special.” Emmitt Smith: Cowboys shouldn’t draft RB Ashton Jeanty for one key reason :: Cowboys Wire Link The all-time rushing king doesn’t believe his former team has a plan when it comes to the offensive stars they already have, so it makes no sense to draft the electrifying Boise State running back with their first-round pick, as most mock drafts are calling for. Explaining that Cowboys ownership has not committed to the kind of balanced attack Smith himself was part of with the Triplets, he thinks there’s too much focus on building the brand of the Cowboys but not enough devoted to actually winning games. Dallas Cowboys owner Jerry Jones says new coach, other moves made to ‘compete right now’ :: Newsday Link Jones says hiring Brian Schottenheimer as head coach was not a conservative move at all. And he maintains that the team is in “win-now” mode, not a rebuilding mindset. “The decisions I made last year were based on competing now. Now, they didn’t exactly work out. But I think I paid Dak [Prescott] more than anybody’s ever been paid in the NFL. That’s now. That’s not the future,” Jones said on the red carpet at NFL Honors. “We’re excited about our team’s ability to compete right now.” Cowboys Super Bowl drought roasted with Bill Belichick girlfriend joke :: SI.com Link During his opening monologue, Snoop Dogg remembered back to “when the Cowboys was good.” To put the distant memory in perspective for the audience, he helpfully pointed out that “Bill Belichick’s girlfriend wasn’t even born yet.” Cameras cut to 24-year-old Jordon Hudson, who looked shocked that she had suddenly ended up the punch line of a joke while on the arm of the 72-year-old coach. Micah Parsons on Cowboys extension: ‘I don’t think we can afford to keep having things wait out’ :: Fort Worth Star-Telegram Link Parsons has said he’d prefer to get a new deal done sooner rather than later this offseason. It would be better for the team, too. “We have a lot of guys to sign,” he said. “I don’t think we can afford to keep having things wait out.” He also had an interesting take on missing games due to injury for the first time ever, calling it “the best thing that could have ever happened to me,” since it forced him to change his perspective on being a leader when things are going poorly. Mike McCarthy helped Brian Schottenheimer prepare for his interview :: Blogging the Boys Link Fox NFL insider Jay Glazer reports that McCarthy helped his former offensive coordinator prepare for the interview to take the job he himself had just lost in Dallas. Glazer said McCarthy’s parting was “really amicable,” but despite the coach’s longstanding loyalty to the Schottenheimer family, giving him pointers on meeting with Jerry and Stephen Jones was “selfless” on McCarthy’s part. 2 free agent successes provide affordable blueprint for Cowboys in 2025 :: Cowboys Wire Link Despite a reputation for free agency failure, things worked out quite well with both Dante Fowler in 2022 and Carl Lawson in 2024. In both instances, the Cowboys received quality snaps from a player who cost them relatively very little. Fowler is gone now, but if the team can bring back Lawson, Matt Eberflus could get some of that veteran production in his first year running the defense. If not, Dallas may look at someone like Matthew Judon, Dennis Gardeck, Poona Ford, or Teair Tart. NFLPA boss Lloyd Howell: ‘No one wants to play an 18th game’ in regular season :: Dallas Morning News Link NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell has openly talked about it like it’s inevitable, but the players aren’t nearly excited about adding a game to the regular season. The league and the players union have not had formal talks about it, but the NFL would no doubt be expected to make some concessions
Dallas Cowboys legend Darren Woodson denied from Pro Football Hall of Fame again
Photo by Bob Leverone/Sporting News via Getty Images via Getty Images Darren Woodson was left out of the Pro Football Hall of Fame for another year. Another year has come and gone and the disappointment remains the same. Darren Woodson was once again left out of a Pro Football Hall of Fame class. Pro Football Hall of Fame Class of 2025: Jared Allen Sterling Sharpe Eric Allen Antonio Gates — Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) February 7, 2025 Overall a four-man class is an interesting move for the HOF. Jared Allen and Antonio Gates have always felt like locks, but it is a bit surprising that Sterling Sharpe made his way in. It should be clear to all that Woodson was an integral part of how the Cowboys played defense throughout their 1990s dynasty. His positional versatility and talent to play everywhere in the secondary was a key reason why the Cowboys were able to have the success that he did. It has never made sense as to why Woodson has been excluded from Canton. Perhaps the voters still hold back his lack of specific numbers or statistics at one position or the other. This is holding an immense talent that Woodson had against him which is illogical. Unfortunately Darren Woodson’s wait continues.
Emmitt Smith: Cowboys shouldn’t draft RB Ashton Jeanty for one key reason
Emmitt Smith: Cowboys shouldn’t draft RB Ashton Jeanty for one key reason Todd Brock The NFL’s all-time rushing king has seen some impressive ballcarriers come and go since he last wore the star in 2002. And while the Hall of Famer has never been shy about calling for his former team to get back to establishing a smashmouth run game like the one that got him over 17,000 yards in Dallas, Smith doesn’t believe the Cowboys should be too quick to select Boise State phenom Ashton Jeanty with their first-round pick in the upcoming draft. It’s a surprising stance from one of the greatest running backs the sport has ever seen. But his reason for saying so is even more of an eye-opener. In New Orleans ahead of Super Bowl LIX, Smith sat down with the crew from All DLLS. Talk naturally turned to the Cowboys’ current need to find a rushing attack after a season in which they placed at or near the bottom of the league in total rushing yardage, yards per carry, and rushing touchdowns. The most popular fix in the mock draft world is Jeanty, who logged an incredible 2,601 yards in 2024 (just 27 yards shy of the collegiate single-season record) and scored 29 touchdowns on the ground (almost five times what the entire Cowboys ground attack tallied in three more games). But when asked if the Cowboys should select Jeanty with the 12th overall pick, Smith was blunt. “I don’t think so.” It’s not, Smith went on to explain, because he doesn’t think the Frisco native is a talented young star in the making. In fact, that’s exactly why Smith says he hopes this current iteration of the Dallas organization steers clear. “I don’t think the Cowboys clearly understand what they really want,” the three-time Super Bowl winner said. “They’re after excitement and thrills and stuff, and they don’t have a plan. First of all, they don’t even have a plan, truly, for Dak Prescott, let alone CeeDee Lamb. Where’s the plan? The plan they have right now has not made sense over the last couple years, so all of a sudden you’re going to wake up and come up with a plan for a new kid?” Smith- and other former Cowboys players- have been increasingly vocal about the Cowboys’ apparent lack of direction in recent years: playing games with superstars’ contracts, refusing to spend on high-quality free agents, and paying nothing more than lip service to the idea of assembling a roster designed to contend for championships on a regular basis. Adding another playmaker to an offense that is already fumbling about with Prescott and Lamb in the huddle is not the answer, according to Smith. “Plan for what you already have and allow things to fit that plan and be committed to that plan,” Smith said, “and I think that’s been the problem.” He pointed to the Cowboys team that drafted him 17th overall in 1990. With head coach Jimmy Johnson firmly in control of all football operations, the team improved from 1-15 the year before Smith’s arrival to 7-9 in his rookie season to a playoff berth the following year and a Super Bowl win the next. (And then two more over the next three years.) [affiliatewidget_smgtolocal] Cowboys fans can guess what “problem” Smith is really alluding to: the team’s ownership. For too many years, owner Jerry Jones has treated the football team as just one product line offered by the larger $10 billion brand of the Dallas Cowboys. Victories on the field are great, and titles would boost the bottom line. But win or lose, there are headlines to make and jerseys to sell and season tickets to hawk and corporate sponsorships to negotiate and a stadium to fill with high-priced events the other 355 days a year. The Cowboys brand can succeed- and is clearly doing so- even if the team is losing. Smith clearly believes too much effort is being placed on the former… and not nearly enough is being done to address the latter. And not even the addition of Jeanty would be enough. At least not all by itself. “There’s been a commitment to excellence on the brand side, but on the operations, when it comes down to the football side, there’s no commitment to who we are and the brand that was built,” Smith offered. “And the brand that was built was balance: Troy, Michael, myself. That’s why you call us the Triplets. You cannot have one without the other; you’ve got to have it all. You’ve got to have a ground attack as well as an air attack. “Now, Ashton Jeanty could be good for us under the right plan and under the right commitment and under the right vision. Right now, I think these things are bifurcated, and that’s why you’re getting all this disjointedness throughout the last 25, 30 years.”
Cowboys’ 2025 free agent profile: QB Cooper Rush
Eric Hartline-Imagn Images Do you think the Cowboys will bring Cooper Rush back? The Dallas Cowboys have a long list of unrestricted free agents who will officially hit the open market in a little over a month. Of those, six or seven were significant contributors in 2024, meaning the Cowboys have some difficult decisions ahead of them in the coming weeks. We continue our free agent profile series, taking a look at Dallas’ impending free agents. Today, we examine a player who unexpectedly played significant snaps last season, quarterback Cooper Rush. Photo by Ron Jenkins/Getty Images 2024 Regular Season Stats: 8 GS, 4-4 QBRec, 60.7% Completion Percentage, 1,844 Passing Yards, 12 Passing Touchdowns, 5 Interceptions, 6.0 Y/A, 83.8 Passer Rating Year Review: For the second time in the past three seasons, veteran quarterback Cooper Rush saw some extended playing time when Dak Prescott went out with an injury. Prescott suffered a season-ending hamstring tear in Week 9, inserting Rush as Dallas’ starter for the rest of the regular season. Things didn’t start well for the 31-year-old veteran as Dallas got outscored 68-16 in his first two starts, with Rush completing just 57% of his passes and recording a Passer Rating of 68.8. During that two-game span, Rush’s -0.371 EPA/Play was the worst among qualified starting quarterbacks, and it looked like the Cowboys would need to make a change if they wanted any shot of staying competitive for the rest of the season. After two awful performances, Dallas’ Week 12 matchup against the Washington Commanders ended up being a turning point for Rush’s 2024 season. The veteran had arguably his most productive day of the season in Dallas’ 34-26 upset win, completing 24 of 32 passes for 247 yards and two touchdowns, recording a season-high Passer Rating of 117.6. In the five-game stretch from Week 12 through Week 16, Rush completed 64% of his throws to go with nine touchdown passes to just one interception. His Passer Rating during this five-game span was an impressive 100.5, and the Cowboys as a team posted a 4-1 record. While the Cowboys weren’t playing many quality opponents during this stretch, Rush did perform as well as we’ve seen him throughout the course of his seven-year NFL career. The 31-year-old’s season ended with a rough outing against the Eagles in Philadelphia as the Cowboys opted to sit Rush for their season finale, giving young quarterback Trey Lance a chance to start. Free Agency Outlook: Although Rush did play some decent football at times this year, it’s hard to see any team in the league giving him a chance to start next season. The veteran’s potential free-agent market will likely be filled with teams looking to acquire an experienced, reliable veteran to fill in if their starter were to go down for a short period of time. While he certainly hasn’t lit the world on fire when he’s been forced to start, Rush is 9-5 as a starter in the NFL, something few backup quarterbacks in the league have accomplished. Last offseason, quarterbacks Carson Wentz and Jimmy Garoppolo signed one-year deals worth a little over $3M each. At this point in their respective careers, Rush is likely a more reliable and more productive backup than the two, so he’ll likely try to earn a deal worth at least $3M AAV on the open market. Spotrac projects Rush to earn a one-year, $5M deal this spring. That number seems fair, given what Rush has accomplished as a starter and the lack of quality backup quarterback currently in the league. It will be interesting to see if any team values what Rush has done over the past three seasons enough to give him a multi-year deal to be their backup. Outside of Sam Darnold, this is one of the weakest quarterback free-agent classes in years, which may drive up Rush’s demand and land him a more significant contract than expected. Cowboys Verdict: Back in 2023, the Cowboys signed Rush to a two-year, $5M deal. If the Cowboys want him back as their backup next season, they may need to commit to another multi-year deal to retain the veteran’s services. From the Cowboys’ perspective, even if you bring Rush back, the hope would be he does not have to play a single significant snap in the 2025 season. But with Dak Prescott’s injuries over the past three seasons, it would make sense for the Cowboys to want to retain a veteran backup like Rush, who is familiar with the offense and has played at least league-average when he’s been forced to start. Overall, there likely won’t be any team that blows Rush away with an offer on the open market, making a return to Dallas very likely. The Cowboys will likely be able to work out a two-year deal that is beneficial for both sides, bringing the veteran quarterback back for another season or more. Prediction: Cooper Rush signs with the Dallas Cowboys for two years, $7.5M.
2 free agent successes provide affordable blueprint for Cowboys in 2025
2 free agent successes provide affordable blueprint for Cowboys in 2025 reidhanson The Dallas Cowboys have many questionable processes when team building. They shy away from top commodities in free agency. They draft high-risk players who bring an abnormal degree of projection. They push veterans out the door without clear replacements in place and they drag their feet with their own fairly obvious contract extensions. As one might imagine, those don’t always turn out so well for the Cowboys franchise. But one of Dallas’ oft-critiqued processes has been working out for them as of late. Waiting for the market to cool and targeting veteran defensive linemen to team-friendly deals has been a trademark move the Cowboys. They did it with Dante Fowler in 2022 and they did it again with Carl Lawson in 2024. In both instances they received quality snaps from a player who cost them relatively very little. Going this route in roster building doesn’t typically provide elite results but it does offer tremendous bang for the buck. It’s allowed the Cowboys to maintain a healthy rotation on their defensive line and use the money saved at defensive end on other areas of the team where veteran bargains aren’t so easily found. In 2025 the Cowboys will likely try to get Lawson to come back for a second season. He’s coming off a five-sack year while contributing 401 snaps on defense. A similar role can be expected under Matt Eberflus if Lawson is willing to accept similar short-term deal with a modest bump from his $1,125,000 rate (per OTC). If Lawson doesn’t come back to Dallas, the Cowboys have options to look at in free agency again this season. Matthew Judon, 32, is coming off a tumultuous season. Pro Football Focus estimates his value to be a one year, $4,500,000 deal this offseason. If the Cowboys play it patiently, he may come cheaper. Arizona’s underrated DE, Dennis Gardeck, is coming off an early 2024 ACL injury. At 30-years-old he may not strike up very much interest around the league and could possibly be had for half the cost of Judon. Even interior defensive linemen like Teair Tart and Poona Ford could be had for a song this offseason. Tart comes with baggage, but he finished last season as the 12th-highest graded DT and is predicted to cost just $2,500,000 in free agency. Ford is predicted to demand just $3,500,000 and he’s coming off a season where he graded as the fifth best DT. It’s important the Cowboys invest properly in their frontline starters but rotations at key positions can be built with low-demand veterans who slip through the cracks. Dallas has a track record of success in this area and while the wait may be painful, patience has repeatedly paid off for the Cowboys. Related articles [affiliatewidget_smgtolocal]
