Tim Heitman-Imagn Images The Cowboys have a tell when it comes to their first-round picks for a first-year head coach Before reading, imagine the meme of Charlie from It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia, where photos and red lines are thumb-tacked all over a board behind him. Trying to determine which way the Dallas Cowboys might be leaning this early in the first round of the draft may seem like a fool’s errand; however, there is one thread we can follow that offers clues about which direction to consider. Dallas is a draft-and-develop team. That has been their core belief regarding roster construction for almost a decade. The front office will be tasked with helping out their first-time head coach, Brian Schottenheimer, in a way they neglected to do last year for Mike McCarthy: getting him some good players to work with. Considering the history and the core belief in building through the draft, there could be a blueprint for how the Cowboys might navigate the first round with their 12th overall pick. The Cowboys franchise has had ten head coaches, with five hired in the last 20 years, starting with Bill Parcells in 2003. When any head coach is hired, who they select with their first pick in their tenure really paints the picture of who they want to be and is usually a player the franchise builds around in that era. Here is the selection of #Cowboys CB Terence Newman during the 2003 NFL Draft: pic.twitter.com/9BoyzZ9Iv4 — Marcus Mosher (@Marcus_Mosher) June 13, 2023 The last four coaches in Dallas have had the fortune of Jerry Jones drafting players who align with their identities as offensive or defensive coaches in the first round. While circumstances influence who gets drafted, things don’t always work out as expected. This could be a coincidence or a connection that doesn’t exist. However, the fact that this has occurred for every first-year head coach since 2003 indicates a pattern. Here are those first-round selections by the Cowboys in the first year of a new head coach: Bill Parcells – Terence Newman, DB Wade Phillips – Anthony Spencer, DE Jason Garrett – Tyron Smith, OT Mike McCarthy – CeeDee Lamb, WR There is a story about the 2003 draft and how Parcells argued with the scouts about who he wanted them to pick. Newman was not Parcells’ guy, and he wanted to go in the direction of a defensive tackle, arguing with Jones during their pre-draft meetings. Even if Newman was not the pick, the goal was still to give Parcells, a defensive coach by nature, a player on that side of the ball to work with. In 2020, during McCarthy’s first draft with Dallas, they desperately needed an edge rusher heading into that season, and all eyes were on LSU’s K’Lavon Chaisson. When the Cowboys were on the clock at pick No. 17, CeeDee Lamb was a blinking light staring at their faces. They decided to go with the best player available instead of drafting a player at a position of necessity. When McCarthy first got to Dallas, he talked about wanting to be better on defense than what he had to work with in Green Bay with the Packers. When Lamb was drafted, they already had Amari Cooper and Micahel Gallup under contract, so picking a wide receiver in the first round was unnecessary for McCarthy’s offense. Still, the value was too good to pass on. Michael Irvin said CeeDee Lamb was the top WR on the Cowboys’ draft board. He now pairs with Amari Cooper and Michael Gallup. A lot of weapons on that Dallas offense pic.twitter.com/QOCgdxhwOf — Jon Machota (@jonmachota) April 24, 2020 So where does that leave Schottenheimer, who has offense in his DNA? Could the Cowboys lean in that direction again to set their coach up for success in his first year? Well, everything indicates that the team wants to change its approach to the offensive side of the game. Schottenheimer and Stephen Jones have emphasized the importance of establishing the run because that’s what “championship football teams do.” Dallas’ most significant offensive needs are at running back and offensive line. The 32nd-ranked rushing team from 2024 has three runners under contract for next year: Malik Davis, Hunter Luepke, and Deuce Vaughn. Davis has the highest career rushing total of the three with 161 yards. He was not active for a single game last year. They could re-sign their leading rusher, Rico Dowdle, but they could also overhaul the entire room and fall in love with Boise State’s Ashton Jeanty, one of the top five players in the draft. He would solve their inability to run the ball very quickly. Dallas could also build in the trenches again and draft an offensive lineman for the third time in the last four seasons. Outside of Pro Bowler Tyler Smith, questions surround the best combination of five players along the line. Josh Simmons and I breaking down a couple teach tape frontside kick-out blocks along with a backside cut-off pic.twitter.com/uI36UqPbnx — Brandon Thorn (@BrandonThornNFL) February 1, 2025 Cooper Beebe was outstanding in his first year at center, but would he be better off at guard, the position he played in college? Will there be a battle between Tyler Guyton and Terence Steele for right tackle if Guyton is not the day one starter on the left side? Zack Martin could retire from football, so can his replacement in Brock Hoffman or T.J. Bass step up for 17 games and continue to improve? There are too many questions about the offensive line right now for the Cowboys to feel comfortable building an identity centered around running the football. However, selecting Will Campbell, Josh Simmons, Tyler Booker, or Kelvin Banks Jr., who all can be day-one starters, and the offensive line looks much better than last year. Dominoes must fall before things are finalized for the draft. The Cowboys desperately need to make some moves in free agency because they don’t have enough
Cowboys news: Zack Martin’s future in the NFL, and with Dallas, up in the air
Photo by Sam Hodde/Getty Images Here’s your Wednesday morning news about the Dallas Cowboys. Zack Martin’s return to football remains up in the air; so does his return to the Cowboys – Calvin Watkins, Dallas Morning News Zack Martin made it known he’s also a free agent and could play elsewhere this offseason. It’s understandable one of the longest-tenured players on the Cowboys’ roster is still trying to figure out his playing status for 2025. Martin, the seven-time All-Pro guard, is six weeks out from ankle surgery on a joint that cost him mobility during the 2024 season and limited him to just 10 games. When it comes to his future, Martin said he’s not sure what he might do. He could retire. He could play for the Cowboys. He could play for somebody else. “I think people forget I’m a free agent, too,” Martin told The Dallas Morning News from the site of Super Bowl LIX on Tuesday. “I’ll figure out if I am, where I’m playing and if I’m not, then obviously you guys will hear about that. Just trying to get healthy and make a decision down the road.” Martin and defensive end DeMarcus Lawrence are the longest-tenured players on the current roster. Both were drafted in 2014: Martin in the first round and Lawrence in the second round. It doesn’t seem long ago that Stephen Jones convinced his father, Jerry Jones, the Martin was a better draft selection than Johnny Manziel. Cowboys kicker Brandon Aubrey open to negotiating extension with team this offseason – Nick Harris, Fort Worth Star-Telegram Dallas might have to extend Micah Parsons and their All-Pro kicker before training camp. For Aubrey, it seems like yesterday that he was arriving at training camp having to earn a spot on the roster for the 2023 season. A little over 16 months later, the conversation has shifted to his name among the elites around the league. “It’s been a dream come true,” Aubrey said. “It feels like it’s gone by incredibly fast. I’m just trying to sit back and enjoy the ride. Just trying to survive week-to-week, then I look backwards and [see] I had a good year.” One big difference for Aubrey heading into his third season will be the absence of special teams coordinator John Fassel, who departed Dallas for the same position with the Tennessee Titans. Fassel discovered Aubrey when he was playing in the USFL for the Birmingham Stallions and developed him over his first two seasons. “He’s a good friend, a mentor,” Aubrey said. “He’s someone who discovered me and started my NFL career off right. I came into training camp battling for position, and they could’ve strung that decision out for a long time, but they made it nice and quick for me. It gave me a lot of confidence and built me up. He gave me every opportunity to succeed.” While Fassel has been crucial in his development, Aubrey said that his kicking coach – the same one he’s had since he started kicking in 2020 – will remain the same. “For me, it’s a separate kicking coach, and that’s the way it works best,” he said. “I’m not sure how it works outside of Dallas, I know other coaches might have more of a hands-on approach. But for me, I’ve got a coach I’ve worked with for five, six years now. He knows me as well as I know me.” Desired continuity may keep Cooper Rush in Dallas – Jess Haynie, Blogging the Boys The Cowboys must figure out the quarterback position behind Dak Prescott, with Cooper Rush and Trey Lance entering free agency. Not only does Rush bring consistent competence on the field but has been praised for assisting the coaches and the starter with game preparation during the week. He’s even been projected as a future QB coach once his playing career ends. That only increases his value as a roster member, even if there are legitimate complaints about his upside when he actually plays. No team better understands Rush’s lesser-seen qualities than the Cowboys. While Kellen Moore may try to get him over to New Orleans, assuming Moore even gets that head coaching job, Dallas should have the deepest appreciation of Rush’s value. So if that’s the case, why is there even a question of Rush getting a new contract? With Brian Schottenheimer’s promotion and Klayton Adams’ arrival as offensive coordinator, plus a new quarterbacks coach still TBD, there are lots of new opinions and perceptions in the coaching staff. But if a degree of continuity is what the front office valued in making Schottenheimer head coach, keeping Rush could help take that further. Still, the new guys may have strong feelings about the type of backup they want. If mobility is something they particularly desire, re-signing Trey Lance might become preferable to Rush. For that matter, Dallas might let both walk and just go with Will Grier as a cheaper backup, or bring in other guys who have worked with Schottenheimer or Adams at previous stops. The coaching staff changes create more variables for the offseason, particularly when it comes to free agency. Dak Prescott may also have a say in this. It’s clear that he influenced the promotion of Schottenheimer, so what if he also throws his support behind Rush? They’ve worked together for the better part of a decade, with Rush being the primary backup for at least six full seasons. With a new OC and position coach coming, Prescott may want a guy he trusts to help him digest the changes. Cowboys blockbuster trade proposal would land $80 million All-Pro in Dallas – Aaliyan Mohammed, Sporting News Does Jerry Jones view Cooper Kupp as an “all-in” addition to the roster for 2025? Los Angeles Rams star receiver Cooper Kupp revealed on X that the Rams are seeking a trade for him. Kupp is a former Super Bowl MVP and is one of the most talented players in the league.
Cowboys Headlines: Zack Martin mulling future, KC owner praises Schotty, Irvin and T.O. beefing
Zack Martin still mulling over his football future: ‘I want to try to get healthy’ :: The Mothership Link In New Orleans for the Walter Payton Man of the Year Award announcement, the 11-year veteran talks like his window for playing in a Super Bowl may have already closed. “I mean, it’ll be cool to experience it as a fan, but [I] obviously wish we could have played in it at some point in my career.” Martin said. He estimates he’s still four to six weeks away from declaring his plans for next year, but he admits that retirement and playing for another team are both realistic options. “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.” Cowboys defender with two years left on $21 million deal may no longer fit :: Cowboys Wire Link Dan Quinn and Mike Zimmer both used a lot of stunts, blitzes, and disguises from the Cowboys’ defensive personnel. But under Matt Eberflus, veteran Malik Hooker probably won’t be able to play centerfield as a single-high safety with the same regularity. He (along with Donovan Wilson) posted the lowest-graded qualifying season of his career this past season. He’s an expensive player coming off a down year; in a new scheme, that three-year, $21 million extension he signed with Dallas in 2023 suddenly may not be worth the investment anymore. 2025 NFL Free Agency: 1 player each team should sign this offseason :: The 33rd Team Link With DeMarvion Overshown likely rehabbing for most of 2025, Eric Kendricks likely gone, and Marist Liufau in just his second season, the Cowboys need linebacker help. Robert Spillane is coming off back-to-back strong seasons in Las Vegas. A never-miss tackler and a player who doesn’t come off the field would serve the Dallas defense well. And a bonus for the budget-conscious Joneses? He could probably be had at a not-astronomical price. One offseason move for each NFC team: Seahawks should extend Geno Smith; Cowboys need RB help :: NFL.com Link Just because it’s obvious doesn’t mean it’s not absolutely true. Of all the issues for Dallas in 2025, the Cowboys simply must go double-barrel at running back. Rico Dowdle made major headway last year once he was treated as a starter, so bring him back. But give him help; of the eleventy-billion mock drafts done this offseason, about 10.9999 billion will peg Ashton Jeanty to the Cowboys. If not the Boise State star, it has to be an explosive talent to replace what the team lost in Tony Pollard. Cowboys coaching hire shows them once again putting cart ahead of horse :: Cowboys Wire Link The team has hired former NFL player and ex-Patriots staffer Tiquan Underwood as assistant wide receivers coach… except they haven’t yet named an actual wide receivers coach. It’s not the first time the Cowboys have filled an underling slot before bringing on the superior. It’s a risky move from a personnel and chemistry standpoint, to be sure, but there were reports that Underwood was being actively wooed by Florida State. Brandon Aubrey: Cowboys’ new emergency QB? :: Tommy Yarrish Shawne Merriman shares football journey, Chargers & Dallas Cowboys stories with Jesse Holley :: Unfiltered with Jesse Holley Link The three-time Pro Bowl linebacker shared how he was very nearly drafted by the Cowboys in 2005. He says in a meeting with Jerry Jones, the owner told him the team might take him if he fell to the 11th pick. He says he got nervous, though, when head coach Bill Parcells promised, “We’re going to work the [expletive] out of you. I can’t wait to work your [expletive].” Dallas ended up selecting DeMarcus Ware; Merriman went to the Chargers one pick later. Hometown Hero: Arp honors favorite son DeMarvion Overshown with sign :: Tyler Morning Telegraph Link He’s played in just 13 games over two years, but Overshown is already the best thing to ever come out of tiny Arp, Tex. And the city wants to make sure visitors know it; they’ve erected a sign honoring the former Longhorn and current Cowboy right on Highway 64 as drivers enter town. Chiefs’ Clark Hunt praises Cowboys HC Brian Schottenheimer: ‘I think he’ll do a great job’ :: Dallas Morning News Link The Chiefs owner, hoping to win his third straight Super Bowl and his fourth Lombardi Trophy in six seasons, remembers the 25-year-old who was once an assistant in Kansas City in his dad’s final year as the team’s head coach. “I’m so glad that Brian Schottenheimer is getting a chance to lead that organization,” Hunt said of Schottenheimer’s new role as Cowboys head coach. “He’s somebody we thought quite a bit about as a young man. I’m glad he’s getting that opportunity.” Michael Irvin, Terrell Owens beefing over who was better :: Terrell Owens Former Steeler thinks Pittsburgh could’ve beaten Dallas Cowboys in Super Bowl XXX with ‘another quarter’ :: Steelers Depot Link Kendall Gammon claims that, despite three second-half picks thrown by QB Neil O’Donnell, the Steelers “might have been” just another 15 minutes away from pulling off a come-from-behind win over Dallas in Super Bowl XXX. They did score 10 points in the fourth quarter, but they also allowed a late Emmitt Smith dagger of a touchdown. And given the costly turnovers, it’s hard to imagine that Pittsburgh would have had that kind of comeback in them… no matter what the Steelers’ long snapper now says 29 years after the fact. Tunnel of Darkness: Nightmarish Cowboys season is about to come to a close :: Cowboys Wire Link The Cowboys have been done for a month, but Super Bowl LIX will mercifully bring the official end to an embarrassing season for the franchise. But the mess of a year wasn’t a surprise to those who had been paying attention. From an all-too-passive offseason
The Cowboys re-commitment to the run game is getting easier to believe in
Out of all of the new staff hires for the Dallas Cowboys in the Brian Schottenheimer era, there is one that should inspire confidence the most when it comes to trusting what the first-time head coach is looking for. Serving as a non-play-calling offensive coordinator for two seasons before being promoted to head coach, Schottenheimer had this very same role to fill (since he will call plays himself) on his inaugural staff. The Cowboys new offensive coordinator is former Arizona Cardinals offensive line coach Klayton Adams. The Cowboys have also kept continuity at tight end with coach Lunda Wells, something of a fan-favorite to at least be considered for the OC role himself if that promotion could guarantee he remained in Dallas. Instead, it will now be up to Schottenheimer, Adams, and Wells to all do their part in improving this team’s play in the trenches. Regardless of what the Cowboys want their new offense to look like, improved offensive line play must come with it for this team to have any chance at returning to contender status, and they believe they’ve found their man in Adams. Also bringing past experience as a tight ends coach, the cohesion between Adams and Wells should be strong to make sure the Cowboys are fundamentally sound up front. Between Petzing and Adams, the Cardinals have built an offense that, in many ways, mirrors the offense that Stefanski runs in Cleveland. There are strong influences of the Shanahan type offense that Stefanski majored in with the Vikings, but with a more varied blocking scheme in the run game. For example, the Cardinals have been one of the top gap-blocking teams in the league these past two years, using at least one pulling offensive lineman on just under two thirds of their run plays this past year. In 2024, they found great success running counter, finishing second in the NFL in counter run plays but showing a wide variation of formations they ran it from. The Cardinals didn’t just have a strong running game, though. They excelled in pass protection too: their 28.0% pressure rate was the sixth-best in the league, ranking one spot ahead of the Cowboys, despite losing both starting tackles to injured reserve and playing with a quarterback in Kyler Murray whose frequent scrambling ability often makes it harder on the offensive line to hold up. Part of this was accomplished through an insanely high play-action rate, something Schottenheimer has already mentioned as a priority for his offense. Only three other quarterbacks had a higher play-action rate than Murray this year, and only four quarterbacks threw for more yards off play-action. One other point to consider with Adams’ hiring: the tight end position. Outside of the offensive line, Adams has spent the most time in his career working with the tight end position, and Trey McBride became a focal point for the Cardinals this year. Don’t look now, but the Cowboys may actually be backing up their talk with real actions. This team has been yelling from the mountaintop towards anyone and everyone that would listen about how much they want to run the ball better. Their former head coach Mike McCarthy did the same thing, despite going into his final season with Rico Dowdle and Ezekiel Elliott supposedly ready to carry the full load. This turned into just Dowdle being the best lead back option Dallas had after Elliott was released toward the end of the season. All outside opinions on the Schottenheimer hire aside for a moment, the Cowboys are not actively looking to set up their latest head coach for failure. This is a hire that puts the front office in a spotlight so much brighter than expected, coming out of nowhere after a short interview process with other candidates and fanfare about Deion Sanders or Jason Witten that never amounted to anything. They will have to own the successes and failures of Schottenheimer, which starts with owning the failures from the 2024 team, of which the running game was one of the biggest. Is Schottenheimer here to lead this team through something of a rebuild? Possibly yes. Can this rebuild be accelerated if the Cowboys coaching commitment to the run game so far is met with personnel moves that balance the offense more? Also yes. Photo by Kevin Sabitus/Getty Images Schottenheimer has talked about a strong commitment to “marrying” the Cowboys run and pass game concepts in an effort to be a strong play-action team. Hiring Adams to work on how the offensive line can get off the ball the same way on both runs and passes is a huge step here. This was a strength of the Cardinals offense with the incredibly mobile Kyler Murray at quarterback. The Cowboys and Schottenheimer also seem committed to turning back the clock for Dak Prescott, using his mobility, offensive tempo, and short to intermediate accuracy to advance the offense. So far, this has been met with healthy skepticism as Prescott is coming off another season-ending injury. He is certainly not, and never has been, Kyler Murray when it comes to tucking the ball and running. He is also very unlikely to have some of the same deeply talented receiving corps the Cowboys have fielded around Prescott in the past, although adding a more legitimate option outside of CeeDee Lamb is reportedly a priority. This leaves just the running game and protection up front as areas the Cowboys were dominant in at the start of Prescott’s career, and can look to return to in helping the highest-paid QB in the league for 2025 and beyond. Hiring a former tight end and offensive line coach as offensive coordinator is a huge signal the Cowboys are actually serious about this. The connection that was made instantly after the Cowboys announced the hiring of Adams. The Cardinals offensive line was led in snaps by center Hjalte Froholdt, Isaiah Adams at right guard, Paris Johnson Jr. at left tackle, Jonah Williams at right tackle,
NFC East news: Philadelphia begins Super Bowl week; Giants, Commanders focus on the draft
Photo by Maximilian Haupt/picture alliance via Getty Images The latest news from around the division. Spadaro: Jeffrey Lurie’s vision comes to fruition as Eagles are featured on global stage – Dave Spadaro, PhiladelphiaEagles.com Lurie is seeing the fruits of his labor as his team returns to the Super Bowl. NEW ORLEANS – Amid the chaos and celebration that is Opening Night for Super Bowl LIX at Caesars Superdome on Monday night, with thousands of members of the media from around the world searching for their best viral moment, Eagles Chairman and CEO Jeffrey Lurie patiently and proudly answered questions for the better part of an hour on every range of topic. What he circled back to more than once, as his Eagles make their fourth Super Bowl appearance since 2004, their third since 2017, and their second in three seasons, was the philosophy he’s had since buying the Eagles in 1994. “I can only be as good as the people around me,” he said. “We want to be the best in every area of an organization and I have an obsession and a love affair with it. It’s always about rethinking things every week, every month, and being humble enough to know that you can even be better. That’s where we’re at now. We have a great roster, a real chance to win a World Championship again, and yet, there are all sorts of areas where we think we can improve.” Lurie has always had a vision for the Eagles, one that started to take shape almost immediately in the 1990s. He wanted to be a powerhouse on the football field and a positive asset in the community empowering an organization of high-character, incredibly motivated people willing to think outside the boundaries to be great. To be the best. And the Eagles have a great team, and they know it, and as the team filed out of the Caesars Superdome to return to their parade of buses on the way back to the team hotel, they were one step closer to Sunday and the chance to win it all one more time, a testament to the greatness of an organization top to bottom fulfilling the vision that Jeffrey Lurie started more than 30 years ago. Commanders select EDGE James Pearce in latest NFL mock draft – Serena Burks, USA Today Draft prep is in full swing for the three division teams in their offseason. The Washington Commanders built a solid foundation in 2024. Dan Quinn and Adam Peters drafted, curated, and created an environment that took the scattered pieces it had and formed them into a cohesive unit that performed far better than anyone anticipated. Both Peters and Quinn would tell you that they did not expect this level of success in their first season, but that’s exactly what happened. On top of being so successful in 2024, they also have the third-largest amount of capital to spend in 2025 to solidify their weakest spots and make another run at the Super Bowl next season. That’s why many are pointing to the Commanders as a top spot for Myles Garrett to land, but the Commanders could also choose to answer the run defense question in the draft. Eric Edholm of NFL.com released his first mock draft this week, and he has the Commanders selecting edge rusher James Pearce out of Tennessee with the 29th overall pick. Washington Commanders – James Pearce Jr. Tennessee · Edge · Junior Washington needs as many impact defenders as it can find, and edge rusher is high on the priority list. Pearce is a leggy, loose rusher with some burst. Now, Edholm likely created this prior to Garrett’s trade request, but even so, the Commanders could very well choose to leave Garrett out there for someone else and answer their questions in the draft. They drafted very well in 2024 and there’s no reason to think it will be different in 2025. Cam Newton: Shedeur Sanders is ‘perfect fit’ for the New York Giants – Sam Kirk, BigBlueView.com The former MVP quarterback thinks Sanders would be right at home in the Big Apple. The hype surrounding the 2025 NFL Draft is picking up, and one name at the center of the buzz is Colorado quarterback Shedeur Sanders. Former NFL MVP Cam Newton believes the New York Giants are the perfect match for Sanders. “I wouldn’t want to go to Nashville if I was Shedeur,” Newton said on ESPN’s First Take. “I would want to go to the Giants. It’s a perfect fit.” Newton praised Sanders’ confidence and presence, adding that the young quarterback’s aura would resonate well in New York, a city that thrives on larger-than-life personalities. The Giants are currently seeking a new quarterback after releasing Daniel Jones’ after his struggles led to a disappointing 3-14 season. As a result, the noise around Sanders heading to the Big Apple is growing louder. Sanders has already made a strong impression on the Giants’ front office. Several videos of Sanders interacting with head coach Brian Daboll, GM Joe Schoen and other Giants front office members surfaced during the East-West Shrine Bowl. Additionally, they had scouts present throughout Sanders’ standout season at Colorado, where he threw for more than 4,100 yards and 40 combined touchdowns, showcasing his dual-threat ability and strong arm. “The thing that I do love about Shedeur is his ability to not waver, ‘He’s this, he’s that,’ his aura is engulfing,” Newton said. “That can be intimidating, and when you think about all the teams in the league, there’s a handful of teams that will embody that. I can see everybody in New York [embracing him]. That’s who he is.” New York could be the perfect stage for Sanders to shine. The Giants’ offense has struggled, and they’ve been without a quarterback capable of taking them to the next level. With his mix of athleticism, confidence, and leadership, Sanders might just be the spark they need. Newton, the NFL MVP in 2015, sees
Cowboys coaching hire shows them once again putting cart ahead of horse
Cowboys coaching hire shows them once again putting cart ahead of horse Ben Grimaldi The Dallas Cowboys are busy building their coaching staff, but there are still holes to fill before it’s complete. One role was checked off when the team hired Tiquan Underwood as the assistant wide receivers coach. There’s just one problem, the Cowboys don’t have a WR coach yet. This isn’t the first time the organization has built the coaching staff backwards. Underwood, like Jason Garrett and Kellen Moore before him, has been hired before his superior. This instance isn’t nearly as egregious as bringing the offensive coordinator onboard before the head coach, but it’s still an odd way to build the staff. What if Underwood and the WR coach don’t get along, or their ways of teaching don’t line up? Then it could be an awkward season where the coaches’ messages to a team that has several young WRs doesn’t help their players development. Underwood is qualified to have the gig; he spent six years in the NFL despite being close to Mr. Irrelevant as a late seventh-round pick in the 2009 draft. During his time in the league, Underwood caught 63 passes for 1,006 yards and six touchdowns. As a coach, Underwood has spent time with five different teams, both in college football and in the NFL, and as a WR coach in four of those stops. Last season, Underwood held the same job with the New England Patriots that he’ll have in Dallas. At 37-years old, Underwood also brings some youth to relate to young WRs like Jalen Tolbert, Jalen Brooks, Jalen Moreno-Cropper, Jonathan Mingo and Ryan Flournoy on the roster. This isn’t questioning the credentials of Underwood, but the Cowboys continue to put the cart before the horse when putting their coaching staff together. Maybe the team didn’t want to lose the promising young teacher, as there were reports he might take a job at Florida State, but it’s still strange to see the organization hiring an assistant before the coach. Dallas still needs to find it’s WR coach to advise a group of WRs led by CeeDee Lamb. And if the reports are true, the team is expected to add a young receiver early in the draft, so they’ll need a coach to help study the best receivers available, and to guide if they select one. Conventional wisdom says the Cowboys should hire the WR coach first, then let him help pick who he wants to work with as his assistant. That didn’t happen in this case, and it’s another example of the Cowboys building the coaching staff backwards. The organization remains consistent, but for the wrong reasons.
Dallas Cowboys 2025 draft scouting report: WR Luther Burden III
Photo by Jacob Kupferman/Getty Images Here is our scouting report on Luther Burden III from Missouri We continue our 2025 NFL Draft preview of draft prospects that could interest the Dallas Cowboys. Today we are looking at wide receiver Luther Burden III from Missouri. Luther Burden III WRMissouri TigersJunior5-star recruit 5’11”208 lbs Photo by Jay Biggerstaff/Getty Images History Luther Burden III, born on December 12, 2003, in St. Louis, Missouri, attended East St. Louis Senior High School, where he was a standout in both football and basketball. In his senior year of football, he recorded 71 receptions for 1,174 yards and 20 touchdowns, earning him MaxPreps Player of the Year and a 5-star recruit rating from major scouting services. He was one of the top prospects in the 2022 recruiting class, drawing attention from several major college football programs before committing to Missouri. He quickly became a key player in the Tigers’ offense and scored eight total touchdowns in his freshman year. He had 45 receptions for 375 receiving yards while also adding 18 rush attempts for 88 yards. In 2023, Burden had his most productive year as a receiver. He led the team catching 86 passes for 1,212 yards and scoring nine touchdowns. He was named First-team All-SEC for a highly productive season. In his junior year Missouri had its fair share of struggles, especially on offense, and Burden felt that struggle as he tried to rally the offense. He ended the year with 61 receptions for 676 receiving yards and six receiving touchdown. He also added two rushing touchdowns and 115 rush yards. He was again named First-team All-SEC and declared for the draft. 2024 Statistics 537 Offensive Snaps80 Targets61 Receptions 676 Receiving Yards6 Receiving TDs373 YAC30 Missed Tackles115 Rush Yards2 Rush TDs3 Penalties NFL Combine/Pro Day TBC Awards First-team All-SEC (2024)First-team All-SEC (2023) Scorecard Overall- 88.8Speed- 90Acceleration- 96Agility- 89Strength- 78Catching- 92Route Running- 82YAC Ability- 96Blocking- 70Discipline- 93 THE GOOD: Burden shows an explosive first step and change-of-direction ability, making him a significant threat with the ball in his hands. Uses his speed and burst to get off the line and into his route stems quickly. Exceptional at generating yards after the catch due to his vision, agility, and strength. Good hands, especially in contested situations; he has a high catch rate even under pressure and in traffic. A tough player to bring down when defenders get to him. He led the NCAA in missed tackles forced among this year’s wide receiver draft class. Can line up in various positions of the field, including out of the backfield, which adds unpredictability to an offense. Physical and aggressive as a blocker. Has punt return experience. TAPE TIME WR Luther Burden IIIMissouri ✅ THE GOOD✅#scouting #NFLDraft #Mizzou #DallasCowboys pic.twitter.com/LpZF74AnpK — Mike Poland (@kenfigkowboy) February 3, 2025 THE BAD: While he has shown improvement, his route tree is somewhat limited. This is most notable when lined up as an outside receiver. Needs to refine his route running to be more varied and effective against NFL-level defenses. His experience against press coverage is limited, having played mostly from the slot. (462 snaps from the slot to 55 snaps out wide in 2024). Consistency in his overall play dropped in 2024. Some of that can be written off by Missouri struggling on offense, but Burden looked noticeably different himself. TAPE TIME WR Luther Burden IIIMissouri ❌THE BAD❌#scouting #NFLDraft #Mizzou #DallasCowboys pic.twitter.com/pLp0uyc4sp — Mike Poland (@kenfigkowboy) February 3, 2025 THE FIT Expected to be a mid-first-round pick in the 2025 NFL Draft, some analysts rank Burden as a top 15 prospect due to his dynamic playmaking ability. There is no doubt from his 2023 tape that he’s one of the better offensive talents in this year’s draft class with his biggest trait, versatility, being his most intriguing strength. He does come with questions. His style of play leads to concerns of over usage and becoming burnt out quickly. Thanks to his ability to lineup everywhere and even take snaps in the backfield there’s a general worry that Burden could get overused quickly leading to an early explosion of production early in the season, which then tails off quickly. The other concern is his lack of experience as outside receiver. This leads to his route tree being limited and experience getting off the line against physical defensive backs also short. Burden is ideally suited for offenses that utilize motion, quick game concepts, and plays designed to get the ball into his hands in space. His versatility could allow him to thrive in both spread and West Coast offenses, as well as teams looking for a Swiss Army knife to stretch defenses laterally. His ability to make plays after the catch, combined with his physical tools, make him an intriguing prospect for Dallas and a fantastic complement to CeeDee Lamb. COMPARISON Deebo Samuel, San Francisco 49ers BTB GRADE 15th CONSENSUS RANKING 16th(Consensus ranking based on the average ranking from 90 major scoring services)
Desired continuity may keep Cooper Rush in Dallas
Photo by Mitchell Leff/Getty Images If the Cowboys want offensive continuity, re-signing Cooper Rush may be an offseason goal. While not the biggest name among the Cowboys’ scheduled 2025 free agents, backup QB Cooper Rush serves valuable roles. Given the front office’s recent admiration for continuity on offense, could Rush be a priority re-signing for Dallas this spring? If the projected departures of Zack Martin and DeMarcus Lawrence happen, Dak Prescott will become the Cowboys’ longest-tenured player at 10 seasons. Right behind him, both entering their ninth years in Dallas, will be Rush and CB Jourdan Lewis. While Rush did briefly leave in 2020, signing as a free agent with the Giants, he was available that October and signed following Prescott’s season-ending injury. What nobody could’ve expected at that time was that Rush would eventually reclaim his spot as QB2 and eventually post a 9-5 record in starts from 2021-2024. Now a proven commodity and one of the best-known backups in football, Rush should have a market with plenty of teams looking for a reliable veteran on their QB depth chart. Not only does Rush bring consistent competence on the field but has been praised for assisting the coaches and the starter with game preparation during the week. He’s even been projected as a future QB coach once his playing career ends. That only increases his value as a roster member, even if there are legitimate complaints about his upside when he actually plays. No team better understands Rush’s lesser-seen qualities than the Cowboys. While Kellen Moore may try to get him over to New Orleans, assuming Moore even gets that head coaching job, Dallas should have the deepest appreciation of Rush’s value. So if that’s the case, why is there even a question of Rush getting a new contract? With Brian Schottenheimer’s promotion and Klayton Adams’ arrival as offensive coordinator, plus a new quarterbacks coach still TBD, there are lots of new opinions and perceptions in the coaching staff. But if a degree of continuity is what the front office valued in making Schottenheimer head coach, keeping Rush could help take that further. Still, the new guys may have strong feelings about the type of backup they want. If mobility is something they particularly desire, re-signing Trey Lance might become preferable to Rush. For that matter, Dallas might let both walk and just go with Will Grier as a cheaper backup, or bring in other guys who have worked with Schottenheimer or Adams at previous stops. The coaching staff changes create more variables for the offseason, particularly when it comes to free agency. Dak Prescott may also have a say in this. It’s clear that he influenced the promotion of Schottenheimer, so what if he also throws his support behind Rush? They’ve worked together for the better part of a decade, with Rush being the primary backup for at least six full seasons. With a new OC and position coach coming, Prescott may want a guy he trusts to help him digest the changes. There will be a large number of experienced passers in this year’s free agent crop; many with far more skins on the wall than Cooper Rush. But none of them offer the familiarity and chemistry that he would bring to the offense as Dak Prescott’s backup, and that could be enough to help Rush earn at least one more year with the Cowboys.
Cowboys defender with two years left on $21 million deal may no longer fit
Cowboys defender with two years left on $21 million deal may no longer fit reidhanson Matt Eberflus is the Dallas Cowboys new defensive coordinator and with him comes a new defensive scheme. As a former Cowboys coach, Eberflus isn’t foreign around these parts. His scheme is much more straight forward than that of Dan Quinn or Mike Zimmer. He stunts less, blitzes less, and disguises his coverages less. For safeties like Donovan Wilson and Malik Hooker it means a higher proportion of split safety looks. This impacts both players since most of those two players’ careers have been spent in some form of single-high secondaries. By most predictions, Wilson won’t be able to play in the box as often as before and Hooker won’t be able to play centerfield as often as before. Hooker’s ability to effectively play as a single-high safety made him a valuable commodity for the Dallas defense over the years. His range and consistency made him a top player at one of the NFL’s most demanding roles. With more split safety looks on the horizon, Hooker’s top skill, his range, loses some of its value. Split-safety looks like Cover 2, 2-man and Quarters don’t require the same extraordinary range as a Cover 1 or Cover 3 scheme. As such, the role is easier to fill and doesn’t require a high investment cost. Hooker signed a three-year, $21 million extension in 2023 that runs through 2026. At a cap cost of $7.5 million in 2025, Hooker is one of the top-10 cap hits and certainly qualifies as a high investment cost (per OTC). The Cowboys got a taste of Hooker playing more diverse coverage roles in 2024 when Zimmer increased the amount of 2-high looks Dallas played mixing and matching Wilson and Hooker in the process. It didn’t turn out well. Both safeties posted their lowest graded qualifying seasons of their respective careers in 2024. In previous seasons in Dallas, Hooker was a player most teams avoided. He was rarely targeted and routinely ranked among the best safeties in yardage allowed. Playing in a less demanding split safety role more in 2024, Hooker appeared to regress, giving up more yards than ever before in Dallas. Not focusing on his area of expertise, as demanding as that expertise may be, was a bad thing for Hooker and possibly a sign of things to come in 2025. Like Wilson, his counterpart, Hooker’s return to the Cowboys in 2025 is far from assured. He’s an expensive player coming off a down year. Significant costs could be saved by letting him go if the Cowboys think they can adequately replace his production. Related articles [affiliatewidget_smgtolocal]
Winners and losers from Cowboys hire of new offensive coordinator Klayton Adams
Charles LeClaire-Imagn Images Here are all the winners and losers from the Cowboys’ hiring of Klayton Adams. What a week it’s been for the Dallas Cowboys. Since naming Brian Schottenheimer their new head coach and the discourse surrounding the decision, the team has made some good decisions in assembling their coaching. First, the team named Matt Eberflus as their defensive coordinator to replace Mike Zimmer. Eberflus once worked in Dallas, coaching under Rob Ryan and returning to Dallas after his stint as head coach of the Chicago Bears. The other hire that has fans excited is Klayton Adams as offensive coordinator. Adams comes over from the Arizona Cardinals, where he made an instant impact with their offensive line, and the Cowboys feel he can give the Cowboys some fresh ideas and diverse looks to spice up the offense. Focusing more on the offense, with the addition of Adams, some players/staff will prosper because of it, while some may see a change in their standing with the Cowboys. Here are the winners and losers of Dallas hiring Klayton Adams as their offensive coordinator. Loser: Mike Solari It’s hard to envision a way Mike Solari can remain on the staff for much longer. Despite his years of experience, the Cowboys’ offensive line has regressed over the past few seasons. Terence Steele doesn’t look quite right since his season-ending knee injury in 2022, and Solari was tasked with getting a young offensive line going on the right foot. Cooper Beebe fared relatively well, but Tyler Guyton did not. Even though Solari has a relationship with Schottenheimer dating back to their time with Seattle, Adams’ presence on the team pushes Solari into a corner. If your new coordinator can get results from what he had to work with Arizona, imagine what he could do with the prospects in Dallas. Solari isn’t out the door yet, but his standing in Dallas is becoming more tenuous with Adams’ arrival. Winner: Tyler Guyton For the Cowboys offense to get back on track in 2025, you get the sense that it’ll be contingent upon how well Tyler Guyton develops. He had a rough rookie year where he was flagged for penalties numerous times and was benched for inconsistency while learning a new position at left tackle. Adams’ reputation as a miracle worker with offensive linemen could be what Guyton needs to get his confidence and start trending his career in the right direction. The hiring could very well have been done with Guyton in mind. It was already expected that Guyton would improve from year one to year two, but because of Adams’ impact, it could mean much more. Guyton having a coordinator with that area of expertise and playing for a coordinator who understands the importance of using misdirection runs will tremendously help showcase Guyton’s athleticism in the running game. Expect to see a more diverse running game with Guyton punishing smaller defenders on the move. Loser: Rico Dowdle This depends on how you want to look at it. Rico Dowlde is coming off the best season of his career at 26 years old, when he ran for 1,079 yards for an average of 4.6 yards per carry. Still, he’s an unrestricted free agent, and if we’re being honest, the Cowboys could already have their eyes elsewhere. It’s a loaded crop of running backs in the draft; the one name being floated around is Ashton Jeanty, with Omarion Hampton and TreVeyon Henderson also connected to the Cowboys. Although Dowdle ran well last year, there’s still a lack of speed in his game, which makes him feel replaceable. A new staff, a new coordinator, and rumors of former Cowboys running back Tashard Choice coming to be the running backs coach could mean a fresh start at the position. It’s for the best. The Cowboys’ running back room needs a reset, and Dowdle, coming off the year he had, would be wise to look for a pay raise elsewhere that the Cowboys likely would not be inclined to pay. Winner: Dak Prescott A new coordinator with innovative ideas in the running game will also benefit the passing game. In speaking with the media this week, Coach Schottenheimer said that he wants to design runs and passing plays to look the same. He wants to create indecision from opposing defenses that will permit Dak Prescott with opportunities to attack the defense off play-action and manufacture big plays in the secondary. Prescott has always been an excellent passer attacking the middle of the defense. If Adams’ offense is designed to create hesitation in the defense, expect Prescott to exploit that area of the field. CeeDee Lamb also benefits from this change by being a premier receiver at every level of defense. A healthy Prescott with a potent play-action attack is a formula success in 2025.
