Cowboys could fix glaring weakness if they pounce on this surprisingly cut player – Lior Lampert, The Landry Hat After adding a linebacker and a safety, could safety be next? Jerry Jones wasn’t late; he was just early. The Dallas Cowboys’ owner/general manager boldly (and repeatedly) declared he was going “all-in” for 2024, though his […] After adding a linebacker and a safety, could safety be next? Jerry Jones wasn’t late; he was just early. The Dallas Cowboys’ owner/general manager boldly (and repeatedly) declared he was going “all-in” for 2024, though his words and actions didn’t align — until now. Jones, 83, put his chips on the table at the NFL’s 2025 trade deadline, citing age as a “natural urgency” to be aggressive. He acquired former Cincinnati Bengals linebacker Logan Wilson and landed star defensive tackle Quinnen Williams in a shocking blockbuster swap with the New York Jets. With that in mind, it certainly wouldn’t be surprising to see the Cowboys make another move, especially with veteran safety Quandre Diggs suddenly becoming available. S Quandre Diggs makes for ideal Cowboys target after getting waived by Titans The Tennessee Titans have “parted ways” with Diggs, per an official team announcement. The phrasing supports follow-up reporting that he “asked for and received his release,” according to NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport. Regardless of how or why it happened, Jones and the Cowboys shouldn’t hesitate to pounce on the 11th-year pro. One man’s trash is another’s treasure. Diggs didn’t necessarily fit the mold amid a youth movement in Tennessee, but that doesn’t mean he can’t help a hapless Cowboys stop unit. His skill set can provide a much-needed boost to Dallas’ secondary. Dallas is allowing the second-most yards (397.4) and points (30.8) per game entering the Week 10 Sunday slate. They can’t stop a nosebleed, let alone the run or pass. Moreover, only five clubs have more missed tackles than the Cowboys (64). Guess what Diggs’ strengths are: tackling, coverage and limiting opposing ground attacks. The three-time Pro Bowler is a versatile, physical, hard-nosed ball hawk. His presence would give the Cowboys a new high-profile player at all three levels of the defense. All NFL teams to honor Cowboys’ Marshawn Kneeland with powerful message in Week 10 – Josh Sanchez Cowboys on SI Teams will remember Marshawn Kneeland this Sunday. The NFL will join the Dallas Cowboys in mourning on Sunday, after a league-wide memo was sent out by the league before Week 10 kicks into full swing. In the first game of Week 10, the Denver Broncos honored Kneeland at Mile High Stadium prior to their game against the Las Vegas Raiders with a moment of silence, hours after Kneeland’s tragic death was announced. According to ESPN’s Adam Schefter, the league sent a memo to all teams asking them to observe a moment of silence in Kneeland’s honor this weekend. The moment of silence will be followed with a message urging for those struggling with mental health issues to reach out for help. Still so much that has to be done even in a disappointing season. At 3-5-1, the Dallas Cowboys find themselves in unfamiliar territory, searching for answers at the halfway point of a disappointing season. The bye week offers a rare moment for reflection, and as a lifelong Cowboys fan, it’s impossible not to dissect where things have gone wrong and where things can still be fixed. There’s talent on this roster, but a series of glaring issues have held the team back from being a true contender. Here are a few key takeaways from this much-needed break. Run Defense is Still Lacking Let’s start with one of the most frustrating part of the Cowboys’ season: the run defense. After the front office traded away Micah Parsons earlier in the year, the expectation was that the defense would shift its identity to a more balanced, gap-disciplined unit. With Kenny Clark anchoring the middle, fans hoped the bleeding would stop. Unfortunately, that hasn’t been the case. Dallas currently ranks 29th in the league, giving up a staggering 143.0 rushing yards per game. That’s not just bad, it’s embarrassing for a team that claims to have Super Bowl aspirations. The addition of Quinnen Williams should help immensely, as he’s one of the NFL’s most dominant run defenders and brings a physical edge that’s been sorely missing. Pairing him with Logan Wilson, a proven tackling machine at linebacker, could finally give this unit some stability. Still, until we see consistent gap control, sound tackling, and a little pride in stopping the run, it’s hard to believe the defense will hold up against playoff-caliber opponents. Need for Speed in the Backfield On offense, Javonte Williams has been a revelation. His bruising running style and ability to shed tackles have brought much-needed toughness to the ground game. He’s the kind of back who can wear down a defense late in games. However, what this offense lacks is speed; that game-breaking element that keeps defenses honest. When the Cowboys drafted Jaydon Blue, fans were excited about his potential as a home-run threat, but in typical fashion, that experiment ended abruptly. After getting just 15 carries over two weeks, Blue was a healthy scratch against the Cardinals, with Malik Davis getting the nod instead. That’s the kind of decision that leaves fans scratching their heads. Imagine the offense with a change-of-pace back who could stretch the field; someone like Tony Pollard, who ironically was available at the trade deadline. Adding a back with burst would complement Williams perfectly and open up play-action opportunities for Dak Prescott. Without that speed element, this offense continues to feel predictable and one-dimensional in the rushing attack. Why Quinnen Williams is the real deal. The Dallas Cowboys made a big splash this week when they traded for New York Jets defensive tackle Quinnen Williams. The former Alabama stud defender was highly coveted coming out of college, which is why he was selected third overall in the 2019 NFL draft. He’s been sensational

After the Cowboys’ big trade for DT Quinnen Williams, many fans are wondering just what Dallas is getting in its new defensive centerpiece. We reached out to a friend of the site, Scott Mason from PlayLikeaJet.com, to get his take on the trade. What was your gut reaction when you heard the news? Did you […] After the Cowboys’ big trade for DT Quinnen Williams, many fans are wondering just what Dallas is getting in its new defensive centerpiece. We reached out to a friend of the site, Scott Mason from PlayLikeaJet.com, to get his take on the trade. What was your gut reaction when you heard the news? Did you see this one coming at all? “I wasn’t totally shocked because we’d been hearing whispers for a while. I understood why they did it, but I was disappointed because Quinnen is a game wrecker and still only 27.” Tell Cowboys fans about the kind of player they’re getting in Quinnen. “Williams is a rare IDL who is elite against the pass and the run. You’ll frequently see him near the top in pass-rush and run-stop win rate. Doesn’t always have flashy sack numbers, but when you watch the film, he’s always all over the place despite getting double and triple-teamed constantly.” How do you feel about the package of draft picks and Mazi Smith that the Jets received? “Jets got a lot in return, especially considering Quinnen wanted out. The draft picks, if used right, could help the Jets finally get out of the mess they’ve been trying to escape from for the past 15 years. I don’t have high hopes for Mazi Smith, but he’s still young and has enough ability to have been a first-rounder, so he’s worth a dart throw.” When New York gets the better of Dallas’ 2027 first-round picks, either their own or Green Bay’s, whose do you predict it will be? “Probably Dallas, but you never know, the NFL can be funny sometimes.” A lot’s been said about Dallas making this trade in the middle of a nearly lost season. As an outside observer, what’s your take? “I don’t think this deal was made just for 2025. Quinnen is only 27 and has two more years left at a fairly reasonable price. Dallas should get at least two more elite seasons out of him and maybe more if they re-sign him.” Anything else you want to say to Cowboys Nation? “Quinnen has been the best player on the Jets for several years now, and he’s an absolute force on the inside. Think he will be very effective in Dallas, and it shouldn’t take him long to become a fan favorite.” See More: Dallas Cowboys Roster

The Dallas Cowboys made a big splash this week when they traded for New York Jets defensive tackle Quinnen Williams. The former Alabama stud defender was highly coveted coming out of college, which is why he was selected third overall in the 2019 NFL draft. He’s been sensational from the onset. Despite being known as […] The Dallas Cowboys made a big splash this week when they traded for New York Jets defensive tackle Quinnen Williams. The former Alabama stud defender was highly coveted coming out of college, which is why he was selected third overall in the 2019 NFL draft. He’s been sensational from the onset. Despite being known as a run-stopping specialist, he has surprisingly good pass-rushing skills, racking up at least 5.5 sacks in each of the last five seasons. He compiled an amazing 12 sacks in 2022, earning first-team All-Pro honors. To land Williams, the Cowboys will give up the better of the two first-round picks from 2027, one of which they gained from the Micah Parsons trade. Additionally, they gave up their second-round pick from the 2026 draft. Because of draft pick depreciation, the value of a 2027 first-rounder is equivalent to a second-round pick in 2026. So essentially, they got Williams for two second-round picks. That’s a good value for a player of his caliber. Some are questioning his talent, oddly, because his sack total this season sits at a measly one sack. This is his seventh season in the pros, so many are already labeling him in a “decline” state, but there is no physical evidence to suggest such. He’s 27 years old and has plenty of good years left. If you look at six-time Pro Bowler Chris Jones from the Kansas City Chiefs, he didn’t earn his first first-team All-Pro until the age of 28, where he then reeled off three-straight first-team All-Pro seasons. Anyone who puts on the tape of Williams should be immediately pleased. He’s the kind of guy who does so many things well and whose success is built on razor-sharp fundamentals that won’t be nullified by declining physical traits, because he never had elite traits in the first place. Williams is an “it-factor” guy who possesses the intangibles because of his play instincts and breadth of skills. The Cowboys finally have themselves a legit force along the interior defensive line, and today we’ll run through the skills that make Williams such a remarkable asset for the defense. LEVERAGE At 6’3”, 303 pounds, Williams doesn’t have the mammoth size that most run-stopping defensive tackles have. He doesn’t possess overpowering strength and looks like he would be susceptible to being pushed around, but those moments rarely happen. He does a remarkable job staying low and getting under the chest of his blockers. His hands are so quick that he puts himself in a position to win with leverage consistently. This is a big reason he’s known for resetting the line of scrimmage. It doesn’t matter if he is fighting through double teams or going one-on-one. He drives the blockers where he wants to go. AWARENESS One of the things that makes Williams so effective is how he’s always spying the ball carrier. He’s never going to get caught up, entangled with his blockers, unaware of what is happening with the play. His eyes are always locked on where the play is going. His football IQ and play diagnoses are high-level. When you combine his heightened awareness with his physical ability to move the line of scrimmage, it puts him in a great position to shut down running lanes and take shots at the ball carrier at a high rate. Williams is a fundamentalist who uses his sharp optics to attack, and he is rarely off his target. DISENGAGEMENT Williams has super quick hands. Not only do they move fast, but his hand placement is spot on, locking into the chest, allowing him to control where he wants to go. His hands are violent, and in an instant, will go from locked into the chest to completely disengaged. Now you see them, now you don’t. The rapid movement of his hands makes him a masterful block-shedder. Because of his spying eyes, he knows exactly when to pull with his hands and quickly toss aside his blocker, creating an open path to the football. BURST Big guys aren’t supposed to be fast, which is why it’s so impressive to see Williams move so well. His burst off the line of scrimmage is instantaneous, and if his blocker stumbles just a bit, it’s over. He’ll blow up the play. Many times, he will attack the shoulder so quickly that the lineman doesn’t stand a chance to set an anchor and hold his block. He works himself in the backfield so quickly, and once he disengages from the block, he fires toward the ball carrier. This is why he does most of his own cleanup work and racks up the tackles before the linebackers arrive. And he is a relentless pursuer, chasing down ball carriers along the outside as well. Wherever they are, he’ll find them. These combinations of skills have made Williams one of the best defensive tackles in the game, and now he’s on the Cowboys. He’s not Micah Parsons, but like Parsons, he is an elite player at his respective position. People can debate the trade costs, but when you look at what he puts on film, it becomes very difficult to conclude that he’s not a great football player who won’t help the Cowboys’ defense in a big way. See for yourself. See More: Dallas Cowboys Roster

Every week, we gather to discuss the latest news about the Dallas Cowboys and seek our writer’s perspective on each headline. Welcome back to the roundtable. This week we have David Howman, RJ Ochoa, and Jess Haynie.  What single defensive issue hurt most? Rush-lane discipline, communication, or tackling? Mike: There was too many soft edges and uneven interior lanes […] Every week, we gather to discuss the latest news about the Dallas Cowboys and seek our writer’s perspective on each headline. Welcome back to the roundtable. This week we have David Howman, RJ Ochoa, and Jess Haynie. What single defensive issue hurt most? Rush-lane discipline, communication, or tackling? Mike: There was too many soft edges and uneven interior lanes that Jacoby Brissett used to break contain and extend plays, which in turn stressed the coverage and turned routine tackles into misses. If Dallas can clean up the lane integrity, containment issues, the communication hiccups, the tackling problems begin to subside fast. Jess: Lane discipline has been killing Dallas all year. Kenneth Murray has reached 2021 Jaylon Smith level at this point, and the young players are doing what young players do. We can’t get Logan Wilson and DeMarvion Overshown out there fast enough. RJ: Ultimately I think this comes down to communication. This is a group that clearly has no proper understanding of what they are doing and we have seen that show its ugly face time after time across the entire year. Howman: I think we’re all dancing around the real issue, which is that linebacker play has been abysmal. Shemar James doesn’t deserve a ton of criticism given he’s a rookie who’s clearly drinking water out of a fire hose, but there’s no such excuse for Kenneth Murray. Furthermore, there’s no excuse for Matt Eberflus continuing to play someone who keeps giving up chunk play after chunk play. Why Murray still sees the field over Marist Liufau boggles the mind. Did the fourth-down aggression go too far, or were the calls sound and the execution lacking? Mike: It wasn’t the aggression, it was the execution. With the Cowboys defense leaking like a broken sieve this year, going for it on fourth down was the right math. The problem was the execution with too many long-developing plays and not pairing third-down calls to set up a high-percentage fourth-down play. Protection up front wasn’t clean and penalties put the Cowboys offense into a panic, forcing the situation further. There is an easier answer to all this, however, don’t let it get to a place where Brian Schottenheimer has to make that decision on fourth down. Execute on early downs and be more clinical up front on the offensive line, and this offense doesn’t need to be forced to make fourth down calls. That sounds much better. Jess: Would we even be having this discussion if Javonte Williams hadn’t fumbled? Hard to take fault with playcalling when players can’t even do the basics. Execution is far more the issue on offense. RJ: I am more than fine with the Cowboys having a go-for-it attitude on fourth down, especially given the state of the defense. It’s obviously unfortunate that it did not work out. Howman: If those fourth down decisions work out, we’re talking about how Schotty is a genius instead of asking if it was too much, so no, I have no issue with the decision making. Where does Logan Wilson move the needle most right away? On run fits between the tackles, third-down coverage, or pressure packages as a late add? Mike: Wilson’s superpower is reading route concepts and closing windows between the hashes, and then triggering quickly to tackle before the ball carrier reaches the sticks. That lets Dallas defense be able to disguise pressure without busts, and most importantly, get off the field when it matters. He’ll help the run fits with cleaner vision and faster downhill triggers. As a blitzer he’s a useful creeper, not a volume pressure piece. But his coverage recognition upgrades passing downs, his tackling improves the run defense, and the Cowboys two-minute defense improves immediately. Jess: See my response to the first question. Wilson was a good read-and-react player in Cincy and that is what is woefully lacking among our linebackers right now. He can probably help across the board, but his experience and quick, accurate processing will be welcome in that group. RJ: He is better than what they have. That’s it. Howman: Logan Wilson is a decent linebacker but also a team leader in the locker room. Most importantly, though, he gets Kenneth Murray off the field. See More:

The Dallas Cowboys are in a bye week, but there are still things we can learn by looking back at the past game. The loss to the Arizona Cardinals was a big stumble by the team. There are some Cowboys’ rookies who are playing important roles this year, let’s check in on how they did […] The Dallas Cowboys are in a bye week, but there are still things we can learn by looking back at the past game. The loss to the Arizona Cardinals was a big stumble by the team. There are some Cowboys’ rookies who are playing important roles this year, let’s check in on how they did in the most recent game. OG Tyler Booker (Game stats- Snaps: 67, Pass Blocks: 51, Pressures: 1, Sacks: 0, Penalties: 1) Arizona brought a steady flow of simulated pressure and Booker generally did well. The Cowboys still surrendered five sacks and nine quarterback hits, but most of that stress came in long-yardage stretches when the Cardinals dialed up late stunts. That explains why so many drives felt one snap away from staying on schedule. It wasn’t perfect from Booker. A couple of third down plays turned into late pressure when Arizona’s loopers arrived and got through, and a few zone runs got spilled by backside chases before Booker could fully set. The PFF snapshot from the game shows Booker was generally sound with a 86.0 grade in pass protection, and 82.0 in run blocking, and that discounts his disruptive penalty on third down that erased the conversion. DE Donovan Ezeiruaku (Game stats- Snaps: 51, Total Tackles: 3, Pressures: 5, Sacks: 1, TFL: 1) Ezeiruaku’s night against Arizona was actually pretty good despite the defense failing so miserably. He threatened the edges early, used his relentless motor to keep Jacoby Brissett on the move. A couple of second-effort wins showed the sequencing he’s been stacking with his speed to power, and those snaps pressured the QB into a couple of hurried throws. Early in the first quarter on a third-and-medium play, Ezeiruaku lined up outside the tackle in a wide-9 position and treated the snap like he owned it. He sold pure speed off the ball to force depth, then stabbed his inside hand into the tackle’s chest. The moment the tackle over-shifted to protect the corner, Ezeiruaku snapped back underneath with a rip, kept his pads low, and went straight into the backfield. He finished clean and wrapped up Brissett and sat him down in the pocket before the throw. Arizona leaned on motion and boots, and once or twice Ezeiruaku got too deep and let Brissett climb the pocket. On a cutback he lost his lane discipline, and opened a crease that should’ve died at three yards. A chip from a tight end stole his first step on one key play, and there was a rush where the counter arrived a beat late. LB Shemar James (Game stats- Snaps: 58, Total Tackles: 5, Pressures: 1, Sacks: 0, TFL: 1) The linebackers are probably the weakest part of the Cowboys roster and it showed up in Arizona. This is a game that James will want back and would love to go back to and change a lot of things. The tape keeps showing the same problems during the game with his vision, reading landmarks, and communication. Arizona dressed everything up with motion and quick throws that caught James out, and he often chased the window dressing instead of reading his landmarks. He overran the front side and lost the ball carrier, opening the very cutback he’s supposed to close and maintain. Twice he triggered downhill before the running back declared and got washed out of the play. Another time he slow-played things but that caused him to arrive flat-footed, gifting yards after contact. The miscommunication with Kenneth Murray throughout the game turned small mistakes into big ones. On a couple of gap-exchange plays, both linebackers flowed over the top and nobody claimed the interior. The next series, they reacted to a motion late and wound up hugging the same crosser causing an easy pitch-and-catch behind them. You could see the hesitation in their pre-snap body language as the game continued and this gave Arizona the perfect to place to attack. Then there was the tackling, or lack thereof. The form and technique slipped into high strikes and reach for hope instead of wrapping through the thighs or body. On the perimeter, James took two angles too flat, arriving shoulder-first, letting the runner roll through contact easily, and inside he stopped his feet at contact rather than rolling his hips and wrapping. It was some of the worst tackling Cowboys fans have witnessed in quite some time. DT Jay Toia (Game stats- Snaps: 20, Total Tackles: 1, Pressures: 1, Sacks: 0) Arizona hammered the interior with a lot of inside zone and on Toia’s limited snap count, his anchor wobbled more than it usually does. Too many snaps started with high pads and late hands, which let the inside offensive linemen turn his shoulders and walk him a yard or two off his spot. The lowlight came at the goal line. Tight front, heavy personnel, and Toia slanted with the snap instead of posting square in the A-gap. The block caught him mid-move, got him to shift right, and Arizona punched in a one-yard plunge through the vacancy. If he anchors there, fights half a man, and falls back into the crease, that lane closes. CB Trikweze Bridges (Game stats- Snaps: 7, Total Tackles: 1, PBU: 0, INT: 0) Bridges played on seven defensive snaps. In that time he had two throws his way, both go for receptions and allowed 35 yards and a 118.8 passer rating allowed. This tells you offenses found the rookie as soon as he checked in. The issues on tape with Bridges aligns with much of the problems with the secondary, a little too much cushion lining up and late transition from his back

Cowboys rookie Donovan Ezeiruaku having dominant start to career – Tyler Reed, Sports Illustrated Donovan Ezeiruaku is showing that he could be one of the steals of the 2025 NFL Draft. The Dallas Cowboys’ defense has been the talk of the season for obvious reasons. Time and time again, they have proven to be one of the worst units […] Cowboys rookie Donovan Ezeiruaku having dominant start to career – Tyler Reed, Sports Illustrated Donovan Ezeiruaku is showing that he could be one of the steals of the 2025 NFL Draft. The Dallas Cowboys’ defense has been the talk of the season for obvious reasons. Time and time again, they have proven to be one of the worst units in the league. However, not everything has been bad within the unit. If you watched the team’s primetime matchup with the Arizona Cardinals this past week, you may have noticed one defensive unit was playing their tails off. That unit was the defensive line. It truly felt like the Cowboys’ pass rush was in the backfield on every snap. One of the biggest reasons behind the strong play from the pass rush has been the play of rookie Donovan Ezeiruaku. In the loss to the Cardinals on Monday night, Ezeiruaku picked up his third sack of the season. The rookie was also in the backfield all game long. It’s been a strong start for the former Boston College star, and his numbers back it up. Per CowboysMuse, Ezeiruaku is tied for first in sacks, second in tackles for loss, and first in forced fumbles among all rookies in the league. Dak Prescott, Cowboys teammates mourn loss of Marshawn Kneeland – Tommy Yarrish, DallasCowboys.com Rest in peace Marshawn Kneeland. FRISCO, Texas – The entire Dallas Cowboys organization and the NFL football community continue to mourn the tragic loss of defensive end Marshawn Kneeland. Throughout the course of the day of his passing, Kneeland’s teammates showed outpourings of support and messages on social media to Kneeland and his family, as well as the importance of checking in on mental health with yourself and your loved ones. “It’s been a very tough day,” QB Dak Prescott told CBS11 during a field dedication ceremony for him at his alma mater, Haughton High School. “It started early this morning, finding out the news. Tragic loss. I hurt. Heavy, heavy heart today. I hurt for Marshawn, I hurt for his family, I hurt for his girlfriend, I hurt for every single one of my teammates.” “This is a pain that you don’t wish upon anybody. You wish none of us had to go through this. You wish Marshawn didn’t have to go through what he went through. Just thankful for each moment we have in this life, and don’t take it for granted, hug and love on those that you do.” Prescott, who is an NFL Walter Payton Man of the Year award winner for his efforts to help colon cancer research and mental health initiatives among other things, has been a large voice in the mental health community through his Faith, Fight, Finish foundation. Often writing “Ask 4 Help” on his wrist tape during games, Prescott echoed the message that it’s okay not to be okay. “It’s okay to feel however you’re feeling,” Prescott said. “I’ll tell you first and foremost, I don’t always have all the answers. And today is not a day that I felt like I had answers. Triggering day for many reasons. On top of just knowing that [Prescott’s field dedication ceremony] was ahead today, and hard to balance my emotions today, and not a day that I have words other than I love you for friends and families and people who may be struggling.” After the news of Kneeland’s passing game out, Prescott said the Cowboys had a team video call. “That I love them…” Prescott said of his message to his teammates. “Few people that spoke did an amazing job, but as I said, it’s tell that person how I feel about them when I see them. Tough moment for this team. I feel and hurt for everybody that’s involved in this and Marshawn’s family and loved ones.” Cowboys LB coach looking to Logan Wilson to bring this desperately-needed skill after bye – Todd Brock, Cowboys Wire Dallas wants new linebacker Logan Wilson to tap into his ability to get turnovers. The Cowboys have high hopes that the bye week will breathe new life into a defense that’s struggled over the first two months of the 2025 season. The anticipated return of linebacker DeMarvion Overshown will be huge, and the immediate impact of newly-acquired defensive tackle Quinnen Williams cannot be understated. But the Cowboys coaching staff also traded for veteran linebacker Logan Wilson at the deadline, and they’re looking for him to return to the form he displayed early in his career, especially when it comes to one key skill that has been lacking in Dallas. “Obviously, he takes the ball away,” Cowboys linebackers coach Dave Borgonzi said of the former third-round draft pick earlier in the week. “I think he’s got the most interceptions for a linebacker in the last few years. He’s really good at that. He’s good at getting to the ball.” Over his first four seasons, Wilson tallied 12 picks, including one in the postseason. And while he hasn’t had one since the Bengals’ 2023 finale, that figure more than doubles the combined career totals of every other linebacker on the Cowboys’ current roster. The last interception by a Dallas linebacker? Eric Kendricks in Week 15 last season. It was one of two Kendricks nabbed on the year. Overshown got one, too, on a fluke ball that he batted up in the air and managed to catch. Wilson, however, seems to have a longstanding knack that comes from more than luck. “Logan did that in college,” Borgonzi said. “I think he had 10 takeaways when he was at Wyoming, so he’s been a guy that’s really done that his

Editor Note: We’re all still processing the tragic passing of Marshawn Kneeland. You can view the reported details of what happened here, and we will cover any news-worthy developments down the road if there are any. If you are struggling with any mental health issues, visit here for resources to help. We are now returning to our regular […] Editor Note: We’re all still processing the tragic passing of Marshawn Kneeland. You can view the reported details of what happened here, and we will cover any news-worthy developments down the road if there are any. If you are struggling with any mental health issues, visit here for resources to help. We are now returning to our regular coverage of the Dallas Cowboys season. When the Dallas Cowboys traded away their star edge rusher Micah Parsons to the Green Bay Packers right before the start of the new season, it shook up the entire sports world. What initially looked like the fallout of a contractual stalemate, propagated by the stubborn Jerry Jones, turned into a game of either-or. The brain trust over at The Star felt that the sum of all of the alternative parts would be greater than one whole Micah Parsons. Jones has gone on record expressing how moving on from Parsons could yield the Cowboys three to five players. He indicated that the team as a whole would benefit more with these additional players than just that of Parsons. They saw it as a great opportunity to make a move, in hopes of returning a large haul that would ultimately make them a better team. Jones iterated that these new players would arrive via the trade itself (Kenny Clark), draft picks, and what they’d be able to do with the cap resources that would now be available from not signing Parsons. He also clarified that the draft capital received in the trade wouldn’t be limited to using them during the draft, but also as bargaining chips to trade for new players themselves. With each new day, the front-office plan has slowly taken shape. While everything hasn’t fallen into place perfectly like they hoped, you can see what they had envisioned with how things are starting to play out. And now, after the big trade for the New York Jets’ stud defensive tackle, Quinnen Williams, more and more of the equation is starting to reveal itself. Today, we wanted to take a look at the different parts of the Parsons trade and some of the connected pieces that might not have been so obvious in the beginning. Kenny Clark The veteran nose tackle was an important piece of the trade, according to Jerry Jones. He made it clear that addressing the interior of the defensive line was of utmost importance, and the three-time Pro Bowler was expected to help. Clark is 30 years old. He’s a good player, and he’s shown up at different times this season, but he hasn’t proved to be the answer the team was looking for. The good news is, he’s only costing the team $2.6 million this year as Green Bay covers the remaining $8.2 million of his 2025 annual salary. Should the Cowboys keep him going forward, he’ll come with a cap hit of $21.5 million and $20 million, respectively, over the next two seasons. That may be a little too steep, especially if his production starts to dip. His future on the roster could be in jeopardy as the Cowboys look for bigger solutions, which brings us to… Quinnen Williams With Clark not yielding the desired results, the Cowboys stepped it up a notch, trading for one of the top defensive tackles in the league. You can arrange your list however you want, but Williams should be making everyone’s top five. He’s coming off three very strong years (all Pro Bowl seasons), including a dominant showing in 2022 when he earned first-team All-Pro honors. Since entering the league, he’s been viewed as one of the league’s top run stoppers. He controls the line of scrimmage, finds the ball carrier, and finds him quickly. Williams isn’t a guy who used to be good. He’s 27 years old, is still throwing blockers around, fighting through double teams, and comes with two additional years of player control for $21.8 million and $25.5 million, respectively. He will be an impact player for this Cowboys defense for the foreseeable future. Donovan Ezeiruaku Before the Cowboys agreed to part ways with Parsons, they must have felt good about the depth of their defensive end position group. On paper, it looked pretty good, consisting of free agent Dante Fowler, and second-round investments Sam Williams and rookie Donovan Ezeiruaku. (Obviously Marshawn Kneeland was also a part of that picture). They had camp standout James Houston and later signed veteran Jadeveon Clowney after the pressure from the edge group wasn’t living up to expectations. Fortunately, production has increased with this group, and one bright spot continues to be the growth of the rookie Ezeiruaku. Similar to when the Cowboys saw DeMarcus Lawrence slide in the draft, this organization views Ezeiruaku as a second-round steal. If things go according to plan, the team will have another young star pass rusher on their team real soon, making the departure of Parsons a far less bitter pill to swallow. George Pickens The trade for former Pittsburgh Steelers wideout George Pickens came with risk. He’s been described as a bit of a headcase who will eventually come unhinged and create all kinds of problems. While the potential to implode is there, we suppose, there is no denying what he does on the football field. Since joining the Cowboys, he’s unleashed a new level of greatness, largely thanks to having a better quarterback throwing him the ball. Pickens has been snatching balls from defenders and coming down with some incredible highlight-reel catches. His per-game average is 25 yards more than what he was doing in Pittsburgh, and he set a new career-high in touchdowns before the halfway mark

Editor Note: We’re all still processing the tragic passing of Marshawn Kneeland. You can view the reported details of what happened here, and we will cover any news-worthy developments down the road if there are any. If you are struggling with any mental health issues, visit here for resources to help. We are now returning to our regular […] Editor Note: We’re all still processing the tragic passing of Marshawn Kneeland. You can view the reported details of what happened here, and we will cover any news-worthy developments down the road if there are any. If you are struggling with any mental health issues, visit here for resources to help. We are now returning to our regular coverage of the Dallas Cowboys season. The Dallas Cowboys are a team notorious for being risk-averse and reluctant to make trades. However, something has gotten into Jerry Jones and the front office this year. First, the Cowboys made a trade with the Pittsburgh Steelers to acquire wide receiver George Pickens, and that has worked tremendously so far this season. Then, after a much-publicized contract negotiation, the Cowboys traded Micah Parsons to the Green Bay Packers. With Tuesday’s trade deadline, there was some expectation that, given how the season had gone so far, Jones might be done making deals. Yet, quite brazenly, Jones announced on Monday that a trade had already been done, which proved to be former Cincinnati Bengals linebacker Logan Wilson joining the team for a seventh-round draft pick. Enough to raise a shrug of the shoulder and maybe raise an eyebrow, but nothing like the trade that caught everyone by storm. Dallas sent a package that included a first-round pick and Mazi Smith to the New York Jets in exchange for Quinnen Williams. It’s a shocking and exciting change of course for the Cowboys that nets them one of the NFL’s best interior defenders and secures him in Dallas for the foreseeable future. As fortunate as the Cowboys are to have Williams’ services, there are still some questions to ponder in the trade’s aftermath. Here are ten burning questions following the Quinnen Williams trade. 1. Whose idea was this? While we know how important it is for Jerry Jones to receive the credit, who decided that it was Williams as the player the team needed to zero in on and use some of their surplus of assets? Cowboys COO Stephen Jones has developed a reputation for saving every penny possible; therefore, it’s hard to envision him being the driving force behind this acquisition. Did Will McClay review the roster and decide that there was no saving the defensive interior, and something had to be done? Or did this come from coach Brian Schottenheimer? Being a first-year head coach, Schottenheimer has a lot to prove and has seen how dominant his offense can be, but was shackled to a defense that practically nullifies the impact of his offense. Whoever decided this was the right call, it’s refreshing to see the team identify a problem and find the best solution with the resources afforded to them. 2. Who won the trade? That depends on the objective for both clubs. The New York Jets are all but mathematically eliminated. At 1-7, and with questions surrounding the direction of their future, the Jets decided that leaning into their rebuild was the better option. Getting premium draft picks suits their goals better than keeping around veterans on second contracts. Including their trade of Sauce Gardner to the Indianapolis Colts, acquiring three first-round picks at the deadline is a big haul. For Dallas, they acquire an elite run-stopping defensive tackle that has pass-rushing upside. Williams allowed the Cowboys to essentially flip the Micah Parsons trade into Kenny Clark, Williams, and an extra first-round pick, without having to negotiate a new contract since Williams has multiple years left on his current contract. Basically, the Cowboys are planning for the future while addressing an immediate need. 3. Who else was bidding for Williams If Williams was available, who else was in line for his services? The compensation for Williams is more than reasonable, and after the Jets traded Gardner, it seems that teams weren’t hesitant to offer up premier draft capital to get who they wanted. After Green Bay traded Kenny Clark in the Micah Parsons trade, they had a need for a defensive tackle, but were they willing to throw more future assets for Williams? The Kansas City Chiefs also need help on the interior and haven’t been as effective in stopping the run. Kansas City was in talks with the Jets for Breece Hall, but wasn’t comfortable with the price to get Hall. Could Kansas City also decide that Williams was too pricy for their liking? 4. Who else was Dallas looking for? It’s the deals that don’t get done that make you think. While Dallas picked up Logan Wilson and Williams, who else were the Cowboys looking to acquire? Rumors had the Cowboys were linked to Tennessee Titans defender Jeffrey Simmons, who stayed in Tennessee despite the Titans going nowhere this year and being in need of a complete rebuild. Minkah Fitzpatrick would have been nice to add to the Cowboys, who need help in their secondary and would have completed the three-level ensemble of linebacker, defensive tackle, and safety, but nothing formulated for Dallas. Jermaine Johnson was another player connected to Dallas, but the Jets didn’t move him, and the Cowboys opted to stand pat at edge rusher during the trade deadline. 5. Does this put the Cowboys back in the playoff chase? Sitting at 3-5-1, the Cowboys’ chances at making the playoffs are severely in question. Dallas has a conference record of 2-4-1 and is currently out of the playoff picture. Meanwhile, three teams in the NFC West have six wins or more, including the San Francisco 49ers, whose six wins have come against the NFC. The mathematical edge isn’t in Dallas’ favor to make the postseason, even as a wild card for the moment. Their

Editor Note: We’re all still processing the tragic passing of Marshawn Kneeland. You can view the reported details of what happened here, and we will cover any news-worthy developments down the road if there are any. If you are struggling with any mental health issues, visit here for resources to help. We are now returning to our regular […] Editor Note: We’re all still processing the tragic passing of Marshawn Kneeland. You can view the reported details of what happened here, and we will cover any news-worthy developments down the road if there are any. If you are struggling with any mental health issues, visit here for resources to help. We are now returning to our regular coverage of the Dallas Cowboys season. The Eagles didn’t have to lift a finger during their Week 9 bye to tighten their grip on the NFC East. Now the Cowboys get their week off and could really use some help from an old friend, and a longtime foe, as they look to come out of the break closer to the division leaders. While Philly rested last week, Dallas, Washington, and New York all took losses. The Cowboys were humiliated at home by the previously 2-5 Arizona Cardinals. The Commanders’ season probably ended against the Seahawks, falling to 3-6 and maybe losing QB Jayden Daniels for significant time with an elbow injury. And the Giants put up a decent fight against the 49ers, but ultimately, and unsurprisingly, lost. With Washington seemingly done for, and Dallas now several games back, the Eagles could soon have a second-straight division title wrapped up. They would be the first repeat NFC Champions since 2004, the last of four consecutive seasons when Philly held the crown during the Andy Reid, Donovan McNabb era. Here are the NFC East standings going into Week 10: Philadelphia Eagles 6-2 (2-1 in division, 5-1 vs NFC) Dallas Cowboys 3-5-1 (2-1, 2-4-1) Washington Commanders 3-6 (1-1, 1-5) New York Giants 2-7 (1-3, 1-5) If the Cowboys are going to get much-needed assistance in narrowing the gap with Philly, it’ll have to come from Micah Parsons and the Green Bay Packers. The Eagles head to Lambeau Field for Monday Night Football, easily the toughest on-paper matchup left on their schedule. This potential NFC Championship Game preview will have lots to watch, and Dallas fans will be keenly interested in how Parsons fares against his former division rivals. Washington gets no relief from an increasingly painful season, now having to host the Detroit Lions. They’ll be fired up after a narrow loss to the Vikings last week, and Daniels’ absence should make the Commanders fairly easy prey. The Giants are headed to Chicago this week, with the Bears going 5-1 in their last six games. While QB Jaxson Dart is giving New York good feelings for the future, the team just isn’t able to compete in 2025. It could be a trap game for Chicago, though, as they have a division battle with the Vikings in Week 11. See More: Dallas Cowboys General