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

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

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

Photo by Stacy Revere/Getty Images Combine standouts who could have caught the Cowboys attention. The 2025 NFL Scouting Combine has come and gone. While some prospects took advantage of this event to boost their draft stock, others either did little to move the needle or saw their draft stock take a hit. Here are some of the top performers from the combine we think probably caught the Dallas Cowboys attention and should now be on the radar for the draft. The prospects listed below all play a position of “need” for the Cowboys and as such are players they should have their eye on. Iowa State WRs Jayden Higgins and Jaylin Noel Photo by Stacy Revere/Getty Images Iowa State has a pair of impressive receivers who the Cowboys could have their eye on after testing well in Indianapolis at the combine. Jayden Higgins and Jaylin Noel are both expected to be Day 2 selections and either could upgrade the aerial attack. Higgins was compared to Texans WR Nico Collins after impressing with a 4.47 40-yard dash, a 39 inch vertical, and a 10’9″ broad jump at 6’4″, 214-pounds. Noel was compared to Emmanuel Sanders after recording a 41.5″ vertical, a 11’2″ broad jump, and an impressive 4.39 40-yard dash. Each one would bring something little different to Dallas’ passing game, making them both someone to keep an eye on. Texas WRs Matthew Golden and Isaiah Bond Photo by Stacy Revere/Getty Images The Texas Longhorns have a couple of wide receiver prospects the Cowboys could have their eyes on. Both Matthew Golden and Isaiah Bond tested well at the combine and either could be of interest to them to upgrade their aerial attack if paired with CeeDee Lamb. Golden was considered a fringe first-round prospect prior to the combine, but after running a 4.29 second 40-yard dash may have locked himself into a Top 20 pick. While Bond didn’t break the 40-yard dash record time like he predicted, he still put up a very respectable 4.41 time and hit an impressive 24.5 mph on the gauntlet drill. RB Omarion Hampton, North Carolina Photo by Stacy Revere/Getty Images There are rumors some teams have Omarion Hampton as their top-ranked RB in the 2025 draft class and after his performance at the combine you can see why. At 221-pounds, he put up elite testing numbers in nearly every event. He had a 38 inch vertical, a 10’10” broad jump, and ran the 40-yard dash in 4.47 seconds. Those testing numbers may make him a first-round lock and someone the Cowboys could target in a trade down scenario. RB Quinshon Judkins, Ohio State Photo by Stacy Revere/Getty Images Like Omarion Hampton, Quinshon Judkins proved to be one of the better size/speed running backs in Indianapolis. A bigger back at 221-pounds, Judkins impressed with his 4.48 40-yard dash, a 38.5 inch vertical jump, and his 11-foot broad jump. He is a powerful runner who was part of a RB tandem and Ohio State, but has the skill set of a starter at the next level. He’s someone to keep an eye on for the Cowboys in the second or third round. RB Bhayshul Tuten, Virginia Tech Photo by Stacy Revere/Getty Images Bhayshul Tuten is a compact, explosive running back who really put on a show at the combine, putting up elite testing numbers. He ran the fastest 40-yard dash time among RBs clocking in at 4.32 seconds and recorded the best vertical jump at 40.5 inches. He also ranked fourth with a 10’10” broad jump. His speed and vision would make him a good fit as a potential Day 3 target.

Photo by Ron Jenkins/Getty Images Hopefully the Cowboys are able to bring Rico Dowdle back. The Dallas Cowboys messaging this offseason has centered on returning to being a dominant run-first offense. Most mock drafts have the Cowboys in a prime position to draft running back Ashton Jeanty as their next franchise bell cow. However, the front office could look at drafting a running back that high as a waste of draft capital, given how deep the rookie running back class looks. Before the Cowboys are on the clock, they must figure out where to attack in free agency. Head coach Brian Schottenheimer discussed the importance of evaluating their in-house free agents before looking elsewhere. One of those players is Rico Dowdle, their leading rusher from 2024. The Cowboys do not have the most money to spend in free agency (and the front office would be happy to remind fans of that), but ESPN’s Dan Graziano says it sounds like Dallas hopes to retain Dowdle and pair him with a rookie back. Dallas also will look to add a dynamic player at running back to pair with Rico Dowdle, who finished the season strong for them. From the tea leaves already out there surrounding the Cowboys’ plans for draft weekend, it’s becoming clearer they have every intention of grabbing one of these rookie runners on either the first or second day of the draft. David Moore of The Dallas Morning News also mentioned the team would like to retain Dowdle, but it could all depend on the almighty dollar. The bottom line: the Cowboys would love to pair Dowdle with a draft pick if they can make it work financially. But if it’s one or the other, the scales tip toward a draft pick. The Cowboys have other free agents who could surpass Dowdle in the pecking order for new contracts. Osa Odighizuwa was priority No. 1 and just received a new four-year deal worth $80 million. Dallas hopes to keep DeMarcus Lawrence and Jourdan Lewis as the team strives to maintain continuity while their third defensive coordinator in three years, Matt Eberflus, gets settled in. On the toss play that got Rico Dowdle over 100 yards for the first time in his career, the left side of the o-line opened like the Seven Seas #DallasCowboys pic.twitter.com/ARl6k7miMO — Brandon Loree (@Brandoniswrite) November 29, 2024 Dowdle has earned every chance to assess his value on the open market. Several injuries affected the early stages of his career, but 2023 and 2024 marked the first healthy periods of his NFL journey. Last season was the best of Dowdle’s career, rushing for 1,079 yards despite spending the early part of the year in a rotating committee at the position. If his price tag exceeds what the front office is willing to pay, they will look to the draft to try and replace his value. Dallas held formal meetings at the NFL combine with Kaleb Johnson, Omarion Hampton, Jordan James, and Dylan Sampson. All four are projected to be picked as early as the late first round or could be day-three selections. Any day-three pick would cost less money than Dowdle and more team control for four years of a rookie contract. The coaches must decide whether Dowdle’s breakout season was a sign of things to come or merely a flash in the pan like Darren McFadden’s 2015 season. His strong finish to the 2024 season suggests that it aligns with the first possibility, but like everything in Dallas, the price has to be right.

Photo by Sam Hodde/Getty Images The Dallas Cowboys news is delivered CeeDee Lamb on Cowboys Potentially Adding Receiver Through NFL Draft: “Just Looking For a Great Complement” – RG.org CeeDee Lamb weighs in on some of the receivers in the draft. Dallas Cowboys wide receiver CeeDee Lamb is high on several receivers in this year’s NFL Draft. The Cowboys hold the No. 12 overall pick in the 2025 NFL Draft and while they have a number of positions that they can fill, wide receiver seems to be the most pressing. Outside of Lamb, Dallas lacks proven viable receivers with veteran Brandin Cooks entering free agency. Jalen Tolbert is the next-best receiver flanked by a bunch of unprovens at the position. Lamb recognizes the talent in this draft, mentioning names such as Arizona Wildcats wide receiver Tetairoa McMillan – a Consensus All-American in 2024 – and Ohio State’s Emeka Egbuka, who is known for elite straight-line speed. “I like a lot of them actually,” says Lamb in a one-on-one interview with RG on behalf of BodyArmor when asked about this year’s draft prospects. “There’s a bunch of pieces that stood out. I like T-Mac [McMillan] from Arizona for one. I like Luther [Burden III] from Missouri. The list could go on. I like Emeka from Ohio State and Tez Johnson [from Oregon].” The 25-year-old Lamb is known for being elusive and powerful after the catch and has superb route-running skills. When asked if there’s any receiver that reminds him most of him from this draft, he says he doesn’t focus on that trait – he focuses on what makes them great. “Not necessarily,” says Lamb when asked if there’s a receiver that reminds him of his style of play. Cowboys, DT Osa Odighizuwa reach 4-year $80M deal – ESPN, Todd Archer The Cowboys are making early moves this year. With free agency closing in and the deadline to use the franchise tag coming Tuesday, the Dallas Cowboys were able to keep one of their own off the market, agreeing to a four-year, $80 million deal with defensive tackle Osa Odighizuwa. The deal includes $58 million guaranteed and a $20 million signing bonus, Odighizuwa’s agent, Sam Leaf Ireifej, told ESPN’s Adam Schefter. Odighizuwa’s salary-cap number in 2025 will be $6.25 million. The Cowboys had discussions with Odighizuwa’s agent over the past few weeks and were able to reach a deal before Odighizuwa could hit the open market as well as avoid using the franchise tag. […] The Cowboys have a number of defensive players set to hit free agency in Lawrence, cornerback Jourdan Lewis, defensive end Chauncey Golston and linebacker Eric Kendricks. The club met with their agents during the combine to see if more deals can be made. So far, Odighizuwa is the only one to come to fruition. Osa Odighizuwa reacts to contract extension with Cowboys: ‘It doesn’t feel real’ – Patrik Walker, DallasCowboys.com Odighizuwa is thrilled to be back with the Cowboys. Speaking only minutes after putting pen to paper on his new multi-year deal, flanked by his agent and his mother, Odighizuwa was wearing the biggest possible smile on his big day. “It’s awesome, you know what I mean?” said the former UCLA star turned cornerstone player for teh Cowboys. “I love Dallas, love playing for this organization, love being a Cowboy — so the fact that I get to do it for another four years, and I get a very, very large pay increase to do it. “It’s not that I wasn’t already happy doing the work, but I’m just going to have an even bigger smile on my face when I come to the building [everyday].” […] “I feel like it just speaks to the hard work that’s paid off consistently, working in day and day out, and just making those deposits finally paying off,” he said, pausing for a moment to try and absorb the magnitude of the moment. “I can now look at my mom and be like, ‘You never have to work again.’ “That’s really what this has all been about, you know? So being able to do that, man, it’s still kind of registering. It doesn’t even feel real at this point. I’m just kind of soaking it in.” Cowboys K Brandon Aubrey undergoes shoulder surgery – Charean Williams, PFT Cowboys’ stud kicker had a surgery, but nothing to do with his leg. Cowboys kicker Brandon Aubrey underwent minor shoulder surgery, Calvin Watkins of the Dallas Morning News reports. He will be ready for the offseason program. In two seasons, Aubrey has made two Pro Bowls and was first-team All-Pro and second-team All-Pro. He has made 89.4 percent of his field goals, including 24-of-27 from 50 yards or longer with a long of 65. Entering the final year of a three-year contract, Aubrey is in line for a record-setting extension for his position. Three kickers have contracts that average at least $6 million a season, with Chiefs kicker Harrison Butker’s $6.4 million average at the top.

Neville E. Guard-Imagn Images Here are some ways the Cowboys could create salary cap space. We are in the final days before the new NFL league year begins at 4 p.m. Eastern on Wednesday, March 12, and the Dallas Cowboys are sitting in a relatively good spot when it comes to the salary cap. Per OverTheCap.com Dallas had roughly $3.5M of space available on the $279.2M cap before we get contract details from the massive Osa Odighizuwa contract agreed to on Tuesday and the relief from CeeDee Lamb’s contract restructure. Of course, in the coming months there will certainly be a need to create space to sign the 2025 draft class, build out a practice squad and set aside an injured reserve pool. Now with the Lamb restructure, the Cowboys won’t be required to make moves in order to be cap compliant when the new league year begins. The most obvious way to create cap space is to restructure QB Dak Prescott’s massive 2025 compensation, but another avenue worth exploring are cap casualties. The pickings are rather slim when it comes to members of the roster who could be moved in order to free up cap space. The front office could create a few million dollars of cap space by releasing or waiving any of a number of players, but the majority of those players are young contributors whose salary has increased under the Proven Performance Escalators of the CBA. The team isn’t going to move on from either DaRon Bland or Jake Ferguson, both of whom made the Pro Bowl in 2023, to free up a few million dollars worth of cap space. An argument could be made for the release of fourth-year linebacker Damone Clark who started just two games during the 2024 season, but given Clark’s role as a core member of the Cowboys’ special teams units, his $3.467M cap hit is not unreasonably large. With all that in mind, the list of players Dallas could release or waive and save $3.5M of cap space or more is very short and is comprised of just: Terence Steele Trevon Diggs Donovan Wilson Malik Hooker DaRon Bland From that list, moving on from Steele at this time seems unlikely, and while Diggs is expected to miss at least a significant portion of the 2025 season, the two-time Pro Bowler is under contract for three years past this upcoming season. Bland can be crossed off the list for the reasons listed above, which leaves just Wilson and Hooker. Safety Donovan Wilson Potential cap savings: $5.35M or $7M with a post-June 1 designation With the Cowboys not in a situation where they are desperate for cap space, this is a move that could be made if Dallas feels there is a must-have free agent for which the team needs the cap space. However, given how quiet Jerry Jones has been in free agency in recent years, moving on from a starting safety who logged over a thousand snaps during the 2024 season in order to free up barely enough cap space to sign their upcoming 2025 draft class might not be a great move. Thus, the move remains a possibility, though not one that is guaranteed. Safety Malik Hooker Potential cap savings: $3.75M or $5.75M with a post-June 1 designation If the Cowboys don’t move on from Wilson because it doesn’t make sense to release a starting safety to save a few million dollars, then it would seem to make even less sense to move on from Hooker, who is also a starting safety, a year younger and whose release would create even less cap space. On the flip side, if Dallas does move on from Wilson, they almost assuredly will not opt to release both starting safeties. Linebacker Damone Clark Potential cap savings: $3.406M Clark has been name elsewhere as the top potential cap casualty for the Cowboys, but creating $3.406M of cap space by releasing someone who finished the 2024 season in the top five of special teams snaps played while also having started 19 games at linebacker the last two seasons, and who won’t turn 25 until June, doesn’t seem like the best way to build a roster. A more likely way to create cap space with Clark’s contract would be to sign him to a small extension that converted some of his $3.406M 2025 salary to signing bonus and keeps him in Dallas as a key contributor on special teams, while also providing inexpensive depth for the defense. Putting it all together, there aren’t any members of the roster who are all but guaranteed to be released for cap purposes, but Jerry is Jerry, so surprises could easily happen.

Kyle Terada-USA TODAY Sports Brock Hoffman isn’t going anywhere. The Dallas Cowboys have been busy today. Earlier, they announced many transactions, including agreeing with Osa Odighizuwa to a four-year contract ahead of unrestricted free agency. Focusing on the trenches, Dallas keeps another one of their interior players in the fold. Interior offensive lineman Brock Hoffman signed his exclusive rights tender to stay with the Cowboys. Hoffman joined the Cowboys in 2022 after being released from the Cleveland Browns’ practice squad. And EVEN MORE roster news from Tuesday: ✅ Brock Hoffman, an ERFA, has also had his contract option picked up by the #Cowboys for the 2025 season. The Bully remains for Schottenheimer, Adams and Riley. More from @nickeatman: https://t.co/5mG0DRmi6S https://t.co/Bv7Bjkcsmd pic.twitter.com/6aT5HomYzF — Patrik [No C] Walker (@VoiceOfTheStar) March 5, 2025 Hoffman made his first start for the Cowboys in 2023, starting in place of Tyler Biadasz and also in the 2023 season finale at Washington. In his brief time as a starter, Hoffman has exhibited a mean streak on the field to finish plays as a run blocker and has proven to be effective. Entering 2024, it was believed that Hoffman could have competed for the starting job at center, but ultimately yielded the position to rookie Cooper Beebe. However, Hoffman started seven games at right guard last year, replacing Zack Martin and played well in Martin’s absence. With Martin set to retire, Hoffman looks primed to be the team’s starting right guard next season, and the team’s renewed commitment to running the football suits Hoffman just fine. @dallascowboys.com has team signing exclusive rights free agents, safety Juanyeh Thomas and guard/center Brock Hoffman, to their tenders. Thomas will make $1.03 million, Hoffman will make $1.1 million. — Todd Archer (@toddarcher) March 5, 2025

Photo by Nick Cammett/Diamond Images via Getty Images Malik Hooker has a history with Matt Eberflus. When a new defensive coordinator comes to town, we’ve seen how they like to bring some of “their guys” with them to the roster. These veterans give the coach some comfort in terms of already knowing how to perform in his scheme, as well as the role they can play in helping their new teammates make the transition. With Matt Eberflus’ arrival in the Cowboys, he may already have a guy in safety Malik Hooker. When Dan Quinn was hired in 2021, he brought LB/S Keanu Neal and S Damontae Kazee with him from the Falcons. In 2022, Dante Fowler was also signed after getting released by Atlanta. Last season with Mike Zimmer replacing Quinn, LB Eric Kendricks and DT Linval Joseph soon followed based on previously working with him in Minnesota. We’ll have to wait until next week, at the earliest, to see what free agents might be lured to the Cowboys by Eberflus. He’s certainly got his own pool of guys from the last three years as the Bears’ head coach, and four years as the Colts’ defensive coordinator before that. But there may already be one in-house “Eberflus guy” with Hooker, who played under him from 2018-2020 in Indianapolis. The 15th-overall pick in the 2017 NFL Draft, Hooker was already in place when Eberflus left his job as linebackers coach in Dallas and became Colts DC in 2018. Hooker, who fell in the draft due to injury issues, suffered another bad one that year after just seven games. Already at three interceptions and four deflections when he went down, Hooker was on pace to challenge for Defensive Rookie of the Year. Medical issues continued to keep Hooker from being a consistent impact player with the Colts. He missed six games from 2018-2019, one of them a playoff loss, and then nearly all of the 2020 season with an Achilles tear. Even before that next major injury, Indy had decided to decline Hooker’s fifth-year option for 2021. His reputation for poor health was why he remained untouched in free agency that year until the Cowboys finally signed him just ahead of training camp. Since then, Hooker has only missed four games in as many seasons. After rotating with Jayron Kearse and Donovan Wilson in the first two years, he’s been the Cowboy’s full-time free safety for the last two seasons. He’s now one of the veteran leaders on defense and one of the few stable presences in a secondary that’s had plenty of other injury woes the last few years. We might quickly assume that Eberflus and Hooker will be happy to see each other again in Dallas. But should we? Remember, Eberflus wasn’t part of the Colts’ staff when Hooker was drafted. He was part of it when they declined his option year and chose to let him walk in 2021, but we can’t say how much influence Eberflus had on those decisions. What we do know is that even after they declined the option year, the Colts still named Hooker as a Week 1 starter in 2020. Here’s what Eberflus was saying about him going into that training camp: Matt Eberflus was just on the @MorningShow1075. And he was asked about Malik Hooker (by @HolderStephen): pic.twitter.com/2Q5qKGreJ2 — Kevin Bowen (@KBowen1070) July 30, 2020 Eberflus also said the following after Hooker’s season-ending injury in 2020: Matt Eberflus says the example Malik Hooker set in terms of work ethic and positive attitude is what they’ll miss most about having him. — Jim Ayello (@jimayello) September 22, 2020 It sounds like Eberflus still had plenty of respect for Hooker even though their time together ended. So as long as that goes both ways, it’s not wild to guess that the Cowboys’ new defensive coordinator is looking forward to working with the now-veteran safety again. Hooker may be very important to Eberflus this year as he probably won’t get much opportunity to bring in external free agents. If the Cowboys are as focused on keeping their own like Osa Odighizuwa, DeMarcus Lawrence, and Jourdan Lewis as reports indicate, plus the Micah Parsons extension, that’s not leaving much for outside hires. So in terms of having someone who’s played in his scheme and can help teammates, Hooker may wind up being Eberflus’ best and perhaps only translator. While already an established starter with job security in 2025, Malik Hooker’s value to the Cowboys may have just gone up after Matt Eberflus’ return. If he can help make the transition to a new defensive scheme even smoother, it will only help Dallas to be playing their best ball sooner rather than later. The defense took time to get going under Mike Zimmer last year, so hopefully we can avoid the same delay next season.

Photo by Cooper Neill/Getty Images The Cowboys keep another promising member of their defense. The Dallas Cowboys have been making business moves left and right on Tuesday. After signing defensive tackle Osa Odighizuwa to a four-year deal, restructuring the contract of wide receiver CeeDee, and re-signing special teams ace C.J. Goodwin to a one-year deal, the Cowboys have picked up the contract option of safety Juanyeh Thomas, who was an exclusive rights free agent. And even more roster news… Juanyeh Thomas, an ERFA, is having his contract option picked up by the #Cowboys in 2025 — he revealed to @nhutchisontv. The talented young safety is, as expected, staying put. pic.twitter.com/2G9rlm2AjY — Patrik [No C] Walker (@VoiceOfTheStar) March 4, 2025 Thomas went undrafted in 2022 before signing with the Cowboys. After he failed to make the final roster, Thomas was added to the practice squad. In 2023, Thomas was able to make a name for himself after he was impressive in the preseason. This time, he would make the final roster and log 190 snaps. He would produce 22 tackles and four pass breakups in 16 games with one start. Thomas saw his snaps reduced to 90 in 2024 as he would finish with 14 tackles, one pass breakup, and a forced fumble. Although he hasn’t played a ton, Thomas has shown that he has the ability to cover and play against the run. The problem has been that the Cowboys have invested quite a bit in Donovan Wilson and Malik Hooker. However, the safety position wasn’t a strong suit last season, so the depth chart could look a little different in 2025. No matter the players the Cowboys have at safety, Thomas should be given plenty of opportunities to make an even bigger impact next season.