Every week, we’re digging into the trenches, offense and defense, because that’s where the real action happens. In this installment, we’re shining a spotlight on the offensive line, who’s holding it down, who’s opening holes, and who’s keeping Dak Prescott clean. Let’s get to it. (Grades given are overall offensive grades found on PFF.com) Left […] Every week, we’re digging into the trenches, offense and defense, because that’s where the real action happens. In this installment, we’re shining a spotlight on the offensive line, who’s holding it down, who’s opening holes, and who’s keeping Dak Prescott clean. Let’s get to it. (Grades given are overall offensive grades found on PFF.com) Left Tackle Tyler Guyton (2024 Stats: 26 Pressures, 6 QB Hits, 6 Sacks, 18 Penalties)There’s a chance Guyton takes to the field this week and starts against the Eagles; he’s been in practice and working toward getting his left tackle job back. Guyton missed the majority of preseason due to a knee injury he picked up at the start of training camp. The good news is it wasn’t the dreaded ACL and now Guyton looks to get back to work. Guyton’s rookie season revealed areas for improvement, particularly in pass protection. He struggled with balance and body control, often leaning and lunging, leading to missed contacts and quick defeat. Heading into this critical game, Guyton’s ability to adapt and enhance his skills will be crucial. A solid game here against the Eagles could really give him confidence and inspire fans.(Grade: N/A) Left Guard Tyler Smith (2024 Stats: 22 Pressures, 4 QB Hits, 2 Sacks, 9 Penalties) Smith comes into this season as the team’s lead blocker on the line. His 2024 season was fine and this year he’s a runner for the new NFL blocking award that came in this season. Among offensive guards last year, Smith finished with a 76.0 pass blocking grade which ranked eighth-best and his 22 pressures allowed was the eighth-fewest. On top of that, Smith is a talented run blocker, and with a new running back corps against an Eagles defense that allowed the tenth-fewest rush yards last season, Smith’s run-setting power to create holes in the A and B gaps will be crucial in establishing the run game for guys like Javonte Williams.(Grade: N/A) Center Cooper Beebe(2024 Stats: 18 Pressures, 5 QB Hits, 3 Sacks, 3 Penalties) The worry with Beebe last season wasn’t whether he was good as a blocker, it was whether he could handle the snapping responsibilities at the center position. As it turned out, Beebe took to the position like a duck to water and the snapping wasn’t an issue as the season wore on. This year we should expect to see Beebe take on more of a leadership role and take some weight off Dak Prescott’s shoulders. Having to face an elite inside defensive line led by Jalen Carter is a great first test for Beebe in his sophomore year and create important cohesion with his rookie right guard.(Grade: N/A) Right Guard Tyler Booker(2024 College Stats: 9 Pressures, 2 QB Hits, 0 Sacks, 7 Penalties) In preseason, Booker played 28 offensive snaps with 15 of those snaps coming on passing downs. He allowed zero pressures, no QB hits, and no sacks which should give him confidence for Week 1. The problem that Booker faces is the fact the Eagles defensive line loves to crash the right side of the opposition’s line meaning that the rookie right guard will have his work cut out. If he’s everything that fans hope though, Booker could make a great statement here, and he has the talent to do it.(Grade: N/A) Right Tackle Terence Steele(2024 Stats: 41 Pressures, 6 QB Hits, 9 Sacks, 7 Penalties) Last year, Steele was the highest rated run blocker for Dallas, and played in all 17 games. The issue with Steele is pass protection where he led the team in sacks and pressures (by a considerable margin). Brian Schottenheimer has highlighted Steele’s improved consistency this preseason, especially after pairing with rookie guard Tyler Booker. He emphasized his role as a communicator on the right side and with Guyton limited by injury concerns, Steele’s performance becomes even more vital for maintaining stability and protection on the Cowboys’ offensive line against this heavy Eagles pass rush.(Grade: N/A) Offensive Line injury updates: Other than Guyton’s likely return from his knee scare, it’s all quiet on western front. In case of setback, however, keep a close watch for Nate Thomas, he filled in while Guyton was out. 7 CommentsSee More: Dallas Cowboys Roster

It’s been a crazy offseason for the Dallas Cowboys. There has been a lot of activity from a new coaching staff to some big player shake-ups, making the upcoming season a giant unknown. Expectations aren’t as high for this team as they have been in the past, and quite honestly, it’s really difficult to get […] It’s been a crazy offseason for the Dallas Cowboys. There has been a lot of activity from a new coaching staff to some big player shake-ups, making the upcoming season a giant unknown. Expectations aren’t as high for this team as they have been in the past, and quite honestly, it’s really difficult to get a feel for how things might go. There is definitely some quality talent on the roster, to where it wouldn’t be shocking to see this team back in the playoffs this year, but at the same time, if the new coaches struggle, this could be a bumpy season. Before the new year gets underway, let’s recap this tumultuous offseason and run through every element to get a better sense of what this new-look Cowboys team might offer us in 2025. COACHING STAFF Brian Schottenheimer – The team moved on from Mike McCarthy and promoted his offensive coordinator over the past two years. Schottenheimer is a first-year head coach whose experience as OC has shown his commitment to a ground attack. He promotes physicality and team unity, recognizing that it takes all 69 guys to make a winning football team. Matt Eberflus – After a failed stint as head coach in Chicago, Eberflus returns to defensive coordinator, a role he flourished in during his time in Indianapolis. He has a good track record of stopping the run and taking the ball away. Eberflus’ specialty is at linebacker, and he spent seven years as the Cowboys’ LB coach before taking the DC job in Indy. Klayton Adams – The team was able to poach one of the league’s better offensive line coaches by promoting him to offensive coordinator. Schotty will call the plays, but Adams will help scheme the offense, with a strong track record of success running the ball in both Indianapolis and Arizona. He will also receive help from former Kansas State coach Conor Riley, who dominated the run-game ranks in college. OFFSEASON MOVES Extensions – The Cowboys were active in retaining their own this season. Key signings include DT Osa Odighizuwa (four years, $80 million), CB DaRon Bland (four years, $90 million), TE Jake Ferguson (four years, $50 million), and WR/KR KaVontae Turpin (three years, $13.5 million). Free Agency – True to form, the Cowboys didn’t spend much money here. Their most expensive investment was DE Dante Fowler, who cost them $6 million. They also added other depth pieces like DT Solomon Thomas, DE Payton Turner, and LB Jack Sanborn on defense, while adding RBs Javonte Williams and Miles Sanders on offense. Trades – The team was extremely active in making trades this offseason. They made five trades this year to acquire players from other teams. This includes WR George Pickens, DT Kenny Clark, LB Kenneth Murray, CB Kaiir Elam, and QB Joe Milton. Of course, this also included shipping off their star edge rusher Micah Parsons. The Cowboys will also receive two first-round picks from the Parsons deal, but no longer have their third-round pick next year from the Pickens trade. Draft – The team surprised everyone by taking a guard with their 12th overall pick when they selected Tyler Booker. In the second round, they took edge rusher Donovan Ezeiruaku. They got a discounted price on CB Shavon Revel Jr. in the third round because he is recovering from a knee injury. They didn’t have a fourth-round pick because of the Jonathan Mingo trade last year, but they landed RB Jaydon Blue and traded up for LB Shemar James in the fifth round. Rounding out the draft, they selected OT Ajani Cornelius, DT Jay Toia, RB Phil Mafah, and DT Tommy Akingbesote. Their final selection, Akingbesote, is the only draft pick who didn’t make the team. ROSTER OUTLOOK Offense – As it does every year, everything revolves around Dak Prescott. Hopefully, a healthy season and better coaching can help him return to his strong level of play. The added weapon of Pickens should also help as the team features a dynamic WR trio of Lamb, Pickens, and Turpin. The offensive line is a young group, featuring four players who are still on their rookie deals, three of whom are first-round investments. The running back room is a bit of a mystery as they lack any high-upside talent, but the speed of the rookie Blue adds a little excitement to the mix. If the new coaches can scheme up an effective run game and keep Prescott upright, the offense has the potential to make some noise this season. Defense – This group will be under the microscope all year as we hold our breath things work out. They have some promising potential. Even without Parsons in the mix, they feature a deep edge-rushing group with Fowler, Marshawn Kneeland, Sam Williams, the rookie Ezeiruaku, and pre-season standout James Houston. They improved in the interior thanks to the addition of Clark. Between him, Odighizuwa, and Thomas, they are solid at DT. We are all hoping that the Eberflus effect helps make their LB group strong, led by new acquisitions Murray and Sanborn, as well as second-year player Marist Liufau. If DeMarvion Overshown can make his return this season, that will be a big boost. Cornerback could be a mixed bag, as they have several guys recovering from injury. If Trevon Diggs returns to form, the trio of him, Bland, and Elam could be solid. The safeties consist of the usual suspects led by Malik Hooker and Donovan Wilson. Special Teams – The Cowboys should feature a strong group here thanks to the big and precise leg of kicker Brandon Aubrey. Punter Bryan Anger is also quietly very efficient,

Back issue could delay return to NFL for Cowboys’ exciting defender after strong camp – K.D. Drummond, The Cowboys Wire Perrion Winfrey had a strong camp and preseason to make the Cowboys roster, but now is dealing with a back issue ahead of week one. Winfrey spent just one season in Cleveland, having a firearm […] Back issue could delay return to NFL for Cowboys’ exciting defender after strong camp – K.D. Drummond, The Cowboys Wire Perrion Winfrey had a strong camp and preseason to make the Cowboys roster, but now is dealing with a back issue ahead of week one. Winfrey spent just one season in Cleveland, having a firearm charge eventually leading to his release. He latched on with the New York Jets, but wasn’t able to establish himself and eventually ended up in the UFL with the Birmingham Stallions. Winfrey turned that setback into opportunity, making All-UFL this past season and getting himself back on the radar of NFL clubs. McClay pounced and brought him to Dallas. Unfortunately, WInfrey’s ability to re-debut in the NFL after being run out the league his first time through is up for debate. A back injury suffered earlier in the week had him sit out of Tuesday’s practice, so it’s unsure whether he’ll be available to play against the Eagles on Thursday night. Winfrey is one of five defensive tackles in the Dallas rotation to start the year. Osa Odighizuwa and Kenny Clark will be the starters, with Winfrey subbing in alongside Solomon Thomas and Mazi Smith. Some observers have mentioned how his rise reminds them of the positive start to his Cowboys career that David Irving had. The Eagles’ HC sees what many Cowboys fans are still hoping to see without Parsons on defense, which is quality depth at defensive end. The Philadelphia Eagles won’t have to face Micah Parsons ahead of Thursday night’s season-opener against the Dallas Cowboys, following his shocking trade to the Green Bay Packers, but the Birds are focusing on who will be on the field. “We have so much going on here,” head coach Sirianni told reporters while discussing the Parsons trade. “We’re getting ready to play the Cowboys, so he’s in your thoughts for game planning, but they still have guys that we have to prepare for. They have Kenny Clark, who’s a really good player, and they have good depth at that defensive end group. You don’t get too wrapped up in that except for some of the things you’re doing with the game plan. But, also understanding that they have a lot of good players over there and getting ready for those guys and shifting your attention to that.” Star offensive tackle Jordan Mailata also addressed the absence of Parsons. “A sigh of relief,” he told reporters Sunday, laughing, when asked what preparations were like now that Parsons isn’t in Dallas. “I say that as a joke, but at the same time, it’s just kinda crazy. For the last four, five years we’ve played the Cowboys, we’ve come up with a game plan, because Micah’s a gamer. So it is a sigh of relief that you don’t have to plan like that anymore. However, that is a talented D-line and talented defense, so you’ve got to treat them with the same respect with or without Parsons.” The Cowboys need these players to be X-factors against the Eagles – Shane Taylor, Inside The Star The Cowboys are all-in on being a sounder run defense going against the Eagles, but will need Mazi Smith to be a factor here. Mazi Smith You want to beat the Eagles? You have to stop Barkley, and Mazi Smith my eyes are all on you my guy. You were a first round pick to come in and stop the run. You have not done much in your first two years. Now is the time. The frustrating thing about Smith’s NFL career thus far is he appears to have the physical tools to succeed. He is 6-foot-3, with a 33 3/4″ wingspan while weighing 337 pounds. He has everything he needs to stop being a no-show every single week, yet here we are again. This will be his last season as a Dallas Cowboy. I think if he does not produce the way that he should. The Eagles are going to lean on the run and even though Micah Parsons was an edge rusher, more weight is going to be on Mazi Smith with him being gone. Perfect time for your breakout game, Thursday. Cowboys point/counterpoint: Did Micah Parsons trade kill season before it even began? – David Howman, Blogging The Boys The Cowboys will find out quickly what they are up against in the NFC East this year with week one at the Eagles and week two vs. the Giants. I do feel like every year we talk ourselves into the NFC East being tougher than it ever has been, and every year (that Prescott stays healthy) the Cowboys are in the playoffs. Obviously the standard is more than just that, but people are forgetting how much Prescott does for this team’s chances. The defense may not be as good as it was in the Quinn years, but having Prescott back under center – and with an upgraded receiving corps, no less – is huge. He’s won plenty of shootouts over the years, some of those even coming in the Quinn years, and he’s capable of doing it with Lamb, Pickens, Turpin, and Ferguson. As for the rest of the division, it’s easy to make the case for any of those teams to either regress or take a huge step forward. I’m not convinced any of them are surefire contenders at this stage. Tom: Yeah, the season hasn’t started and we really don’t know how any team is going to play on the field. But I have a hard time seeing the Eagles taking much of a step back. They rely so heavily on the running game,

Believe it or not, Cowboys fans, but football season is here. For many, the Micah Parsons trade killed any shred of excitement or hope that may have existed, but just like Thanos, the start of the regular season is inevitable.  Most teams answer questions this time of year, settling position battles with their final roster […] Believe it or not, Cowboys fans, but football season is here. For many, the Micah Parsons trade killed any shred of excitement or hope that may have existed, but just like Thanos, the start of the regular season is inevitable. Most teams answer questions this time of year, settling position battles with their final roster cuts, but the Cowboys will travel to Philadelphia with even more questions than they initially had. Who will lead the team in carries? Who can even attempt to replace Parsons? And does Brian Schottenheimer even stand a chance anymore? Our own Tom Ryle and David Howman tackle all these questions and overall thoughts on this team as we race towards kickoff. Tom: I’m not exactly brimming with optimism. After the gut punch of the Micah Parsons trade, there are obviously questions about how you replace one of the elite pass rushers in the NFL. I know you are not happy, David. But if you remember, I saw that this was more possible than most wanted to say. Personally, I chalk this up to how Jerry Jones is probably the most inept GM in the league. It certainly appears that he poisoned things with his one-on-one “negotiation” with Parsons, which never should have happened. Coming up with a pass rush without Parsons is a monster threat for this season, but the team has some big question marks beyond that, with the interior of the defensive line and the strength of the running back room among the biggest in my mind. No disrespect to Kenny Clark, but it is doubtful he is going to turn the run defense around. The offensive line also has to come together quickly to open some holes for the backs and to provide protection for Dak Prescott. With the weapons at Prescott’s disposal, especially the addition of George Pickens, the passing game should be potent. That gives them a puncher’s chance in a lot of games if the defense doesn’t turn into wet toilet paper. But if he doesn’t get protection, or gets hurt, this season could get ugly fast. It already doesn’t look too great. David: As you said, I’m livid about the Micah Parsons ordeal, simply because this outcome was so easily avoidable. Having said that, I’m not sure this is a complete and total loss from a football perspective. Obviously Parsons is an elite talent, and losing someone like that is never a positive, but I had previously voiced concerns about Matt Eberflus being able to maximize his unique talents in the way that Dan Quinn and even Mike Zimmer did. Besides, this defensive scheme is built around the defensive tackles anyway. It requires one freaky athletic 3-technique (Osa Odighizuwa) and one bona fide run stuffer, which they sorely lacked until Kenny Clark got here. Eberflus has a track record of producing pass rush off the edge, regardless of talent, as a byproduct of the interior success. I’m not saying the defense will be better without Parsons, but I’m not convinced they’re going to fall apart now either. Tom: I hope Schottenheimer and Eberflus can coach their butts off, because they are going to need to. Schottenheimer has to get the most out of his QB and receivers while finding an effective run game to complement the air attack. And if Eberflus can’t effectively dam up the defense against the run, the offense may just not be able to keep up. This is creating a bit of pessimism for me. With the Eagles looking ready to pick up where they left off, the Commanders on the rise, and the Giants maybe finding a quarterback, the NFC East is going to be hard to come out of as a playoff team. I’m not sure they can manage eight wins this year. The Parsons trade looks more like a play for the future than a win now move, no matter what Jerry Jones may say. With Prescott getting older, they have a limited time to win with him. I’m not sure they won’t see that window close. Further, the trade was so badly mishandled. For whatever reason, that relationship was poisoned, and if the management was going to trade Parsons, they should have started shopping him long ago. However this season turns out, any failure is more on Jerry Jones than any of the coaches. David: I agree with that last line, though I’ve been saying the same thing for years now. I do feel like every year we talk ourselves into the NFC East being tougher than it ever has been, and every year (that Prescott stays healthy) the Cowboys are in the playoffs. Obviously the standard is more than just that, but people are forgetting how much Prescott does for this team’s chances. The defense may not be as good as it was in the Quinn years, but having Prescott back under center – and with an upgraded receiving corps, no less – is huge. He’s won plenty of shootouts over the years, some of those even coming in the Quinn years, and he’s capable of doing it with Lamb, Pickens, Turpin, and Ferguson. As for the rest of the division, it’s easy to make the case for any of those teams to either regress or take a huge step forward. I’m not convinced any of them are surefire contenders at this stage. Tom: Yeah, the season hasn’t started and we really don’t know how any team is going to play on the field. But I have a hard time seeing the Eagles taking much of a step back. They rely so heavily on the running game, and that usually comes around

BREAKING: Cowboys extend All-Pro DaRon Bland to $92M Extension – Mark Heaney, Inside The Star At least one extension is in the rearview. After 2025, Dallas has a potential out of Diggs’s massive $97M extension. Let’s say they take that route, citing his health and inconsistent performance. They’d be left with just rookie Shavon Revel, […] BREAKING: Cowboys extend All-Pro DaRon Bland to $92M Extension – Mark Heaney, Inside The Star At least one extension is in the rearview. After 2025, Dallas has a potential out of Diggs’s massive $97M extension. Let’s say they take that route, citing his health and inconsistent performance. They’d be left with just rookie Shavon Revel, Caelen Carson, Trikweze Bridges, and Christian Matthew under contract at corner. You don’t need me to tell you that’s bad. Diggs, Bland, and Kaiir Elam would all be headed for free agency in that scenario, leaving the Cowboys with virtually nothing guaranteed in the secondary. As opposed to the pass rush, Dallas has way more future security locked up after the drafting of Marshawn Kneeland and Donovan Ezeriuaku. In short, cornerback is a screaming need now, and will become an even bigger one after this season. Locking up Bland, who has been elite when healthy, saves them from serious problems next spring. It’s a good bit of money for somebody who isn’t all that “proven,” but with the money freed up from trading Parsons, this is an obvious risk to take. DaRon Bland ‘dumbfounded’ by Cowboys’ blockbuster contract extension – Josh Sanchez, Sports Illustrated Good for you, Bland. Bland and the Cowboys agreed to a four-year, $92 million contract extension, including $50 million guaranteed. The money saved by trading Micah Parsons to the Green Bay Packers was immediately put to good use, but Bland admits he was “dumbfounded” by the amount of money he received. ”I was kinda surprised. I was a little bit dumbfounded. I can’t believe I’m going to be making that much doing what I do,” Bland told reporters after practice. “I thank God, because not many fifth-rounders get the opportunities that I had and be in this league and be able to do what I do.” That massive payday is well deserved. While Bland started last season on injured reserve after suffering a foot injury at the end of the preseason, he is one of the top cornerbacks in the league when health. His versatility is also valuable for the Cowboys secondary, so there was never a second thought about whether Bland would get his money. Now, he and the Cowboys turn their attention to Philly and are counting down the days to the September 4 kickoff on NBC, with live streaming on Peacock. Cowboys re-sign 6th-round WR pick after nervous 24 hours, drop un-retired Commanders OL – Todd Brock, Cowboys Wire It’s good to have you back Ryan Flournoy. The Cowboys are still tinkering with their roster, just days before their season-opening game against the defending Super Bowl champs. The club released offensive lineman Saahdiq Charles from the practice squad on Saturday, and in a corresponding transaction, brought wide receiver Ryan Flournoy back to take his spot. The move shores up depth for a dangerously thin pass-catching corps that currently has just four Cowboys wide receivers (CeeDee Lamb, George Pickens, Jalen Tolbert, and KaVontae Turpin) on the 53-man roster. Flournoy, a sixth-round draft pick from 2024, had been waived earlier in the week to make room for a new offensive lineman, Trevor Keegan, who was claimed off waivers. Now having cleared waivers himself, the promising Flournoy is back. A big-bodied receiver out of Southeast Missouri State, Flournoy saw action in 11 games last season for the Cowboys, starting one contest. He ended his rookie season with 10 catches for 102 yards and is seen as a still-ascending prospect at the position. Flournoy, 25, will join Jalen Brooks, Traeshon Holden, and Jalen cropper on the Cowboys practice squad; each of them can be elevated for three regular-season games. Green Bay continues to haunt Dallas fans. This football season just got a whole lot less entertaining for Dallas Cowboys fans. Actually, depending upon how you spin it, maybe it just got a whole lot more entertaining, thanks to Jerry Jones. The Cowboys owner decided to trade Micah Parsons and, for the most part, this fan base lost their minds. So did the entire football world. Everybody legitimately thought Jerry Jones had lost his mind with this decision, yet he somehow tried to defend it — not a surprise. In an interview right after the trade, former Cowboys head coach Jason Garrett was asked about the move when speaking with Mike Florio. “If you’re there as a head coach and it’s a given that Micah Parsons is going to be traded, and then you say, ‘well okay, where are we trading him to?’ and they say, ‘the Green Bay Packers.’ What do you say in response to that?” Florio asked. “Well, let’s not do that. Is there anybody else who is interested? You don’t want to trade him in the division. You don’t want to trade him in the conference, if you can, or to a rival like Green Bay,” Garrett responded. Cowboys injuries: Trevon Diggs practices, Tyler Guyton gives update on knee injury- LP Cruz, Blogging The Boys It is officially a game-week practice report. Great news to start the week. Cornerback Trevon Diggs (knee) was back on the field working in drills. In speaking with reporters, he said his knee feels good and said he did “everything” in practice today. The good news keeps rolling in as Tyler Guyton also practiced today after suffering a knee injury early in training camp. Guyton said he plans to play Thursday although it has not been confirmed yet, but seeing him on the field this early in the week is a positive sign, indicating he may be on track to play versus the Eagles. However, unfortunately for Dallas, defensive tackle Perrion Winfrey left practice early with what