Cowboys may be equipped to fix this big issue and match playoff teams’ tendencies reidhanson When things don’t work in the NFL, like what happened during the Dallas Cowboys’ 2024 season, a smart thing to do is to look around and see what all the successful teams are doing. In some ways it’s a philosophy that says “if you can’t beat ‘em, join ‘em,” but in other ways it’s a necessary analysis of league trends. The Cowboys declined in a number of areas last season, but one area in particular saw a concerning degree, and that’s the defensive secondary. Dallas’ pass defense ranked top 10 in the NFL in both success rate and EPA/dropback in 2023. In 2024 they declined in both areas, falling outside the top 10 in both, and sparking an introspective assessment this winter. After one season of leadership, Mike Zimmer is out at defensive coordinator (by his own volition) and Matt Eberflus is in. Like Zimmer, Eberflus has a no-nonsense approach to the job and is a stickler for discipline. He uses a wide range of coverages, often leaning on zone looks on early downs and shifting to more man coverage on third downs. His focus on coverage makes him a versatile coordinator, capable of calling the right coverage scheme for the right situation. The 14 playoff teams from 2024 can specifically provide insight into what the NFL’s top teams are doing these days and possibly give Eberflus a direction in which to focus his offseason blueprint. It’s no surprise the split safety defenses like Eberflus’ are gaining steam. Philadelphia’s Vic Fangio has been leading the charge for years and has been an inspiration to coordinators interested in eliminating the big plays. What’s interesting to see is even the top split-safety teams like the Eagles, Chargers, Packers and Vikings are playing high doses of Cover 1 and Cover 3 each week. That’s because mixing safety locations and coverages is a necessary step in gameplay. Quarterbacks who know the coverages each play have a decided advantage over the defenses. Coordinators have to mix things up to keep opposing offenses on their toes. It’s important to note, even though split-safety defenses rule the day, arguably the best coverage defense in the NFL, Denver, is built around single-high safety coverages. They match up so well in man coverage they rely heavily on Cover 1. It’s a similar situation with the Lions, Commanders and Steelers. The takeaways are successful teams play to their individual strengths, and they mix up coverages quite a bit. There’s an instinct to simply call Fangio a split-safety coordinator but the reality is he’s only doing it slightly more than many coordinators known for their heavy use of single high. Looking at the Cowboys roster much will depend on player availability. If Malik Hooker is back, Dallas should be able to continue their use of Cover 1 (man). Hooker is excellent up top and exhibits the required range to play centerfield. If Trevon Diggs returns healthy, he’s well equipped to play in those single-high safety looks as well. Diggs is skilled in both man coverage and in deep zone when in Cover 3. DaRon Bland is a cornerback who’s suited for either situation but is probably at his best in zone. When Bland can face the QB, he can jump routes and play the ball. Everyone familiar with his record breaking 2023 season can tell you there’s no one better. If all the parts are back and available to Eberflus in 2025, he should be able to mix and match his coverages like the best of them. League trends have shown there are many different ways and combinations of ways to get the job done. As long as the calls play to the strength of the personnel and they offer a touch of disguise, they have the ability to succeed. Related articles [affiliatewidget_smgtolocal]
Mike McCarthy’s Dallas Cowboys staff is littered across the NFL in high-ranking positions
Photo by Richard Rodriguez/Getty Images Mike McCarthy’s old Dallas Cowboys staff is now sprinkled across the NFL in high-ranking positions. You may recall that when Mike McCarthy first took over the Dallas Cowboys that his staff featured plenty of people who had been head coaches before. Mike Nolan had been the head coach of the San Francisco 49ers and McCarthy actually worked on his staff. Jim Tomsula, the defensive line coach, had also been the skipper for San Francisco, albeit for a brief cup of coffee. John Fassel joined as special teams coordinator, and while he had never been a head coach before, he did serve as the interim head coach for the Los Angeles Rams in their first season back in L.A. when they fired Jeff Fisher before the season was over. The overall point is that there was a lot of leadership on that staff. Obviously things didn’t fully materialize for that McCarthy staff (or any one for that matter), but interestingly a recent iteration of it is now spread across today’s NFL in all sorts of leadership positions. Mike McCarthy’s old Cowboys staff had several current head coaches and coordinators A common theme when coaches leave for promotions elsewhere is for them to bring people with them. Consider how McCarthy brought some people from his time in Green Bay and even Nolan from a previous stop. It was a year ago when Dan Quinn left his post as the Cowboys defensive coordinator to become the head coach for the Washington Commanders. He took several staffers (and players) with him and chief among them was Joe Whitt Jr. who became his defensive coordinator. McCarthy’s Cowboys moved on from offensive coordinator Kellen Moore after the 2022 season and he would go on to hold that same role for the Los Angeles Chargers in 2023 and then ultimately the Philadelphia Eagles this past season where he was a part of the team that won the Super Bowl. Moore finally parlayed it all into a head coaching role as he is now running the New Orleans Saints, and recent reports suggest that Doug Nussmeier, another former Cowboys staffer, is the favorite to be his offensive coordinator. Sounds like Doug Nussmeier is the favorite to be the Saints offensive coordinator, I’m told. Not done yet, but things are moving in that direction. — Nick Underhill (@nick_underhill) February 18, 2025 Quinn, Whitt, Moore and Nussmeier make for four former Cowboys staffers that now hold head coach or coordinator positions which is a high figure for one group that Mike McCarthy oversaw in his time as the Cowboys head coach. There is also the matter of the current Cowboys head coach in Brian Schottenheimer who was also a part of the group. Schottenheimer joined the Cowboys in 2022 when all four of the people we have mentioned so far were also a part of the team. Think about that singular group. 2022 Dallas Cowboys staffers who are now head coaches or coordinators Brian Schottenheimer, coaching analyst (Dallas Cowboys head coach) Kellen Moore, offensive coordinator (New Orleans Saints head coach) Doug Nussmeier, quarterbacks coach (expected New Orleans Saints offensive coordinator) Dan Quinn, defensive coordinator (Washington Commanders head coach) Joe Whitt Jr., pass game coordinator/secondary (Washington Commanders defensive coordinator) If you wanted to you could go a step further here and include the aforementioned Fassel as he is now the Tennessee Titans special teams coordinator, although that was the same position he held in Dallas and therefore it isn’t a promotion like the others. Ultimately we are talking about five staffers who received serious promotions almost directly after leaving the Cowboys. That requires context clearly as Schottenheimer’s was within the organization, Whitt’s was as a part of joining Quinn’s staff and Moore’s took two more years to fully happen. It is still interesting, though. What would you attribute all of that to? People talk so often about Mike Shanahan’s old staff in Washington and the number of future head coaches that it held and we can assign some level of credit to Shanahan for building the group. Do we give a similar sense of credit to McCarthy? Should we? Or does the credit, for lack of a better word, belong to the players? Do Kellen Moore, Doug Nussmeir and Brian Schottenheimer all owe a debt of gratitude to Dak Prescott and CeeDee Lamb for elevating their statuses? Should Dan Quinn and Joe Whitt Jr. send Micah Parsons and Co. an edible arrangement? If we include Fassel, should he thank Brandon Aubrey and KaVontae Turpin? It is certainly strange on some level that the Cowboys have failed (in terms of the overall goal) so much lately and did so with this entire group all working together and that something about them was deemed to be valuable enough in other instances. Sometimes things work out in a funny way like that. Who knows what else that 2022 group will ultimately yield. For now, Quinn and Whitt have an NFC Championship Game appearance and Moore has a Super Bowl title.
From Zero Star to Superstar: Cam Ward’s mindset, motivation, and faith prepare him for 2025 NFL draft
From Zero Star to Superstar: Cam Ward’s mindset, motivation, and faith prepare him for 2025 NFL draft Jazz Monet Cam Ward moves with a quiet confidence. Running into him at the Shrine Bowl in early February, brought about a double take. Was this really the same quarterback lighting up YouTube with highlight reels? The one teammates called a vocal leader, pushing them to a higher standard? His calm, steady energy suggested a guy more likely to be found meditating than commanding a huddle. But once he started talking, it all became clear; the presence, the self-assurance that had won over so many. “I’m the best quarterback in this draft,” he stated matter-of-factly. No bravado. No theatrics. He delivered it with the same ease as the “Nice to meet you,” heard just a little while prior. He wasn’t trying to convince anyone; outside opinions were irrelevant. In Ward’s world, that was just the truth. If one followed his journey, they wouldn’t bet against him. This season alone, he racked up five major awards, including the Davey O’Brien Award, ACC Player of the Year, and Consensus All-American honors—proof his talent speaks for itself. Back in 2021, a YouTube video prophetically called him “The Superstar You’ve Never Heard Of.” At the time, he was fresh off leading the University of Incarnate Word—a program that was his only scholarship offer—to a 10-3 season with 4,648 passing yards and 47 touchdowns. His impressive stats at UIW could be considered making up for a lack of experience in high school. Columbia High ran a Wing-T offense, limiting Ward to a laughable 12 passing attempts per game. No stars, no scouting reports, no major offers. But instead of sulking, Ward locked in. “At the end of the day,” he said, “It’s not about whether you can go to [a notable] school. It’s about playing football and making plays. That’s the only thing that’s gonna get you to the next level – making plays on the field. So if you got a good mindset and [you’re] coachable, you can do a lot of good things.” That mindset turned the unheard-of kid into a quarterback who can’t go unnoticed. At the Shrine Bowl, a small frenzy broke out among an otherwise sparse crowd when fans spotted him on the patio of the Miller Lite Club. Security had to intervene as excited kids swarmed the railing, desperate for a photo, an autograph, or even just a glimpse. Ward took it all in stride. “I wanted to put myself in this position since I was in high school,” he said, “I’m just glad God gave me a way, gave me the work ethic to go do it.” That journey is now the focus of Zero Star, a docuseries currently in production from Firebrand Media, with Ward slated to star in its premiere episode. As a zero-star recruit with no ranking or scouting buzz, even his ironclad confidence felt the pressure. “What I feel separated me from [more popular players] is that I was willing to do anything,” he explained, “I still will to do anything to get what I want out of football, whether I’m taken [at] the first pick or I’m taken the last pick of the draft. At the end of the day, everything is a mindset. If you don’t have the mindset, you’re not [gonna] be successful on the field or off the field. Then, one last nod to what he considers his true power source. “Keep God first and He’ll do a lot for you,” he said. “Sometimes, I would just pray and work out.” That unwavering faith? It’s gotten him this far. And he’s still making plays. So what’s next for Cam Ward? He’s heading to the NFL scouting combine on February 27, where he’ll have the chance to prove his case. Fans will see if NFL teams agree he’s the best quarterback when the 2025 NFL draft kicks off on April 25.
2025 Cowboys draft scouting report: Missouri WR Luther Burden III
Photo by Sam Hodde/Getty Images The Cowboys really need to focus on improving their wide receiver room. One of the most hyped receiver prospects in the nation, Luther Burden was a 5-star recruit out of East Saint Louis, Illinois. He picked the Mizzou Tigers over offers from Alabama, Georgia, Ohio State, and other blue bloods. Ranked as the second best high school receiver in the country and the 14th overall prospect, Burden arrived in Columbia with sky high expectations. Name: Luther Burden IIIPosition: WRHeight: 5’11”Weight: 205 pounds Luther Burden College Stats, courtesy of Sports Reference For the most part, Burden lived up to them too. Playing as a true freshman, he led the team in touchdown receptions and finished second in catches, immediately cementing himself as a reliable option in the passing game. Burden exploded in 2023, racking up 1,200+ yards through the air and finishing seventh in the nation in yards per route run. Burden’s numbers regressed in 2024, but that coincided with a decidedly more run-heavy offense for the Tigers. Still, Burden continued to show off his impressive ability after the catch and now enters the draft as one of the top receivers in his class. Burden could very well be a top target for the Cowboys as they look to upgrade Dak Prescott’s weapons. Route Running: Burden’s route tree was limited this past season, but the 2023 season shows he can run any route in the route tree. He could maybe be a bit more fluid in his movements, but Burden consistently managed to create separation at all three levels every year as a Tiger. Hands Burden’s hands improved greatly over his three-year career. He went from having seven drops as a true freshman to four as a sophomore and just three in 2024. His tape this past year shows great technical ability in being quick with his hands, allowing him to adjust faster to balls and not give anything away to his defender when playing in phase. Playmaking Ability Burden didn’t see much work as a deep threat receiver this past year, but his 2023 season was incredible. Burden generated 415 yards and four scores off passes more than 20 yards downfield and posted a 119.1 passer rating. He demonstrated an exceptional ability at tracking the deep ball and timing his jump right to sky to the catch point. Release Burden primarily played in the slot the last two years, which allowed him plenty of clean releases, but he’s demonstrated an ability to work off of press coverages as well. He does a good job to continue moving forward while working to get free, ensuring no wasted movement on his part. Run After Catch Burden’s best trait is the work he does after the catch. In 2024, Missouri clearly tried to get the most out of him in this facet, as Burden saw 63.8% of his targets travel fewer than 10 yards past the line of scrimmage. Still, Burden’s 6.1 yards after the catch per reception is tied for fifth among receivers in this draft. His 30 broken tackles also led the entire nation, a solid indicator of the damage Burden does after the catch. Blocking No one is going to confuse Burden for the next Hines Ward, but he’s competent enough to succeed as a blocker. He isn’t someone who shows a desire to block, and his frame doesn’t do him many favors, but Burden isn’t a liability in this area by any stretch. Versatility Burden played almost exclusively on the perimeter as a true freshman before moving into the slot the last two years. While some analysts have pointed to Burden’s pedestrian numbers against man coverage this year as a reason to project Burden as a slot-only option at the next level, he only saw 19 targets against man this year. Burden saw double that in 2023 and was extremely productive. He can hold his own as a perimeter receiver in the NFL. Size Burden doesn’t have the largest frame but he’s not lacking for size either. His frame is fully filled out, and he has a low center of gravity that has aided his after-catch ability. He’s not the most ideal jump ball target, but Burden’s size makes him a viable target on any kind of route. Intangibles Some have suggested that Burden took plays off in 2024, with others pointing to his limited role as being something that mentally took Burden out of the game at times. He has natural instincts with the ball in his hand and is the definition of a gamer.
Ken Dorsey’s role with Cowboys may be more important than meets the eye
Photo by Nick Cammett/Getty Images How do you feel about the staff Brian Schottenheimer has put together for the Dallas Cowboys? The Dallas Cowboys will have a new coaching staff in 2025, led by first-year head coach Brian Schottenheimer. The former offensive coordinator’s staff is now complete, giving Dallas a clear direction heading into key player acquisition phases like the NFL draft and free agency. These coaching changes have been the response to Dallas dropping from a consistent 12-win team to 7-10 and out of the playoffs in 2024. As optimistic as some Cowboys fans have been about different hires like Klayton Adams as OC, Matt Eberflus as DC, or even Conor Riley and Aaron Whitecotton as OL and DL coaches respectively, this is a fanbase that should understand that players and on-field talent win games more than anything. Two former Cowboys coaches squared off in the NFC Championship Game in Dan Quinn and Kellen Moore, doing so with divisional teams that greatly surpassed the Cowboys in talent this year. The Eagles won and went on to win the Super Bowl in dominant fashion before Moore accepted his own first head coaching gig with the New Orleans Saints. Players matter. Without any indication yet that the Cowboys plan on backing up their willingness to shake up the coaching staff with the same intensity towards the roster, these coaching moves will still serve as the catalyst for discussing how this team may look different under Schottenheimer. One coach to strongly keep in mind here, although he won’t serve as a coordinator or play-caller, is pass game specialist Ken Dorsey. Dorsey’s 12 years of NFL experience is the second most of any of the new offensive hires, only behind tight ends coach Lunda Wells who was retained from Mike McCarthy’s staff and has been coaching in Dallas since 2020. At the time of his hire, the Cowboys had a vacancy at quarterback coach, which seemed like a natural fit for Dorsey. The former 49ers and Browns quarterback got his start in NFL coaching as the Carolina Panthers QB coach from 2013-17, and then held the same role for the Buffalo Bills from 2019-21 before being promoted to offensive coordinator. Most recently, Dorsey served as offensive coordinator for the Browns in 2024. Shortly after hiring Dorsey, the Cowboys decided to keep their QB coach hire closer to the vest and promoted in-house assistant Steve Shimko. Dallas favors familiarity and a tight circle around Dak Prescott in the QB room, but Dorsey has been a very well known name in the coaching circle for a while now and figures to play into the coaching of the Cowboys quarterbacks in Schottenheimer’s scheme as well as the offense as a whole. Ken Blaze-Imagn Images Let’s just get this out of the way. There is nothing anyone can do about the fact a large percentage of Cowboys fans will not give this team any chance on Sundays going forward because of the Schottenheimer hire alone. No matter what they do underneath the first-time head coach but lifelong assistant, this hire is understandably still a strange one and didn’t exactly rally the fanbase that things are going to get much better anytime soon. Putting that aside to take a closer look at who Schottenheimer will actually be working with on a staff he quickly and impressively pulled together, the Ken Dorsey hire should be near the top of the list of ones Schotty needs to get right. Without a ton of relevant experience when it comes to what qualified Schottenheimer to be the next head coach of the Cowboys, the three years he was on staff previously can be looked at even closer under the microscope. Schottenheimer was a non-play calling offensive coordinator the past two seasons under Mike McCarthy. This is a unique role in today’s game, and Schottenheimer had to hire for the same role right away as he will now serve as play-caller moving forward. The early reviews on Klayton Adams as OC point to Schottenheimer hitting a home run here, particularly when it comes to Dallas backing their talk of wanting to be strong and athletic in the trenches with an efficient run game. In his one year prior to being the Cowboys OC though, Schottenheimer was merely an assistant coach like Dorsey is now. If there is a spot on Schottenheimer’s coaching staff that most closely resembles the position he started in to eventually rise to head coach, it may be pass game specialist with Dorsey. Dorsey also served as a non-play calling OC in Cleveland last season, as HC Kevin Stefanski called the offense. Tim Heitman-Imagn Images The Cowboys have a young staff in place around Schottenheimer, which should help create a culture of competitiveness in replacement of some of the complacency that’s plagued this team for too long. The proof will be right in front of these coaches daily that good work even behind the scenes at The Star can be rewarding, with Schottenheimer now in the big chair for the first time after starting as a NFL coach in 1997. There’s an argument to be made that no coach will chase this worm on the end of the line more than Dorsey, who interviewed last offseason for the Panthers head coach opening. Dorsey is a well-respected coach that’s worked with the likes of Sean McDermott and Kevin Stefanski, as well as Joe Brady who was the Bills QB coach after Dorsey became OC. This is a coach Schottenheimer could lean on more than his title alone would suggest, and his track record of getting consistently good quarterback play in schemes similar to what Schottenheimer is desiring also suggest that could be a good thing. So much of the Cowboys plans towards turning their fortunes around and contending within their own division again hinge on the health and play of Dak Prescott. He will be the straw that stirs this drink more than any coach possibly can, but surrounding him
‘Create violence’: New Cowboys coach vows ‘controlled energy’ to boost struggling unit
‘Create violence’: New Cowboys coach vows ‘controlled energy’ to boost struggling unit Todd Brock For Klayton Adams, it all starts, by his own admission, on the offensive line. The newly-named offensive coordinator of the Cowboys, Adams was himself a walk-on O-lineman at Boise State in the early 2000s. Early in his coaching career, he was the run game coordinator and offensive line coach at D-II’s Western Washington. He’s since worked with the front five at Sacramento State and Colorado, and then at the pro level in both Indianapolis and Arizona. But just because Adams is now an OC for the first time- and for one of the most stored franchises in the sport, no less, with all-world talents like Dak Prescott and CeeDee Lamb now under his jurisdiction- don’t expect him to stray too far from the big boys up front. “I definitely won’t stay away from that,” Adams laughed Tuesday, when he spoke with the Dallas media for the first time since his Jan. 31 hire. “I want to have a great relationship with all these guys, and I really want to build genuine relationships so that they know that I’m here to help them play the best football of their careers and they know that we’re going to have a very clear and communicated standard for what we expect from them. “For me, that’s going to start in the offensive line room, and I’m very excited about developing a relationship with those guys. But I need to have that same relationship with Dak. I need to have that same relationship with CeeDee, so my time’s going to be spread a little bit more in that way, but it’s going to start on the offensive line.” And Cowboys fans who may have felt like something has been missing in recent years will absolutely love what Adams says he’s looking for from his linemen… and the rest of the unit at large. “The same thing that I want from every player on offense,” he says, “and that is to create violence in the game. Be aggressive. Run. Hit. I think that every decision that we make schematically needs to lean that direction. So if there’s gray area, what is going to allow these guys to play more free and run and hit and be violent?” Adams will be creating the plays that hopefully check those boxes for the offense, but it will be first-time head coach Brian Schotteneheimer actually calling the shots on Sundays. So for now, the Sacramento-born Adams will be the intermediary: ascertaining what his offensive players are best at and cooking up plays to fit… but also putting them together on a menu that works for Schottenheimer on gameday. “Just trying to mesh what the vision of what he wants,” Adams explained. “I think it would be dumb on my part to try to force a lot of things on that call sheet that he doesn’t want to call or he doesn’t feel comfortable calling. “I’m going to see some things differently, he’s going to see some things differently. It’s going to be a growing process.” But much of the job will also come down to the same basic principle that has been at the heart of football since the game’s very beginning: lining up in such a way that the other side can’t tell what’s coming. “Our job,” according to Adams, “when we’re putting things on the call sheet, is to be problem solvers. So we’re trying to figure out: what do we do good? And how do we make that look multiple? How do we make that look different? That’s the part that I’m really looking forward to focusing on.” [affiliatewidget_smgtolocal] The Dallas offense struggled mightily last year. But the fact that Adams takes over an offense whose core contributors have finished in the NFL’s top three in points and the top five in yards in three of the past five years means it won’t have to be a total rebuild from scratch. And having five offensive players with a combined 19 Pro Bowl nods (Zack Martin included, for now) has to be considered a massive bonus for Adams as he gets to work. “I’m really excited about the opportunity to let it unfold and look at it and say, ‘How do we put these guys in an advantageous position as many times as we can within a game?’” he told reporters. “That’s the challenge to me, and when you have good players, that’s a little bit easier.” But don’t mistake Adams’s easygoing nature in front of the media for a passive approach on the sideline. The just-turned-41-year-old still has some of that hard-nosed, no-nonsense, O-lineman mentality deep in his DNA. He’s the first to admit it’s ready to come out when it needs to. “How I communicate with the players- on the field, in the meeting room- [it’s] controlled energy,” Adams said. “So I’m not going to have a lot of blowups, but it’s going to be very focused beams of ‘Here’s the problem; here’s the solution, here’s where we’re going to try to get that done.’ I’m not really a big blowup scream guy. But, you know, they’ve got to feel the intensity.” And hopefully under Adams, the Cowboys offense will be showing plenty of intensity, too.
The “how-to” offseason guide to fix the 2025 Dallas Cowboys
Photo by Ron Jenkins/Getty Images Here is one way to go about fixing the Cowboys. With Brian Schottenheimer now taking over as the new head coach, and his coaching staff now filled, we are entering a new era for the Dallas Cowboys. The amount of unknown surrounding this organization is at an all-time high right now, not really knowing what to expect from the coaching staff or their plans for the offseason, but the one thing we do know is they have a lot of work to do and little time to do it. Due to the all of the unknown, all we can do right now is speculate what the Cowboys may do in both free agency and the upcoming 2025 NFL Draft. By now we all have a pretty good idea of their most pressing roster “needs” and the fact that they could have upwards of $100 million in salary-cap space at their disposal, despite Stephen Jones insistence money will be tight. Today, we go step-by-step through the offseason and share the moves we’d like to see the Cowboys make to put themselves back into contention once again. We start with the players they should re-sign and the ones they should let go, then move on to free agency and the NFL draft. 3 contracts to renew, 2 to let go Photo by Kevin Sabitus/Getty Images Players to Re-sign DT Osa Odighizuwa Other than locking up Micah Parsons long-term, re-signing Odighizuwa should be a top priority for the Cowboys. The 3-technique is one of the most important positions in Matt Eberflus’ defense, making No. 97’s return all the more important. PFF contract projection: 4-years, $21.25m ($42.5m guaranteed, $85m total) DE DeMarcus Lawrence D-Law was off to a really good start in 2024 before a foot injury ended his season prematurely. Although he’s on the wrong side of 30, he’s still an ideal fit in Matt Eberflus’ defense and would provide some much-needed depth/experience to the position. PFF contract projection: 2-years, $7.5m avg/yr ($8m guaranteed, $15m total) CB Jourdan Lewis DaRon Bland is the only CB the Cowboys can count right now. Re-signing Jourdan Lewis would add much-needed depth and experience to the position as well as lesson the need to use a premium pick in the 2025 NFL Draft. Spotrac contract projection: 2-years, $4.5m ($2.25m avg/yr) Players to let go S Donovan Wilson Wilson was a liability in coverage last season and could be a salary-cap casualty because of it. Dallas can save $5.35 million releasing him out right or $7 million by designating him a post June 1 cut. LB Damone Clark Clark continues to slide further down on the Cowboys LB depth chart and played just 14.76% of the defensive snaps in 2024. Unless Matt Eberflus believes he still brings value, Dallas can save a little over $3 million by releasing him. Free agent moves to make Photo by Ezra Shaw/Getty Images LB Dre Greenlaw Greenlaw missed the majority of the 2024 season, but is still considered one of the top LBs available on the open market. He’s one of the best coverage LBs in the entire league and fits what Matt Eberflus likes at the position at either MIKE or WILL. PFF contract projection: 1-year, $6m avg/yr ($5m guaranteed, $6 total) DT Poona Ford The Cowboys are extremely thin at DT and Ford would provide some much-needed depth and a potential starter. He was one of the top graded DTs last year according to PFF and is a disruptive player who would fit in nicely in Matt Eberflus’ defense. PFF contract projection: 1-year, $3.5m avg/yr ($1.5m guaranteed, $3.5m total) RB J.K. Dobbins Dobbins has a well documented injury history, but when healthy is capable of producing like one of the top RBs in the league. He is a Texas native and at the very least would provide some much-needed depth in Dallas at an affordable price. PFF contract projection: 2-years, $3.5m avg/yr ($4m guaranteed, $7m total) 2025 mock draft after offseason moves (Mock draft database simulator) Photo by Rich von Biberstein/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images 1.12 – *TRADE* Buccaneers trade up for EDGE Mykel Williams, Cowboys receive 1.18, 2.53 1.18 – WR Emeka Egbuka, Ohio State Egbuka could be the ideal Robin to CeeDee Lamb’s Batman. He is a savvy route runner and at 6’1″, 205-pounds, he can play inside or out. He is extremely QB-friendly and has a blue-collar mentality doing the dirty work as a blocker. 2.44 – RB Omarion Hampton, North Carolina Hampton is considered by some to be the best RB after Aston Jeanty in the 2025 draft class. He’s been one of the more productive backs in the NCAA the last few years and at 6’1″, 220-pounds he has the size and skill set to be a significant upgrade as the starter in Dallas. 2.53 – OL Jonah Savaiinaea, Arizona Savaiinaea (6’4″, 339) played both right and left OT at Arizona and has the length (34″ arms) to remain there in the NFL, but kicking inside to OG may be best for his long-term future. His OT/G versatility could give Dallas another Tyler Smith on the right side of their OL. 3.76 – S Kevin Winston Jr., Penn State If not for a season-ending ACL injury Winston likely would’ve been a top 50 pick. At 6’2″, 208-pounds, he is one of the top safety prospects this year and could be an immediate upgrade over Donovan Wilson on the back end of Dallas’ secondary. *TRADE* Cowboys send 5.170, 5.172, 5.174 to Falcons for 4.117 4.117 – CB Nohl Williams, Cal Even after re-signing Jourdan Lewis, CB is a concern with Trevon Diggs working back from a season-ending knee injury and with DaRon Bland in the final year of his rookie contract. Williams (6’1″, 200) is a playmaker with 7 INTs and 16 passes defensed just last season. 5.150 – EDGE Oluwafemi Oladejo, UCLA Landing Oladejo here in the fifth-round would be an absolute steal. He spent his first three seasons
Cowboys news: Matt Eberflus wants to continue Dallas’ trend of takeaways on defense
Photo by Amy Lemus/NurPhoto via Getty Images All the up to date news around the Dallas Cowboys. Matt Eberflus on focus of 2025 Cowboys defense: ‘We will take the ball away’ – Grant Gordon, NFL.com The Dallas Cowboys new defensive coordinator looks to continue what Dan Quinn emphasized in 2021—taking the ball away. “Pretty simple: we will take the ball away,” Eberflus said, via the Cowboys’ website. “That’s what we will do. We will stop the run, and we want to make exciting plays for our football team.” It’s an unsurprising answer from Eberflus, who was Dallas’ linebackers coach from 2011-2017 prior to a four-year stay as the Indianapolis Colts’ defensive coordinator and the Bears’ head coach for two-plus seasons. Trademarks of Eberflus’ defenses have been stopping the run, causing turnovers and bending, but not breaking. Generating turnovers has been his most consistent calling card. From 2018 through last season, Eberflus’ Colts and Bears squads ranked in the top 10 in takeaways in all but one season – 2022 with Chicago when it was 14th. Last season, the Bears, who finished the campaign sans Eberflus after his firing, were 10th in takeaways (24 total). They weren’t too far ahead of the Cowboys (12th with 22). After what amounted to a disastrous 4-8 start rife with agonizing losses, chaotic finishes and unfulfilled potential, Eberflus was let go by the Bears. Landing on his feet with the Cowboys wasn’t a major shock considering his past experience with the club. Thus, he returns to a familiar spot in Dallas and a familiar role in being a DC. “I was here seven years before, so I know the [Jones] family well,” Eberflus said. “I know the community, I know the fanbase, and it’s exciting to be back. That’s what excites me the most: the fan base, the players that we get to work with and in working with the Jones family and Brian Schottenheimer.” Klayton Adams opens up on working with Schottenheimer, offensive identity, more – Tommy Yarrish, DallasCowboys.com Klayton Adams wants his players to play with violence. “For myself being a background of an offensive line coach, the opportunity to be a coordinator, to sit in that chair was important to me and had been a goal, something that I wanted to do at some point,” Adams said. “Being able to do it with the Dallas Cowboys is a huge, even bigger opportunity.” Adams’ role on staff is not to handle play calling duties, and instead assist Schottenheimer in constructing his gameplan each week. They haven’t worked together before in the past, so the time they spent together now is all about figuring each other out and getting on the same page. “Trying to mesh what the vision of what he wants is because he’s going to call the plays, and so I think it would be dumb on my part to try to force a lot of things on that call sheet that he doesn’t want to call or he doesn’t feel comfortable calling.” Adams said. “We’re really excited. I’m very excited to work with him and just to continue to learn each other a little bit… we’re going to get out into some practices and talk through some things and I’m going to see some things differently, he’s going to see some things differently, and it’s going to be a growing process.” A large part of that process comes down to the players. With Rico Dowdle becoming a free agent this offseason and uncertainty about what the offensive line looks like next year, there’s still a lot of work to be done when it comes to figuring out the pieces Adams and Schottenheimer will have to work with. That said, there are already some quality pieces in place in the Cowboys’ offense. “I don’t know that we’ve completely gotten that far yet,” Adams said. “We’re working hard to evaluate what we have here, I think that there’s a lot of nice pieces to work with and we’ll continue to go down that road as we work through player acquisition.” Jeffrey Lurie sets the example that Jerry Jones should be following – RJ Ochoa, Blogging the Boys If Jerry Jones follows the blueprint of the Philadelphia Eagles, it could lead to immediate success. That’s gross but a valid point. Consider that Lurie bought the Eagles just five years after Jerry Jones bought the Dallas Cowboys. Comparing which owner is more successful seems like a waste of time, but consider that the latter now only has one more title than the former. Albert Breer had a great piece about Lurie and his ownership of the Eagles relative to the success that they have had over the last decade. One part stood out where Lurie discussed finding financial liberty to keep the team competitive on an annual basis. “My philosophy is …” Lurie said, pausing for a second to consider the question. “You’re obviously trying to run a sound business, but I think success is determined by your success on the field and your success in the community. And so anything you can do to maximize those two, the value of the team is going to be appreciated more by your performance and your reputation in the community than anything else. It’s not going to be the EBITDA in a certain year, or two or three or four. “There’s a reason we just sold limited partnerships for the highest price in sports history. It wasn’t based on being the most profitable team at all. It’s based on the performance over time and the reputation in the community and the forecasting of where we hope to be able to sustain over the next multiple years. It’s much more than the financial bottom line. Now I guess you could get criticized by some Wall Street analysts, but we don’t operate that way. We just don’t operate that way.” Indeed, Lurie sold 8% of the Eagles in December to two family investment groups, with the valuation
Cowboys Headlines: Eberflus on plan for Micah, Overstreet putting big chip on DBs’ shoulders
Matt Eberflus on decision to return to Cowboys, plan for Micah Parsons and more :: The Mothership Link In his first chat with the Dallas media, the Cowboys’ new defensive coordinator stressed the emphasis he’ll put on taking the ball away from opposing offenses and stopping the run. Eberflus hinted at the need for some upgrades in key defensive spots, and he made it clear he plans to get the most out of the unit’s best player. “Micah is a premier pass rusher. We’re going to use him that way, certainly,” he said of Parsons. “He knows that we’ll just make him in the best light that he can be in terms of position, in terms of pass rush, and really utilizing what he does best, and that’s rushing the passer.” NFL contract extension candidates :: Spotrac Link Parsons enters 2025 with a fully guaranteed $24 million fifth-year option on the books. Spotrac lists him as a $33.7 million/year player, so him winding up with more than Nick Bosa’s $34 million per year is highly probable. But the real question is, how close could he come to $40 million? New Dallas Cowboys assistant coach has epic quote inspiring secondary of ballhawks :: SI.com Link David Overstreet II could become as much a fan favorite as Al Harris, the assistant he’s replacing. Especially after he explained the philosophy he’ll teach to the Dallas DBs: “When the ball is in the air, that’s our ball. That means he doesn’t want it anymore. If he threw it at you, that means he thinks his guy is better than you are.” Trevon Diggs and DaRon Bland will likely respond to that mentality with a big fat chip on their shoulder. Cowboys shouldn’t place franchise tag on this highly-sought after free agent :: Cowboys Wire Link Osa Odighizuwa turned in his best season yet in 2024, but a one-year tag commitment of almost $24 million may be too rich for the Joneses’ blood. If they want to keep him in the silver and blue, a long-term deal may be the only way. Cowboys have used franchise tag 11 times, with mixed results :: Cowboys Wire Link From Flozell Adams in 2002 to Tony Pollard in 2023, the Cowboys have used the franchise tag tool in multiple ways. Sometimes the tactic has bought enough time for player and organization to come to a long-range deal that serves everybody (see the second tag stints for both DeMarcus Lawrence and Dak Prescott), but other times it just makes for a very expensive one-year rental that simply postpones the inevitable parting of ways. Potential NFL salary-cap cuts for all 32 teams: From Cooper Kupp to Davante Adams and more :: The Athletic Link Odds are that both veteran safeties will remain with the team, but Donovan Wilson and Malik Hooker would both be salary-cap cut candidates if the axe had to fall on someone. Wilson’s 2025 base salary is $6.5 million; Hooker’s is $5.5 million. Cutting both would leave the Cowboys over $7 million in dead money, but both players are still starting and performing well enough to retain without much debate. Daniel Jeremiah’s latest mock draft has 3 RBs in Rd 1, none to Cowboys :: Cowboys Wire Link NFL Network’s draft guru has Boise State’s Ashton Jeanty, North Carolina’s Omarion Hampton, and Ohio State’s TreVeyon Henderson all going between the 21st and 24th pick in his 2.0 mock. But at 12th overall, he likes Dallas to fortify their D-line by selecting Mississippi defensive tackle Walter Nolen. Mock draft projects Cowboys to trade 1st-round picks for 6x All-Pro, pair Garrett with Parsons :: Cowboys Wire Link This NFL.com mock has the Cowboys sending two first-rounders (this year’s and next year’s) to Cleveland for Myles Garrett, who has said he’d like to be traded. Yes, it’s giving up a lot. But the thought of pairing Garrett- an Arlington native- on the Dallas D-line as a bookend to Micah Parsons is too good to not at least daydream about for a bit. Lunda Wells cites ‘profound love’ for Cowboys as key reason behind Dallas return :: Dallas Morning News Link The tight ends coach had interest from other teams, but Wells chose to return to Dallas for a seventh season. “I think this is one of the few organizations that does it the right way,” Wells said. “A lot of people give this organization a lot of flak for not playing in that last game, but man, they do it the right way, inside and out. The Jones family did a phenomenal job of hiring Schotty, we got a familiar face and all that takes in consideration outside of my family life.” Cowboys pass catcher went from Pro Bowl to worst season in history of his position :: Cowboys Wire Link Jake Ferguson looked like he might be the answer at tight end in Dallas in 2023. But in 2024, he played like he didn’t even know what the question was. Football Outsiders measured Ferguson’s Defense-adjusted Yards Above Replacement at the lowest number ever recorded. But with no serious competition (currently) for the team’s TE1 job, there’s nowhere for Ferguson to go but back up. He’ll be an important piece of Schottenheimer’s offense. Cowboys 9x All-Pro seen as ‘match that makes too much sense’ for Ravens in free agency :: Cowboys Wire Link If Zack Martin wants to play in 2025 but the Cowboys prefer to move on, Baltimore may be a destination to watch. His veteran savvy would be a boon to their young O-line, and blocking for Derrick Henry could be a bright spot in Martin’s twilight years (even though it would be extra-painful for Cowboys fans, after the team failed to go after Henry last offseason). Plus, it would give Martin a legitimate shot with a real Super Bowl contender. Cowboys projected as perfect fit for 4x Pro Bowl, All-Pro wide receiver in free agency :: Cowboys Wire Link The Stefon Diggs hype train is leaving
Mock draft projects Cowboys to trade 1st-round picks for 6x All-Pro, pair Garrett with Parsons
Mock draft projects Cowboys to trade 1st-round picks for 6x All-Pro, pair Garrett with Parsons K.D. Drummond The Dallas Cowboys haven’t made a splash in the draft in some time. This prediction would certainly qualify. NFL.com allows all of their draft analysts to turn in mock drafts throughout the offseason and Dan Parr has certainly shaken up the first round with this doozy. After selecting Penn State edge rusher Abdul Carter with the No. 2 overall selection (Tennessee selected QB Cam Ward at No. 1), the Cleveland Browns went about honoring the request of their disgruntled all-world defender Myles Garrett. Their trading partner was the Cowboys, who ponied up two first-round picks to acquire him and pair him with Micah Parsons. PROJECTED TRADE WITH DALLAS COWBOYS The Cowboys’ all-in mantra is back, baby. Jerry Jones isn’t going to sit on his hands and watch the NFC East run away from him, so he trades two first-rounders (this year’s and next year’s) for Myles Garrett, while the Browns get a new centerpiece for their offense. It would take some creative salary cap maneuvering for Dallas to make it happen, but Micah Parsons has already said he’d take less if it meant he would get to play opposite Garrett. Along with TJ Watt of the Pittsburgh Steelers, the last four years of the NFL’s Defensive Player of the Year voting have been dominated by these edge rushers. Parsons finished second, second and third from 2021 through 2023, with Garrett winning in 2023 and finishing fifth the prior year. He ranked third this most recent season and has been named to the All-Pro team six different times in his career. Five of those have been on the first team. Pairing the two together on a defense would be an insane combination. Garrett has had 14 or more sacks in four straight seasons and led the NFL in tackles-for-loss (TFLs) with 22 in 2024. Despite missing a chunk of games, Parsons has started his career with at least 12 sacks in each of his first four seasons. Garrett, a native of Arlington, TX, is still just 29 years old through the entire 2025 season, and has three years remaining on his contract. Acquiring Garrett would add $14.8 million to the 2025 cap per Over The Cap, and $25 million to the 2026 cap, but in all likelihood would require an extension that averages current market value upwards of $35 million in average salary.
