Tommy Gilligan-Imagn Images The Dak Prescott to George Pickens connection is going to be so much fun. Last offseason, the Dallas Cowboys made Dak Prescott the highest-paid player in the NFL. That is a frustrating situation for many people who aren’t sold on what this veteran quarterback can offer them. Whether it’s wilting against stronger teams or underwhelming in the playoffs, many fans have pause on just how far their franchise quarterback can take him. While Prescott has been successful most of his career, things have been a little bumpy in recent years. He’s battled injuries in four of the last five seasons and led the league in interceptions in 2022 despite missing five games. Twice over the last five years, the Cowboys have finished with a losing record. Those happened when Dak’s year was cut short by a season-ending injury; however, the team had a losing record before Prescott went down. Losing their quarterback takes the wind out of the season, but if we’re being honest, the wind wasn’t blowing strongly before he got hurt. The Dak problem has been dissected ad nauseam, and there are several contributing factors. Play-calling matters. How well the offensive line is playing matters. And it certainly helps when he gets some help in the running game. Another element that holds a lot of influence is his receiving weapons. There have been multiple instances in Prescott’s career where the front office has grossly misjudged the talent at the wide receiver position. We all remember the post-Dez Bryant era where they tried to supplement talent with a trio of characters such as Allen Hurns, Tavon Austin, and Deonte Thompson. Yikes. They ran into a similar issue after moving on from Amari Cooper when Noah Brown was relied on far more than he should’ve been. And most recently, the team had to count on third-year receiver Jalen Tolbert to pick up the slack after Brandin Cooks got hurt, and suffice it to say, it was meek at best. Prescott’s stats over his career are indicative of the team’s ups and downs at wide receiver. It’s easy to tell when he’s had good receivers and not-so-good receivers. Four times he’s finished with a completion percentage of less than 67%. His QB rating follows a similar path. Three times he’s finished with a QB rating less than 95, including twice over the last three years. Those same three seasons show up when you look at the years he’s averaged 7.3 yards per attempt or less over his career. The years 2017, 2022, and 2024 repeatedly stand out like a sore thumb for Dak. What’s going on in those years? If we suspect lack of weapons is playing a big role in that, how do those years stack up to the others in terms of wide receiver talent? Sure enough, there is another cutoff when it comes to the total yards of the team’s second wide receiver. Terrance Williams, Noah Brown, and Jalen Tolbert are the three lowest WR2 producers over Prescott’s career, all under 650 yards for the year. The Cowboys have an alpha in CeeDee Lamb, and now, after the trade for George Pickens, they’ll have one of the better WR2s in the league. Pickens has a 17-game average of over 1,000 yards over his career, and that number is over 1,100 yards if you throw out his “measly” 801-yard rookie season. When the quarterback makes $60 million per year, people have high expectations. And rightfully so. But a QB is still one player, and he needs help if the team is going to make any serious noise. With Pickens, Dak has that help. And barring this ordeal blowing up in the Cowboys’ face, Pickens should be able to deliver some top-end WR2 help that could once again propel this offense up the ranks. Dak Prescott won 13 games with Dez and Beasley.The Cowboys led the league in yards with Amari and Gallup.They led the league in yards and points with Amari and CeeDee.They again led the league in points with CeeDee and Brandin Cooks. What will he do with CeeDee and Pickens? pic.twitter.com/ODk0Rx0ieE — Dan Rogers (@DannyPhantom24) July 5, 2025

We’re counting down to the season opener (Day 59) with some Cowboys history We’re counting down the days until the Dallas Cowboys battle the Philadelphia Eagles in the season opener of the 2025 NFL season. To pass the time and mark the days, we running through 100 Days of Cowboys. So sit back and enjoy some Cowboys history while we countdown to football. Today – number 59. Frank Clarke Born: February 7, 1934. Beloit, WisconsinPosition: Tight endDallas Cowboys: 1960-1967Awards: All-Pro- 1964NFL receiving touchdowns leader (1962) In celebration of #BHM, we recognize Frank Clarke (1934-2018) who was the first African American star player on the @dallascowboys as wide receiver, during a time when the team played in a racially divided Dallas. : Dallas Cowboys Weekly pic.twitter.com/bqlxgez40u — Dallas Sports Commission (@dallas_sports) February 16, 2023 Frank Clarke played receiver for the Dallas Cowboys from 1960 to 1967, becoming one of the franchise’s first true offensive stars. Originally a reserve in Cleveland, Clarke blossomed in Dallas, known for his speed, precise routes, and big-play ability. He was the first receiver in Cowboys history to record a 1,000-yard season and held numerous team receiving records by the time he retired. Clarke led the NFL in touchdown receptions in 1962, with 14 touchdowns, and played a key role in helping establish the Cowboys as a competitive team in the league’s early expansion era. He still ranks eighth in Cowboys history in receiving yards and his 50 career receiving touchdowns is still sixth-most in team history. Sadly, Clarke passed away in 2018, at the age of 84 after a life of trailblazing in Colorado, Dallas and then broadcasting. The original 82, Frank Clarke, scoring against Pittsburgh and is considered the Cowboys first deep-threat receiver.#DallasCowboys #Cowboys #NFL pic.twitter.com/nDQxGoGLUD — Mike Poland (@kenfigkowboy) June 17, 2024 Best known for:Clarke was best known for being the Cowboys’ first standout receiver, setting early franchise records and becoming a favorite target of quarterback Don Meredith during the team’s formative years. This week in Cowboys history, the team choose 36 players from the pool made available by other NFL clubs. (The 1960 draft had already happened by the time the team was a franchise).Frank Clarke, one of the players selected, was the 1st WR to reach 1,000 yds in club history. #TBT pic.twitter.com/22zVXGnx4Q — Dallas Cowboys (@dallascowboys) March 12, 2020 Lesser known fact:After retiring, Clarke became a first in broadcasting, becoming one of the first Black sports anchors on television in the United States, breaking barriers in both professional football and the media industry. ✭ COUNTDOWN TO KICKOFF ✭ With 100 days to go until the #Cowboys kickoff the season against the #Eagles, we are counting down with a @BloggingTheBoys Top-100 consensus ranking. We asked staffers to give in their top-100, here is: DAY 59Frank Clarke#DallasCowboys… pic.twitter.com/O35dj6Oiw0 — Mike Poland (@kenfigkowboy) July 7, 2025

Photo by Perry Knotts/Getty Images When do you think the Cowboys will finally land a Micah Parsons extension? At a time not too incredibly long from now, Micah Parsons will receive a contract extension from the Dallas Cowboys. Since stepping on the field in 2021, this former 12th overall pick from Penn State has continuously wreaked havoc on opposing quarterbacks. The Cowboys were fortunate to get him, considering they were targeting one of the top two cornerbacks in this draft class, yet they were taken back-to-back in the two picks right before them. They were also fortunate that this super athletic off-ball linebacker emerged as one of the best edge rushers in the league. The time has come to pay up, and that’s what the Cowboys will do when Parsons signs his new deal. There is growing frustration among the fanbase that this deal isn’t done already. It’s become a common thing for this football team to drag their feet when it comes to these contract negotiations. Why should this be any different? While there’s quite a bit of hoopla across the media with these contract ordeals, it’s really just business as usual. So, why does it feel like such a huge mess? A big reason for that is that there are a lot of narratives thrown out there that are misleading. To gain a better understanding of what’s really happening, let’s run through those narratives and try to determine which ones hold water. MYTH #1: They should have extended him last year Parsons became first eligible for an extension last year. Had the front office signed him then, his price would have been cheaper because we all know that with each new year, the cost goes up because the salary cap goes up. However, to sign him last year would mean that Parsons and his representation would have to agree. Why would they do that? Why would he sign a contract when a bigger one is right around the corner? Most contract extensions are given when there is one year left on the deal, which is this year for Parsons. It’s rare that players opt to do it early, and if they do, there has to be a reason for it. The Cowboys lucked out when they signed Tyron Smith with a lengthy eight-year deal with two years left on his deal. Now, there was a lot of stuff going on with Smith and his family with money battles, but a $100 million carrot was dangled in front of him, and he took it. Parsons’ representation (Athlete’s First) is not going to succumb to such temptations. MYTH #2: T.J. Watt’s contract will jack up his price Another narrative that builds up steam is the idea that every new extension that happens for a player at the same position drives up the asking price. In that scenario, everyone would be waiting, right? In this business, that is the NFL, agents talk to other agents, owners talk to other owners, and agents and owners talk to each other. Everyone is talking. It’s hard to believe that with all the communication that goes on and advanced analytics that is used to determine a player’s value that the relevant people aren’t already privy. Nobody is tapping their fingers together, anticipating the surprise. It’s their job to know and they know. So, while we wait to learn the value of Watt’s average annual salary, it seems very likely that others already know. Just as they already have a strong sense about what Parsons’ price will be. Waiting doesn’t equal more expensive. MYTH #3: The Joneses are bumbling fools The front office talks so much about being responsible financially, so it would be very strange for them to behave in a manner that would make a player more expensive. Yet, that is what people believe is happening. The Cowboys wait too long, and it costs them more money because Jerry and Stephen are really bad at managing this cap thing. Does that track? We hear things like the Cowboys love to stay in the news, or that they have their money tied up elsewhere, as potential reasons for not getting deals done sooner, but is that really what you believe is happening? We’ve had the luxury of hearing agents give us a behind-the-scenes look at contract negotiations, and they will be the first to tell you that the Joneses know what they’re doing. It may not make a lot of sense to us about what is going on, and they aren’t perfect, but this notion that the front office is inept when it comes to contract negotiations is all based on fan emotion and not actual data. So, what’s the holdup? This is where things get tricky because until someone spills the beans sometime in the future, we are left speculating. What we do know is that both sides are pushing for more money. Parsons wants more financial security, and the Cowboys want more cap flexibility, and they are both justified in fighting for that. Ultimately, this battle will end very close to his market price, but in the meantime, both sides will continue to fight using whatever leverage they have. Speaking of that leverage, if they aren’t able to get a deal done this year, the Cowboys have an ace in the hole in the form of the franchise tag. Instead of becoming the highest-paid non-QB in the NFL, Parsons could end up with a one-year cost that is the average of the top-five paid edge rushers in the league. He knows that, his agents know that, and the Joneses know that. If Parsons has great representation like Dak Prescott did, he could choose to bet on himself and turn the leverage in his favor by having the patience to play this year on his fifth-year option, next year on the tag, and then move towards entering the open market in free agency. But something like that is a big gamble, and it

Photo by Ron Jenkins/Getty Images If you had to describe the Dallas Cowboys offseason in one word… what would that word be? This past offseason has been an interesting one for Dallas Cowboys standards. They were active in free agency, made a number of trades, held strong to their convictions during the NFL draft and even made one more trade following the draft’s conclusion. It feels like a night and day difference relative to recent offseasons of the past which seems to have contributed to the boost in morale across fans within Cowboys Nation. We all are obviously approaching things with caution since we have been burned before, but it finally feels like we are at least turning towards north instead of heading completely due south. If you had to describe all of the activity that we have seen over the last few months, but if you had to do so in just one word… what would that word be? To make things more challenging do your best to not use a word that someone else has in the comments. Let us know your answer below!

Think you can figure out which Cowboys player we’re talking about? You’ll get five clues to figure him out in our new guessing game! Hey Cowboys fans! We’re back for another day of the Blogging The Boys in-5 daily trivia game. Game instructions are at the bottom if you’re new to the game! Feel free to share your results in the comments and feedback in this Google Form. If you can’t see the game due to Apple News or another service, click this game article. Previous games Sunday, July 6, 2025Saturday, July 5, 2025Friday, July 4, 2025 Play more SB Nation in-5 trivia games NFL in-5MLB in-5MMA in-5 Blogging The Boys in-5 instructions The goal of the game is to guess the correct Cowboys player with the help of up to five clues. We’ll mix in BOTH ACTIVE AND RETIRED PLAYERS. It won’t be easy to figure it out in one or two guesses, but some of you might be able to nail it. After you correctly guess the player, you can click “Share Results” to share how you did down in the comments and on social media. We won’t go into other details about the game as we’d like your feedback on it. How it plays, what you think of it, the difficulty level, and anything else you can think of that will help us improve this game. You can provide feedback in the comments of this article, or you can fill out this Google Form. Enjoy!

Jerome Miron-Imagn Images The Dallas Cowboys are pledging to help the victims of the Texas Hill Country disaster. Over the weekend Texas Hill Country was struck with disaster. Intense flooding led to numerous deaths and several lives who are still unaccounted for. Our thoughts and prayers here at Blogging The Boys are with the folks in Texas Hill Country and all who were and remain impacted by it. The flooding began as people were preparing the celebrate the Fourth of July and on Sunday morning the Dallas Cowboys released a statement that noted they were donating $500,000 to disaster relief and standing “side by side” of the response provided by the Salvation Army. pic.twitter.com/QEk4QZD5IN — Dallas Cowboys (@dallascowboys) July 6, 2025 The Houston Texans announced themselves over the weekend that they were also donating $500,000. The NFL foundation added that they too were donating $500,000 to take the donations on behalf of the NFL’s presence in the Lone Star State to $1.5M. If you would like to make a donation yourself to the Salvation Army you can do so here.

Photo by Richard Rodriguez/Getty Images How many “blue chip” players would you say the Cowboys have? There’s no definitive answer for how many blue-chip players need to be on an NFL roster to guarantee a Super Bowl. However, if the Dallas Cowboys want to make it to the playoffs this year, they need at least four to five blue-chip type talents. So, what characteristics does a player need to be considered a blue-chip talent? The bare minimum should be an All-Pro level talent. Pro Bowls have become more subjective to the point where the bar to get in has been lowered. No offense to Tyler Huntley, the former Baltimore Ravens backup quarterback, but he earned a Pro Bowl nod in 2022 with a 2-2 record as a starter. All-Pro nominations are harder to come by, considering there is usually one player picked for each position outside of wide receiver, the defensive line, and the secondary. Outside of being considered a first- or second-team All-Pro, a blue-chip player needs to be someone a team builds around and is a cornerstone player for the franchise. They should also be in the conversation to be the best at their position. Those attributes must be a package deal; you should not have one without the other. As tough as it is to admit, the Cowboys could learn from the Philadelphia Eagles Super Bowl roster from last season. Their top players are Lane Johnson, Jalen Carter, Saquon Barkley, A.J. Brown, Zack Baun, and Jordan Mailata. All of them were critical to the team’s success and lifting the Lombardi Trophy. So, how many blue-chip players do the Cowboys have heading into 2025? Who can become one with a great season? Who does Dallas desperately need to become their “Zack Baun” this year and exceed expectations out of nowhere? Let’s start with part one of the series, which will focus on the most talented players on the Cowboys roster. Certified Blue-Chip Players Brandon Aubrey: We start with Brandon Aubrey because he might be the one name fans could overlook in an exercise like this. It’s important to remember how impactful he’s been in just a short amount of time. According to Stathead, Aubrey has hit 76 field goals, the most of any kicker in NFL history during their first two seasons. In 2024, Aubrey had 140 points (second most in the NFL); in 2023, he was the league’s leading scorer with 157 points. If the team needs a 60-yard field goal, Aubrey has proven his range is almost half the field. He’s become an actual weapon for Dallas’ offense. Micah Parsons: The only question centered around Micah Parsons is how many zeros will be attached to his new contract extension. Parsons has earned every penny about to come his way after having a legendary start to his career. The NFL players who have had at least a dozen sacks in each of their first four years in the league… 1. Hall of Famer Reggie White2. Micah Parsons That’s it. That’s the list. pic.twitter.com/VwowiSFChi — Dan Rogers (@DannyPhantom24) January 5, 2025 He’s the type of player who does not come around often. A perennial blue-chip talent, he should be a cornerstone of the franchise for years to come. CeeDee Lamb: CeeDee Lamb was given the daunting task of wearing No. 88 and living up to the franchise’s legacy with that jersey. He has exceeded expectations and has the chance to become the best of the bunch. Here is a list of the top 5 wide receivers in NFL history for most receiving yards across their first five seasons: 1. Justin Jefferson – 7,4322. Tory Holt – 6,7843. Randy Moss – 6,7434. Jerry Rice – 6,3645. CeeDee Lamb – 6,339 (via @Stathead) With a healthy Dak Prescott back at quarterback and not missing time this offseason due to a contract dispute, Lamb should be able to return to the player we saw in 2023, when he showed to be one of the NFL’s premier players at the wide receiver position. Even with George Pickens by his side this year, Lamb should have more opportunities to find success with less pressure on his shoulders to carry the entire offense. Tyler Smith: Tyler Smith might not have made this list before last season, but he had as strong and effective a year for an offensive guard in the NFL. Here is Smith’s sack allowed rate over his first three seasons. Tyler Smith’s sack allowed rate by season since entering the NFL: 2022: 1.2%2023: 0.2%2024: 0.3% Smith has allowed just 10 sacks on 1,784 pass block snaps in his career. With how important the guard position has become to this era of football, Dallas should be happy to be proven right about a questionable pick on draft night, who’s turned into a cornerstone anchor of the offensive line. Oh, and Smith just turned 24 years old in April. Part two will examine which players are primed to become blue-chip players in 2025.

Kevin Jairaj-Imagn Images KaVontae Turpin was arrested on Sunday morning on two misdemeanor charges. Word began to circulate on Sunday morning that Dallas Cowboys wide receiver KaVontae Turpin was arrested. It was confirmed by Joe Hoyt of The Dallas Morning News that this was in fact the case. Turpin was reportedly booked for two misdemeanors in possession of marijuana (less than two ounces) and unlawful carrying of a weapon. It goes without saying that this is not ideal for any player on the Cowboys. With regards to Turpin specifically, it should be noted that this is not his first off-the-field issue. While playing at TCU he was arrested on assault charges. This led to his dismissal from the team. You will recall that the Cowboys signed Turpin to a three-year extension this offseason and avoided any restricted free agent drama, something we commended them for. He is an important part of the team and one of the best return men across the NFL at large, but conduct like this is surely not something the front office or coaching staff appreciates. The Cowboys report to Oxnard in a couple of weeks for training camp and will likely address the situation when they do.

Photo by Mitchell Layton/Getty Images We’re counting down to the season opener (Day 60) with some Cowboys history We’re counting down the days until the Dallas Cowboys battle the Philadelphia Eagles in the season opener of the 2025 NFL season. To pass the time and mark the days, we running through 100 Days of Cowboys. So sit back and enjoy some Cowboys history while we countdown to football. Today – number 60. Mark Stepnoski Born: January 20, 1967. Erie, PennsylvaniaPosition: CenterDallas Cowboys: 1989-1994Awards: Super Bowl champion- XXVII, XXVIIIAll-Pro- 1992, 1994, 1996Pro Bowl– 1992, 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996NFL 1990s All-Decade Team Photo by George Gojkovich/Getty Images Mark Stepnoski played center for the Dallas Cowboys from 1989 to 1994 and again from 1999 to 2001, after being drafted in the third round out of the University of Pittsburgh. Undersized by NFL standards, Stepnoski made up for it with exceptional technique, quickness, and intelligence. He was a crucial part of the dominant Cowboys offensive line that powered the team’s early 1990s dynasty, helping protect Troy Aikman and open holes for Emmitt Smith. Stepnoski earned five consecutive Pro Bowl selections and won two Super Bowls with Dallas. Photo by James Smith/Getty Images Best known for:Stepnoski was best known for being the cerebral anchor of the Cowboys’ offensive line during their Super Bowl runs in the early ’90s, using his smarts and technique even though he was severely undersized. Lesser known fact:After retiring, Stepnoski became an outspoken advocate for marijuana legalization, even serving as president of the Texas chapter of NORML (National Organization for the Reform of Marijuana Laws). A surprising turn for a former NFL star known for his quiet, workmanlike demeanor during his playing days.

Bob Donnan-Imagn Images We are getting closer to football season. By the time the Dallas Cowboys face the Carolina Panthers in Week 6, we will have gotten an extended look at the team versus the NFC East and the NFC North, games that are important for conference seeding as it relates to the playoffs. While five games do not make a season, they will give us a barometer of what the team is capable of against good teams like the Philadelphia Eagles and Green Bay Packers, and whether they can handle developing teams like the Chicago Bears and New York Jets. Carolina is a team that is rebuilding, but there is a renewed energy around the team, thanks to how they finished the season under new head coach Dave Canales. Carolina lost seven of their first 8 games in 2024 and were outscored by their opponents 124-271 in those contests. Former first overall pick Bryce Young was benched after two games but managed to regain the starting job in Week 7 and looked like a new man. He had confidence, he had accuracy, and most of all, the team had belief. Carolina would lose three consecutive one-score games against the Eagles, Tampa Bay Buccaneers, and Kansas City Chiefs, all playoff teams, at the tail end of the season. Carolina is a spunky, resilient group with a lot to prove. Here are three players who could come up big versus Dallas when the least expect it. Mike Jackson Here’s a name that Cowboys fans may vaguely recognize. Mike Jackson was a fifth-round pick of the Cowboys back in 2019 out of the University of Miami. Although Jackson was released during final cuts of his rookie season, the team liked him enough to keep him on the practice squad until he was signed to the active roster by the Detroit Lions. For a time, Jackson bounced around the NFL until he found a home with the Seattle Seahawks. While Jackson did play well with his opportunities, he was buried too far on the depth chart behind players like Tariq Woolen and Devon Witherspoon to see adequate playing time. Fast forward to 2024: Jackson is named the starting cornerback for the Carolina Panthers opposite of Jaycee Horn and has his best season as a pro. Per PFF, he ranked tenth among qualified cornerbacks in solo tackles with 67 and ranked seventh in receptions allowed. Furthermore, Jackson had 17 passes defended, which was tied for third in the league last season. He looks every bit the part of somebody who has had to claw his way to stay in the NFL, let alone be in a starting lineup, and it shows in how he plays. He aggressively plays the ball through the hands of wide receivers to dislodge the ball at the catch point. He’s chippy and he fits exactly what Panthers defensive coordinator Eviro Evero wants from his cornerbacks. While in terms of talent, the Cowboys still have the advantage at wide receiver, Jackson has the mentality to spoil the reunion with the Cowboys. Ja’Tavion Sanders Collectively, the Panthers’ offense last year was largely disappointing. Although Chuba Hubbard saw success and rushed for nearly 1,200 yards, the passing game was mostly non-existent in the early part of the season as Young and Andy Dalton alternated starts up until the halfway point of the season. Much of that falls on the arm of Bryce Young, who, again, to his credit, made strides towards the end of the season. The Panthers are searching for any type of consistency in the passing game its and its wide open as to who could step up to warrant more targets. One option that stands out is tight end Ja’Tavion Sanders. Though his production was modest last year, he was still sixth on the team in receiving yards and fourth in receptions. I don’t know what I expected but I was very impressed by Ja’Tavion Sanders as a rookie. I did not expect him to be as trusted in-line as he was and, especially for a rookie, he was pretty good. The development has been great. Technique is better and he pass protects well too. https://t.co/aFgCj2AG3P pic.twitter.com/RJLW36G12D — Max Toscano (@maxtoscano1) July 1, 2025 Sanders has great vision with the ball in his hands and is simply too fast for most linebackers to keep up with. He makes very difficult catches thanks to his premier athleticism. If given the chance, he can run away from a defense down the seams. He can be flexed in the slot or lineup as an in-line tight end and is better than advertised as a blocker. Sanders could make a back-breaking play if the Cowboys aren’t careful. Xavier Legette Similar to Sanders, Xavier Legette is a wild card that could elevate the Panthers’ passing game. Despite his size at 6’3”and 227 lbs., Legette can play outside as the X receiver or in the slot. He’s got very good change of direction at the top of his routes and can easily separate from a defensive back across the field. To no one’s surprise, with his height, he’s got a big catch radius and can haul in difficult throws away from his body. He’s also very fast and can stretch the field vertically. On the negative side, he does need more refinement on his routes and doesn’t have the same gear coming out if his breaks throughout his route tree. Plus, there are lapses with concentration that lead to drops, and he had five last season. He has the talent to be a difference-maker in the game; it’s just whether he’s got it in him to consistently get the better of the Cowboys’ secondary.