Kevin R. Wexler / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images The latest news from around the NFC East division. Giants are ‘scouring the landscape’ for their next franchise QB – Dan Benton, USA Today Joe Schoen and Brian Daboll will need to find the right guy for their job security. The New York Giants are very obviously in need of a quarterback (or two) this offseason and have made it clear that will be their primary objective. “That’s obviously the number one issue for us going into this offseason, is to find our quarterback of the future,” co-owner John Mara said at his year-end press conference. “Whether that be via the draft or acquiring a veteran, it’s going to be up to (general manager Joe Schoen and head coach Brian Daboll) to decide, ultimately.” Schoen left the door open to acquiring a quarterback in a variety of ways: Free agency, a trade, and the 2025 NFL draft. “It’s the most important position in football,” Schoen said. “So, that’s definitely important to any team in the NFL’s success. So, that’s something we’ll definitely be looking at.” Staying true to their word, ESPN’s Jordan Raanan reports that the Giants have invested extensive resources into every possible avenue available to them in order to identify their next franchise quarterback. It’s no secret the Giants are scouring the landscape for their future franchise quarterback. One NFL executive said general manager Joe Schoen made it obvious at the Senior Bowl that was his focus. Not only have the Giants heavily scouted the quarterback prospects ahead of April’s draft — something that will continue at the NFL Combine — they’ve also been linked to Los Angeles Rams quarterback Matthew Stafford, as well as several other impending free agents. Thus far, the smoke has largely surrounded Stafford and Colorado quarterback Shedeur Sanders but it’s important to remember that it’s lying season in the NFL. Rumors and speculation will continue to run rampant until free agency on March 12 when a clearer picture comes into focus. Kellen Moore Admits Leaning On Two Top Eagles’ Assistants – John McMullen, Sports Illustrated Moore is building his staff, and may poach some coaches from Philadelphia. Moore finished a whirlwind week in which he won the Super Bowl after practicing all week at the Saints facility in Metairie, LA, jetted back to Philadelphia after routing the Chiefs, only to return to NOLA to hammer out his deal with the Saints before another 180 to be at the Eagles’ championship parade on Valentine’s Day. Moore’s frequent-flyer trips between Philly and the Big Easy ended on Saturday when he arrived back and started to settle into his new job by interviewing Minnesota defensive passing game coordinator and defensive backs coach Daronte Jones to be the Saints defensive coordinator. On Sunday, he was interviewing his long-time right-hand man and current Eagles’ quarterbacks coach Doug Nussmeier to be the Saints OC, and his former boss with the Los Angeles Chargers, Brandon Staley, to be the DC. Buried in all that was a discussion with Sports Illustrated’s Albert Breer in which Moore offered up a tacit endorsement for Eagles associate head coach and passing game coordinator Kevin Patullo, the man perceived as the frontrunner to take over as OC for Moore in Philadelphia. Moore and Patullo grew to be very close in a short time during their one season together and the Saints coach admitted he leaned on Patullo, along with offensive line coach and run game coordinator Jeff Stoutland, to gain a foothold in Philadelphia “The first few weeks in Philadelphia, I was really mostly a listener,” Moore told Breer. “Letting Stout [Jeff Stoutland] explain where the run game was at, Kevin Patullo explain where the passing game is at, showing those cut-ups and starting with the intent of keeping what is in place that we feel really good about.” Commanders are betting favorites to land Myles Garrett – Mike Florio, NBC Sports Washington’s draft capital and salary cap flexibility may make this move possible. Two weeks ago, Browns defensive end Myles Garrett made known his desire to leave the Browns. The Browns reportedly won’t do it. Garrett apparently won’t abandon his desire to go to a contender. The current odds at DraftKings have Garrett taking his next snap with a team that went farther than the Browns have gone since the late 1980s. The Commanders are +300 favorites to land Garrett. Next are the Eagles, at +450. His current team lands at 5-1. The Bills are +550, and the Lions have +650 odds. The Bears come in at +900. If the Browns were to decide to make taking on Deshaun Watson’s remaining $92 million in guaranteed pay one of the trade terms, the Commanders could pull it off. They have nearly $100 million in cap space for 2025. Still, absorbing Watson’s albatross deal complicates the rest of the trade talks. The draft-pick compensation would drop. And the new team would be less willing to give Garrett a market-level deal on the way through the door. Of course, if Garrett wants a shot at a Super Bowl badly enough, maybe he’ll take less to make it happen. And if the Browns want to get rid of the Watson obligation badly enough, maybe they’ll decide that it’s worth losing the remainder of Garrett’s prime years. The cap consequences are manageable. The deal is doable. In the next few weeks, we’ll find out whether it’s done.

Photo by Jacob Kupferman/Getty Images Here is our scouting report on Armand Membou from Missouri We continue our 2025 NFL Draft preview of draft prospects that could interest the Dallas Cowboys. Today we are looking at offensive tackle, Armand Membou from Missouri. Armand Membou OTMissouri TigersJunior4-star recruit 6’3”314 lbs Photo by Michael Wade/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images History Armand Membou was born on March 27, 2004, he attended Lee’s Summit North High School in Lee’s Summit, Missouri. As a four-star recruit, Membou received offers from several notable schools including Kansas State, Kansas, Oregon, Iowa State, Nebraska, and Missouri. He ultimately committed to play for the Missouri Tigers in 2022. During his time at Missouri, Membou appeared in 24 games with 18 starts over his first two seasons, primarily playing at right tackle and allowed only three sacks. In 2023, he was a full-time starter on the Tigers’ offensive line, which was recognized as a semifinalist for the Joe Moore Award, an accolade for the nation’s top offensive line unit. Heading into the 2024 season, Membou was named to Bruce Feldman’s “Freaks List” for his exceptional physical attributes and exceptional strength. His performance was highlighted by his ability to handle top-tier SEC pass rushers, with a record of allowing very few pressures and no sacks in his last season. He left Missouri allowing only three total sacks in three seasons, nearly exclusively at right tackle. 2024 Statistics 827 Offensive Snaps411 Passing Snaps9 Pressures Allowed 0 Sacks4 Penalties NFL Combine/Pro Day TBC Awards Second-team All-SEC (2024) Scorecard Overall- 85.1Speed- 81Acceleration- 88Agility- 71Strength- 95Pass Blocking- 79Run Blocking- 89Discipline- 90 THE GOOD Shows exceptional explosiveness off the snap and impressive agility for his size. Watch for his 10-yard split at the combine, it will impress. He has excellent strength and the ability to generate power, making him effective in both pass- and run-blocking in zone-blocking scenarios. Displays good depth in his pass sets. Effectively mirrors edge rushers with good foot speed and arm length. His hand strikes are powerful, often jolting defenders and helping him maintain control in pass protection. Shows a nasty demeanor as a finisher. Shows good range to allow him to reach the second level and seal lanes effectively. TAPE TIME OT Armand MembouMissouri ✅ THE GOOD✅#scouting #NFLDraft #mizzoufootball pic.twitter.com/tWmez50rXA — Mike Poland (@kenfigkowboy) February 15, 2025 THE BAD Hand technique needs refinement to avoid being exposed by NFL-level pass rushers. Consistency in his strike timing and hand placement can be an issue. Despite his power, Membou occasionally struggles to maintain his anchor against larger, longer defensive linemen, which can lead to being pushed back. His size may lead some teams to consider him for a guard position, although he has the length and agility to potentially succeed at tackle. TAPE TIME OT Armand MembouMissouri ❌THE BAD❌#scouting #NFLDraft #mizzoufootball pic.twitter.com/49VqQ9mM1R — Mike Poland (@kenfigkowboy) February 15, 2025 THE FIT Armand Membou projects as a potential impact player, with some scouts suggesting he could be drafted in the first round. His athletic profile, combined with his performance against top-tier college competition, indicates he could be an immediate starter, possibly at tackle but with a much higher ceiling at guard. His blend of physical tools, pass protection skills, and run-blocking prowess make him a versatile offensive lineman prospect. However, his technical aspects like strike timing and maintaining an anchor will be crucial areas of focus for his development at the next level. With both his hand issues and size, this has other scouts considering him closer to a second-round projection. This makes ranking him difficult. For the Dallas Cowboys, Membou could be an intriguing fit. The Cowboys coaching staff values a strong run game, and Membou’s proficiency in wide-zone schemes aligns well with Brian Schottenheimer. His ability to move quickly to the second level and his power in blocking could bolster the Cowboys’ ground attack, which they could then aim to use to control game tempo and set up their passing game. Membou’s athleticism and length would provide an upgrade, especially on the right side where there are questions about consistency and Zack Martin’s future. His strength and athleticism could translate well inside, offering flexibility in the line-up or as a contingency. His quick feet and ability to mirror pass rushers would be a plus against the defensive threat in the NFC East. Membou has the tools but might need some time to fully adapt to the professional level, which could affect his immediate contribution. If the Cowboys draft Membou, they’d likely see him as a piece for both the present and future. He could initially compete for the right tackle spot or even be groomed at right guard, providing depth and competition. His athletic profile would make him a versatile option, potentially filling any gaps in the offensive line over time. The Cowboys’ commitment to a strong, dynamic offensive line would align with Membou’s skill set, especially if they’re looking to rejuvenate their line with younger talent. COMPARISON Robert Hunt, Carolina Panthers BTB GRADE 31st CONSENSUS RANKING 19th(Consensus ranking based on the average ranking from 90 major scoring services)

Photo by Sam Hodde/Getty Images WR2 needs to be a real point of emphasis this offseason. The next stop on our Dallas Cowboys offseason preview series is wide receiver. Unlike most roster positions, receiver is one where Dallas can proudly claim to have one of the NFL’s true elites in CeeDee Lamb. But as good as he is at the top of the depth chart, the rest of it has arguably held the team back over the last three seasons. Building this group up, particularly at the other starting position, is a top concern in 2025. Under Contract CeeDee Lamb, Jalen Tolbert, Jalen BrooksRyan Flournoy, Jonathan Mingo, Jalen CropperSeth Williams, Kelvin Harmon Potential Departures Brandin Cooks, KaVontae Turpin The latest Cowboys star to get a big, new contract, Lamb isn’t going anywhere anytime soon. And after gutting it out through much of last year with a shoulder injury, Dallas’ franchise receiver has more respect than ever as a leader and one of the team’s cornerstones. Unfortunately, there isn’t much else at WR right now to lean on. Brandin Cooks’ contract is up and, after missing seven games last season and turning 32 this year, it’s hard to see him returning. He was never really a great fit in the scheme anyway, and though offensive changes are coming with Mike McCarthy gone, you’ll never see Cooks step up and carry the receiving load if Lamb were to go down. It’d be great if we had more confidence in Jalen Tolbert after three years but that’s just not the case. His third season was the best yet with career highs across the board, and leading the team in receiving touchdowns with seven. But is that enough to trust Tolbert as Lamb’s primary wingman? Shouldn’t he at least have to compete for the job? Competition will be hard to find from current options. Guys like Jalen Brooks, Jonathan Mingo, and Ryan Flournoy may help you fill out a depth chart but you wouldn’t feel good about any of them being in the top three. Even if these young prospects blossom in 2025, you’d rather have that be a pleasant surprise for your depth than a gamble you’re depending on with your key positions. Dallas also has to deal with KaVontae Tuprin’s expiring contract. While best known for his First-Team All-Pro work in the return game, his offensive role grew in 2024 as he got the fifth-most targets of all pass-catchers. Turpin will be a restricted free agent this year and should draw plenty of interest for his return work alone, and even more if creative offensive coaches see ways to use his speed. Free Agency The Bengals’ Tee Higgins is one of the biggest names in this entire free agent pool, but does he want to remain a Robin to another team’s Batman? After four years in Ja’Marr Chase’s shadow, Higgins would still be behind Lamb in Dallas’ pecking order. He’s likely looking for a chance to be WR1 and earn the money that comes with it, neither of which the Cowboys would offer. Next you have a bunch of older guys, some with injury issues on top of them, like Stefon Diggs, Keenan Allen, DeAndre Hopkins, and Chris Godwin. Dallas should thoroughly investigate this group for good fits and positive medical reports, but any of them would come with a “wait and see” concern for how well they’d fit in with the Cowboys and find chemistry with Dak Prescott. One prospective free agent who’s proven he can play with Prescott is Amari Cooper. In many ways, Cooper would be the next-best option on the market after Higgins. But how would all parties involved feel about getting back together? If Mike McCarthy was the driving force behind Cooper’s dismissal three years ago, could his departure open the way for a reunion? Again, this is all about finding a true WR2 to enhance the passing game. There are only so many guys who are going to walk in as a starter; many would still have to prove they deserve the job more than Tolbert. At the very least, Dallas should replace Cooks with a potential starter and strong depth option in free agency before going into the draft. 2025 NFL Draft Lamb’s next wingman may well be a rookie. The Cowboys should have several opportunities to land a talented WR with any of their first three picks. But if they don’t get one by the end of Friday night, not having a fourth-round pick means a huge drop in talent by the time they’re back on the clock. That puts a lot of pressure on Dallas to draft for need in the first three rounds, which is rarely ideal. While Travis Hunter isn’t falling to the 12th pick, Arizona’s Tet McMillan could. If he’s gone, Luther Burden and Emeka Egbuka are consensus first-round guys who should be available. If the Cowboys go with another position on Thursday, someone from the likes of Elic Ayomanor, Tre Harris, and Isaiah Bond should be there at #44. Even if they wait until the third round, there are enough options in the class to still find solid talent. But unlike at RB, DT, or some other positions in 2025, the WR class seems to go off a cliff after the first few rounds. That means Dallas either needs to make it a top priority with those early picks or use free agency to go into the draft without such a big need. Final Thoughts Cooks’ and Turpin’s free agency means Dallas can’t just sit on their hands at wide receiver. Even if those guys get new deals to stay, the Cowboys’ offense needs more firepower from previous years. They need a guy who can make teams pay for paying too much attention to Lamb and, ideally, one who can adequately fill those WR1 shoes should Lamb ever miss time. That’s no small ask, meaning Dallas’ front office can’t be misers if the right veteran WR2 is out

Photo by Frank Jansky/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images One NFL mock draft has the Dallas Cowboys trading their first-round pick (and more) for Myles Garrett. The Dallas Cowboys have a number of options available to them with the 12th overall pick, and there are a lot of people who have their mind made up on where they want to see the team go with it. A particularly loud sector of the fanbase wants to see the Cowboys turn in that draft card with Boise State running back Ashton Jeany’s name on it. There is an argument to make in that name of course, but there are also arguments against it. Welcome to what life will be like over the next few months. There are obviously other ways in which the Cowboys could choose to spend that top draft pick, their highest first-round selection since 2021 when they traded down from 10 to 12 and came away with Micah Parsons. If one mock drafter is to be believed, Parsons may very well enjoy the result. NFL mock draft sees Myles Garrett traded to Dallas Cowboys The Cowboys have shown over the last few years that they are unafraid to trade down in the NFL Draft. They moved back in 2021 and still landed Parsons, and they also moved down a few spots last year before ultimately selecting Tyler Guyton. It has been a long time since Dallas traded up in the first round, over a decade actually. It was all the way back in 2012 when the Cowboys last moved up and did so to draft Morris Claiborne. Trading out of the first round entirely is another option, something the Cowboys did as recently as 2019 although they did so well before the draft. The Cowboys sent their 2019 first-round draft pick to the then-Oakland Raiders right at the trade deadline in 2018 in exchange for wide receiver Amari Cooper. One mock draft thinks the Cowboys will follow suit with that here in 2025. An NFL.com mock has the Cowboys sending their first-rounder, and more, to the Cleveland Browns in exchange for Myles Garrett. Amazingly, Cleveland takes Ashton Jeanty with the pick. Pick 12 Cleveland Browns Ashton Jeanty Boise State · RB · Junior 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. Let it be known that this mock is somewhat predicated on the wildcatter reputation that Jerry Jones has – one that we have not necessarily seen him exemplify all too much recently. One of the most, if not the most, fascinating elements of this mock is that the perceived price to acquire Myles Garrett is two first-round picks. It is hard to turn that down on some level given the idea of Garrett rushing the passer opposite of Micah Parsons. For what it’s worth, Parsons said in the week of talk leading up to Super Bowl LIX that he would take less money to play with Garrett, but a lot of that would involve how much money Garrett himself is going to take up with whoever trades for him given that he is likely seeking a new deal, too. Garrett and Parsons would easily make for the best pass-rushing duo in the NFL and having them would make the Cowboys’ lives easier in a lot of ways. But would the team really do that, even if that price would be enough to get it done? Would you?

Andrew Dieb-Imagn Images Notable headlines surrounding America’s team. Have Cowboys fans seen the last of these 3 familiar faces? – Mario Herrera Jr, Inside The Star Difficult decisions are on the horizon. RG Zack Martin is another team captain and leader that has been with the team since the same 2014 NFL Draft as Tank Lawrence. Martin was the Cowboys’ 1st round pick in that draft, taken 16th overall. This was the famous draft where it is reported that Stephen Jones and Will McClay talked Jerry Jones out of taking QB Johnny Manziel from Texas A&M-College Station. It turned out to be the right choice, as Martin has racked up seven NFL All-Pro selections, and for a time had more All-Pro selections than accepted penalties against him. Martin is not the same player he once was, dealing with an array of injuries, but when healthy, he is still a valuable piece of the offensive line. If he chooses to continue to play and the Cowboys want him back, maybe they can bring him back on a team-friendly deal. Where do Tyler Guyton, Cowboys 2024 rookies rank among other first-year classes in NFL? – SportsDay Staff, DMN Re-evaluating last year’s draft. A Dallas rookie class highlighted by early-round draft picks Tyler Guyton, Cooper Beebe and Marist Liufau landed at No. 26 in the NFL.com rankings. Deputy editor Gennaro Filice gave the class a C grade and wrote that the Cowboys’ rookie class left “much to be desired.” Filice wrote that first-round pick Guyton and second-round pick Marshawn Kneeland “struggled with injuries and inconsistency.” By contrast, Beebe — who started 16 games at center — was lauded as the team’s “most impactful selection — by far.” Liufau also earned praise for his growth during the season and the potential for a bigger role in 2025 given DeMarvion Overshown’s injury last season. Dallas’ NFC East rivals all fared much better in the rankings. The Washington Commanders’ class, led by Offensive Rookie of the Year Jayden Daniels, ranked No. 1 in the NFL. The New York Giants landed at No. 6 with a class that brought in Pro Bowler Malik Nabers and a number of other significant contributors. The Philadelphia Eagles came in at No. 7 with defensive back Cooper DeJean — who had a pick 6 in the Super Bowl — being an important member of the champs’ secondary. Cowboys are all but eliminated from contention to land star WR this offseason – Luke Norris, The Landry Hat Don’t get your hopes up. Davante Adams reportedly wants to join a West Coast team, which the Cowboys obviously aren’t According to ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler, if the Jets and Adams do indeed part ways this offseason, the three-time First-Team All-Pro would prefer to play on the West Coast. “The Jets must address the future of receiver Davante Adams,” Fowler wrote, “whose $38.3 million cap hit is untenable. A source told me Adams is intrigued by a return to the West Coast and would be open to potentially joining teams such as the Rams or Chargers — if he gets released. I would put the 49ers in the conversation, too. Adams grew up in Northern California.” Dallas, of course, is obviously not located on the West Coast. So, one would think the Cowboys are out of the equation. But let’s get real here. Did anyone actually see Jerry Jones making this happen if the geography wasn’t part of the equation? 5 Cowboys who should see reduced roles in 2025 NFL season – Randy Gurzi, Sports Illustrated A larger share of the pie for some players means a reduction for others. There was a point in the 2024 season where Mazi Smith started to show signs that the light bulb was coming on. As encouraging as that was, he still ended his second season far short of the expectations Dallas had when they made him a Round 1 pick in 2023. Smith finished with 41 tackles and one sack. His numbers were far superior to what he recorded as a rookie but he was still ranked 117th out of 118 defensive tackles by Pro Football Focus. Dallas needs to find a nose tackle who can give them more snaps because Smith isn’t ready to be the full-time starter. Cowboys 2025 draft scouting report: DL Shemar Stewart- Mike Poland, Blogging The Boys Stewart does fill a much-needed hole on the defense. Stewart boasts impressive physical attributes for an NFL defensive end, standing at 6’5” and weighing around 281-290 pounds. His long arms (34¼” arm length) and wingspan (83½”) contribute to his effectiveness on the field. He moves well for his size, showing good explosiveness off the line and the agility to change direction. Stewart uses his strength effectively to extend blocks and set the edge, demonstrating good lower body power to anchor against run plays. He has a relentless motor, Stewart is a high-energy player who chases plays down from sideline to sideline, and does it from snap one till the final play of the game.

Photo by Cooper Neill/Getty Images The Cowboys cornerback room could see a bit of a shakeup this offseason. It was an interesting year for the defense of the Dallas Cowboys. With a new defensive coordinator Mike Zimmer and a slew of injuries, there were plenty of highs and lows. At times during the season, the defense was a hot mess, but things improved as the year progressed. When you look at the season as a whole, there were some good things… Sack percentage = 9.22%, second-best in the league Third-down conversion rate = 36.6%, ninth-best in the league And there were some bad things… Points allowed per game = 27.5, second-worst in the league Red zone scoring percentage = 75%, worst in the league Opponent yards per pass = 7.9, second-worst in the league The injuries took a toll, and no other unit faced more adversity than the cornerback position. The Cowboys’ top six cornerbacks all missed time dealing with different injuries. Top six guys! That’s crazy unlucky. PLAYER INJURY Trevon Diggs groin, knee, cartilage DaRon Bland foot, setback Jourdan Lewis neck Caelen Carson shoulder Amani Oruwariye foot Josh Butler knee The Cowboys were fortunate to have such a deep group and for most of the season, they weren’t the liability they could have been. It didn’t get messy until they were forced to rely on CB#7 Andrew Booth. Entering the new season, the Cowboys cornerback group situation is a little murky. They have some good players, but each has its own situation and brings uncertainty for the future. The front office has some tough decisions to make to ensure they are going down the right path as one wrong move can create some real problems later. DECISION #1 – Re-sign Jourdan Lewis It’s weird to say this, but Lewis might have been the Cowboys’ top-performing cornerback last season. A fan favorite who plays with great intensity, Lewis has had an interesting career thus far. Multiple coaching staffs have pushed him a bit down the depth chart, but in recent years he’s established himself as a reliable slot corner. The team values his contribution and re-upped him twice as his services haven’t been too expensive (three-year, $13.5 million, and then one-year, $2.82 million). With Lewis coming off his best season as a pro, he should command a raise this offseason. He did a great job staying in the hip pocket of his receiver and played with a high level of physicality. He showed that he is an asset any defense would love to have. Even with a pay bump coming, the Cowboys should strongly consider giving Lewis his fourth contract as he’s proven a reliable player and a much-needed piece to the cornerback group. DECISION #2 – How good do you feel about Caelen Carson? After Carson’s Week 1 performance against the Cleveland Browns, it looked like the Cowboys had an embarrassment of riches at the cornerback position. They had two young All-Pros in Trevon Diggs and Daron Bland, a seasoned veteran in Lewis, and this fifth-round rookie that made people feel like the team landed a gem on Day 3 of the draft. Unfortunately, those feelings didn’t last long. Carson dealt with a variety of problems, one of which was a shoulder injury that put him out of action for most of the season. In fact, we never saw him in action again after Week 11. In the time he did play, Carson showed some potential. He’s physical, has good speed, and great closing burst. But he also shows a lot of inconsistent footwork and can often be seen getting his body turned around causing him to be late to defend the pass. There is something to work with for sure, but can he take a nice step forward and be someone the team can rely on as a starting outside cornerback, or will they need to go back to the well and draft another guy to develop? How they feel about him could be an important domino affecting other decisions, bringing us to the most important decision. DECISION #3 – Picking between Trevon Diggs or DaRon Bland When one of their young corners intercepts 11 passes in a season and the other one has an NFL record five pick-sixes, it became clear that a time would come when the Cowboys had to pick one or the other. Well, that time is approaching. This topic runs deep, so it warrants a separate discussion. For that reason, we’ve broken this article into two parts. Join us tomorrow as we’ll dive into which All-Pro cornerback the Cowboys should ride-or-die with. Stay tuned…

Photo by Mitchell Leff/Getty Images The Cowboys would be wise to listen to Micah Parsons. The Dallas Cowboys had a rough enough season with constant injuries and finishing with a 7-10 record, which ended their streak of three consecutive playoff appearances. On top of that, they had to watch their bitter division rivals, the Philadelphia Eagles and Washington Commanders, battle in the NFC Championship Game, and to add insult, the Eagles won their second Super Bowl in the last eight seasons. There’s one player in Dallas that is certainly tired of the Cowboys not being in the mix when it comes to competing for championships, and that’s All-Pro edge/linebacker Micah Parsons. The former first-round pick has made his feelings public by saying that he wants the Cowboys to differ from their frugal spending ways in free agency and be aggressive. “The talent is there, we just got to be aggressive the same way [other teams] did,” Parsons said. “I don’t want to sit back and watch other [teams] build and build and us stay the same. Definitely some call to action. I want to see us become aggressive and get some players that will come in and make an impact. I want to see us bring back our own players, that’s just as important. Let’s see what we can do there.” Cowboys executive vice president Stephen Jones mentioned that the organization would look at teams like the Eagles and the Kansas City Chiefs when it comes to the team-building aspect. Both of those organizations not only know how to draft and develop, but they’re aggressive in bringing in outside help. The Eagles were led by Saquon Barkley in 2024 and his 2,000 rushing yards, which allowed them to control the clock, build leads, and let their defense pin its ears back. Although they lost to the Eagles in the Super Bowl, the Chiefs brought in guys like DeAndre Hopkins and Marquise Brown even after winning back-to-back titles, which further proved their commitment to excellence. Dallas has been one of the cheapest teams in the league from a free agency standpoint, and predictably, it hasn’t produced much success outside of the regular season. With Parsons coming out and challenging the front office in Dallas as the team’s best player, this puts more pressure on them to change their ways and get with the current times of the NFL. Parsons is in line for a major extension soon, and he’s even mentioned taking less money so that the Cowboys can get a player like All-Pro edge rusher Myles Garrett. If the Cowboys ignore Parsons and his pitch to improve the roster, he could very well begin to think about other options as far as where he’ll lace up his chest going forward. Then there’s guys like quarterback Dak Prescott, wide receiver CeeDee Lamb, and cornerback Trevon Diggs. All three have signed lucrative extensions with the Cowboys, but a lack of effort in free agency, which would keep the team stagnant, could force them to explore other teams as well when they’re eligible again for free agency. Dallas makes signings in free agency every year, but they’re just bodies and not guys that can dramatically change a roster. Although Parsons is the one going public, the rest of the players notice it as well, and even the media has begun to scold the Cowboys for how they operate from a team-building standpoint. Continuing to do things the way they have shows a lack of commitment by the Cowboys front office. Individual accolades are great in their own right, and all the players mentioned on the Cowboys have them, but at the core, every football player that loves the game wants to win. The Cowboys have had three decades of mediocrity, and it has pushed fans and also the players to the breaking point, which was made clear by what Parsons had to say. If the Cowboys don’t make an attempt this offseason to switch gears and go all out, or “all in” in terms of free agency and trades, what would make these players want to stay? Prescott feels that the Cowboys are very close to the Eagles. Well, the only way they can truly be in that conversation without any doubt is to maximize every avenue, which means opening up the checkbook in March when the frenzy begins.

Photo by Sam Hodde/Getty Images Here is our latest Dallas Cowboys mailbag. Every week, we take questions on X (Twitter) and Facebook about Dallas Cowboys players and other issues surrounding the team. So let’s get right into it. “Why’s everyone high on Mike Green from Marshall and should the Cowboys draft him at 12?” (Ryan Jones on Facebook) Mike: Some people will say to pick him at 12 is too rich, but post-combine people will soon change that tune. Picking a defensive end early isn’t a bad way to go for Dallas and pairing an elite pass rusher opposite Micah Parsons would make this defense lethal. Mike Green led all of the FBS in sacks (17) and earned All-American honors and the Sun Belt Player of the Year award after an insane final season at Marshall. Green has an explosive first step, elite levels of bend around the edge, and a variety of pass-rush moves. His athletic profile, including his speed and agility, would add versatility to the Cowboys’ defensive line. His ability to set the edge and make tackles for loss would complement Micah Parsons, enhancing their defensive front’s effectiveness. Green would give the Cowboys a formidable duo on the edge. Combining Green’s skills with Parsons could create a dynamic pass rush, potentially overwhelming offensive tackles and quarterbacks. Dana: Mike Green had a stellar 2024 season at Marshall logging 84 total tackles (22 of which were tackles for loss), 17 sacks, 15 QB hits and 3 forced fumbles. It was a very impressive season for him and the buzz surrounding his draft potential only got louder after the Senior Bowl where he was able to show off his power and bend at the EDGE position. Mike Green. SIR. pic.twitter.com/v1CZAAzn0H — Jordan Dajani (@JordanDajani) January 29, 2025 Green is now being projected by some as a top-20 overall pick in this year’s draft. Should Dallas be the team to draft him? Well, there are a lot of holes to fill for many positions on this team and they may decide to go in another direction. Additionally, if the team does decide to pick an EDGE player with the 12th overall pick, there are some other really good players that may be a possibility; some players like James Pearce Jr., Mykel Williams, and Shemar Stewart just to name a few. However, Green would be a great fit for the Cowboys if they do decide to pick him at number 12. The future is still unclear for DeMarcus Lawrence and Green would make an excellent young paring along side Micah Parsons to make life very difficult for opposing QB’s. “What are the new coaching staff members that has been selected so far?” (Cornell Johnson on Facebook) Mike: Officially, the Cowboys coaching hires were completed as of Friday. Klayton Adams took over the vacant offensive coordinator role left by the promotion of Brian Schottenheimer. This will be Adams first time as offensive coordinator and has a wealth of experience as an offensive line coach and was with the Arizona Cardinal last season. Matt Eberflus was quickly brought on to be the defensive coordinator. He became the first Chicago Bears coach to ever be fired mid-season, but some guys are better coordinators than they are head coaches. Eberflus has been in Dallas before as linebacker coach from 2011 until 2017, but the highlight of his career was how he turned the Indianapolis Colts defense around while hired as the team’s defensive coordinator. Nick Sorensen takes over from John Fassel as special teams coordinator. He’s mostly been employed as a defensive coach but almost had the special teams coordinator job in San Francisco to start this season. The rest of the coaching hires and positions: “What did Brian Schottenheimer bring to the table during the interview process to separate himself from other head coach candidates?” (MrEd315 via Twitter/X) Mike: In short, familiarity. He knows the offense and its shortcomings intimately and what the needs are. He also has chemistry with Dak Prescott, CeeDee Lamb and the rest of the offense which will help motivate the offense that fell short last year. On top of that, he also knows the Jones’ and the operation of the franchise meaning he leads straight into organizing the team rather than trying to climatize to the monster that is the Dallas Cowboys. Dana: Since the Cowboys were not able to retain Mike McCarthy as head coach, they interviewed a few coaches like Kellen Moore, Robert Saleh, Leslie Frazier, along with Brian Schottenheimer. After conducting these interviews, the things that make Schottenheimer stand out from the rest were familiarity, continuity, and long-standing experience. No other coach had all three. In an article from Todd Archer of ESPN, Schottenheimer was quoted: “The continuity through change,” Schottenheimer said. “I know the players. I know the building. I know our strengths. I know our weaknesses. I know our issues. And the more and more we got into conversations, sitting around and just discussing different things, I wanted it even more.” The Cowboys have Prescott and Lamb locked in for the next handful of years and it was likely a consideration when choosing Schottenheimer to keep some continuity with them to grow from rather than completely starting over.