Photo by James Black/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images Here is our scouting report on defensive lineman Mason Graham from Michigan We continue our 2025 NFL Draft preview of draft prospects that could interest the Dallas Cowboys. Today we are looking at defensive lineman Mason Graham, from Michigan. Mason Graham DTMichigan Wolverines Junior4-star recruit 6’3”320 lbs Photo by Joe Robbins/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images History Mason Graham played on the defensive line and at offensive tackle at his high school, Servite High School. Another huge feather in his cap is the fact he was also the school’s star wrestler on the wrestling team. In 2021, Graham officially committed to Michigan as a four-star recruit. In his freshman year, Graham was thrown in the deep end and played in every game that year on Michigan’s schedule. He played a total of 303 defensive snaps and totaled 13 pressures, three sacks and 27 tackles. In 2023, Graham improved dramatically and caught the eye of a lot of scouts. He was instrumental in helping Michigan win the National Championship where he delivered four tackles and five pressures. During the rest of the 2023 season, Graham registered 442 snaps (328 of those snaps at the three-tech position). He made 33 tackles, 29 pressures, eight tackles for loss and four sacks. Last season, Graham had his best season and improved even more. He played a total of 548 defensive snaps and was one of the best run defenders on the team while still maintaining a high level of pass rush production. He had 45 total tackles and seven tackles for loss. As a pass rusher he totaled 34 total pressures and had 3.5 sacks. 2024 Statistics 548 Defensive snaps45 Total Tackles7 Tackles For Loss34 Pressures3.5 Sacks1 Pass Breakup1 Penalty NFL Combine/Pro Day TBC Awards All-America (2024)First-team All-Big Ten (2024)First-team All-Big Ten (2023) Scorecard Overall- 92.3Speed- 73Acceleration- 95Agility- 93Strength- 86Tackling- 78Pass Rush- 90Run Defense- 90Discipline- 97 THE GOOD Graham has an insanely hot motor. The first thing you notice from snap to snap is his relentless play. Extremely athletic for the position. His acceleration and burst off the line is elite. A very savvy hand fighter with fantastic hand strength. Due to his wrestling days he’s able to slip and pass by blocks with clever use of hands or to out leverage lineman if they try to hold him up. Good speed-to-power skills. He diagnoses the play quickly and knows when to hold his gap or half-man his blocker to locate the rusher. Times himself well when two-gapping and blocking the hole. TAPE TIME DT Mason Graham Michigan ✅ THE GOOD✅#scouting #NFLDraft #MichiganFootball #DallasCowboys pic.twitter.com/NTywkmOIRc — Mike Poland (@kenfigkowboy) January 15, 2025 THE BAD Size is a huge concern. Graham measures up better as a five-tech than he does playing the nose or A-gaps. Coaches in the NFL may look to restructure his play which will take him time to develop. He will fail to disengage from blocks wanting to purely go straight at the offensive linemen and never back down. More of a “guy in the way” at times rather than leading the charge. He’s all too often wanting rip or spin (his spin move is elite however) and that leads to him being easy to predict. Arm length is his biggest weakness. TAPE TIME DT Mason Graham Michigan ❌THE BAD❌#scouting #NFLDraft #MichiganFootball #DallasCowboys pic.twitter.com/jfiaQqyhvS — Mike Poland (@kenfigkowboy) January 15, 2025 THE FIT Graham is very enticing and all his issues are extremely fixable and can be resolved quickly thanks to Graham’s high IQ. His size is somewhat a concern but on the right defense that will look to employ a slanting defensive line or rotated often, Graham can easily be a success in the NFL. His general defensive techniques need very little coaching and his tackling skills are right where they need to be at this stage. His scolding hot motor makes for him to be an early key defender in the NFL and his understanding of balance and getting linemen off-balance is a fantastic trait to watch on tape. His technique, speed and power all make for an ideal candidate at this stage to go very early in the 2025 NFL Draft. COMPARISON Sharrif Floyd, Minnesota Vikings BTB GRADE Top-15 prospect CONSENSUS RANKING 4th(Consensus ranking based on the average ranking from 90 major scoring services)
Cowboys’ 2025 free agent profile: DE Chauncey Golston
Photo by Sam Hodde/Getty Images Chauncey Golston had an amazing season for the Cowboys. The Dallas Cowboys have a long list of free agents who will officially hit the open market in a little over two months. Of those, six or seven were significant contributors in 2024, meaning the Cowboys have some difficult decisions ahead of them in the next two months. We continue our free agent profile series by taking a look at a player coming off a career-year, defensive end Chauncey Golston. Photo by Cooper Neill/Getty Images 2024 Regular Season Stats: 17G, 37 Total Pressures, 36 Tackles, 30 Defensive Stops, 28 QB Hurries, 7.0 Sacks, 2 QB Hits Year Review: After losing both Dorance Armstrong and Dante Fowler Jr. in free agency, there was plenty of pressure on Cowboys’ defensive end Chauncey Golston to perform in 2024. The pressure only got more significant at the start of training camp when edge rusher Sam Williams went down with a season-ending injury, leaving Dallas’ pass-rush group very thin. Golston did not do much through the first four games of the 2024 regular season, but things took a turn after that. During Dallas’ Week 4 matchup against the New York Giants, Micah Parsons and DeMarcus Lawrence suffered serious injuries. With both out for the foreseeable future, Golston was thrust into the starting lineup as a full-time defensive end. For the first time in his Cowboys’ career, Golston was able to stick to one spot on the defensive line and not constantly move inside and out. This worked to the 26-year-old’s advantage, as he put together his best season as a pro. Golston finished the regular season with a career-high seven sacks, tied for the second-most on the Cowboys’ defense. He also recorded two or more pressures in nine of Dallas’ final 13 regular season games, recording five in a single game three times. Golston stepped up when Dallas desperately needed him to and showed some pass-rush ability we had not seen from him during his first three years in the league. The former third-round selection picked an excellent time for a career year as he heads into free agency looking like a capable pass-rusher who could help many teams. Free Agency Outlook: Golston’s performance in 2024 will likely have a significant impact on his free agent market. Teams are always looking to upgrade their pass rush, and in a free-agent class with few capable pass-rushers, Golston may be a hot commodity. The 26-year-old posted comparable numbers to what former Cowboy Dorance Armstrong did before he signed a three-year, $33M contract with the Washington Commanders last offseason. Despite the similarity in contract-year performance, Golston likely won’t come close to what Armstrong got in free agency, simply because Armstrong had multiple years of consistently solid performance on his résumé, while Golston has just one. Still, there is a good chance Golston will secure a multi-year deal on the open market. One player whose contract may resemble the type of deal Golston will receive is Bills’ defensive end A.J. Epenesa. Coming off a 6.5 sack season, the former Iowa Hawkeye signed a two-year, $12M contract to stay with the Bills last March. Golston may have a slightly smaller AAV than Epenesea, but a two-year deal worth anywhere from $4-6M seems within reach. Cowboys Verdict: While Golston was one of Dallas’ biggest overachievers last season, retaining him likely won’t be high on the Cowboys’ priority list this offseason. Dallas has so many other significant defensive players set to hit free agency they likely won’t want Golston back unless he’s willing to take an extremely team-friendly deal. Likely, the only way Golston is back in Dallas next season is if he is willing to sign a deal similar to the one Dante Fowler Jr. signed with Dallas back in the 2023 offseason (one-year, $3M). If Golston is looking to secure a multi-year deal, which he likely will be, there’s a good chance it won’t come from Dallas. It’s unfortunate that the Cowboys only got to use Golston as a full-time pass-rusher in his walk year, but it’s more likely than not they showcased him for his next team, and his time in Dallas has come to an end. Prediction: Chauncey Golston signs a two-year, $12M deal with the Cincinnati Bengals
Dallas Cowboys defensive depth chart heading into the 2025 offseason
Photo by Mitchell Leff/Getty Images The Cowboys defense could stand to upgrade several positions during the offseason. It’s no secret the Dallas Cowboys have a lot of work to do coming off of one of the most disappointing seasons in recent memory. But before they can set their sights on free agency and the 2025 NFL Draft, they have to have a good understanding about their roster “needs” and how best to try to address them. With that in mind, we thought we would take a look at the Cowboys current depth chart on the defensive side of the ball to help determine which positions are the most concerning right now prior to free agency and the draft and which ones could possibly be okay heading into next season. The depth chart does not list players who will be free agents in March. Defensive end Micah Parsons, Marshawn Kneeland, Sam Williams, Tyrus Wheat As things stand right now Micah Parsons and Marshawn Kneeland are the Cowboys projected starters at defensive end for next year. Other than No. 11, the concerns about who starts opposite him and the depth overall at DE is something the Cowboys need to address in the offseason, possibly both via free agency and the 2025 NFL Draft. Upgrading and adding much-needed depth to this position could sit atop the priority list for the Cowboys. Defensive tackle Mazi Smith If defensive end isn’t the top priority for the Dallas Cowboys heading into the offseason, defensive tackle might just be. Entering his third season with the Cowboys, Mazi Smith hasn’t played up to his first-round billing. The Cowboys brass hasn’t been successful in upgrading and adding depth the DT position in quite some time. Maybe this year will be different and we see them finally see some success in adding to the position. Linebacker DeMarvion Overshown, Marist Liufau, Damone Clark, Buddy Johnson Not to sound like a broken record here, but the current depth at linebacker is another significant concern for the Cowboys defense this offseason. There’s no way of knowing right now if DeMarvion Overshown will be able to play next year after sustaining another season-ending knee injury. Even if he does, this is another position on the defensive side of the ball the Cowboys need to address via free agency and the 2025 NFL Draft. Cornerback Trevon Diggs, DaRon Bland, Caelen Carson, Josh Butler Trevon Diggs’ timeline to return from his season-ending knee injury is up in the air right now, which seriously depletes Dallas’ starting options at cornerback for next season. Not only that, but DaRon Bland will be entering the final year of his rookie contract and missed nearly half the season last year with a foot injury. Because of all that, look for the CB position to sit atop the priority list the Cowboys to upgrade this offseason as well. Safety Malik Hooker, Donovan Wilson, Markquese Bell (RFA), Jaunyeh Thomas (ERFA) The Cowboys could potentially consider making both Malik Hooker and Donovan Wilson salary-cap casualties, but that would deplete the depth at safety even more than it already is. That’s especially true considering Markquese Bell is a restricted free agent and Jaunyeh Thomas is an exclusive rights free agent this offseason. With so many other “needs” on the defensive side of the ball, Dallas may have no choice to let things lie at safety.
Report: Dallas Cowboys expected to interview Ben Johnson and Aaron Glenn
Kara Durrette/Getty Images The Cowboys’ coaching search will reportedly last for a month. Friday marks the fourth full day of the Dallas Cowboys coaching search as they officially parted ways with Mike McCarthy on Monday. If you are curious, it took about a week last time they were looking for a head coach for them to ultimately land on McCarthy himself. According to recent reports it appears that this will not be the case this time around. Calvin Watkins of The Dallas Morning News recently reported that this thing is going to last until mid-February. “The Cowboys will take this into probably mid-February before they make a final decision.” Watkins said this after noting that Detroit Lions coordinators Ben Johnson and Aaron Glenn are each expected to interview for the job at some point. It is likely that variable that will serve as the main reason why Dallas has to wait so long to make a decision. As members of the still-in-the-playoffs Lions, neither Johnson nor Glenn are candidates who the Cowboys can even speak with until their seasons end. This is the case because, as we detailed the day that Dallas and McCarthy parted ways, the Cowboys did not virtually interview either of them in the week between the regular season’s end and the Wild Card Round’s conclusion. Per the NFL’s rules, teams who have a bye in the first round, as Detroit did, can have their staffers do virtual interviews then and then alone. Once the Wild Card Round concludes things are off limits. Technically speaking this isn’t entirely true as the candidates in question can also chat with teams between January 27th and February 2nd; however, this only applies to teams who conducted virtual interviews in the window previously discussed which obviously does not apply to the Cowboys. TL;DR…. the Cowboys cannot talk to Johnson or Glenn until Detroit is done, whenever that is (this is also true of Kansas City Chiefs staffers if that is not obvious). Given that the Super Bowl is on February 9th and that the Lions stand a good chance of playing in it, the Cowboys could not speak to either of these two until then which makes the mid-February date thrown out by Watkins make sense. Obviously between now and then Dallas can talk to a variety of other candidates and it goes without saying that if the Lions lose before the Super Bowl that things could get expedited. But it would be troublesome for the Cowboys to wait that long on some level. Consider that the Senior Bowl is on February 1st, the weekend before the Super Bowl. The NFL Combine is not until March 3rd so that is not as pressing as it may feel, but the overall point is that some very important time relative to the overall synergy of the coaching staff and scouting department could/would be lost by the Cowboys do wait this long. You can certainly argue that it may be worth that to wind up with one of the two, though. Consider the dates when previous seasons ended that were followed by the hiring of new head coaches and the dates on which the hirings were announced: Mike McCarthy: 2019 season ends on December 29th – McCarthy announced on January 7th Jason Garrett: 2010 season ends on January 2nd – Garrett announced on January 6th Wade Phillips: Bill Parcells announces he is leaving on January 22nd, 2007 – Phillips announced on February 8th This feels like a large enough sample size as it covers about 20 years and the last three coaching decisions that the organization made. Obviously the shortest time taken by the team to name a coach was Garrett but as he was coming off of serving as the interim the writing was very clearly on the wall (as it had been from the day he signed on as OC in 2007). The Cowboys took a bit of time between Bill Parcells walking away and fully deciding on Wade Phillips. It was then that the organization last went through a thorough search as Mike McCarthy was one of only two candidates (Marvin Lewis) who Dallas interviewed in early 2020. Mac Engel was kind enough recently to document all of the people who Dallas interviewed after Parcells left: Jerry interviewed the following candidates: Bears defensive coordinator Ron Rivera; Indianapolis Colts assistant head coach/quarterbacks coach Jim Caldwell; Dolphins quarterbacks coach Jason Garrett; San Francisco 49ers offensive coordinator Norv Turner; former 49ers head coach Mike Singletary; Chargers defensive coordinator Wade Phillips; New Orleans Saints defensive coordinator Gary Gibbs; as well as members of Parcells’ staff that included receivers coach Todd Haley, offensive line coach Tony Sparano, secondary coach Todd Bowles.(Eight of those men would he an NFL head coach either again, or for the first time. Bowles is currently the head coach in Tampa.) Unlike Ben Johnson or Aaron Glenn, Wade Phillips was not a candidate who Dallas had to wait to talk to. The process simply took that time. But back to Johnson and Glenn for a moment, what if the Cowboys wait to talk to them and then they ultimately say no? Or choose another team? Waiting that long and compromising the Senior Bowl and whatever else (to whatever you degree you feel that this is the case) is a risky proposition given that you are not guaranteed either one of those candidates whenever you finally do get the chance to speak with them. It all feels built on a loose foundation and like the Cowboys are trying to figure it out as they go along. Consider that this whole ordeal is one that the team reportedly did not even plan on being their current reality and that they now have to navigate it. Surely they will figure out a way to do so… right?
Report: Next RB coach in Dallas could be one of these 2 former Cowboys
Report: Next RB coach in Dallas could be one of these 2 former Cowboys Todd Brock The Cowboys will dive head-first into their head coaching search in earnest this weekend as Kellen Moore, Robert Saleh, and Leslie Frazier are set to officially interview over the next few days. Of course, that will do little to quell the rumors about top coordinators whose teams are still in the postseason- like Aaron Glenn and Ben Johnson- or other notable celebrities like Deion Sanders, Bill Belichick, and even Jason Witten. But there’s going to be a shakeup involving much, if not most, of the rest of the Cowboys coaching staff, too. And that means the Joneses are weighing candidates for much more than just the top job. New potential coordinators and position coaches are likely going to be coming through the doors of The Star in short order. And it sounds as if a few of them will be, just like several of the head coaching prospects, familiar faces within Cowboys Nation. Nick Harris of the Fort Worth Star-Telegram has revealed that two former Cowboys stars could be vying for the same role on the new staff. Tashard Choice and DeMarco Murray are said to be under consideration for the role of running backs coach, Harris said during an appearance on The Zach Gelb Show. Both were successful ballcarriers for the team in the Wade Phillips/Jason Garrett era. Choice is currently the running backs coach at Texas, a job he’s held since 2022. He served the same role at Georgia Tech and North Texas prior to that. GLENDALE, AZ – DECEMBER 25: Runningback Tashard Choice #23 of the Dallas Cowboys rushes the football against the Arizona Cardinals during the NFL game at the University of Phoenix Stadium on December 25, 2010 in Glendale, Arizona. The Cardinals defeated the Cowboys 27-26. (Photo by Christian Petersen/Getty Images) A fourth-round draft pick by Dallas in 2008, Choice played for the team for three-plus seasons, but he was largely overshadowed by Marion Barber III and Felix Jones for most of his tenure. He compiled 1,139 rushing yards and averaged 4.6 yards per carry wearing the star. He went on to play for Washington, Buffalo, and Indianapolis before wrapping up his playing career in 2013. By 2016, he was back in Dallas, on the staff as an intern to begin his coaching journey. With the Longhorns, Choice was instrumental in helping to develop Bijan Robinson into a Doak Walker Award winner and a top-ten draft pick. Murray’s arrival and rapid rise in 2011 as a third-round pick, ironically, was the spark that sent Choice packing out of Dallas. The 6-foot-1-inch back started his rookie season as the Cowboys’ third-stringer but finished as the team’s top rusher, a title he would keep for four straight years. He holds the franchise’s single-season record for rushing yards with the league-leading 1,845-yard effort he put up in 2014. Murray also earned an All-Pro nod and was the NFL’s Offensive Player of the Year during that sensational 12-4 season. Nov 28, 2013; Arlington, TX, USA; Dallas Cowboys running back DeMarco Murray (29) carries the ball against the Oakland Raiders during a NFL football game on Thanksgiving at AT&T Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports Murray made the Pro Bowl two out of his four seasons in Dallas before entering the free agent pool in 2015. He played one lackluster year in Philadelphia but then landed in Tennessee, where he returned to Pro Bowl form in 2016 with another 1,000-yard season. He retired from playing after the 2017 season. Murray is in the NFL’s top 75 in all-time rushing yards and remains the Cowboys’ No. 7 all-time leading rusher. Like Choice, Murray returned to the college ranks to coach running backs; he spent 2019 in Arizona and has been with his alma mater of Oklahoma since 2020. [affiliatewidget_smgtolocal] Jerry Jones loves to bring popular former players back to the Cowboys, as he’s shown repeatedly over the years. It’s not inconceivable that Moore (or maybe even Sanders) ends up as the team’s head coach in 2025, and Harris confirms that “it is a widespread expectation that [Witten] is going to be on staff in some capacity.” Now it appears that either Choice or Murray could be back on the Cowboys payroll as well.
The 2025 running back class is loaded with options for the Cowboys
Photo by Jamie Squire/Getty Images Which running back do you want the Cowboys to draft this year? We are just over four months away from the 2025 NFL Draft. With the Dallas Cowboys owning the 12th overall pick, there have been plenty of discussions around the Cowboys spending their first-round pick on Boise State RB Ashton Jeanty. While Jeanty is one of the most talented players in the 2025 draft class, the running back group is one of the deepest as well. With so many holes on both sides of the ball, the Cowboys are in prime position to bolster their wide receiver room, offensive line, or pass rush with three picks in the top 100. There is no denying that wide receiver, offensive line, and defensive end are more valuable positions than running back, and the Cowboys would be wise to use their premium pick on one of those positions, given how deep this running back class is. Here is a list of the top 15 running backs in the 2025 NFL Draft and where they are ranked according to Pro Football Focus’ draft board as of today: 1. Ashton Jeanty, 5th overall 2. Omarion Hampton, 24th overall 3. Cam Skattebo, 48th overall 4. Dylan Sampson, 53rd overall 5. Kaleb Johnson, 59th overall 6. TreVeyon Henderson, 76th overall 7. Devin Neal, 85th overall 8. Quinshon Judkins, 87th overall 9. RJ Harvey, 94th overall 10. DJ Giddens, 99th overall 11. Kaytron Allen, 108th overall 12. Jarquez Hunter, 112th overall 13. Nichols Singleton, 113th overall 14. Kalel Mullings, 116th overall 15. Damien Martinez, 120th overall The Cowboys are coming off a season where Rico Dowdle posted the seventh-highest success rate in the NFL after splitting carries with Ezekiel Elliott over the first part of the season. With Dowdle hitting free agency and likely to receive outside interest, Dallas could be looking to replace Dowdle, but even if Dowdle is brought back, they will need to add another back with some much needed “juice” to the roster. The Cowboys currently hold three picks inside the top 100 and are without a fourth-round pick due to the Jonathan Mingo trade. For as deep as the running back class is, the wide receiver, offensive line, edge rusher, and defensive tackle class lacks depth outside of the top 75. With that being the case, Dallas would be wise to use that 12th overall pick on one of the more blue-chip positions and wait to add a runner on day two. There is an exception to every rule, and in this case if Jeanty is far-and-away the best player available when the Cowboys are on the clock at 12, he should be the pick. But the Cowboys should not make the same mistake they made in 2016 and take a running back over similarly-graded players at more premium positions (Jalen Ramsey and Joey Bosa).
Cowboys news: Troy Aikman will ‘never bet against’ Deion Sanders
Photo by Cindy Ord/Getty Images for SiriusXM Noteworthy headlines surrounding the Dallas Cowboys heading into the weekend. Troy Aikman will ‘never bet against’ Deion Sanders, but would he fit as new Cowboys HC? – SportsDay Staff, Dallas Morning News Troy Aikman weighed in on the idea of Deion Sanders returning to Dallas to replace Mike McCarthy as head coach. You know Deion Sanders very well. His name was the first to come up for this opening. Nobody’s sure if he’s a serious candidate, but with Jerry Jones and Deion, they will surprise you every once in a while. Do you think he would be a fit here? Aikman: “Well, I wouldn’t bet against him. I absolutely would never bet against Deion. I’ve just seen it too many times. … He’s proven that he’s earned the opportunity. So if he lands the job in Dallas, if that ultimately is what happens, or if he goes somewhere else within the NFL or even in the college ranks, I mean, he’s earned that opportunity. “I don’t know if I’d look at anyone and say it’s necessarily a great fit. I just think there’s a lot of hurdles. And so it may not be a great fit for anyone, but if Deion were to come on board, I think he’d be fantastic. I think you would relate exceptionally well to the locker room. It’s amazing that for someone who’s as far removed from having played the reverence that these current players have for his career and what he was as a player. It’s pretty remarkable, and it says a lot for him. So I think he’d be fantastic no matter where he is. And as you guys have heard me say, I’m a big fan, and I would never bet against him.” Dallas Cowboys should reach out to top coaching candidate in playoffs – Ali Jawad, Sports Illustrated Ben Johnson should be at the top of the list of potential candidates for the vacant head coaching position for the Cowboys. As the Cowboys search for a replacement for Mike McCarthy, NFL Insider James Palmer suggests that Ben Johnson, the offensive coordinator for the Detroit Lions, consider the opportunity to become the head coach of the Cowboys if Dallas shows interest. “If I am Ben Johnson, I do want to evaluate this position certainly,” Palmer said. “You are now with Mike Vrabel off the market the clear-cut number one favorite in this head coaching cycle. If Ben Johnson takes an interview, he is interested.” Johnson’s offense, finished the 2024 season ranked second in total yards (409.5), first in touchdowns (70) — the only team to achieve that mark — second in passing yards (263.2), sixth in rushing yards (146.4), and first in scoring (33.2 points per game). The Cowboys are familiar with the offensive strategies of the 38-year-old coach. In Week Six, they faced a crushing defeat against the Lions, losing 47-9. In that game, Johnson’s offense totaled 492 total yards, including 184 rushing yards, achieved 27 first downs, and averaged 7.5 yards per play. What’s Next? Backup TE role is heating up in Dallas – Patrik Walker, DallasCowboys.com In 2024, the TE’s on this Cowboys roster did not meet expectations, so what will that room look like in 2025? Present: It wasn’t a fantastic showing for Ferguson in 2024, though. His battle with injuries (knee, concussion) cost him both time and chemistry with Cooper Rush once Dak Prescott was lost to the season, and it was evident on a weekly basis that his usually telepathic connection with Prescott was not present with Rush. He remains the definitive TE1 going into 2025, however, so make no bones about that; and it’ll be a contract year as well, adding to his already high level of motivation to have a bounceback season. Behind him lies a battle that has gone from an afterthought to, now, anything but. Future: Luke Schoonmaker has drawn plenty of ire from Cowboys’ fans still upset the team used a second-round pick to acquire him after having seen what Jake Ferguson could do, but the presence of Schoonmaker and the 2024 acquisition of Brevyn Spann-Ford have the latter two locked in one hell of a battle that was fun to watch during the back half of this past season. That will be one of the key battles to watch going into training camp, and one I’d love to see John Stephens Jr. get back into the mix of but, having now torn both of his ACLs in his first two seasons, it’ll be more about staying healthy and then trying to make waves at the position . Lastly, don’t forget about Princeton Fant, seeing as he put a lot of good on film, especially as an in-line blocker and special teamer. Mailbag: Why hasn’t Vaughn been used more? – Kurt Daniels and Tommy Yarrish, DallasCowboys.com The writers at The Star in Frisco weigh in on the use of Deuce Vaughn in 2024, or lack thereof. Kurt: We get this question a lot about Vaughn as his compelling backstory and everyman-type odds in a game among giants has made him a bit of a fan favorite. Throw in his determined work ethic and great personality, and it’s hard not to root for him. Vaughn often gets compared to Sproles, given their size and that both starred at Kansas State, but Sproles was slightly bigger (5-6/190 to 5-5/180) and reportedly had a faster 40-time (4.46 to 4.56). Sproles also had more than 1,000 career rushing yards than Vaughn in 10 additional games with the Wildcats (4,979 to 3,604). In addition, during his NFL career, Sproles would earn three Pro Bowl nods and be named to the All-Decade Team of the 2010s as a punt returner. Regardless, Vaughn just hasn’t been able to work his way up the Cowboys’ depth chart. The team’s ground game really didn’t get going in 2024 until they turned to Rico Dowdle full time, who, by the way, posted a
Cowboys Headlines: Moore of the same? Deion fights for dollars at CU, Dallas drafts offensive weapons in Dane Brugler mock
Report: Cowboys to interview Kellen Moore virtually on Friday :: Cowboys Wire Link The Cowboys are set to get reacquainted with their former backup quarterback/QB coach/offensive coordinator in a virtual interview on Friday. Once thought to be in the process of being groomed for the head coach’s office, he’ll now get the chance to show that a year spent in Los Angeles and another in Philadelphia have prepared him for a return to Dallas and that exact promotion. As Cowboys request interview with Kellen Moore, you’ll want to understand Jerry Jones’ past with Sean Payton :: Yahoo Sports Link Sean Payton was always one of the ones that got away, in 2006, for Jerry Jones. It may help explain why Jason Garrett stayed so long and even why Jones went above and beyond to hold onto Dan Quinn. And it may give Moore the edge in talks with the team now. Execs who have interviewed Moore call him “super impressive” and almost universally believe “he’s going to be a head coach some day.” Jones may not want to let that day come with some other club. Is Kellen Moore a viable candidate for Cowboys head coach, or is he just familiar? :: Dallas Morning News Link Some fans would see a Moore tenure as a return to stability and familiarity; others view the very possibility as just more vanilla-flavored mediocrity. He’s creative and collaborative, but he’s also a mild personality and should come relatively cheap. But whether any of that makes him the frontrunner this time around is anybody’s guess. Cowboys to interview former Vikings head coach with lengthy NFL resume :: Cowboys Wire Link Leslie Frazier won a Super Bowl ring as a member of the Bears’ legendary 1985 defense. He won another as an assistant in Indianapolis, part of a long coaching career that saw him in the top job in Minnesota for three-plus seasons. Frazier has not been a head coach since 2013, but he’s been active on the interview circuit for years and comes with a wealth of experience at numerous stops. Saleh to interview in Arlington on Saturday after speaking with Raiders :: Josina Anderson Coach Prime, Colorado at odds over ‘additional money’ amid NFL interest? :: SI.com Link Reports out of Boulder suggest that Sanders approached the school’s athletic director for more money “for NIL and his staff,” but Coach Prime was “met with some resistance.” It’s already said Sanders would “almost certainly” take the Cowboys job if it were offered to him, suggesting the conversation with Jerry Jones wasn’t just about creating leverage in his current gig. Colorado closing its purse strings may make him even more willing to make a move. Jason Witten declines comment on Cowboys’ head coaching opening :: ProFootballTalk Link Witten declined comment this week when asked about his name being in the mix for the Cowboys’ head coaching job, but he did acknowledge the “intrigue” of the situation. Rumors persist that the former tight end is being eyed for an unspecified role on the coaching staff, even if it’s not the top spot. Former Patriots player says Dallas Cowboys job would be enticing for ex-NFL coach Bill Belichick :: Fort Worth Star-Telegram Link Belichick apparently has yet to actually sign his UNC contract, so former Patriot Rob Ninkovich says, “I’m never going to say never” when it comes to the notion of the storied coach taking the reins in Dallas. “It’s the Dallas Cowboys, they’re America’s team, the history,” said Ninkovich. “You have a receiver, you’ve got a crazy pass rusher, and you have the ability to come in and potentially just use your knowledge to maximize the potential of the team. Of all the teams, I think Dallas would be the most interesting and enticing team to go to.” Here’s 5 ways the Cowboys already screwed up their head coaching search :: Cowboys Wire Link Jerry Jones loves the drama, but he also has a habit of making a mess with them. He clearly kept Mike McCarthy a year too long… but then he didn’t extend him either, leaving him a lame duck all season long. Then he waited too long- for no reason- to finally let the axe fall. Reaching out to Deion Sanders and letting Jason Witten’s name surface has only muddied the waters… all in the name of capturing headlines. All of it makes the Cowboys look like a very unserious franchise. In a Jerry Jones driven split from the Cowboys, Mike McCarthy came out as the winner :: Yahoo Sports Link Despite the flaws that made him expendable in Dallas, McCarthy’s stock seems to have actually risen around the rest of the league for his tumultuous time spent with the Cowboys. He went in as a recycled head coaching hire who was almost universally panned in 2020, then got the team back onto a winning track that made a Super Bowl window at least attainable, even if it was never seized upon in his tenure. Now he departs Dallas as a genuinely coveted high-end asset on the head coaching market. He’s now more Jimmy Johnson than Jason Garrett, and that may be McCarthy’s biggest win of all. Bears reportedly rolled out the red carpet for Mike McCarthy :: SI.com Link The Bears apparently used “private accommodations” to fly McCarthy to town on Wednesday, a detail described as a “departure from previous team protocol.” Another report stated that things went so well that McCarthy stayed the night in Chicago “and then went home earlier” Thursday. Former Cowboys coach drops his own credentials during latest hiring cycle :: Wade Phillips What’s Next? Backup TE role is heating up in Dallas :: The Mothership Link Jake Ferguson seems to have locked down the starting spot at tight end (despite a down year in 2024). Luke Schoonmaker stepped up his involvement in Year Two, but that may be because John Stephens Jr. was unable to stay healthy. He could push for playing time, but Brevyn Spann-Ford
Here’s 5 ways the Cowboys already screwed up their head coaching search
Mike McCarthy’s time with the Dallas Cowboys has officially ended, and no matter who’s to blame in the mutual parting of ways, the search is on for a new head coach. With a normal organization that’s serious about winning, this would include exploring every option and bringing in the best candidates. However, based on the names currently being tossed around, Jerry Jones isn’t likely to do that, he’d rather look into coaches he’s comfortable hiring. We’re only a few days into the search and the Cowboys have already screwed up the process of hiring a new coach. This isn’t surprising, the Cowboys have gotten notoriously cheap with their coaches, and Jones’ need to be involved in everything can limit the impact of a possible hire. Former Cowboys quarterback Troy Aikman might have been right when he explained that being head coach for America’s Team might not be a coveted job in the NFL these days. Comfortable and cheap isn’t the ideal way to find the best coach, but it seems to be the sweet spot for Jones. Here are five ways the Cowboys have made a mess of their coaching search. Keeping Mike McCarthy beyond expiration date Kevin Jairaj-USA TODAY Sports This failure of the Cowboys to find the right coach didn’t begin with a 7-10 season led by McCarthy, it started last January when the Green Bay Packers dominated the Cowboys in the playoffs. Instead of holding the coach responsible for another early playoff exit, Jones decided to keep McCarthy when most football people likely would’ve fired him. There were reasons for keeping McCarthy. Winning 12 games three years in a row, winning two NFC East titles, and making the postseason every time you’ve had a healthy quarterback makes a valid case for sticking with the coach. However, the team struggled to beat good teams and never got out of the divisional round of the playoffs. A 1-3 playoff record where all three losses were in an embarrassing fashion should have been enough to look for another coaching option. The object shouldn’t be to make the playoffs, it should be to win the Super Bowl and it was evident McCarthy wasn’t capable of that in January of 2024. Not extending McCarthy Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports Not only did Jones keep McCarthy around, but he failed to extend the coach, making him a lame duck heading into the last year of his contract. McCarthy and many of the coaching staff assembled were on one-year deals, which is not ideal. Also, with Jerry and Stephen Jones knowing they were likely going to sit out of free agency last offseason, they made McCarthy one of the fall guys if a disappointing 2024 campaign should occur, which ultimately happened. The team could’ve been one year ahead of their soft rebuild with their coach in place instead of being behind the curve. Again, not ideal for an 82-year-old owner who doesn’t have the time to be patient. Not extending McCarthy also sends a bad message to potential candidates that Jones has now let three straight coaches reach the end of their deals. It happened to Jason Garrett twice, although he got a new deal coming off the 2014 season, and now McCarthy. If the organization isn’t willing to commit to its coach, why would any potential hire want to work for Jones? Waiting a week to let McCarthy walk away Nissan Stadium in Nashville, Tenn., Sunday, Dec. 24, 2023. In doing the will-he-or-won’t-he-be-back dance with McCarthy for a week, the Cowboys missed out on a week’s worth of interviews they could have been doing with some of the top candidates. The Detroit Lions coaches in particular, should have been of interest, but now they Cowboys will have to wait until the Lions are out of the playoffs to interview them if they want to hire offensive coordinator Ben Johnson or defensive coordinator Aaron Glenn. By waiting, both have interviewed for other jobs and the Cowboys are behind in pursuit. There are other candidates that have already spoken to other teams or taken other jobs as well. Mike Vrabel was hired by the New England Patriots, or he might have been a strong option in Dallas, and the same can be said for Bill Belichick, who took a college coaching job a few weeks ago. Had the Cowboys moved quicker in agreeing to move on without McCarthy, or indicated to Belichick that he was an option, they wouldn’t be searching for a worse candidate right now. Granted these are assumptions based on publicly available info, but those conversations should have been ongoing towards the end of the season, and it should have been known right away whether the team and McCarthy could still work together. A week was wasted, valuable time when considering the college bowls and scouting process is about to kick into high gear without much direction from a coaching staff. Reaching out to Deion Sanders Jackson State University head coach Deion Sanders during a Sept. 5 game. With a bevy of names the Cowboys could hire floating around immediately after McCarthy and the team parted ways, the first name to be tied to the job was Hall of Fame cornerback Deion Sanders. The former Cowboy has enjoyed a good run as a head coach at Jackson State and Colorado in college football, but he’s not a fit for the NFL. In college, Sanders can choose his own players and is more of a motivator than an X’s and O’s coach. He wouldn’t be able to recruit players and use the portal to get guys to come to his team in the NFL. And as good of a job as Sanders does at building hype, he’s got just a 13-12 record since arriving at the FBS level. When Jones hired college coaches in previous situations, those hires arrived with national titles in hand. Jimmy Johnson and Barry Switzer were elite college coaches with much better resumes than Sanders. He would be perfect
NFL insider: Kellen Moore considered ‘a top target’ for Dallas Cowboys coaching job
Photo by Brooke Sutton/Getty Images Kellen Moore is reportedly a top target for the Dallas Cowboys coaching job. Who would have ever thought that the quarterback Scott Linehan brought to the Dallas Cowboys from their time together with the Detroit Lions could one day run the show? To be clear nothing is official yet, and nothing is even reportedly close to being official, but we are starting to see some serious smoke around the idea of Kellen Moore being named the next head coach of the Dallas Cowboys. Thursday marked the third full day in which the Cowboys’ job was posted on Indeed.com (imagine!) and it was a significant one as Dallas formally put in an official request to interview Philadelphia Eagles offensive coordinator Kellen Moore. Moore’s history with the Cowboys is incredibly well-known. A decade (basically) ago Linehan brought him in, he hung out at the bottom of the roster, he inherited the QB2 position in 2016 and after he broke his ankle in training camp in 2016 the first domino fell towards the Dak Prescott era. Another year and a half later Cooper Rush had beaten Moore out for the aforementioned QB2 job and thus began his career with a headset instead of a helmet, something that always felt like his destiny. Moore served as the Cowboys quarterbacks coach for a single season before taking over as offensive coordinator for four more. The team moved on after 2022 and he spent 2023 with the Los Angeles Chargers before winding up in Philly. He has interviewed for head coaching opportunities many times before, including the one that went to his current boss, Nick Sirianni, but it appears that the one he has with Dallas this weekend could wind up being the one. NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport spoke about Dallas placing an official request for Moore and noted that while Deion Sanders has generated a bulk of the headlines relative to the job, Moore should be considered at worst an equal favorite for the job. Maybe even more of one. From The Insiders on @NFLNetwork: The #Cowboys want to talk to #Eagles OC Kellen Moore and he’s considered to be a very strong candidate in Dallas. pic.twitter.com/u2fWc4Xykd — Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) January 17, 2025 “First of all, we’ve spent a lot of time on this show, and there’s been a couple of other shows that have mentioned this… the Deion Sanders component of Cowboys coaching search. And that has obviously generated a lot of the headlines and a lot of the focus.” “Kellen Moore should be at least in that conversation, probably more. This is someone who is considered to be a top candidate for the Dallas Cowboys. I’m not saying the top candidate. Just certainly someone to watch and discuss and consider moving forward.” “It’s not just that they know him as a, ‘okay well he’s been in the system there.’ He grew up in the franchise! He was a backup quarterback to Tony Romo and then got injured and then somebody named, oh what’s his name, oh Dak Prescott! Yes! Dak Prescott! Took over and the rest is history.” “Dak knows him well. They have a great relationship. So yes, they are going to interview him. That is going to be, I believe actually in the, within the next 48 hours.” “But it’s not like they really need to interview him. They’ve seen him up close. They know how he works. They know what kind of coordinator he would be. They believe they know what kind of head coach he is going to be if he gets the opportunity. This certainly is one to keep an eye on and it makes a lot of sense for all parties on this one.” It seems notable that Rapoport felt the need to clarify that Moore was at worst on an equal level with Sanders as far as chances for the job. You can see that Moore should be even given “probably more” deference which is really saying something. Perhaps the most interesting/worrisome thing is how Rapoport noted that the Cowboys don’t even really need to interview Moore. The point is fair and understood in that Dallas obviously knows him, but this sounds like something you say when a decision is already made. He has commanded inferior offenses since leaving. Mike McCarthy commanded an amazing one in the first year that he was gone. Those are fair things to ask questions about for the front office. Maybe they are. Perhaps this is all just talk. But whatever the case this seems like a significant thing to say and note relative to the Cowboys job.