Tim Heitman-Imagn Images Questions are going to linger at linebacker for a little bit. Last year was a tough season for the Dallas Cowboys. They were losing games, injuries were piling up, and it became very evident early in the season that this team wasn’t going anywhere. That’s not a common thing for this organization. The team experienced a similar ordeal in 2020, but outside of that, lost seasons have not really been a thing for the Cowboys. With all the bad things that went wrong last year, there might not have been a worse event than the DeMarvion Overshown injury. Yes, many players got hurt, and yes, one of them was a season-ending hamstring injury to the team’s franchise quarterback, Dak Prescott. But for many of the hurt players, we knew they would heal up and be ready to go next year. That’s not the case for Overshown. A third-round pick in 2023, Overshown has been a player the team has loved from the beginning. A celebrating war room on draft day served as a testament to what they felt they got. Sadly, his rookie season was taken away from him after he suffered a torn ACL in a preseason game. Last season, he returned, healthy as an ox, but fast as a gazelle. Overshown gave us a dose of his athleticism as he was all over the field. His length and great closing speed made him one of the defense’s top players. His playmaking ability made him worth the wait, but sadly, an injury struck again. In Week 14 against the Cincinnati Bengals, Overshown injured his knee again, but this time it was much worse. He tore his ACL, MCL, and PCL, bringing a dark cloud over the career of the team’s young defensive superstar. According to reports, Overshown’s rehab is progressing nicely, and there is some optimism that a mid-season return could happen. When he returns and what he’s able to do this soon are big mysteries, and it’s reasonable to lower our expectations for the upcoming season. When you look at the range of outcomes, the likelihood of him either missing the entire year or coming back late and having a limited impact seems rather large. Only time will tell. Overshown had a great debut season. Despite missing the last quarter of the season, he still finished second on the team with 90 tackles. He also finished tied for third with five sacks and had the team’s most spectacular defensive play when he tipped the ball to himself and returned an interception for a touchdown. Before his injury, he was a star in the making, but now there is this great uncertainty about what type of player he can be. This is something the Cowboys will need to figure out sooner rather than later. With little information likely to work with from the upcoming season, the team will have a big decision to make. They can extend him next offseason before he enters the final year of his rookie contract, or they can wait and see and take their chances in free agency. This is a decision that is a lot tougher than it sounds. The Cowboys have rolled the dice on some red flag injury risks before. Both Jaylon Smith and Terence Steele received contract extensions before the existing deals expired. Each situation was different, but in both cases, the team ultimately felt they were getting a good value on a player who was still trending upward. They guessed wrong with Smith and Steele remains a TBD who is off to a slow start. The team also believed Michael Gallup would return to his 1,000-yard ways after his knee injury, but alas, it was not to be. The team was left with an underperforming receiver who was expected to fill the void of Amari Cooper at a discounted price. The Overshown situation will be a huge dilemma for the Cowboys. In a perfect world, it would be nice to wait and out and see how well he does once he’s at full strength, and who is to say if that will even come while he’s still on his rookie deal. Suffice to say, if he returns to form in 2026, he’s going to elevate his market value. The agent of Agent 0 will do everything they can to preserve his financial well-being. The front office is often criticized for waiting too long to get deals done, but one could criticize them just as much for the times they try to be proactive. How they decide to handle this situation is something that will garner a lot of attention the closer we get to his contract being up, and this one has a good chance of being a real conundrum for the Cowboys.

Chris Jones-Imagn Images It stands to reason that the Cowboys will get some production from rookies this year. Gennaro Filice for NFL.com recently projected who he believes will make the 2025 NFL All-Rookie team, and guess what, a pair of Dallas Cowboys players made his cut, one on offense and one on defense. That’s right, a team that will be relying heavily on several of their young players, including this year’s 2025 draft class, may have drafted a couple of impacts starters. What’s more, both rookies play positions where they saw two of the longest tenured players move on this offseason. Have you guessed which Cowboys rookies where alluding to? If you guessed Tyler Booker and Donovan Ezeiruaku you are right. Booker is expected to step in and replace future Hall of Famer Zack Martin, and Ezeiruaku is expected to compete for the starting job to replace DeMarcus Lawrence. Here is what Gennaro Filice had to say about both Tyler Booker and Donovan Ezeiruaku. OG Tyler Booker, Alabama DRAFTED: Round 1, No. 12 overall A lot of people think Dallas overdrafted Booker at No. 12 overall. I disagree with that sentiment. And I could take this opportunity to remind everyone of this Cowboys regime’s sparkling track record when it comes to selecting offensive linemen in Round 1, or I could just point you to the hardest quote of the draft cycle. “Football is a child’s game,” Booker said on Bleacher Report’s draft reaction show. “So, people wake up being like, ‘Man, I can’t wait to play this football game today.’ They listen to their hype music, they take all the pre-workout, they get so excited to play football … until they come across Tyler Booker. And then when I’m going after you — quarter after quarter, play after play, series after series — and I start to see that love leave their eyes, that’s what makes me love the game.” Micah Parsons was on the Bleacher Report set that night, and he let out a scream just listening to his new teammate go FULL METAL. Being the first offensive guard off the board in the 2025 NFL Draft comes with high expectations. Those expectations may be a little higher considering who he’s replacing with the Cowboys. That is none other than the future Hall of Famer Martin, who decided to retire this offseason. Those are some big shoes to fill for Booker. Booker possesses the right mindset and talent to be a dominant player at his position from the get-go. He’ll likely be a plug-and-play starter from Day 1 and someone the Cowboys will be relying heavily on as both the run blocker and especially in pass protection with QB Dak Prescott coming back from a season-ending hamstring injury. It comes as no surprise Booker was projected to make the 2025 NFL All-Rookie team. The other Cowboys player who was projected to make the All-Rookie team may have a little more difficult path to success to make the cut. EDGE Donovan Ezeiruaku, Boston College Drafted: Round 2, No. 44 overall Like we just discussed with Abdul Carter, Ezeiruaku walks into an advantageous environment. Sharing the field with perennial Defensive Player of the Year candidate Micah Parsons, the rookie is set to receive favorable matchups — and he has the pass-rushing arsenal to take advantage of them. With pterodactyl length and hair-on-fire spirit, Ezeiruaku explodes off the snap with a quick first step, often allowing him to get the edge and bend to the quarterback. If the pure speed rush doesn’t work, no worries: The dude knows how to use his hands, and he has a full bag of tricks that range from a spin to a Euro step to a pretty wicked ghost move. So, why did he last until midway through the second round? Well, he’s on the lighter side, naturally raising concerns about how he’ll set the edge against NFL blockers. But the Boston College product is poised to rack up the kind of sexy stats that garner recognition, having finished last season at second in the FBS in sacks (16.5) and third in tackles for loss (20.5). Seeing Ezeiruaku getting projected to make the 2025 NFL All-Rookie team is a little more of a surprise than it was to see Booker make the list. Ezeiruaku was the sixth edge player drafted in the 2025 NFL Draft with Abdul Carter, Mykel Williams, Jalon Walker, Shemar Stewart, and James Pearce Jr. going off the board ahead of him. But, like we’ve all probably heard a million times before “it doesn’t matter where you get drafted”. Unlike Booker though, Ezeiruaku isn’t projected to be a plug-and-play starter opposite Micah Parsons right now. He will first have to win the starting job and will have to beat out some stiff competition to do just that. If he does win the starting gig he is on his way to making this projection much more attainable. All in all, the Cowboys organization, and all the fans around Cowboys Nation, would be absolutely thrilled if both Booker and Ezeiruaku end up making 2025 NFL All-Rookie team. If this comes to pass, that would mean the organization has a much better chance of getting back to playing winning football.

Tommy Gilligan-Imagn Images It is still wild that George Pickens is a Cowboy. Just like when the Dallas Cowboys traded for Amari Cooper, giving up a third-round pick for George Pickens has high upside for the offense. At the time of the Cooper trade, Dak Prescott desperately needed help at wide receiver after the team parted ways with Dez Bryant and went into the season with Allen Hurns, Deonte Thompson, and Tavon Austin. This time around, Pickens doesn’t have all the pressure on his shoulders walking in, with CeeDee Lamb established as the team’s top target and Jalen Tolbert entering his fourth year on the same offense. That opens up the door for Pickens to do what he does best. It’s no secret how good the fit is between Dallas and Pickens. So much so, it’s caught the attention of various figures across the league. ESPN published an article in which NFL executives and scouts gave their favorite moves of the offseason. The Cowboys’ trade-first approach this offseason, acquiring Joe Milton, Kaiir Elam, and Kenneth Murray, showed an aggressive side of the organization. Pickens, however, was the golden goose for an NFC coach and someone in the personnel department of an AFC team. “Dealing with CeeDee [Lamb] and him opens things up for them,” a coach in the division said. Added an AFC personnel man: “He’ll be a big piece there. When he’s covered, he’s really open. I know the concerns are there, but I think having an already established passing game with veterans to help him along, and the fact he’s in a contract year, will help keep him in line. If you can tap into what he can do fully, his major ability will shine through.” The one-two punch of Lamb and Pickens should (on paper) make the Dallas offense dangerous in the passing game, even with first-year head coach Brian Schottenheimer coming from his father’s tree of “Marty Ball.” Keeping options open and remaining versatile on offense seemed to be a focus when reconstructing the roster this offseason. Using a first-round pick on Tyler Booker and a gamble on Javonte Williams and Miles Sanders should keep things moving in the run game. Dallas’ inability to run the ball in the first part of last season limited their game plan to depend on Prescott connecting with Lamb. It’s safe to say it didn’t work out. Dak Prescott on George Pickens: “It’s a guy that loves football, loves his teammates, and he’s been excited every day that he’s been there. He’s been early, too, so no concerns on the personal matters of G.P. or anything about it. I’m just super excited that he’s on our team.” pic.twitter.com/69WSMfDZvV — Ed Werder (@WerderEdNFL) June 12, 2025 Now, if the running game struggles to find its footing in the first few weeks of the season, having Lamb and Pickens on the outside, along with Jake Ferguson, KaVontae Turpin, and Tolbert, should keep the offense moving until they figure out how to run the ball. So far, Pickens has been a model citizen in the Cowboys locker room, gaining the trust and respect of his quarterback and strengthening his existing connection with Lamb. The rest of the league should be aware of that, too.

We’re counting down to the season opener (Day 75) 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 75. Kevin Smith Born: April 7, 1970. Orange, TexasPosition: Cornerback Dallas Cowboys: 1992-2000Awards: Super Bowl champion- XXVII, XXVIII, XXXAll-Pro- 1996 Photo credit should read PAUL BUCK/AFP via Getty Images Kevin Smith played cornerback for the Dallas Cowboys from 1992 to 2000 after being selected in the first round out of Texas A&M. He quickly became a starter in his rookie year and helped solidify a progressing, young, and aggressive secondary during the Cowboys’ dominant era during the 1990s. Smith was a key and integral part of the team that won three Super Bowls and was known for his physical style, tight coverage, and ability to match up with top receivers. Though his career was hampered by injuries, Smith remained a trusted and steady presence in the Dallas defense. All-time trolling from Kevin Smith here: How he used an article about the way Jerry Rice liked his house vacuumed as a means of getting in his head during the 90s Cowboys/49ers games: pic.twitter.com/OZUonL8yeu — Bobby Belt (@BobbyBeltTX) November 21, 2024 Best known for:Smith was best known for being a reliable shutdown corner during the Cowboys’ Super Bowl dynasty of the 1990s, starting in multiple championship games and taking on top receiving threats week after week with utter confidence. Lesser known fact:Smith chose Texas A&M to play despite offers from both Houston and LSU, but these teams wanted him to play wide receiver as he was a two-way player in high school. The Aggie’s wanted him to play cornerback, a position Smith enjoyed playing over wide receiver, so opted to play for them instead. This move that not only transformed his trajectory into the NFL, but also gave him an edge in reading routes and anticipating passes throughout his NFL career. ✭ 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 75Kevin Smith#DallasCowboys… pic.twitter.com/9yLg2dgN6K — Mike Poland (@kenfigkowboy) June 21, 2025

Junfu Han / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images The latest news from around the division. Commanders’ Terry McLaurin negotiating salary revealed in contract talks – Jeremy Brener, Sports Illustrated The numbers are unsurprisingly in the top tier for NFL receivers. Washington Commanders wide receiver Terry McLaurin is approaching the final year of his current contract. McLaurin wants to remain with the Commanders, but he isn’t looking to play again until he has a new deal on the table. Bleacher Report writer Moe Moton dives into McLaurin’s current state of affairs. McLaurin could make $30 million per year “During an interview with 106.7 The Fan, Albert Breer of Sports Illustrated said contract negotiations with McLaurin’s camp will realistically start with $30 million per year,” Moton wrote. “McLaurin is the Commanders’ best offensive skill player and one of the league’s most consistent receivers. He’s eclipsed 1,001 receiving yards in five consecutive seasons despite Washington’s instability at quarterback before the franchise drafted Jayden Daniels with the No. 2 pick last year. “According to ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler, the Commanders want McLaurin around for the long term. Most people around the league expect the two sides to work out a new deal. “If Breer is correct on the negotiated estimate, the two-time Pro Bowler will be one of the league’s top eight highest-paid receivers.” McLaurin is still seeking an extension after voluntarily holding out of the team’s mandatory minicamp earlier this month. The Commanders should be a bit skeptical paying a lot of money to McLaurin, who turns 30 in September, but he has proven that he should be one of the top wide receivers in the league. McLaurin will have a month to negotiate a new deal with the Commanders before he is asked to report to training camp on July 22. PFF shares data that all but confirms Jalen Hurts has an elite supporting cast – Anthony Miller, InsideTheIggles.com He’s a solid quarterback, but the team around him is solid, too. Pro Football Focus is up at it again with more definitive proof that the Philadelphia Eagles had one of the best supporting casts for their quarterback Jalen Hurts in the NFL last year. They have to data to back it up. Dalton Wasserman wrote an article on the impact of the supporting casts in the NFL and which ones were the best in 2024. The Eagles were ranked fifth with an overall grade of 80.8. Given the Eagles’ loaded roster, it’s easy to see why they ended last season as Super Bowl champions. Led by Saquon Barkley, A.J. Brown and an outstanding offensive line, Jalen Hurts was able to deliver the franchise’s second championship, despite ranking 23rd among qualified quarterbacks in PFF passing grade. Ten of Philadelphia’s 11 offensive starters return this season, so the team should enjoy similar success in the quest for a repeat in 2025.” PFF also gave the Eagles the sixth best grade for pass-blocking with 73.6. They were the fourth highest NFC team graded. The data is backed up by Eagles’ solid lineup and should continue in 2025 Hurts has always been blessed to have a solid supporting cast around him since taking over as the full time starter in 2021. The additions of Brown and Smith helped him in the passing game over the last three years. Barkley added a whole new element to the running game as he’s coming off 2,504 yards in the regular season and playoffs. Giants rookie Abdul Carter shares honest feelings on new jersey number – Billy Heyen, SportingNews.com After aiming for the fences for his number, Carter is pleased with his new digits. Abdul Carter had to do some serious work to end up with his rookie season jersey number with the New York Giants. First, he inquired about the No. 56 retired by Lawrence Taylor: Nope. Then, it was the No. 11 that he wore in college which is retired for Phil Simms: No again. So it was third time’s the charm for Carter, who ended up with No. 51. And now after rocking it for minicamp, he posted on social media with his thoughts: “51 growing on me,” Carter wrote. 51 growing on me pic.twitter.com/O0T0V518ei — Abdul Carter (@1NCRDB1) June 11, 2025 Athletes do have a strong connection to the number on their uniform. But at the end of the day, if Carter lives up to the hype of the No. 3 overall pick in the draft, that’ll be much more important than the digits on his chest. Carter was a star at Penn State, which has led to some calling him the next Micah Parsons. But with a new number in hand, Carter would like to leave his own legacy. And at his talent level, he’s got a great chance to do just that.

Matthew Emmons-Imagn Images We’re counting down to the season opener (Day 76) 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 76. Jay Ratliff Born: August 29, 1981. St. Petersburg, FloridaPosition: Nose TackleDallas Cowboys: 2005-2013Awards: All-Pro- 2008 & 2009Pro Bowl– 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011 Tim Heitman-Imagn Images Jay Ratliff played defensive tackle for the Dallas Cowboys from 2005 to 2012 after being selected in the seventh round out of Auburn. He was considered seriously undersized by traditional nose tackle standards, but Ratliff used quickness, leverage, and relentless effort to become a dominant interior presence in the Cowboys’ odd front defense. He earned four consecutive Pro Bowl selections from 2008 to 2011, and was named a first-team All-Pro in 2009. Ratliff was a disruptive force up front, consistently collapsing pockets and making life difficult for opposing quarterbacks. For a player taken so late in the draft, Ratliff proved that it’s not all about where you start, it’s where you finish. Even though he was drafted in the seventh round, Jay Ratliff would NEVER let you forget about him. #DeepBlue | @pepsi pic.twitter.com/ELCjx1YyTT — Dallas Cowboys (@dallascowboys) August 25, 2023 Best known for:Ratliff was best known for outperforming expectations as a seventh-round pick and becoming one of the NFL’s premier nose tackles during his peak, anchoring the Cowboys’ defensive line with power and tenacity. Lesser known fact:Early in his college career at Auburn, Ratliff actually played tight end before switching to the defensive side of the ball, moving from defensive end to defensive tackle in his final year. This unusual and unique path gave Ratliff an intimate understanding of offensive line blocking techniques he would later use to his advantage. ✭ 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 76Jay Ratliff#DallasCowboys… pic.twitter.com/7XH6XTQD0h — Mike Poland (@kenfigkowboy) June 20, 2025

Photo by Lachlan Cunningham/Getty Images We all know the traditional rivals of the Cowboys… but is there a non-traditional NFL team that you also dislike? If so, why? There are Dallas Cowboys fans all over the world. This circumstance leads us to different approaches to fandom. We all share the same general fandom in that we root for the team and root against division rivals, but perhaps you also root against a team that somebody else does. To be more specific as a hypothetical, it is possible that you live in an area that has another strong NFL presence and so that fanbase annoys you. You might live in Arizona and get sick of people talking about the Cardinals or something like that. You get the picture. Or maybe you have a sibling or friend who roots for a team another Cowboys fan has no apparent beef with so you root against that squad in the same way you do the Philadelphia Eagles. For our Friday discussion we want to know if there are any non-traditional rivals of the team who you root against? If so, why? Let us know in the comments below!

Photo by Perry Knotts/Getty Images The latest Cowboys news. 2025 NFL All-Rookie Team: Projecting 14 instant-impact newcomers on defense/special teams – Gennaro Filice Donovan Ezeiruaku gets some love as a projected All-Rookie Edge winner along with Abdul Carter. Edge Donovan Ezeiruaku Boston College Drafted: Round 2, No. 44 overall Like we just discussed with Abdul Carter, Ezeiruaku walks into an advantageous environment. Sharing the field with perennial Defensive Player of the Year candidate Micah Parsons, the rookie is set to receive favorable matchups — and he has the pass-rushing arsenal to take advantage of them. With pterodactyl length and hair-on-fire spirit, Ezeiruaku explodes off the snap with a quick first step, often allowing him to get the edge and bend to the quarterback. If the pure speed rush doesn’t work, no worries: The dude knows how to use his hands, and he has a full bag of tricks that range from a spin to a Euro step to a pretty wicked ghost move. So, why did he last until midway through the second round? Well, he’s on the lighter side, naturally raising concerns about how he’ll set the edge against NFL blockers. But the Boston College product is poised to rack up the kind of sexy stats that garner recognition, having finished last season at second in the FBS in sacks (16.5) and third in tackles for loss (20.5). Who is Donovan Ezeiruaku? 10 things to know about Cowboys’ second-round pick – SportsDay Staff Get to know the rookie. 3. A surprise pick? After being drafted, Ezeiruaku revealed he didn’t have much contact with the Cowboys ahead of the draft. He said he had an informal meeting with Dallas at the NFL scouting combine, but never had an official visit. “I wasn’t really expecting anything [when the Cowboys were picking],” Ezeiruaku said in his post-draft news conference, “and then my phone vibrated and I saw the caller ID. It had The Star, and I just answered it. I didn’t know who was calling me at first, but it was very surreal for sure.” 4. Award collector Ezeiruaku should be an impactful addition on Dallas’ defensive front. The Athletic’s Dane Brugler listed him as one of the top pass rushers in the class, falling just behind names like Mykel Williams, Mike Green and Shemar Stewart. Ezeiruaku showed consistent improvement throughout his time at Boston College, posting his best season in 2024. He came away with 80 tackles, 20.5 tackles for loss and 16.5 sacks. His standout campaign ended with a consensus All-American selection and first-team All-ACC honors. He was also named ACC Defensive Player of the Year and won the Ted Hendricks Award, given annually to college football’s top defensive end. 8. Three-down value NFL.com draft analyst Lance Zierlein had some high praise for the second-round pick in his 2025 draft profile, saying Ezeiruaku “uses every bit of his length paired with aggression to mitigate size differences at the point of attack. … His hands exploit small advantages to turn them into big ones and he has a variety of ways to challenge protection, though he’s still learning to craft his plans. Ezeiruaku’s play demeanor, skill and athletic talent are the underpinnings of a productive starter with three-down value.” Way-too-early bold predictions for 2025 NFL season: Bills win Super Bowl; Ashton Jeanty hits 2,000 yards – Jeff Chadiha, NFL.com We like this prediction for CeeDee Lamb. 9) CeeDee Lamb will break the NFL record for receptions in a season. The Cowboys wide receiver will have an easier life with the return of quarterback Dak Prescott from injury and the arrival of wide receiver George Pickens via trade. Lamb already was one of the best receivers in the game, but those two factors will make him one of the most historic. Think about it. Lamb produced 135 receptions in 2023 with a healthy Prescott, which was 14 catches shy of the league mark of 149 established by former Saints receiver Michael Thomas in 2019. Lamb also generated 101 catches last season, when Prescott only played in eight games because of a season-ending hamstring injury. You pair Lamb with a receiver as dangerous as Pickens, and it’s likely that opposing defenses will be frustrated on weekly basis. Lamb has put together three straight 100-catch seasons despite being the focus of defenses tasked with stopping Dallas’ passing attack every year. With all the freedom coming his way this fall, CeeDee’s going to go off. Then they had to ruin it by throwing this in their predictions. 3) The Eagles will be the first team to repeat as NFC East champs in 21 years. We know this is one of the longest-running streaks in the league, but it’s time for it to end. That’s how good Philadelphia is going to be this coming season. As much as the Eagles have to fill in some holes left by key offseason departures — the defense, in particular, lost five key veterans — the core of the defending Super Bowl champions remains very much intact. Even with Kevin Patullo succeeding Kellen Moore as offensive coordinator, that side of the football remains stacked. Running back Saquon Barkley is coming off a 2,000-yard season, quarterback Jalen Hurts proved once again that he’s one of the most underrated leaders in the game and the receivers and offensive line still rank among the best in the league. As for the defense, coordinator Vic Fangio will help some new faces mature while an assortment of stars (including defensive tackle Jalen Carter, All-Pro linebacker Zack Baun and second-year defensive backs Quinyon Mitchell and Cooper DeJean) should once again rank among the best in the business. Look, this team won 16 of its last 17 games last season and pounded Kansas City in the Super Bowl. Just as importantly, a good number players were around for that epic meltdown in the second half of the 2023 season. They surely learned a lot of about the challenges of success and how hard it is to

Jeff Lange / USA TODAY NETWORK The Cowboys are giving Perrion Winfrey a second chance at the NFL. In the aftermath of OTAs and minicamp being the first on-field work for the completely overhauled Dallas Cowboys coaching staff and a host of new players, the team continued to add to their roster on Wednesday with the addition of two new defenders. Ever since the draft, it has been apparent that the experienced Matt Eberflus, most recently the head coach for the Chicago Bears, has had his significant share of influence when it comes to rebuilding the defense Mike Zimmer left behind after just one mixed result season as DC. The Cowboys targeted cornerback with their second-round pick in April’s draft, and passed on wide receiver entirely on day three, instead opting for a pair of defensive tackles in Jay Toia and Tommy Akingbesote. These were the first signs of some of the new ways roster building would be handled in Dallas, and the trend continued at both positions Wednesday with the free agent signings of CB Robert Rochell and DT Perrion Winfrey. The Cowboys will now try do something two previous NFL teams could not with Perrion Winfrey, and that is to capture the upside of a former fourth-round pick out of Oklahoma. With Winfrey coming from a blue chip college program, and being a former Senior Bowl player, it is easier to see why the Cowboys have some vision for how he’ll fit into their new culture. Winfrey was actually the MVP of the 2022 Senior Bowl before being drafted by the Cleveland Browns. The Cowboys drafted six other Senior Bowl players that year, five of which are still here as Winfrey’s new teammates. Dallas spent their second-round pick on Sam Williams, third on Jalen Tolbert, fourth on Jake Ferguson, and fifth-round picks on Matt Waletzko, Damone Clark, and John Ridgeway. Sack #2 for Perrion Winfrey at the Senior Bowl #Sooners pic.twitter.com/OhGpHIn5Ya — Derek Duke (@DerekDuke25) February 5, 2022 An off-the-field incident led to Winfrey lasting just one season in Cleveland, where he did appear in 13 games as a rookie. This off-field issue led to a misdemeanor arrest but ultimately charges were dismissed. The following season in 2023 would be his last in the NFL to date, as he signed to the practice squad of the New York Jets and made it to the active roster for one game. In October of 2024, at just 23 years old still, Winfrey signed to continue his football career in the UFL with the Birmingham Stallions. Winfrey was an all-UFL player this season, as part of a defense that was top three in total yards allowed per game, rushing yards allowed per game, and points allowed per game. The Stallions won the USFL conference regular season title, but lost to league MVP and player of the year Bryce Perkins and the Michigan Panthers in the conference championship game. However, when Perkins played against Winfrey and the Stallions defense in the regular season, he had his lowest completion percentage, yardage, and yards per attempt outputs of the year. He also threw one of his two interceptions on the season, which actually ended up in the hands of Winfrey after a lateral. That play can be seen right here: The Stallions won 21-12 on the defensive effort coordinated by longtime coach Corey Chamblin, though it is Winfrey’s position coach along the defensive line that’s far more meaningful when it comes to him now being a Dallas Cowboy. Birmingham’s defensive line coach is Ron Burton, a former Cowboys linebacker from 1987-89. Like Winfrey, he was an undersized defensive lineman, so much so in this case that he made the switch to linebacker. The undrafted free agent out of North Carolina made the most of it though, leading the team in special teams tackles as a rookie, and then being named a defensive starter in 1988. Photo by George Gojkovich/Getty Images Burton went on to play one year for the Phoenix Cardinals and one for the Los Angeles Raiders before getting into coaching in 1992, something he’s continued to do all the way until now with the Stallions. If there is any lasting connection between Winfrey and his position coach in the UFL, the proof is right there in front of the latest Cowboys signee that the circumstance of how you make the roster is irrelevant compared to what you do with the opportunity. Although his most recent stop in the NFL was as brief as can be, just one game for the Jets, Winfrey will also reunite with a coach he had in New York as Aaron Whitecotton is now the Cowboys defensive line coach. Having Whitecotton on the staff was seen as an advantage towards the Cowboys signing veteran free agent Solomon Thomas from the Jets, so time will tell if the same can be said about adding Winfrey to the same position group and meeting room as Thomas. The headline on Winfrey’s arrival will be how he helps the Cowboys stack up bodies on the interior against the run. At his best, Winfrey is a player with flashes of athleticism to shed blocks and use his strong upper body to get into the backfield. He also has some quickness and change of direction ability to bring a little upside in pass rush. For as much negative attention the Cowboys lack of 1-technique depth has gotten, the offseason story has been much more positive at 3-technique thanks to Osa Odighizuwa. With this position being the single most important spot in Eberflus’ defense, re-signing Odighizuwa to anchor it was an easy choice the Cowboys made early on, but just like at the other tackle spot there is still a need for more depth. The Cowboys may have tipped their hand that they feel the same way about a potential hybrid role for Winfrey, as the corresponding roster move to sign him was the release of former seventh-round pick Justin Rogers. Rogers was a