Ken Blaze-Imagn Images Notable headlines surrounding America’s team. DeMarcus Lawrence should be a priority re-signing for the Dallas Cowboys – Mario Herrera Jr, Inside The Star Get it done, Jerry. DeMarcus Lawrence has been a cornerstone of the Cowboys’ defense since he was drafted with the 34th overall pick of the 2014 NFL Draft. Over his career, he has developed into an elite run defender with pass-rushing skills. With 61.5 career sacks (all in Dallas), Lawrence has consistently shown to be a reliable defensive end for the Cowboys. His leadership extends beyond the field. As a veteran, Lawrence plays a key role in mentoring younger players on the defensive line and has been a calming and guiding presence in the locker room. Re-signing Lawrence would ensure that the Cowboys continue to have a strong voice on defense who understands the culture and expectations of the team. Tank of All Trades Lawrence might not have gaudy sack numbers, but he has a level of consistent, tough play on the defensive line, and he has reached 61.5 career sacks in his 11-year career with the Cowboys. In 2024, he had just 3.0 sacks, and hasn’t hit double-digit sack numbers since racking up 10.5 sacks during the 2018 season. However, most of his impact is felt in the run game. We are in an era where rushing the passer is glorified, but rush defense is often overlooked. Lawrence has a well-rounded skillset, and his ability to consistently set the edge has been an invaluable benefit for the Cowboys defense. 2025 NFL Draft: Heisman finalist, top prospect will have Top 30 visit with Cowboys – K.D. Drummond, Cowboys Wire Keep Jeanty on your list of potential selections. Boise State’s running back Ashton Jeanty will be part of the 2025 spring circus. ESPN recently dropped an insider article based on things learned during this week’s scouting combine, and among the talk from Chris Fowler is that Jeanty will have a Top 30 visit with the Cowboys. Star Boise State running back Ashton Jeanty is lining up Top 30 visits, including the Bears and Cowboys. Jeanty did not perform drills at the combine, but he got encouraging results from his medical testing in Indy, I’m told. He had an elbow injury last season that shouldn’t affect him long term. Jeanty is expected, by many draftniks, to be the first running back selected in April’s draft. He’s seen as a similar runner as Marshawn Lynch, an absolute bear for defenders to bring down while also having home run potential. Jeanty was the entirety of Boise State’s offense this past season, finishing second to Colorado’s Travis Hunter in Heisman Trophy voting. Cowboys insider hints Osa Odighizuwa deal may cause breakout star to leave Dallas – Jerry Trotta, The Landry Hat If true, it was a fun run, Rico. Odighizuwa is expected to sign a contract that paints him as one of the best pass-rushing interior defenders in the game. While talks are ongoing, Nick Harris of the Fort Worth Star-Telegram reported the total value of the contract could eclipse $90 million over four years. A third-round pick in 2021, Odighizuwa has missed one game in his career and ranked top five among interior defenders last season in QB hits, pass-rush win rate and pressures. The rumored price is lofty, but that is the going rate for very good players at the position. Odighizuwa’s deal won’t fully handicap the Cowboys financially, but it could force them to make tough calls on other free agents. The latest rumblings out of Indianapolis strongly suggest that may be the case with one of the team’s breakout stars. Cowboys free agent RB Rico Dowdle may leave Dallas after breakout 2024 season “The Cowboys are meeting with the agent of DeMarcus Lawrence on Friday, who also serves as the agent of Lewis and other free agents including running back Rico Dowdle and defensive end Chauncey Golston. With only so much money to go around before the Cowboys will bump up against the $279.2 million salary cap for 2025, it is expected that Dowdle and Golston could land bigger deals elsewhere.” Cowboys beat reporter Nick Harris While that does not confirm Rico Dowdle – or Chauncey Golston – won’t be back, it seems both players will have strong markets once free agency opens. Cowboys have a leg up in Cooper Kupp trade rumors as Jerry Jones plays chess – Kinnu Singh, FanSided Maybe Jerry will make the right move. The Cowboys are expected to be in the market for a No. 2 wide receiver to play alongside CeeDee Lamb. That could make them the ideal landing spot for Los Angeles Rams wide receiver Cooper Kupp if his price drops enough, according to ESPN’s Dan Graziano. The Cowboys hired former Oregon co-offensive coordinator Junior Adams as their wide receivers coach in early February, and he could prove to be the determining factor in acquiring Kupp from the Rams. Kupp crossed paths with Adams during his time at Eastern Washington, where Adams was the wide receivers coach. Kupp called Adams “the best there is” and said that no other coach had a greater impact on him, per USA Today. Four years ago, Kupp paced the league in receptions (145), receiving yards (1,947) and receiving touchdowns (16), then capped off the triple-crown campaign with a Super Bowl MVP trophy. In the NFL, four years can seem like a lifetime. Kupp’s past three seasons have been interrupted by injuries, and he’s struggled to return to form. Cowboys 2025 offseason roster preview: Safeties – Jess Haynie, Blogging The Boys Taking stock ahead of free agency. Under Contract Malik Hooker, Donovan Wilson Potential Departures Juanyeh Thomas, Markquese Bell Israel Mukuamu While technically not under contract, Juanyeh Thomas is highly unlikely to depart as an exclusive rights free agent. The Cowboys only need to offer him the league minimum to keep his rights for this year, and there’s no reason to think that they won’t. While a relatively minor knee injury

Photo by Michael Owens/Getty Images Cooper Kupp would be fun. Dallas Cowboys COO Stephen Jones talked about being “selectively aggressive” with the team’s offseason moves. Adding a No. 2 wide receiver to pair with CeeDee Lamb seems like it’s near the top of their list, and they could be aggressive by going after a player familiar with the Dallas’ new wide receiver’s coach. ESPN says Dallas could be interested in acquiring Cooper Kupp “if the price drops.” The Cowboys will be in the market for a No. 2 receiver behind CeeDee Lamb. They have some hope that Jonathan Mingo, their trade-deadline acquisition from Carolina, can evolve into that, but obviously it’s too soon to know and they will be in the market to add at that position. They could end up being a Cooper Kupp suitor if his price drops far enough. As Graziano points out, the Cowboys still hope Jonathan Mingo develops into a player, considering they traded a fourth-round pick for him at last year’s trade deadline. The Cowboys covet their draft picks more than most teams, so when they use picks as trade chips, they need the player to work out. However, Kupp would be quite the contingency plan. Head coach Brian Schottenheimer hired Junior Adams from Oregon as the team’s new wide receiver’s coach. Not only will Adams be bringing in influence from the college game, but there’s hope that if a trade for Kupp is made, he could be the one that tips the scales as to why it happens. Adams and Kupp worked together when the wide receiver was at Eastern Washington University. Kupp credits Adams as his mentor and has worked out with him in the offseason, even though they are no longer in the same building. Junior Adams was Cooper Kupp’s position coach at Eastern Washington in 2013 when he set freshman records in receiving yards (1,691) & TD receptions (21). Kupp: “I have had a lot of coaches…..None have had a greater impact on me than Coach Adams.” https://t.co/A9cziiiwg0 — Bill Jones (@CBS11BillJones) February 9, 2025 The Cowboys have hoped Jalen Tolbert would elevate his game to a No. 2 wide receiver level. Even though he’s coming off a career season with 610 receiving yards and seven touchdowns, he is also entering the final year of his rookie contract. There’s hope he could continue his development like Mingo, but having Kupp in their back pocket would give Dallas a legit wide out to pair with Lamb while players like Tolbert and Mingo keep working on their game. Kupp would also be a great mentor to both players, as he was with Puka Nacua in Los Angeles. The Cowboys offense needs more weapons if it is to be a force in the first-year of Brian Schottenheimer’s era. Kupp would certainly qualify.

Photo by Cooper Neill/Getty Images The Cowboys begin a process that has needed some urgency The NFL combine took place in Indianapolis this week. Dallas Cowboys owner Jerry Jones, never one to shy away from an opportunity to speak, actually did so when he didn’t speak to the media on multiple occasions during festivities. However, he has been doing a different kind of talking lately. Per Calvin Watkins of the Dallas Morning News, the Cowboys have begun talks for a contract extension with the agent of All-Pro Micah Parsons. Cowboys have held general conversations with the agent for Micah Parsons, about a contract extension, 2 people with knowledge of the discussions tells @dmn_cowboys — Calvin Watkins (@calvinwatkins) March 2, 2025 Dallas picked up the fifth-year option on Parsons last April. He’s scheduled to make just over $24 million in 2025. Getting this done sooner rather than later is a no-brainer. Every since Parsons stepped foot on an NFL field, he was the best player on the Cowboys and one of the best in the league. He is known for his pass rush, but he does so much more than that. Parsons has a skill set that allows him to play in multiple areas and create opportunities for other guys because he’s such a menace. He’s the ultimate chess piece, and players like him don’t come around very often. The Cowboys were able to get contract extensions for quarterback Dak Prescott and wide receiver CeeDee Lamb last offseason, with the former coming literally hours before the kickoff of their season opener in 2024. Dallas does not need to wait until the last-minute with Parsons. He has made it known that he wants the Cowboys to be aggressive when it comes to free agency. One way to help that would be get Parsons locked long-term to help create cap space.

Photo by Cooper Neill/Getty Images The Cowboys haven’t used the franchise tag since 2023 with Tony Pollard. The Dallas Cowboys and the franchise tag used to be synonymous. From 2018 to 2023, the team used the tag every year. Last season they did not feel any free agents were worth the guaranteed money. There are questions about whether using the franchise tag is a sound financial practice for NFL teams, but it can ensure a player does not sign with another team and extend contract negotiations. ESPN says Dallas hopes to sign free agent Osa Odighizuwa but could use the franchise tag if they cannot reach an agreement by Tuesday at 4:00 PM ET, the deadline for a team to use the franchise tag on a player. The Cowboys have done enough work on an Osa Odighizuwa extension that I wouldn’t be surprised to see them use the franchise tag on him if a deal isn’t completed by Tuesday’s 4 p.m. ET deadline — just to give them more time to complete that deal. They’re also hopeful of bringing back free agent cornerback Jourdan Lewis, and they haven’t totally ruled out a DeMarcus Lawrence return. However, regardless of how that shakes out, Dallas will be looking to get younger up front on defense. The good news is that the deal sounds like it is at the goal line regarding re-signing Odighizuwa as a central part of the Brian Schottenheimer era in Dallas. The bad news is that if the team cannot find common ground with Odighizuwa and his representation, they might be unable to retain their other key free agents if the money is not figured out. David Canter, the agent representing DeMarcus Lawrence, Rico Dowdle, Jourdan Lewis, and Chauncy Golston, met with the Cowboys on Friday at the NFL Combine. No contract offers were reportedly extended to any players, which could signal they are still trying to hammer out the details of Odighizuwa’s contract. Matt Eberflus comes from the Rod Marinelli tree of defensive philosophy, where the 3-technique is a key part of his defense. Odighizuwa, just 27 years old when the season kicks off, is coming off his best season, finishing with 4.5 sacks and 23 quarterback hits. Jeremy Fowler of ESPN also noted that “Odighizuwa and Philadelphia’s Milton Williams are considered the two top interior defensive linemen” in free agency. Having an elite pass-rushing defensive tackle has become critical to the NFL’s ecosystem on defense. If the Cowboys believe Odighizuwa is a key to making their defense work, then no matter if he’s on the tag or they work out a new deal, it will be worth it.

Photo by Sam Hodde/Getty Images The Cowboys have to examine their safety situation. The Dallas Cowboys may not be seeing much change at safety in 2025. They have two inexpensive starters and at least one core depth player who should be easily re-signed. In an offseason with heavy needs across most of the roster, Dallas may welcome the chance to let things breathe at this one position. But even in the absence of critical need, opportunities to upgrade shouldn’t be ignored. Under Contract Malik Hooker, Donovan Wilson Potential Departures Juanyeh Thomas, Markquese BellIsrael Mukuamu While technically not under contract, Juanyeh Thomas is highly unlikely to depart as an exclusive rights free agent. The Cowboys only need to offer him the league minimum to keep his rights for this year, and there’s no reason to think that they won’t. While a relatively minor knee injury ended his season early, Thomas is expected to be all the way back and continue his emergence on defense. In fact, some have even suggested that Dallas should move Thomas into a starting role over Donovan Wilson. They could get back about $5.9 million in cap space off Wilson’s deal which would be useful at other positions, while arguably suffering little-to-no loss in performance with Thomas’ promotion. With Wilson having just turned 30, there is reasonable concern that a player who relies so much on physicality is going to start seeing a rapid downturn in play. But there’s a different logic thread to consider here. Wilson’s total cap hit of $8.65 million is only 12th-highest among all safeties. In fact, the combined $16.4 million that he and Malik Hooker are due to count against Dallas’ 2025 cap is less than the NFL’s top safeties count by themselves. So while there are savings to be had, you could argue that the overhead at the position is still fairly low. And if you can keep Thomas for a minimal amount, that gives you a solid trio at a reasonable cost. Another factor here is Matt Eberflus taking over the defense. If he sticks to his scheme with two-high safeties, Wilson could be in trouble given his underwhelming coverage skills. That shouldn’t affect Hooker, who actually worked with Eberflus from 2018-2020 with the Colts. But between cap savings, age, and a potentially negative effect from scheme changes, Wilson’s future is definitely up in the air. Whatever happens there, Dallas still has to account for impending free agency for Markquese Bell and Israel Mukuamu. Bell saw a huge drop in his playing time from 2023 when he was filling in at linebacker, going from 649 defensive snaps to just 34 last year. While he is just a restricted free agent, the Cowboys probably won’t offer him even the lowest projected tender of about $3 million. If he’s kept at all, he’ll likely have to agree to a league-minimum deal like Thomas. Mukuamu never found traction in Dallas for whatever reason. He provided enough depth at both corner and safety, plus played a lot of special teams, to reach the end of his rookie contract. That’s not bad for just a sixth-round pick, but it’s hard to see where things go from here. He hasn’t done enough to have much of a market in free agency, and the regime change on the Cowboys’ defense means he may not have anyone to advocate for him. While listed at cornerback in our preview series because of where he played last year, Josh Butler is also worth a mention here. Hopefully, he can come back from a pretty gruesome knee injury and help out next season. If so, he’ll be another versatile depth guy for the entire secondary. But with a strong chance that his recovery will extend into the regular season, the Cowboys will need to some other options. Free Agency Unless Eberflus really wants to reconnect with a guy he knows, like the Colts’ Julian Blackmon, you probably won’t see much happening here. Dallas has generally not invested heavily in safeties and, if anything, would divest of Donovan Wilson’s contract before signing an even more lucrative deal with someone else. Outside of either re-signing Bell and/or Mukuamu or replacing them with similar down-roster prospects, it should be quiet on the free agency front. 2025 NFL Draft Things are much more likely to get interesting in the draft. If he isn’t a cap casualty this year, Wilson’s deal is up in 2026 and Hooker’s in 2027. The Cowboys could easily justify getting a young talent in the pipeline to provide immediate depth and eventually replace one of them. As mentioned before, Dallas’ general undervaluing of safeties means we shouldn’t expect one in the first round. In fact, it’s been over 10 years since they spent anything higher than a sixth-round pick on the position (J.J. Wilcox, third round in 2013). Unless Eberflus wants a more dramatic personnel change at the position and sees someone he really loves, and especially if they are going to cut Wilson, a rookie addition probably won’t come until Day 3. Final Thoughts The Cowboys have “gotten what they paid for” at safety for a long time. With minimal draft investment and cheaper contracts over the last several years, Dallas hasn’t really had a star at the position in a long time. While a new defensive coordinator means a different voice in the room, you still have the same front office and an offensive-minded head coach. It’s hard to imagine there will be a philosophical shift. Given what else is on Dallas’ agenda this offseason, that’s not a bad thing. Whether it’s Donovan Wilson or Juanyeh Thomas starting next to Malik Hooker in 2025, that’s good enough if the rest of the defense gets what it needs. That’s not to say the Cowboys should just pass on a top-flight safety prospect if one’s available when they’re on the clock. But given all their other needs, it’s hard to imagine any safety will be alluring enough to distract Dallas

Photo by Jacob Kupferman/Getty Images We are less than two months away from the 2025 NFL Draft. The 2025 NFL Scouting Combine has just about reached its conclusion. The Dallas Cowboys and the 31 other NFL teams were in attendance to watch the prospects put their athleticism and strength on display. With the upcoming draft in mind, four of our writers tackled some pre-draft questions with a little less than two months to go until the big day. Photo by Sam Hodde/Getty Images 1)As things currently stand, if the Cowboys decide to stay at pick 12, who is your dream fit for them to select? David Howman In my opinion, the Cowboys desperately need more weapons for Dak Prescott. I’d be pretty content with either of the draft’s top two receivers in Tetairoa McMillan or Luther Burden, and think both would be an excellent complement to CeeDee Lamb. I suspect Burden is more realistic at 12, and I’d be plenty happy if he was the pick Brian Martin I have two favorites for the Cowboys at No. 12, EDGE Mike Green and OL Armand Membou. I like the idea of Green playing opposite Micah Parsons and the RG/RT position flex Membou would add to the Cowboys OL Mike Poland I got asked this question in the mailbag a few weeks ago and my answer still remains the same. If the Cowboys stay at 12 and pick wide receiver Luther Burden from Missouri then that’s a fantastic pick. The Cowboys have no WR2 on the roster and fans had a brief look at this offense without CeeDee Lamb on the field last season. Without Lamb, this offense was lacking and Brandin Cooks is now a free agent which means there’s a huge hole in the roster. Wide receiver isn’t as deep as previous years, so take a position of need where the supply is low and fill the rest of your needs down the line. Matt Holleran Dallas’ number one priority this offseason should be adding more talent to their offense to get Dak Prescott back playing at an MVP level. If they want to do that, selecting Ohio State wide receiver Emeka Egbuka at pick 12 may be the fastest way to do so. Egbuka may not have the upside of a Luther Burden or Tetairoa McMillan, but he is NFL-ready and could immediately contribute to Dallas’ offense faster than the other two. Photo by David K Purdy/Getty Images 2) Who are two mid-round prospects you would like to see the Cowboys target? David Howman Iowa State WR Jaylin Noel and Texas S Andrew Mukuba. Noel was an elite deep threat receiver for the Cyclones and he’d add another dimension to this offense, especially when thinking about how Brian Schottenheimer used Tyler Lockett – a similar body type to Noel – to open up the Seahawks offense. Mukuba was one of the very best coverage safeties in college football and I can’t for the life of me figure out why he isn’t getting more love, but he’d be a star for Matt Eberflus in this scheme. Brian Martin CB Jacob Parrish, WR Jaylin Noel, RB Jordan James, TE Luke Lachey, EDGE Oluwafemi Oladejo, LB Chris Paul, OT Charles Grant are a few mid-round prospects I like for the Cowboys off the top my head. Mike Poland Some mid-round guys that look good are all players at positions with a lot of depth. The main guy on offense is running back Devin Neal from Kansas. He’s one of the best change-of-pace backs in the draft and has huge home-run ability. He has little tread taken off his tires and has shown to be productive with 34 total touchdowns the last two years. At this stage he’s a consensus fourth-round prospect, that’s not due to his talent but a testament to the position’s depth. On defense go watch the tape on defensive tackle Omarr Norman-Lott. He has a great blend of pass rush talent and run stopping ability. He has a great first step and spent his time in Tennessee ruining the oppositions offense. He was used in rotation last year and played 225 total defensive snaps but still racked up 27 pressures and five sacks, both second-most for the Volunteers. Matt Holleran Similar to Mike, Devin Neal, out of Kansas, is one of my favorite mid-round prospects in the draft. Neal would bring some much-needed explosiveness to Dallas’ offense and would be a great complement for Rico Dowdle if the Cowboys decide to bring him back. Another one would be Penn State linebacker Kobe King. The 22-year-old would be a perfect fit in Matt Eberflus’ defense and would fill a big hole the Cowboys currently have at the linebacker position. 3) Overall, how confident are you in the Cowboys having a successful 2025 draft? David Howman I am supremely confident in the Cowboys having a great draft this year. Will McClay isn’t perfect but he’s one of the most consistent talent evaluators in the NFL and the odds of a good draft go way up the higher you pick. The Cowboys are likely to be picking between several really good options at 12, and I trust McClay to make the right choice. Brian Martin My confidence is pretty high the Cowboys can have a successful 2025 draft. This draft class may not have a lot of blue-chip talent, but it is deep and several positions of “need” for the Cowboys. Mike Poland Two reasons why Cowboys fans should be optimistic and confident for this year’s draft- Will McClay and a new coaching staff. Why those reasons? Will McClay is a very smart guy and he clearly understands football. He has a way of keeping the front office, coaching staff and scouting department all on the same path, something that’s not easy to do. We can say the past few drafts haven’t been amazing, but there have been some great successes in that time, some of them in the later rounds

Photo by Robin Alam/ISI Photos/Getty Images Your Sunday morning Cowboys news. Should the Dallas Cowboys take Ashton Jeanty in the NFL Draft? It’s complicated – David Moore, Dallas Morning News Dallas sure loves their Boise State Broncos. Could they take Ashton Jeanty? Brian Schottenheimer has consistently stressed the need for the Cowboys to run the ball since becoming the team’s head coach. Ashton Jeanty, who played his high school ball at Frisco Lone Star, has said “it would be dope” to wind up with Dallas. Brian Schottenheimer talks about the retirement of Zack MartinBrian Schottenheimer talks about the retirement of Zack Martin A match made in draft heaven? To be determined. The Cowboys have the 12th pick in next month’s draft which could be the sweet spot for this union to take place. Remember, the franchise used its first round pick on running back Ezekiel Elliott nine years ago to transform its fortunes. For the sake of argument, focus on Elliott’s initial impact, not what he did once he got his extension or in his ill-fated reunion with the club. Jeanty — if he’s still available when the Cowboys are on the clock — would have an immediate impact on this offense. But club officials believe this is the deepest running back class in the last six to eight years. Would Dallas be better served using a first round pick on a lineman (offensive or defensive), a receiver or a defensive back and coming back on Day Two to land a running back? A decision hasn’t been reached. Those internal discussions will pick up steam once the club returns from the NFL scouting combine in the next few days. But the chance to add a back who rushed for 2,601 yards and 29 touchdowns in his final season at Boise State, a player who won the Doak Walker and Maxwell awards while finishing second in the Heisman race, is intriguing. Cowboys Fans Skeptical as Jerry Jones Makes New 5-Point Roster Promise -Landon Holifield, Athlon Sports Are the Jones’ trying to tell us something with their approach to the offseason? The evidence is that the Dallas Cowboys and their owner Jerry Jones are embracing a new team-building approach. Maybe. The evidence continues to add up toward a dramatic shift from years past, as the Dallas Cowboys seem to be making significant changes to their team-building approach. “Seem to,’’ we said. The following five notable signals suggest that the Joneses are ready to prioritize winning over maintaining traditional methods (not to mention marketing). Are Cowboys fans skeptical. Indeed. And we’ve documented Dallas’ complacent nature in recent months. So we get it. But at least for now they are demonstrating newfound urgency to strengthen the roster and alter their overall mindset. Here are five key examples showcasing this hoped-for evolution: 1. Hiring from outside their circle: The Cowboys are broadening their hiring practices, bringing in fresh perspectives from outside their typical circle, signaling a willingness to embrace new strategies and ideas to elevate the team. New head coach Brian Schottenheimer deserves a ton of credit for spearheading this shift. He wasn’t content bringing in guys he was familiar with. Instead, it seems he chose the most qualified candidate. 2. Moving operations to Indianapolis: Unlike previous years, when the staff split up in multiple different places, coach Schottenheimer lead the charge for having everyone on site in Indiana. Once again, his idea, but as he also noted, credit to Jerry Jones for ponying up the dough to make it happen. This shift reflects a commitment to enhancing their draft process and creating a more focused, intense environment for talent evaluation. Dak Prescott gives promising injury update for Cowboys: ‘I’ll be ready for the first game’ – DallasCowboys.com Quarterback Dak Prescott gives the fans good news about his return. A tumultuous season, to say the very least, for Dak Prescott and the Dallas Cowboys is slowly beginning to bring about a new energy in the building as Brian Schottenheimer and his shiny new coaching staff put their fingerprints on this year’s NFL Combine and prepare for what might be a different approach from the team in free agency. But, for Prescott, it’s an offseason headlined by his recovery from a season-ending hamstring injury suffered on Nov. 3, when his hamstring tore off of the bone in his attempt to will the Cowboys past the Atlanta Falcons in Week 9. The All-Pro quarterback has since been on the mend from the devastating injury but, speaking from the Cowboys’ launch of the Girl’s Flag Football League at AT&T Stadium, he was moving well, in great spirits and says there is zero concern about his availability to begin the 2025 season. “I’m not gonna put a timeline on it, but I’ll be ready for the first game and when anything matters and very, very ready,” the three-time Pro Bowler said. “I’m feeling good. I’m doing more and more. The last two weeks have been huge and progressive for me.” He’s not cleared for full duty as of this moment, but he’s suffered no setbacks and requires no aid from any devices to move about. “I wouldn’t say I’m running full speed yet,” he added. “But everything’s on the right track, and I’m excited.” 2025 NFL free agency: Projecting one signing for every team – Aaron Schatz, ESPN ESPN has Chiefs free agent LB Nick Bolton as the ideal free agency candidate for Dallas. Soon-to-be free agent Eric Kendricks is 33 years old, so Dallas could use a significant, younger upgrade in the middle of its defense. They need a true 4-3 middle linebacker who can be a leader on and off the field. There’s no better candidate than two-time Super Bowl champion Bolton. I don’t need to recite statistics here, although Bolton led the Chiefs by being involved in 13.3% of defensive plays this past season. Simply listen to what Chiefs defensive coordinator Steve Spagnuolo has said about Bolton. He told Sports Illustrated that Bolton was one

Photo by Aaron M. Sprecher/Getty Images Nick Bolton is an interesting name to keep an eye on. DeMarvion Overshown dazzled during his second year, but unfortunately, he suffered his second ACL tear, putting his availability for next season in jeopardy. Damone Clark, if retained, still hasn’t taken the next step in his development, and veteran Eric Kendricks is set to hit free agency. This makes Marist Liufau the only option for the Cowboys at linebacker that they can truly rely on for next season. The NFL draft is certainly a place where the Cowboys can add more talent at linebacker. However, there are some free agent options as well. ESPN recently wrote a piece about landing spots for players that are about to hit the market. He picked the Cowboys as the destination for Nick Bolton of the Kansas City Chiefs. Soon-to-be free agent Eric Kendricks is 33 years old, so Dallas could use a significant, younger upgrade in the middle of its defense. They need a true 4-3 middle linebacker who can be a leader on and off the field. There’s no better candidate than two-time Super Bowl champion Bolton. I don’t need to recite statistics here, although Bolton led the Chiefs by being involved in 13.3% of defensive plays this past season. Simply listen to what Chiefs defensive coordinator Steve Spagnuolo has said about Bolton. He told Sports Illustrated that Bolton was one of the most cerebral players he has coached and referred to him as the Patrick Mahomes of Kansas City’s defense. Bolton played in 16 games as a rookie and logged 12 starts, and he took full advantage of every single one. He produced 112 tackles. His 2022 campaign was his best as he finished second in the NFL in solo tackles (108) and total tackles (180). In 2023, he suffered a wrist injury that required surgery and limited him to eight games. He bounced back nicely in 2024 with 106 tackles and a career-high three sacks. When it comes to playing middle linebacker, Bolton can do it all. He can patrol sideline to sideline and be effective stopping the run. Also, Bolton is skilled in coverage. He’s a field general as the quarterback of the defense and that’s exactly what’s needed from a middle linebacker. Landing a player like Bolton, plus having Liufau and Overshown once he gets back healthy, will make the Cowboys linebacker room look strong and set them up nicely for the foreseeable future. Bolton has a market value of $12.3 million. According to executive vice president Stephen Jones, the Cowboys will be selectively aggressive in free agency. Well, this would be one of the times when Dallas needs to put those words to action. Having a player of his caliber coupled with a nuclear weapon like All-Pro linebacker/edge Micah Parsons on the front seven can make things easier on the backend, and take the Cowboys defense to the next level.

Photo by Ron Jenkins/Getty Images Jerry Jones declined his usual NFL Combine appearance which feels strange. The 2025 NFL Combine continued on Saturday with more 40-yard dashes being run and more jumps being taken in the vertical. At long last the combine finally began to be about the actual draft prospects. We say this because the early part of the week in Indianapolis was filled with all sorts of news and notes regarding the current state of NFL teams. Consider that as just one example the Los Angeles Rams saw all sorts of rumors fly around their quarterback in Matthew Stafford, only to agree to a new deal with him before the business week even concluded. This is what happens when the most important and influential people in the NFL are in the same place. Conversations are had. Steps are taken. Information is found out. That is the game. Jerry Jones has an annual tradition of speaking to members of the media while on the team bus in Indy as opposed to behind a lectern in the middle of the standard chaos. Strangely, that did not happen this year. Jerry Jones declined multiple opportunities to speak with the media this week It is in no way abnormal for Jerry Jones to avoid the standard protocol for general managers at the NFL combine. As noted, he does his speaking while on his bus with the reporters who are invited to be in attendance. This is traditionally an important opportunity for information about the team to flow. It is so commonplace and assumed to be happening every year that as the week began we noted what we wanted to see from the specific instance in question. Consider that last year Jerry spoke on the pending contractual situations (at the time) for Dak Prescott and CeeDee Lamb. We know how those things turned out, but the point here is that Jerry took the opportunity he had to speak and push the narrative that he wanted about those situations. It was reported on Friday that Jerry would not be doing his usual bus sit down which was strange enough. What’s more is that on Saturday, The Athletic’s Jon Machota added that Jerry also declined to speak while leaving the team’s hotel in Indianapolis. Cowboys owner Jerry Jones will not hold his annual meeting with the media at the combine this weekend. Schedule got too crowded, per team official. But the buzz is still buzzing in Indy ⬇️ https://t.co/jNmmhEN6Vd — Nick Harris (@NickHarrisFWST) February 28, 2025 Cowboys owner Jerry Jones didn’t hold his usual combine bus interview with reporters in Indianapolis. He just declined to talk while leaving the team’s Indianapolis hotel. He said he would talk when he gets back to Dallas. Strange times — Jon Machota (@jonmachota) March 1, 2025 This is literally multiple instances in which Jerry Jones declined to speak to the media. Say what you will, you surely have a lot to add, but that is incredibly uncharacteristic of him in general let alone at a time and in a place where he is known to offers his thoughts and opinions. No one is trying to suggest that this has to mean something. For what it’s worth, 105.3 The Fan’s Bobby Belt added that it definitely feels strange enough that you have to wonder if something is up. There’s been some odd vibes around the Cowboys this trip. Definitely seems like they’re up to something. https://t.co/TeNLo2euiA — Bobby Belt (@BobbyBeltTX) March 1, 2025 Belt added in a second post that Jerry cancelled media availability on local radio prior to trading for Amari Cooper 6.5 years ago (wow, cannot believe it has been that long). Jerry’s defense (after the fact, obviously) was that he couldn’t keep his mouth shut (he said this tongue in cheek) and that he didn’t want to ruin anything. Maybe this is something along those lines or maybe it is nothing. Whatever it is or isn’t it feels fair to say that this is all uncommon behavior from Jerry Jones. What do you think is going on?

Photo by Butch Dill/Getty Images Who is a fan of Cam Skattebo? As the Dallas Cowboys look to beef up their run game under new head coach Brian Schottenheimer, there is one running back whose play style has quickly become an ideal fit for the Cowboys: Cam Skattebo. The Arizona State running back gained legend status for his incredible performance in the Peach Bowl, almost single-handedly beating Texas in a game that went to two overtimes. Name: Cam SkatteboPosition: RBHeight: 5’11”Weight: 215 pounds Cam Skattebo College Stats, courtesy of Sports Reference Those that have watched Skattebo throughout his career, though, know he’s always been this special. The California native was a zero star recruit out of high school, and he only received two offers: Sacramento State and William & Mary, both FCS teams. He chose the one closer to home, and Skattebo quickly became a star. He racked up 520 rushing yards as a true freshman and then hit 1,369 as a sophomore. That empowered Skattebo to enter the transfer portal, finding a home at Arizona State. In 2023, the first year under a new coaching staff and with the program still under the cloud of an NCAA investigation, Skattebo finished with 786 rushing yards and 286 receiving yards. Coming into 2024, though, he dropped 15 pounds to get faster and it paid off in a big way. He finished fifth in Heisman voting and powered an offense that won the Big 12 and reached the College Football Playoff. Now, Skattebo is ready to anchor an NFL offense in the same manner. Burst For how much of a downhill runner Skattebo is billed to be, he has an exceptional first step. The weight he dropped going into his senior season made the most notable difference in this area. Skattebo explodes off his foot and reaches his top speed very quickly, which was a big part of him having the fourth-most runs of 10+ yards despite missing a game. Balance Good luck bringing Skattebo down on the first, or even second, attempt. Only Ashton Jeanty forced more missed tackles or racked up more yards after contact. Skattebo is built like a slab of concrete and plays with a low center of gravity, making him almost impossible to tackle. Whether it’s in the open field or the middle of the scrum, Skattebo is going to gain at least a couple extra yards once he gets touched. Lateral Agility Skattebo is surprisingly quick moving side to side. There is no wasted motion in his feet, and his ability to jump from gap to gap looking for holes is almost reminiscent of Le’Veon Bell. There are times where Skattebo cuts back and has to accelerate to get to the corner where he looks like more of a speed runner than a battering ram. Ball Carrying This might be Skattebo’s biggest issue right now, outside of concerns about durability. He had four fumbles this year, his second season with that many. In total, Skattebo fumbled 10 times in four years, though that number is at least partially inflated by his 1,130 career carries. Still, Skattebo gets a little too careless at times. Pass Catching Skattebo is an elite receiving threat out of the backfield. Only two other running backs had more receiving yards last year, and Skattebo led his position group in yards after the catch. He topped 250 receiving yards each of the last three seasons and has really reliable hands. There are more nuanced route runners in this running back class, but Skattebo is arguably the most dangerous pass-catching weapon. Blocking There is zero concern about Skattebo’s blocking ability. As you’d expect from someone with such a physical running style, Skattebo is an able and willing blocker too. Arizona State even lined him up at fullback on occasion as a change-up. Over his two seasons with the Sun Devils, Skattebo allowed just five pressures on pass blocking snaps and never gave up a sack. Athleticism Skattebo doesn’t appear to have the most functional athleticism out there. He’s anything but slow, but Skattebo’s long speed still isn’t elite. He’s not going to outrun too many defenders, but his ability to bowl them over offsets some of that. Still, scouts will want to see Skattebo put up at least average numbers in the 40-yard dash. Processing He plays with excellent vision and patience, giving himself just enough time to diagnose the defense before making his move. In pass protection, he has a knack for knowing his responsibility and adjusting on the fly. He had four different play-callers in his four years in college and it never impacted his ability to produce. Intangibles Skattebo is the textbook definition of someone who has that ‘dawg’ in them. He’s a throwback runner who’s got enough shake to him to still make plays in modern day offenses. He was a leader for the Sun Devils during their improbable 11-win season. The biggest concern with Skattebo is his workload, and whether or not those 1,130 career carries will translate to a shorter shelf life in the NFL. However, Skattebo has already been preparing for this, which is one of the reasons why he changed up his weight plan heading into this past season.