Photo by Tom Pennington/Getty Images What is your happiest Dallas Cowboys memory in recent history? The Dallas Cowboys have not won the Super Bowl in a long time. We all know that, so we don’t need to be reminded past this sentence. Understanding this reality, the Dallas Cowboys have still been a part of some big games over the last 20ish years and contrary to popular belief they have actually won a few of them. Odds are you have your favorite moment for reasons that may be specific to you. For our discussion prompt today here at BTB we want to know what is your happiest Cowboys memory in recent history? To be clear we are asking just about memories so that doesn’t even have to be associated with a game. Maybe it was receiving a gift. Maybe it was going to a game that the team lost, but the company you were with made it all the more special. We are a community here and looking forward to sharing some stories back and forth. Let us know yours in the comments below!

Photo by Sam Hodde/Getty Images The latest news and notes around the Dallas Cowboys After down year, Cowboys tight end Jake Ferguson’s confidence remains high – Nick Harris, Fort Worth Star-Telegram This offense can be special if the Dallas Cowboys can get Jake Ferguson going this year. By all measures, the 2024 season from Dallas Cowboys tight end Jake Ferguson was a letdown. Although there was little to no consistency around him on a team that sputtered across the finish line with a 7-10 record, the expectations for Ferguson were much higher going into his third season after a Pro Bowl performance in 2023 that saw him shine as a reliable offensive weapon for quarterback Dak Prescott. “I definitely wasn’t satisfied with how I played all last year,” Ferguson said during the team’s offseason program. Ferguson suffered a knee sprain in the team’s week one win over the Cleveland Browns that forced him to miss the following week’s game against the New Orleans Saints. Two months later, he suffered a concussion that forced him to miss two more contests. With a quarterback change in the middle of that stretch after Prescott’s season-ending injury, consistency was never built for the Wisconsin product. He finished the year with 59 receptions for 494 yards and zero touchdowns, all down from his breakout 2023 campaign. “My knee hurt, for sure,” Ferguson said. “The concussion was weird. But I’ve said this before, if I’m on the field, I should be able to give it my all. I don’t think I’ve ever played a full season and not scored a touchdown. That was something that I came into this offseason really working on. Just trying to really dial in on those things.” Going into the 2025 season healthy and with his starting quarterback back in the fold, Ferguson said that he’s learned from what went wrong last season. “That’s the game of football, not everything is going to go perfect,” he said. “Personally, I’m putting that in the past and I know now what I have to work on.” His approach to the offseason after a down year has caught the attention of the coaching staff around him going into training camp in Oxnard, Calif., next month. “I think last year was a fluke [for Ferguson],” head coach Brian Schottenheimer said. “He definitely dealt with some stuff that was hard for him. Jake’s always motivated. Jake is one of those tone setters who just plays the right way. But the look in his eyes and the way his body looks, in terms of physique, and the way he’s moving has been noticeably different in a good way.” A round of golf with the Cowboys’ specialists: How their bond goes beyond football – Tommy Yarrish, DallasCowboys.com Is this the coolest special teams unit in Cowboys history? Could be. “Love keeping the crew together on the field is the first, most important thing,” Aubrey said. “We’ve got a good thing going, would be sad to start from scratch. So to have the operation intact is fantastic, and then obviously love hanging out with these guys, so anytime we get a chance to hang out off the field, it’s a lot of fun.” In their eyes, a lot of what they do as specialists is built on trust. From Sieg getting the snap correct, to Anger getting the punt away and the hold down on field goals, and Aubrey splitting it through the uprights, the time they’ve spent together in the last three seasons has helped build a dynamic that’s tough to interfere with. “Just knowing that we can trust each other both on and off the field, it means a lot,” Sieg said. “I know Bryan’s got my back, I know Brandon’s got my back, and they know I have theirs. I think that does definitely carry over onto the field, just knowing no matter what happens, we’ll get through it.” For the first time since they’ve been together, they’ll bring that trust to a new special teams coordinator as Nick Sorensen joined Brian Schottenheimer’s staff in the role this offseason, replacing John “Bones” Fassel. With the amount of success the three have had together, there isn’t a lot that Sorensen needs to change, but it is nice to get a different perspective on their operation and how it can be better. “It’s always good to have a new, fresh set of eyes just to see things and help out from a different perspective,” Anger said. “It’s always good to have a change up and have his point of view.” Dallas Cowboys’ first-rounder leans on fellow Alabama alumni in preparing for the NFL – Mark Inabinett, AL.com Alabama’s pipeline of players to the NFL speaks for itself. Dallas selected Booker from Alabama at No. 12 in the NFL Draft on April 24. “The one thing that has surprised me?” Booker said on Wednesday, repeating a reporter’s question about his first seven weeks in the NFL. “Nothing really. I feel like I’ve really been prepared for this stage when I got in Alabama. And I’m not saying that like I know everything and I’m arrogant. Like, OK, I know everything to expect. But, to this point, really haven’t been surprised because I’ve had a lot of great leadership from my coaches and even some of my former teammates of what it’s like to be on this level.” One of those former teammates has been Tennessee Titans offensive tackle JC Latham. Latham preceded Booker in making the transition from the Crimson Tide to the NFL by a year. The Titans picked Latham at No. 7 in the 2024 NFL Draft, and he played every Tennessee offensive snap as a rookie. “That’s one of my best friends in the world,” Booker said. “We’ve gone to high school and college together. So just asking him, ‘OK, how was your first OTA? How was your first rookie minicamp? How was your first minicamp?’ So just asking him a bunch of questions. And

Bob Donnan-Imagn Images The Cowboys’ inability to hit on second-round picks is something they have to work on moving forward. It is in no way breaking news. The Dallas Cowboys have struggled to hit on second-round picks for a number of years. There are a handful of exceptions, but for the most part the round has served as their Achilles heel relative to the NFL draft at large. Consider the last 10 players who the Cowboys picked in the second round, not including this year’s selection in Donovan Ezeiruaku as he has yet to play for the team: 2015: Randy Gregory 2016: Jaylon Smith 2017: Chidobe Awuzie 2018: Connor Williams 2019: Trysten Hill 2020: Trevon Diggs 2021: Kelvin Joseph 2022: Sam Williams 2023: Luke Schoonmaker 2024: Marshawn Kneeland As noted there are players here who helped the team in some regard. Randy Gregory had his moments and Jaylon Smith was great across the 2018 season specifically. Chidobe Awuzie was a serviceable player and Connor Williams was a very solid return on investment. Those are some of the older picks on this list, though. Consider that Trevon Diggs, by far the most successful of any player here, received a second contract from the team, but he was the first second-round pick to do so since Jaylon Smith almost a decade ago. What’s more is that there are a lot of Cowboys fans who want to see the team move on from that contract. We have noted many times over the years that the foundation of an NFL roster is built across the draft as a whole and that hitting on these picks is absolutely critical. Training camp is a little over a month away and when it begins there is not a player who the Cowboys drafted in the second round themselves, again acknowledging that Ezeiruaku is in his own box in this sense, that they can reliably depend on. Is there potential among the team’s second-rounders this year? Absolutely. Marshawn Kneeland may turn into the edge rusher opposite of Micah Parsons for all we know. Once upon a time we may have thought this about Sam Williams, but returning from a torn ACL means we have to temper expectations there. Consider that last week there was a little bit of buzz around one of last year’s UDFAs in tight end Brevyn Spann-Ford. There was a report from the team’s minicamp that BSF was commanding some snaps with the ones. This immediately led to people panicking over the state of Jake Ferguson and worrying that he may not be properly in line as the team’s starting tight end, but at the risk of being overly-dramatic, what does that say about Luke Schoonmaker if Spann-Ford is worth getting that look? Again, nobody is trying to make anything mountain-like out of the mole hill that is a report from a mandatory minicamp in June, but you get the overall point. What if I asked you who is the active second-round pick on this team who will contribute the most in 2025? Who would your answer be? Conventional wisdom says it will be Trevon Diggs so that sort of feels like cheating. If we acknowledge that he is the top option then who else are you even considering? The purpose of training camp is to answer questions that the team has about its roster and the utilization of players within it. One of the most essential things that they can do is figure out a proper way to utilize the players who they have “found” in the second round over the last handful of years. A lot of this season will depend on that.

Photo by Dan Mullan/Getty Images How many wins do you think the Giants will have this season? Cover 3: What we learned about Giants at OTAs – John Schmeelk, Dan Salomone, & Matt Citak, Giants.com Russell Wilson gets positive reviews from teammates. John Schmeelk: I’m anxious to see what defensive coordinator Shane Bowen ends up doing with the secondary. I interviewed more than 20 members of the defense at Media Day, and all of the returning players expressed how the playbook has been expanded with the influx of talent this offseason. It is easy to imagine the variable fronts Bowen can use with all the defensive linemen and edge rushers, but I am curious to see how he is going to use the secondary. Two of the Giants’ biggest additions in free agency both came in the secondary, and I think their additions can change fundamentally how the Giants run their defense. Adding Jevón Holland at safety as a truly interchangeable piece with Tyler Nubin will give Bowen the opportunity to use a lot more pre-snap disguises combined with post-snap movement to confuse opposing quarterbacks. With the pass rush expected to get into the backfield quickly, any hesitation from the quarterback could lead to sacks. Holland’s ability to communicate should also help in this endeavor. Dan Salomone: As I wrote about in “Fact or Fiction” last week, Russell Wilson’s effect really started to come to light the deeper we got into OTAs. Darius Slayton said there is “a lot of new energy” even though the Giants’ returned most of their starters from a year ago. But that’s what happens when you add a 10-time Pro Bowler and Super Bowl champion at the most important position in all of sports. His leadership is felt on offense, on defense, on the field, and off the field. Most importantly, he can still sling it. “His knowledge of the game has shown already,” Slayton said. “Obviously, he has amazing talent with the ball. Accuracy, great touch on the deep balls. I don’t really know that he’s missed more than one or two deep balls this whole camp. He is really accurate, really smart. He’s helped keep us in good plays throughout the whole camp. So, his impact has been felt for sure.” Commanders veteran goes from undesirable to undeniable with minicamp dominance – Dean Jones, RiggosRag.com Percy Butler is definitely making an impression. The Washington Commanders are giving everyone a chance to showcase their skills in pursuit of different roles in 2025. One player under more pressure than most is taking on the significant challenge and thriving according to reports. Being in a contract year makes players think differently. Once secure futures are changed quickly. Stakes are raised with financial rewards attached, and this extra urgency typically brings about improved performance levels. It’s early days, but the Commanders are starting to see more from Percy Butler when all hope seemed lost. It’s a big year for Butler. He’s out of contract in 2026 and faces a fight to hold onto his primary backup role with the likes of Tyler Owens, Jeremy Reaves, and Ben Nikkel breathing down his neck. It could go either way for the safety, but it’s bringing a positive response so far. Dan Quinn singled out Butler for special praise during his media availability at Washington’s mandatory minicamp. The head coach has noted how hard the former fourth-round pick has been working away from the team, and it’s showing on the field. This is a positive development where Butler is concerned. He’s more valued by the team by Washington’s fan base, emerging as a core special teamer while struggling to find the right consistency on the defensive rotation. His roster spot is seemingly secure, so his long-term fate rests on how much he can kick on before the time comes to decide his fate. What comes next is down to the player. He’s managed to get the coaching staff to sit up and take notice. Butler is out to prove his worth to secure a new deal from the Commanders or elsewhere next spring. Performing well during preparations will help, but how he produces in a competitive setting will be the most telling factor. Lane Johnson and his rotating cast of right guards continues – Dave Zangaro, NBC Sports Philadelphia Philadelphia’s cornerstone continues to have a new guy next to him every year. The left side of the Eagles’ offensive line is manned by Jordan Mailata at left tackle and Landon Dickerson at left guard. They’re two of the best offensive linemen in the NFL and they’re best friends on and off the field. It’s a perfect setup. The right side of the Eagles’ offensive line? It’s manned by All-Pro right tackle Lane Johnson and an ever-revolving cast of characters lining up at right guard next to him. “Honestly, I feel bad for Lane,” Mailata said this spring. “Lane does a hell of a job. No one ever talks about that. How many right guards has Lane played next to? And he has a stellar performance every year. If it wasn’t for Stout (offensive line coach Jeff Stoutland) and Lane, Lane being able to adapt and be as great as he is. That is the reason why we’re able to fill in that position.” No one ever talks about that? So let’s talk about it. Johnson, 35, has been with the Eagles since they drafted him in the first round (No. 4 overall) back in 2013 and he’s the only piece of the offensive line to be on both Super Bowl-winning teams in franchise history. He has put together an impressive Hall of Fame resume but for the last several years, he has lacked continuity with the position next to him. From 2016-19, every game that Johnson started, his right guard was his close buddy Brandon Brooks, who was a three-time Pro Bowler during that stretch. But since then, that right guard position has changed every year and Johnson’s play

Kelley L Cox-Imagn Images He’s the leader of the offense and has plenty of reason for optimism, but why is Dak Prescott a reason to be positive? We continue the Reasons To Be Positive series, where we look to find reasons for inspiration and optimism ahead of the 2025 season. This installment looks at Dak Prescott. Dak Prescott Dale Zanine-Imagn Images 2024 Season stats:Games- 8Pass Attempts- 286Pass Completions- 185Completion Percentage- 64%Pass Yards- 1,978Touchdowns- 11INT- 8Sacks- 21Passer Rating- 86.9 2025 Projected stats:Pass Attempts- 578Pass Completions- 397Completion Percentage- 68%Pass Yards- 4,879Touchdowns- 29INT- 9Sacks- 34 With minicamp over the 2025 training camp at Oxnard is the next step and quarterback Dak Prescott stands as a key figure in making sure the offense gets off to a good start for a promising season. Despite facing challenges last year trying to ignite the offense and suffering injuries, Prescott’s leadership, experience, and commitment to the franchise provide a strong foundation for optimism among Cowboys fans. WHAT JUST HAPPENED?? Dak Prescott escapes and hits CeeDee Lamb for a 92-YARD TOUCHDOWN THAT’S 16.2 POINTS ON ONE PLAY FOR CEEDEE pic.twitter.com/cDDnC4rmMX — NFL Fantasy Football (@NFLFantasy) December 31, 2023 Prescott’s 2024 season was marked by both achievements and setbacks. He played in eight games, completing 185 of 286 passes for 1,978 yards, 11 touchdowns, and eight interceptions, resulting in a passer rating of 86.9. His performance was impacted by a hamstring injury that sidelined him for the back half of the season, but he was hindered by a string of injuries to offensive playmakers around him when he was on the field. Dak Prescott ➡️ CeeDee Lamb ( : @_CeeDeeThree on IG) pic.twitter.com/m8bA8WIsRr — Brandon Loree (@Brandoniswrite) April 23, 2025 Before the 2024 season, Prescott was playing some of the most efficient football of his career. In 2023, he led the NFL in touchdown passes (36) and ranked among the league leaders in QBR and passer rating. He also led Dallas to a 12–5 record and the NFC East title, proving that when surrounded by good protection and given rhythm, he can orchestrate a top-tier offense. He consistently grades among the best in intermediate accuracy and decision-making against the blitz, which will be key with an offensive line now in transition. Dak Prescott Highlights Every touchdown scored by @dak in 2023. Easily his best season in the NFL ( :@nfl) #DallasCowboys #CowboysNation #nfl pic.twitter.com/mvHrTVjiiP — Mike Poland (@kenfigkowboy) January 11, 2024 Dallas is now entering a new era with coaching changes and roster turnover, particularly on the offensive line. Prescott’s veteran presence becomes even more crucial now, acting as the bridge between the old core and the next generation. He’s already taken an active leadership role in offseason work, connecting with the younger players, while maintaining his strong rapport with CeeDee Lamb and Jake Ferguson. His experience makes him the calming voice in the huddle and locker room, which will be crucial when adversity hits during the season. : Cowboys star QB Dak Prescott has gone viral for looking like he’s in the best shape of his life… Dak is going to prove all the critics wrong next season. pic.twitter.com/PlMaMg0QOh — Dov Kleiman (@NFL_DovKleiman) March 30, 2025 Beyond statistics and his strong leadership skills, Prescott remains a cornerstone of the Cowboys’ identity. His commitment to the franchise was solidified with a four-year, $240 million contract extension signed back in September 2024, which included $231 million guaranteed and an $80 million signing bonus. .@WillBlackmon believes that Dak Prescott is still a top 10 QB pic.twitter.com/pJJrNMhchR — NFL Network (@nflnetwork) April 15, 2025 Outlook for 2025With new head coach, Brian Schottenheimer at the helm, the Cowboys are poised for an inspiring and fresh start. Prescott’s experience and leadership will be vital in navigating this transition and guiding the team toward its goals. His resilience and dedication suggest that he is well-positioned to lead the Cowboys in the upcoming season and his attitude toward the game is something that should give fans comfort. He may not be every fan’s favorite, but Dak is here and working harder than ever, and that should be a reason for optimism. Tyron Smith took a moment during his retirement press conference to acknowledge Dak Prescott specifically: “I also want to recognize Dak Prescott.” “One of the best teammates I ever had. Dak cares deeply about everyone in the locker room, and he’s more than a teammate. He’s a… pic.twitter.com/xKFKUC9It5 — RJ Ochoa (@rjochoa) April 16, 2025

Peter Brouillet-Imagn Images We’re counting down to the season opener (Day 79) 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 79. Tony Tolbert Born: December 29, 1967. Tuskegee, AlabamaPosition: Defensive endDallas Cowboys: 1989-1997Awards: Super Bowl champion- XXVII, XXVIII, XXXAll-Pro- 1996Pro Bowl– 1996 Lou Capozzola-Imagn Images Tony Tolbert played defensive end for the Dallas Cowboys from 1989 to 1997 after being drafted in the fourth round out of UTEP. A quiet but dominant force on the defensive line, Tolbert developed into one of the most consistent and underrated pass rushers of the 1990s. He recorded 59 career sacks and was a key part of the Cowboys’ defense during their Super Bowl dynasty, helping the team win three championships. Tolbert earned Pro Bowl honors in 1996 and was respected for his work ethic, versatility, and ability to play through injuries. #TuesTrivia: Tony Tolbert is Cowboys only non-1st round pick w/more than 35 official career sacks. #CowboysNation pic.twitter.com/iWDlv25NvI — Dallas Cowboys Star Magazine (@DCStarMagazine) April 14, 2015 Best known for:Tolbert was best known for being a dependable and productive edge rusher during the Cowboys’ 1990s Super Bowl run, often doing the dirty work that allowed stars around him to shine. Final Cowboys Crosstalk of the season might have given us the best story of the year? Tony Tolbert went to UTEP for college and told us about the time he realized why so many football players chose to go to school there: pic.twitter.com/nhTH4QTuJ2 — Bobby Belt (@BobbyBeltTX) January 9, 2025 Lesser known fact:Despite playing at a small school and entering the league with little fanfare, Tolbert never missed more than one game in any of his nine NFL seasons, an ironman streak that reflected his durability and toughness in the trenches. This led to him garnering a huge Cowboys following in the 1990’s and getting the recognition he deserved. ✭ 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 79Tony Tolbert#DallasCowboys… pic.twitter.com/KxPOQKt5D9 — Mike Poland (@kenfigkowboy) June 17, 2025

Tim Heitman-Imagn Images It is amazing how much attention the Cowboys can command, even in the middle of June. On Monday morning the sports world woke up to a new day, one that would feature an NBA Finals game – a decisive Game 5 – before its end. As the NBA Finals are going on this means that the Stanley Cup ones are as well. We will see tonight if the Edmonton Oilers are able to push things to a Game 7 against the Florida Panthers. Monday was also the first day that J.J. Spaun woke up a U.S. Open Champion after emerging victorious at Oakmont on Father’s Day. As you can see and know yourself… there are a number of storylines going on in the world of sports (this doesn’t even include the Rafael Devers trade that came on Sunday!). This did not stop the Dallas Cowboys from serving as a prime subject on ESPN on Monday. The “legacy” of Dak Prescott was up for debate. Let’s check in on ESPN… pic.twitter.com/xNYHRGIWtn — Awful Announcing (@awfulannouncing) June 16, 2025 If you have followed the Cowboys for long enough then you know that things like this are common. They are America’s Team and all of that jazz, the straw that forever stirs the drink of sports conversation. It is still a bit unbelievable, though. The NFL is certainly king and the biggest conversation in sports, but that something like this could be a topic on Monday morning carries an air of “wow, that is crazy,” doesn’it? Let us know what you think in the comments below.

Scott Galvin-Imagn Images All the Dallas Cowboys news that’s fit to print. Myles Garrett: Micah Parsons ‘should get every penny he’s owed’ – Kevin Patra, NFL.com Game respect game when it comes to two of the best edge rushers in the NFL. While the club has dragged its feet, if previous deals are an indicator, Dallas will eventually pay Parsons top dollar before the season starts. The question lingering is how high the number might reach. Myles Garrett set the bar for pass rushers with his $40 million-per-year contract earlier this offseason. After throwing out the first pitch at a Texas Rangers game on Sunday, Garrett said Parsons deserves his eventual payday. “I think he deserves whatever he’s earned,” Garrett told Abby Jones of DLLS Sports. “I mean, the guy is special. Once I got the chance to train with him, I’ve seen his work ethic, I’ve seen how he attacks the weights, running. He’s 100% committed to his craft and getting better every day, and [he’s] someone who produces on the field and has that dedication to the game. He should get every penny he’s owed.” Parsons is slated to earn $24.007 million in base salary on the fifth and final year of his rookie contract. That figure is expected to leap significantly with a new extension. Parsons could leapfrog Garrett as the top-paid defender. With fellow star pass rusher T.J. Watt also looking for a new deal, the top of the market could get pushed even higher if the Cowboys continue to delay paying Parsons. Last week, Parsons was hopeful that a deal could be finalized by training camp. “I’m pretty hopeful. I’m still hanging tight,” Parsons said at the time. “I understand it’s up to [owner Jerry Jones]. He gives the green light on everything, so hopefully something is done by next month.” Parsons had previously said he didn’t need to make $40 million per year. However, that came before Garrett’s record-setting deal. 5 Dallas Cowboys predictions that will come true before the 2025 NFL season kicks off including All-Pro reunion – Mauricio Rodriguez, A to Z Sports Just like every time in the past, the Cowboys are only costing themselves by waiting to pay Micah Parsons. 1. Micah Parsons becomes the highest-paid non-quarterback in NFL history This is the easiest one, isn’t it? Sure the Parsons negotiations are getting dramatic lately but let’s be honest: This is how the Cowboys do business. They did it with Dak Prescott and CeeDee Lamb last year. I find it exhausting but part of that is that I know the ending to the movie. The final scene of this one will be Parsons smiling wide and putting ink to paper. My prediction for the numbers: 5-year deal, $210 million, $42 million average per year. How Matt Eberflus Will Transform the Dallas Cowboys Defense in 2025 – Cody Warren, Inside The Star There was a lot of buzz about what Cowboys DC Matt Eberflus is doing with this defense out of OTAs and minicamp. The Dallas Cowboys defense in 2025 isn’t just looking for improvement—it’s looking for a total transformation. After finishing near the bottom of the league in most key defensive categories in 2024, the team parted ways with coordinator Mike Zimmer and brought in Matt Eberflus. Known for building disciplined and aggressive units in Indianapolis and Chicago, Eberflus will bring the same mindset to Dallas. With a new scheme, fresh faces, and returning talent like Micah Parsons and DaRon Bland, the Cowboys are betting on a defensive reset. Here’s a full breakdown of the roster, key additions, stats from last season, and projected impact in 2025. Eberflus Brings Discipline to Chaos The hiring of Matt Eberflus is more than cosmetic. His defensive philosophy focuses on: Speed and pursuit angles Attacking defensive front Turnover generation through rally tackling Mixes of zone and man to disguise coverages The 2025 defense will emphasize swarming the football and limiting explosive plays, something Dallas failed to do consistently last year. UFL star Ajene Harris could help Cowboys CB problem – Jess Haynie, Blogging The Boys The Cowboys may add at CB between now and training camp, and looking to the UFL has helped them before. If we weren’t worried about medical issues, things would feel a lot better at corner. You’d have Trevon Diggs and DaRon Bland as returning starters, Shavon Revel as an exciting rookie addition, Israel Mukuamu as veteran depth, and several intriguing young prospects like Caelen Carson, Kairr Elam, Josh Butler, and Andrew Booth. Even undrafted rookie Alijah Clark is starting to garner support and praise during spring practices. Unfortunately, medical concerns are at work with much of the group. Diggs is highly questionable to be ready for Week 1 as he continues to work on knee issues. Butler is still recovering from a torn ACL in Week 13, putting part if not all of 2025 in jeopardy. Revel fell to the third round because of a 2024 knee injury, which will slow his development and availability as a rookie. Plus, Bland and Carson, while healed up from previous issues, still have to prove they’re all the way back in their performance. And we haven’t even gotten to whatever injuries are sure to come during training camp and preseason games. So yes, Dallas needs bodies to get through the summer. But Ajene Harris could potentially more than that. The 29-year-old veteran just led the UFL in interceptions this spring, two years after leading the XFL in picks in 2023. He’s been a consistent standout in these spring leagues for several years as a playmaker and willing tackler. He’s on the smaller side at just 5’10” and 180 lbs. but could be competitive among Dallas CB options, particularly in the much-needed role of slot corner. Losing Jourdan Lewis to free agency this offseason, the Cowboys could use some more options in the slot. While Bland started his career there and is an excellent option, he may be needed more outside this

Photo by Richard Rodriguez/UFL/Getty Images It will be interested to see if the Cowboys fan find some talent out of the UFL. One of the Dallas Cowboys’ biggest concerns ahead of the 2025 season is their overall health and depth at cornerback. As they wait for one key player to return from injury, others to show they’ve fully recovered, and to see how rookie additions perform, they’re looking pretty thin for training camp. Could Ajene Harris, a veteran standout from the United Football League, help Dallas get through the summer and perhaps contribute in the regular season? If we weren’t worried about medical issues, things would feel a lot better at corner. You’d have Trevon Diggs and DaRon Bland as returning starters, Shavon Revel as an exciting rookie addition, Israel Mukuamu as veteran depth, and several intriguing young prospects like Caelen Carson, Kairr Elam, Josh Butler, and Andrew Booth. Even undrafted rookie Alijah Clark is starting to garner support and praise during spring practices. Unfortunately, medical concerns are at work with much of the group. Diggs is highly questionable to be ready for Week 1 as he continues to work on knee issues. Butler is still recovering from a torn ACL in Week 13, putting part if not all of 2025 in jeopardy. Revel fell to the third round because of a 2024 knee injury, which will slow his development and availability as a rookie. Plus, Bland and Carson, while healed up from previous issues, still have to prove they’re all the way back in their performance. And we haven’t even gotten to whatever injuries are sure to come during training camp and preseason games. So yes, Dallas needs bodies to get through the summer. But Ajene Harris could potentially more than that. The 29-year-old veteran just led the UFL in interceptions this spring, two years after leading the XFL in picks in 2023. He’s been a consistent standout in these spring leagues for several years as a playmaker and willing tackler. He’s on the smaller side at just 5’10” and 180 lbs. but could be competitive among Dallas CB options, particularly in the much-needed role of slot corner. Losing Jourdan Lewis to free agency this offseason, the Cowboys could use some more options in the slot. While Bland started his career there and is an excellent option, he may be needed more outside this year. At the very least, they may keep him there until Diggs and Revel are ready to go. Having another guy with slot experience, as well as the physicality and attitude to play it, could be useful. Harris had a big-school pedigree at USC but went undrafted in 2019. He signed with the Eagles and made it to their practice squad as a rookie, but was released after a couple of months. That was his last time in the NFL, soon moving to the XFL in 2020 and spending the last few years in the secondary professional leagues. For three straight seasons between the XFL and UFL, Harris has been recognized as one of the elite players in whatever league he was part of, totaling nine interceptions in 29 games from 2023-2025. Ball hawk. Leader. 2x All-UFL cornerback. @ajeneharris pic.twitter.com/av4RYuk3WF — Arlington Renegades (@XFLRenegades) June 5, 2025 The Cowboys have enjoyed the services of other spring league products in recent years. They found both K Brandon Aubrey and WR KaVontae Turpin in the USFL, which merged with the XFL in 2024 to form the UFL. Aubrey has been arguably the NFL’s best kicker over the last two seasons, and Turpin its best return specialist. It’s a different conversation when you move away from special teams. Whereas there are only so many kicker and returner jobs in the NFL, each team carries anywhere from four to six cornerbacks annually. When a guy hasn’t already made it in the pros at the core positions, it does prompt logical questions as to what’s held him back. Even Turpin, who was the USFL MVP in 2022 for his offensive work, has had a hard time consistently getting on the field as a WR or RB. Again, like many spring league players, Harris is undersized. This has become increasingly challenging as NFL receivers just keep getting bigger and stronger. But we’ve seen many examples of talent and mentality making up for physical deficiencies. And at least in terms of the level of competition he’s been facing the last three years, Harris keeps outshining his peers. He’s even used to playing in Arlington after two years with the Renegades. We’re not suggesting that Ajene Harris is a superior prospect to the guys Dallas is already planning to take to Oxnard in July. But given what he’s accomplished the last few years in the XFL and UFL, it couldn’t hurt to give him another crack at the big leagues. Even at a lower level, real-game experience is valuable. Harris might not have a long-term NFL future at his age, but he could help the Cowboys with their short-term depth problem at cornerback.

Handout Photo-USA TODAY Sports The Cowboys secondary has a lot riding on it. There are several reasons to be optimistic about the upcoming season of the Dallas Cowboys, and many of them stem from the changes within the coaching staff. There’s already a lot of excitement building up around new head coach Brian Schottenheimer. And the same is also true for both of the team’s new coordinators, Matt Eberflus and Klayton Adams. But not all changes carry the same level of enthusiasm. For example, the team lost their defensive backs coach, Al Harris, who joined Ben Johnson’s new coaching staff in Chicago. Harris had coached with Johnson during their time together with the Miami Dolphins in 2012. He’s now the Bears’ new passing game coordinator, a promotion well deserved after an impressive tenure as the Cowboys’ defensive backs coach. Before Harris arrived in Dallas, the Cowboys’ secondary was often a hot mess. It shouldn’t be too hard to remember when it seemed like the defense getting an interception was such a rare occasion. That’s because it was. During the five seasons before Harris showed up, the Cowboys’ defense never eclipsed double-digit interceptions. And right before Harris joined the coaching staff, the Cowboys only had seven interceptions, finishing third-worst in the league in 2019. But those problems went away. In all five of his seasons with the Cowboys, the defense reached double-digit interceptions. They had a three-year stretch (2021-2023) where they finished in the top eight in picks, including a league-leading 26 interceptions in 2021. The work Harris did in transforming Trevon Diggs and DaRon Bland into ball-hawking studs was quite impressive, but it wasn’t just about what he did with the talented fellas. During Harris’ first three seasons with the Cowboys, Anthony Brown was a starting outside corner. And nobody should forget the disaster the team dealt with last year due to injuries, which saw seven corners play at least 100 snaps on defense. Players like Amani Oruwariye, Josh Butler, Caelen Carson, and Andrew Booth were called into action quite a bit last year. In what ended up being a job swap, the Cowboys’ new defensive backs coach is former Bears’ defensive backs coach, David Overstreet II. He has gone where Eberflus has gone, first with the Indianapolis Colts, then to Chicago, and now to Dallas. He doesn’t come with the same track record as Harris, but in all fairness, the Bears’ defense has not had the same level of talent. Chicago finished dead last in 2021, allowing 7.4 yards per pass attempt, and finished second-worst last year, allowing 6.8 yards per attempt. On the flip side, the Bears led the league in interceptions in 2023 with 22 picks, and his Colts team finished third with 19 interceptions in 2021. So, there are some good things and some not-so-good things. Of course, those numbers are a compilation of many factors. Roster talent plays a huge role, not only in the secondary, but who they have lining up on the defensive line. Harris benefited from a strong pass rush during most of his time with Dallas. Overstreet will inherit a pretty formidable group as well as the team has an assortment of talent along the defensive line. The same threat is not exactly present at the cornerback position. While there are some talented pieces, the Cowboys have several players recovering from injuries. What the position group will look like this year is a big unknown. Under Harris, the defense was a high-risk/high-reward unit. At times, it was spectacular, but other times it was cringy. What will they look like under Overstreet? Can he make things work, or will it be revealed that Harris’ teachings are sorely missed? Only time will tell, but this could be something to keep an eye on this year.